Ben Maher and his team were unsure whether Maddox VH Haringvliet Z would ever come back to his sport after extensive treatment for a stomach issue – but he rode the nine-year-old to a fabulous grand prix win at Chard.
The Zangersheide gelding had six months off after last summer but was on top form on Sunday, looking full of jumping and zest as they cruised to win the CSI3* Chedington Equestrian grand prix over six and a half seconds ahead of Carron Nicol and RRH Out Of The Blue.
“He’s a big horse with a great brain and one of the nicest in the stable. This is his first big win and we’re going to enjoy it,” said Ben.
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“I didn’t expect to win with such a big margin, but I went early, don’t like not being fast enough and expected the others to come much closer. I can’t remember the last time I won by such a big margin.
“Maddox is amazing, very promising, but last year he had a horrible time, and he missed the best of the whole year. He’d jumped well in Aachen, but he wasn’t quite right; we eventually found out there was something wrong with his stomach and under a specialist, he had a lot of treatment which took a long time. We weren’t sure he was ever going to make a comeback.”
But Maddox VH Haringvliet Z has been in fine form since he has returned to the ring, securing CSI5* placings at Aachen and St Gallen before this Ben’s first trip to Chard.
“It’s a great place, good food and with great people who try really hard – Jane [Gregory] and her team of organisers deserve the thanks,” Ben said. “I had my kids here and it was lovely to have a place where they could get out of the sun. I was very happy to support this show – good courses and good sport and my horses learned a lot here; it was a high standard and there were no easy wins.”
Only eight of 27 starters went through to the jump-off; Ben said the course was big and technical.
“This show at Chard was ideal for [Maddox] to be at a level where he needs to be to show what he can do,” Ben said. “He’s nine but lost so much [time] last year. On Friday he was second, there were a couple of turns that were for a more experienced horse and he just hung a lot, but the grand prix was more free-flowing and we were quicker.
“I’ll pick and choose the shows for him, he doesn’t need to be pushed. I think he’s got what it takes and I’ll try to produce him to be ready for next year.”
Tim Gredley and his championship ride Medoc De Toxandria took third place.
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