London and European gold medallist Ben Maher is fighting back against his long-term supporters Mike and Emma Phillips — who claim he made “secret profits” of £700,000 from horse sales and purchases during their 8-year relationship (news, 5 December).

In Ben’s defence and counter-claim papers — filed with the High Court in London last week — he says he is owed money through sales commission and “equine services”.

In our last issue, H&H revealed that the Phillipses had lodged two claims at the High Court.

One seeks the sale of Ben’s Olympic ride, Tripple X III, in whom the Phillipses bought a half-share for £250,000 in 2009.

The other claim seeks to recover £700,000, which, the Phillipses allege, Ben pocketed by misleading them about prices while acting as their agent. With costs and damages, the Phillipses’ claim could reach £1.5million.

Emphatic denial

But Ben’s defence and counter-claim alleges that it is the Phillipses who owe him money — for “equine services”, stud fees and sales commission accrued since he started riding for them in 2005.

Ben, 30, agrees that the home-bred Tripple X must be sold, as the asset of a partnership that has now come to an end. But he disputes that the Phillipses have a personal interest in the 11-year-old stallion, claiming he is part-owned corporately by their Quainton Stud.

Mike and Emma Phillips say their suspicions were aroused earlier this year. They claim Ben made “secret profits” on six horses, including Wonderboy III (to the tune of £222,496), Awanti (£41,653) and Tackeray (£214,201).

But Ben — who emphatically denies the claims — says the Phillipses still owe him commission for the sales of Awanti (£2,500) and Wonderboy (£37,069).

Ben is also seeking a declaration that he is entitled to 10% of stud fees on their stallions and 10% sales commission on horses he has ridden in which the Phillipses have a stake. He also wants the court to declare that he is the joint owner of Tripple X’s dam Calve B and her foals.

Injunction sought before Hickstead

Last week, Emma Phillips told H&H that they had done all they could “to provide the conditions that led to Ben’s fantastic success at the Olympics last year and now feel broken-hearted and utterly betrayed”.

However, Ben’s defence and counter-claim papers state that, shortly after London 2012, Mike Phillips informed him that: “The gold medal had benefited Mr Maher but done nothing for Mr Phillips.”

The document continues: “Mr Phillips said that he preferred to win money not medals.”

Ben also alleges that Mr Phillips — who is a multi-millionaire property developer — tried to injunct against him riding Tripple X at the Royal International Horse Show this summer, where the horse was on the British Nations Cup team and won the King George V Gold Cup. This is not true, say the Phillipses.

Mrs Phillips told H&H: “We are frustrated by Ben’s defence as it fails to respond to many of the serious aspects of our claims against him.

“It’s disappointing that we have been forced to resort to legal action. We are determined for any wrongs to be righted.”

The Phillipses say Ben was only due sales commission on horses in which he did not have a stake and had personally caused to be sold. They agree he is entitled to 10% of stallion stud fees — but say his share “has been more than offset” by what he owes them.

Ben declined to comment.

Where did it all go wrong?

Emma Phillips says she approached Ben in 2005, after reading (in H&H) that he was short of rides. Ben, then 22, had just won the Hickstead Derby on Alfredo II.

“We treated Ben as one of our family,” said Mrs Phillips — something Ben disputes in his defence and counter-claim papers.

According to Ben, his relationship with the Phillipses “became problematic” following the purchase of a horse called Vigolo Z. Ben was disappointed with its performance and it was returned — for less than the original purchase price.

Matters came to a head in a meeting at Quainton Stud in July 2013. The Phillipses accused Ben of financial irregularities regarding horse sales. Ben claims Mike Phillips “threatened to obtain injunctions against him and ruin his career.”

Earlier this year, Ben obtained a wealthy new supporter in the American owner Jane Clark. He partnered Ms Clark’s mare Cella to team gold and individual silver at the 2013 European Championships and the London Global Champions Tour grand prix — in effect relegating Tripple X to second string.

How global horse dealing works

The case of Wonderboy III sheds light on the complexities of global horse dealing.

➤ In Ben’s court papers, he states that he bought Wonderboy jointly with the Phillipses for £400,000

➤ Ben says he paid for his share in kind using four of his father’s horses — including Hickstead Derby winner Alfredo

➤ In 2010 Wonderboy was sold to Ahmad Saber Hamcho of Syria for ¤950,000 (£796,000). Irish Olympic rider Billy Twomey received a fee of €80,000 (£67,000) as broker

➤ Ben says he and the Phillipses split €870,000 (£730,000) equally and that he was told to use £200,000 as part-payment for their share in Tripple X

➤ Ben claims he is still owed £37,000 by the Phillipses in commission on Wonderboy — but they claim he owes them £222,496 from the sale

This story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (12 December 2013 edition)

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At London 2012, the long-term partnership between Ben Maher and Mike and Emma Phillips of Quainton Stud helped Team GBR to their historic gold.

The Phillipses — who co-own Ben’s Olympic ride, the home-bred Tripple X III, and had supported him since 2005 — were celebrated as loyal British owners, contributing to our medal success.

But that golden relationship has since broken down. Earlier this month, the Phillipses’ lawyers filed papers with the High Court — a copy of which has been obtained by H&H — claiming that Ben owes them nearly £700,000 from horse purchases and sales made while acting as their agent.

The Phillipses claim that Ben led them to buy and sell horses for prices far removed from their true values; that he “kept these monies and thereby made a secret profit… to which Quainton Stud is entitled”.

Ben Maher’s lawyer told H&H that he did not wish to comment on the allegations until their defence papers had been filed with the High Court. Ben is expected to deny the claims.

High value horse sales

The Phillipses have submitted a claim for nearly £700,000, relating to the sale of 6 horses, including Wonderboy III and Robin Hood W. The sums with regard to individual sales range from £8,000 to £222,000 in the case of Wonderboy. They are also asking the court to account for all prize-money received by Ben in riding the Phillipses’ horses.

When interest on the overall figure, plus the Phillipses’ litigation costs and damages are included, the total amount of the claim is likely to be closer to £1.5million.

Court papers allege that some of the money obtained by Ben was used to fund improvements to and repay debts on his own Elsenham Stud, on the Herts-Essex border — and to buy a property in Wellington, Florida.

The legal documents also reveal that in 2013, the Phillipses “gradually became aware” of these matters, beginning with the circumstances surrounding the horses Vigolo Z and Robin Hood.

According to the court papers, Ben told Mr Phillips that, with regard to Robin Hood, “it was not wrong for him to own a horse and sell it to someone [referring to Mr and Mrs Phillips] at a profit”.

‘Broken-hearted and betrayed’

Tripple X, the horse on whom Ben won team gold at Greenwich, is not among the 6 horses mentioned in this claim.

But the 11-year-old stallion is the subject of a separate High Court action — relating to his ownership — which was filed by the Phillipses’ lawyers at the same time (see below).

It is a sad end to the relationship that — according to the court papers — began after Mrs Phillips “saw an article [in H&H] which said that Mr Maher was short of horses to ride”.

H&H asked Mrs Phillips if she wished to comment on the case.

She told us: “We treated Ben as one of our family, working with him since 2005 when he was an aspiring equestrian at the tender age of 22.

“We did all we could to provide the conditions that led to Ben’s fantastic success at the Olympics last year and now feel broken-hearted and utterly betrayed.

“It is now in the hands of the court.”

Ben Maher’s lawyer told H&H that he did not wish to comment on the allegations until their defence papers had been filed with the High Court.

That was expected to happen this week — and will be reported by H&H in due course.

The Tripple X case — could Ben lose the ride?

Mr and Mrs Phillips have lodged a separate High Court claim relating to their 50% ownership of Ben’s Olympic partner Tripple X III.

Court papers state that the Phillipses bought a half-share in Tripple X for £250,000 after being approached at Olympia in 2009.

They want the court to recognise their 50% ownership, formally declare their partnership with Ben to be over — and order the sale of Tripple X, as the asset of that partnership, plus the payment of costs and damages.

What happens next?

Ben’s legal team is expected to file his defence this week

The case could be resolved in one of three ways:

1) It is settled out of court

2) The court gives a “summary” (written) judgement. This may happen if the court considers that either the claimant or the defendant has no real prospect of succeeding

3) The case is heard by a judge at a full trial

This exclusive news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (5 December, 2013 edition)

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Buckinghamshire’s Quainton Stud will be allowed to continue holding shows, despite what owner Emma Phillips described as a neighbour’s “one-man crusade”.

Local resident and councillor David Vick had been regularly emailing Aylesbury Vale District Council about alleged breaches of planning regulations. He had set a diary reminder to query progress every five days.

“In 2008, planning enforcement told the owners not to expand their activities beyond the current small scale,” said Mr Vick. “Since then, each event appears to have become more successful, but without the relevant planning permissions.”

Inspectors told Emma and husband Mike they would need retrospective planning permission to run events — granted on Thursday, 11 April — after investigating the complaints.

“It was ridiculous,” said Emma, who bought the centre in 2005. “He claimed that our ‘equestrian centre paraphernalia’, such as coloured showjumps, was blighting the countryside.”

Almost 900 people signed a petition supporting the venue and showjumper Ben Maher spoke out about the stud’s involvement in his career. Emma shares ownership of Ben’s Olympic gold medal-winner Tripple X III.

An established British Showjumping venue, Quainton Stud has this month been approved to run British Dressage (BD) fixtures. It also ran a Spring Horizons showing show on 1 April.

“We are delighted to bring Quainton Stud on board, with their excellent facilities,” said Amanda Bond of BD.

Mr Vick told H&H he was “delighted that the stud now has planning permission”.

“We want all local businesses to succeed,” he said. “But everyone has to play by the same rules.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (25 April 2013)

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Ben Maher has a new addition to his string — the 11-year-old Quick Star stallion Tackeray.

The former ride of Billy Twomey and, in the past, Michael Whitaker, was seen out with Ben for the first time at Addington on Tuesday where they finished second in a 1.40m competition.

The following day they were at the Olympic test event in Greenwich where they came third in the showjumping demonstration class behind Nick Skelton (Carlo) and Laura Kraut (Cedric).

The stallion was bought last week by Mike and Emma Phillips of the Quainton Stud as an addition to Ben’s formidable top string, which includes Robin Hood W, Tripple X III and Voske.

“I’ve liked him his whole life but he’s been with two of the best riders in the world so it’s a hard act to follow,” said Ben. “We felt he would be very useful to join the horses we have.”

According to Ben, his top horse Robin Hood W — who hasn’t been seen in competition since the start of the year — is feeling well and raring to go, but he’s in no hurry to push the 13-year-old gelding unnecessarily.

“When he does come back he’ll be the most refreshed horse I’ve had!” said Ben. “But everything we do with him is about coming here [to Greenwich] next year — there’s no better horse than him for a championship.”

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Five new major shows have appeared on the British show jumping calendar this summer.

The first of the new shows, Origins at Quainton Stud, Buckinghamshire (19-22 May), was a breeding show with five-, six- and seven-year-old qualifiers for the World Breeding Championships at Lanaken in September.

Later in the summer, the stud will host the Heroes Show (9-10 September), which will be run as a Derby.

“We wanted to try to bring Britain in line with the rest of Europe,” said Emma Phillips from Quainton. “We felt that as a country we could not boast shows that really compare to those abroad. Show jumping feels like the poor relation to other disciplines.”

In addition to the inaugural British Masters Invitational at Chester Racecourse in August (news, 17 April), Cheshire will also gain the Bolesworth Castle Classic (6-8 June). This show offers riders more than £40,000 in prize-money, including an £18,000 grand prix, six-bar and power and speed class.

Eventer Nina Barbour, who came up with the show, said: “We want to make it accessible to everybody — like the shows in Europe where it’s more of a spectacle for the locals — but the focus will still be the jumping.”

On 22 June the David Broome Event Centre in Crick will host the new Jump with Renault day. Two classes with a shared prize-fund of £23,000 will provide the backdrop to the day.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (29 May, ’08)

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Successful trainer and former Burghley winner Gill Watson is moving to Quainton Stud, near Aylesbury, at the end of October.

Gill has been based at Hyde Farm West, Great Missenden, for 18 years, and will continue to train the junior and young rider eventing teams once she moves to Quainton Stud.

“I hope to be fully up and running by next February at half term,” said Gill. “Moving is always difficult but Quainton Stud has fantastic facilities and looks a really nice venue to be moving to.”

Gill has been team trainer to the juniors and young riders for many years, winning numerous medals, including double gold and individual bronze for the juniors this year, plus team gold and individual silver and bronze for the young riders.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Geoff Luckett registered his first win with Claire Beecroft’s Monline when he pocketed the £5,000 prize in the Mulberry Insurance Services Grand Prix at Quainton Stud (31 July).

Ryan Prater set an early the target on the ever-improving Vahagn De Lozana. Ellen Whitaker then snatched the lead with a dash to the final vertical, but Geoff used Monline’s long stride and scope to pinch a further 0.5sec.

Geoff also featured in the £1,000-to-the-winner Bank of Scotland Speed Grand Prix when setting an early target aboard Chris Moyce’s Pjort. They dropped to eventual fourth place after Carron Nicol used her late draw to bring Hollywood to the fore. William Funnell was second on Cortaflex Machiavelli, while Lee Williams slotting Linaro 18 into third.

Read this report in full, plus reports from other top show jumping competitions around the country, in today’s Horse & Hound (9 August, ’07)

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