Ben Maher has a new rising star, nine-year-old mare Dallas Vegas Batilly

Meet Ben Maher's rising star, the nine-year-old mare Dallas Vegas Batilly — Ben MAHER (GBR) riding DALLAS VEGAS BATILLY in THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING SPEED STAKES during The London International Horse Show at ExCel in London on the 15 December 2022

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher has added a few new horses to his string this year and one that is really catching the eye is the nine-year-old mare Dallas Vegas Batilly. This French-bred daughter of Cap Kennedy came to Ben’s Hertfordshire stables in the summer, bought by the same owners as his Olympic gold medal-winning partner Explosion W, Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter.

“We were very lucky that Pamela and Charlotte were looking to help me strengthen the team of horses around Explosion W, Point Break and Enjeu De Grisien, the eight-year-old I jumped in London,” Ben told H&H.

“Geneva was a completely different environment and I was able to use a bit of my experience to help her through,” said Ben of their grand prix round there. “Her inexperience just showed a bit on the turn in the jump-off [where they faulted to finish 12th behind McLain Ward on HH Azur], then in London she jumped very well, but it’s a tight environment and I probably need another couple of months to solidify our partnership together, but it’s very, very exciting.

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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.

Meet Ben Maher’s new star: ‘She’s a real championship, big-time horse for the future’

Ben Maher: “Dallas Vegas Batilly is very, very exciting”

Dallas Vegas Batilly had previously been produced by French showjumper Nicolas Delmotte and had jumped double clear in Aachen this year, but it has taken a while for the mare “to adjust to my system” explained Ben.

“Nicolas is an amazing rider, but very different to me in the way he rides,” he said. “As a rider, it’s also my job to adapt to the horse, but for us to be successful as a partnership there are some things I’m willing to compromise on and some things I’m not!”

“I have a great team of horses now, so the excuses are running out – I need to start winning something!”

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