It’s All about Timing for Ben Maher and Point Break in Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round 12

Ben Maher & Point Break. Photo ©Sportfot

Timing was in Ben Maher’s (GBR) favor on Thursday of Rolex Finale Week at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). His ride on Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter’s stallion Point Break was intentional and successful, swooping in to take the win in the $116,100 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 12, a qualifier for the Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix on Saturday.

“Point Break just flew in this week,” the Tokyo Olympic Champion said of Point Break’s quick detour back to Wellington between the Dutch Masters and FEI World Cup™ Finals in Basel, Switzerland. “He arrived on Sunday, and he flies back to Europe tomorrow, so he came, did his job, and he’s leaving.”

Maher made it sound simple, but winning meant he bested 16 jump-off contenders, after a total of 24 jumped clear over Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) first-round course. Among the start list contenders were six of the world’s top 10, so Maher — ranked no. 5 in the world — was in good company.

Returning later in the order of the tie-breaker, he stuck to his plan and it was just enough, pipping Kent Farrington’s (USA) time with Toulayna and holding onto the lead through the end of the class in 37.60 seconds. World no. 2 Farrington finished second in a time of 38.75 seconds, and Irish Olympian Daniel Coyle took third with Ariel Grange’s Legacy in 38.80 seconds.

“To be honest, I didn’t watch Kent today; I made that mistake a couple of times this season already,” Maher joked of Farrington, who has two five-star grand prix wins to his credit during the 2025 Wellington International season. “I think the distances were quite forward for me. I was always moving and always going forward. Everything came up nicely today, and it was great to get a win on the board for the team.”

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