Ben Maher
responds
to ‘Secret
Profits’
Lawsuit
£700,000.
Tackeray was purchased by
the Bruheim family’s Nordic
Lights Farm in March. In
a Horse and Hound report
on the sale Emma Phillips
was quoted as saying she
was unaware who brought
Tackeray at the time of the
transaction “It was done
with agents and trainers,
so we don’t know who has
brought him and probably
won’t until they bring him
out”
written by Fiona Kenyon
London Olympic show
jumping Champion Ben
Maher has responded to a
lawsuit from his long term
backers Mike and Emma
Phillips alleging that he
made ‘Secret Profits’ of
£700,000 from sales of
their horses during an eight
year relationship.
In a second lawsuit the
Phillipses are seeking the
sale of Mahers’ Olympic
winning horse Tripple X
for which say they paid
£250,000 for a share in
2009 , the horse is now
worth potentially millions.
Maher served as a blood
stock agent for Quainton
Stud, run by the Phillipses’
, on multiple occasions.
He is accused of making
‘Secret Profits’ deals by
providing them with false
information regarding
prices paid for the horses.
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The battle over sale
prices began when Vigolo
was sold back to his
original owners for less
than the price paid. This
aroused the Phillipses
suspicions and they
began investigating other
transactions.
Maher is accused of
‘Secret Profits’ in six sales.
Tackeray was sold to
an American buyer for
$850,000 , rather than the
$500,000 the Phillipses
say they were told. They
say that an invoice for third
party commission ‘is a
sham’.
Amounts alleged as
‘Secret Profits’ from other
transactions are Quainton
Quinford €10,000,
Avanti €50,000, Vigolo
€150,000,Robin Hood
£80,000, Wonderboy
£222496. Totalling about
Everything Horse UK Magazine • February 2014 • Issue 5
In papers, filed with the
High Court in London,
Mahers defence and
counter-claim alleges that
the Phillipses owe him for
extensive services during
their association which
started in 2005. He seeks
a legal declaration that he
is due 10% of all stud fees
and 10% on sales of horses
he has competed.
Maher agrees that Tripple X
should be sold ,but disputes
the Phillipses statement of
a personal share, claiming
the stallion is part owned
by the Quainton Stud
syndicate.
horse dealing have come
under scrutiny , with Maher
saying that he and the
Phillipses jointly acquired
Wonderboy for £400,000,
he says he paid for his
share with four horses
belonging to his father.
Wonderboy was sold in May
2010 for €950,000, with
Irish Olympic Rider Billy
Twomey receiving €80,000
as broker. Mahers defence
claim that the Phillipses
then split the €810,000
equally, and that Mike
Phillips told him to keep
£200,000 as part payment
of Quainton Stud’s share in
Tripple X. Maher claims he
is still owed £37,000.
Maher who was the
world no 1 until he was
overtaken by Brash in early
December, now spends part
of the year in Wellington
Florida, with American
backer Jane Clark. Maher
rode Clark’s’ horse Cella
to team gold and individual
silver at the European
Championships, and victory
in the New London Global
Championships Tour in
2013.
Mahers defence papers
also say that no evidence
of false invoicing has been
produced.
Maher says he keeps faith
by continuing to compete
despite the ongoing court
battle.
The Court papers filed
reveal the split goes back
to early 2013, with the
formal business partnership
being dissolved in early
august. Mike Phillips also
tried to obtain an injunction
to prevent Tripple X from
competing at Hickstead
CSIO.
The complexities of global
Emma Phillips said “ Its
a very sad end to a highly
successful partnership”.“it
is now in the hands of the
court.”
Issue 5 • February 2014 • Everything Horse UK Magazine
The case is expected to
continue for some time and
then to be settled out of
court.
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