Scott Brash wins fifth Grand Prix in Doha

It was an exciting decision in the Grand Prix of the five-star tour in Doha! Seven pairs made it through the first round of the 1.60 meter jumping competition over two rounds without penalties, including Scott Brash with Hello Jefferson and Philipp Weishaupt in the saddle on Oreo D.R..

The first ride that looked like a possible victory was that of French rider Megane Moissonnier on her French Conrad son Crooner Tame. Although there are horses that canter more fluently than this 14-year-old stallion, Moissonnier was a master at taking the forward flow into every distance, saving canter jumps and time wherever possible. The clock stopped at 54.90 seconds. This was the benchmark against which team Olympic champion Harry Charles and Sherlock, among others, cut their teeth. Charles tried to beat the time, but paid for it with a knockdown.

Dream team in action

Finally, it was Scott Brash ‘s turn with Hello Jefferson. At 17 years old, the Cooper van de Heffinck son is in the form of his life. And when you see Brash ride, you understand that he is the only one to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping so far. There are very few riders who ride jump-offs like he does. But there are also few horses that are as ambitious as Hello Jefferson. Brash didn’t get one distance quite right and had to pick up the gelding once. But the milliseconds they lost there were easily made up for in the next. Jefferson has not yet landed when he is already galloping again. You almost get the impression that he looked at the course himself beforehand, the bay’s turns are so quick and precise. And since he probably didn’t do that, it’s Scott Brash who steers him laboriously but efficiently through the most difficult cliffs. It was a picture-book round. One that more than earned him the win. But it wasn’t that far yet.

Trembling three more times

Three pairs did not show up. Nadja Peter Steiner is known to have taken over Ludger Beerbaum’s Mila and it is a pleasure to watch the two of them. They did their thing calmly in the jump-off. The Swiss rider did not ride any crazy turns, did not chase the mare apart, but steered her skillfully over the course with a light hand and Mila followed her with pricked ears. It wasn’t enough to keep Brash and Moissonnier at bay, but they finished clear.

Millie Allen’s lively chestnut mare is called Quickly and seems to have the energy for ten, but it wasn’t meant to be today. The British duo had two knockdowns.

Now it was only Philipp Weishaupt and his twelve-year-old Kannan son who could have challenged Brash for his full house. Their chances were not bad. As the fastest pair in the round, they had secured the most promising position in the jump-off. Weishaupt gave his all and so did Oreo. But the black horse has neither the experience nor the speed and frequency of a Jefferson in canter. It was the second fastest time with 53.86 seconds. However, as there was an additional knockdown, he finished fourth.

And the victory deservedly went to Scott Brash, who had won two three-star and three five-star Grand Prix with four horses by the penultimate day of the first month of the year. This is probably quite unique in the history of show jumping. Megane Moissonnier was delighted with second place. Nadja Peter Steiner and Mila jumped to third place.

In addition to Philipp Weishaupt in fourth place, another German pair, Torben Köhlbrandt and Mastermind RL, were able to hold their own in ninth place. They each had one down in both rounds.

Meyer-Zimmermann ahead of Weishaupt in the 3* Grand Prix

Luckily for the competition, Scott Brash was not even at the start in the Grand Prix of the three-star tour. Abdullah Ahlsharbatly won here with the Holstein Quintero son Quisandro. Alsharbatly also competed in the 5* Grand Prix, here with Dubai du Cedre, who was trained by Julien Epaillard and most recently by Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann. Since starting under the Saudi flag, however, the Baloubet du Rouet daughter no longer goes by the name of the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, but instead bears the name Diriyah. Last weekend, the pair finished seventh in the Grand Prix, but today they gave up.

Speaking of Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann – the year has got off to a great start for the rider from Schleswig-Holstein with various victories and placings in Doha. Another one was added today: second place in the 1.50 meter Grand Prix of the three-star tour on the eleven-year-old Holstein mare Iron Dames High Level by Livello. Behind him, Philipp Weishaupt was delighted with another penalty-free performance from his nine-year-old hope for the future Callao L.

You can find all the results from Doha here.