| Miami, FL – April 5, 2015 - World No1 Scott Brash was victorious for the second night in a row on Miami Beach Saturday evening as he galloped away with the inaugural Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach Grand Prix title aboard Hello Sanctos. This was the two-time Longines GCT Champ’s fifth Grand Prix win in the last three seasons as he continues to dominate the Tour in spectacular fashion.Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT) and his relatively new ride Palloubet D Halong put in the performance of their young partnership to take Silver. While 2014 Longines GCT of Shanghai Grand Prix winner Pieter Devos (BEL) and Candy finished with a worthy Bronze medal. From the VIP Lounge, Michael Bloomberg, Bruce Springsteen, HE Sheikh Joaan Al Thani and Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine watched world-class sport at it’s very best.
Speaking from the VIP Hospitality Lounge Mr Bloomberg said: “I think this is a wonderful thing for Miami and for the economy of Miami. This could become like the Formula 1 is to Monaco and places like that not just the people who come to watch the show, the people who support it, the people who work in the hotels where we all stay, the restaurants. It is amazing the hard work that goes into this.”
Having claimed a strong victory with his new mount Hello Forever in yesterday’s 42nd American Invitational, Scott Brash went into the Grand Prix a firm favourite, but facing hot competition from a stellar line-up of world-class riders from around the globe.
The first round of the Grand Prix was a testing and technical course which caught out many an experienced combination. The tight, awkward distances, tall uprights and sharp corners demanded precision, control and power. There were no clear bogey fences, though an airy vertical on a dog-leg following the Longines combination claimed many.
Of the 50 Grand Prix starters, 12 clears proceeded to the 2nd round, including Katie Dinan (USA) and Stakorado, Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) and Royce, Denis Lynch (IRE) and Ho Go van de Padenborre, Luciana Diniz (POR) and Apollonia, Beezie Madden (USA) and Simon, Kent Farrington (USA) and Voyeur, and Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Rosana du Park.
The top 18 riders came back to try their talents against another Uliano Vezzani course, including four on 4 faults. The U.S. had a strong showing with seven riders going through to the next round. All eyes were on Scott Brash and his 2012 Olympic mount as the combinations came back for their next test against the course.
The second round saw an early clear from Laura Kraut (USA) and Nouvelle carrying four faults from the first round. But subsequent clean rounds were few and far between until Bassem Mohammed and Palloubet D Halong notched up the first double clear. The course was twisty and with many turns, requiring immense control, with big oxers demanding scope and care.
Beezie Madden and Simon agonisingly lowered the final fence, but were swiftly followed by reigning European Champion Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) and Nippon d’Elle who were the second double clear. It wasn’t until near the end of the first round that Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos joined Bosty and Bassem in the final showdown – the combination looked on cracking form from the very beginning.
Bassem set the standard first to go in the jump-off, clear in a time of 39.74s. Second to go, Bosty risked a tight turn back to a tall upright and picked up a refusal, leaving him in 4th place. Scott Brash knew what he had to do and executed his plan with foot-perfect precision to stop the clock in 38.57s. Last to go, Pieter Devos pushed his mare, recently returned from a long break from competition, but lowered an early fence in the tricky jump-off course leaving Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos once more unbeatable.
Scott will be back in action in Antwerp in a few weeks once again hot on the trail on the Longines GCT Championship, which if he wins once again this season, will be his 3rd in a row – a truly incredible feat.
Class 14: Miami Beach 2015 CSI5* 1.60m
RK CNR Rider/Horse EUR USD Round A Round B Jump-Off Time
1 26 Scott Brash Hello Sanctos 181,735 198,000 0.00 0.00 0.00 38.57
2 41 Bassem Mohammed Palloubet D Halong 110,142 120,000 0.00 0.00 0.00 39.74
3 7 Pieter Devos Candy 82,607 90,000 0.00 0.00 4.00 44.19
4 22 Roger-Yves Bost Nippon d’Elle 55,071 60,000 0.00 0.00 5.00 47.33
5 134 Lauren Hough Ohlala 33,043 36,000 4.00 0.00 61.98
6 128 Kent Farrington Voyeur 16,521 18,000 0.00 4.00 62.38
7 133 Margie Goldstein-Engle Royce11,014 12,000 0.00 4.00 63.91
8 39 Luciana Diniz Apollonia 2311,014 12,000 0.00 4.00 65.00
9 139 Laura Kraut Nouvelle 11,014 12,000 4.00 0.00 65.32
10 140 Eric Lamaze Rosana du Park 9,000 0.00 4.00 65.79
11 142 Beezie Madden Simon 6,000 0.00 4.00 67.71
12 34 Denis Lynch Ho Go van de Padenborre 6,000 0.00 4.00 67.81
13 110 Katherine Dinan Stakorado 6,000 0.00 8.00 65.37
14 104 Doda de Miranda AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno 3,000 0.00 8.00 66.04
15 32 Hans-Dieter Dreher Embassy II 3,000 4.00 8.00 61.84
16 122 Georgina Bloomberg Lilli 3,000 4.00 8.00 66.47
17 47 Jane Richard Philips Pablo de Virton 3,000 4.00 12.00 63.78
18 30 Daniel Deusser Pironella 3,000 4.00 997.00
Todd Minikus wins the Elm Rock Farm Trophy
On flying form, Todd Minikus (USA) raced away with the Elm Rock Farm Trophy Saturday afternoon with Quality Girl, beating the world-class opposition with a supremely quick round to take the class in 54.41s. Marlon Zanotelli (BRA) had another great result with Zerlin M to finish 2nd in 55.85s, with Pablo Barrios (VEN) and Zara Leandra finishing 3rd in 56.76s.
It was another gorgeous day on Miami Beach and the public filled the grandstand and pressed against the arena fencing to watch the speed class unfold. The beautiful arena filled with spectacular flowers and eye-catching jumps proved a mega draw for nearby sun-worshipers who were drawn over to watch these fabulous horses and riders in action.
Class 13: Miami Beach 2015 CSI5* 1.45/1.50m
RK CNR Rider/Horse EUR USD Round A Time
1 148 Todd Minikus Quality Girl 10,298 11,220 0.00 54.41
2 10 Marlon Módolo Zanotelli Zerlin M 6,241 6,800 0.00 55.85
3 121 Pablo Barrios Zara Leandra 4,681 5,100 0.00 56.76
4 29 Daniel Deusser Carriere 3,121 3,400 0.00 58.76
5 45 Steve Guerdat Concetto Son 1,872 2,040 0.00 59.00
6 135 Lauren Hough Cornet 39 1,404 1,530 0.00 64.19
7 111 Katherine Dinan Bijou de Balou 936 1,020 0.00 65.33
8 14 Karim El Zoghby Urona 780 850 4.00 52.99
9 114 Darragh Kenny Belle Rock 624 680 4.00 55.50
10 150 Richie Moloney Alsvid 624 680 4.00 55.64
11 38 Maikel van der Vleuten VDL Groep Eureka 312 340 4.00 55.70
12 19 Kevin Staut Quismy des Vaux HDC 312 340 4.00 56.31
Class 12: Miami Beach 2015 CSI2* 1.40/1.45m
RK CNR Rider/Horse EUR USD Round A Time
1 291 Ronan McGuigan Capall Zidane 10,298 11,220 0.00 52.14
2 269 Adrienne Sternlicht Quidam MB 6,241 6,800 0.00 53.26
3 243 Lillie Keenan Londinium 4,681 5,100 0.00 53.51
4 244 Cara Raether Lyonell 3,121 3,400 0.00 54.57
5 289 Gemma Paternoster Zonneglans 1,872 2,040 0.00 56.57
6 211 Jorge Matte Capdevila Whisper HE1,404 1,530 0.00 56.69
7 202 Catherine Pasmore Catara 4 936 1,020 0.00 65.16
8 270 Adrienne Sternlicht Providence 780 850 0.00 65.85
9 288 Gemma Paternoster Osiris 624 680 0.00 68.77
10 250 Kaely Tomeu Fidalgo van het Leliehof 624 680 4.00 53.21
11 281 Emma Heise Little Lady Z 312 340 4.00 54.22
12 290 Lucy Deslauriers Hester 312 340 4.00 54.29
Class 11: Miami Beach 2015 CSI2* 1.25/1.30m
RK CNR Rider/Horse EUR Round A Time
1 264 Hillary McNerney Balans RV 1,155 0.00 46.03
2 263 Alexandra Crown Basic 700 0.00 47.04
3 293 Emily Moffitt Zagahorn 525 0.00 47.40
4 272 Cloe Hymowitz Little Love 350 0.00 47.57
5 294 Emily Moffitt HHS Fafa 210 0.00 48.44
6 226 Taylor Alexander La Tulipe 158 0.00 49.71
7 273 Lili Hymowitz Pauly du Breuil 105 0.00 50.64
8 295 Victoria Vargas d`Agostino Destello LS 88 0.00 52.43
9 232 Tara Corr Boy Blue 70 0.00 52.72
10 301 Couch Tara Callagher Apple 70 0.00 56.30
11 220 Andre Mershad Man In Black 35 0.00 56.50
12 228 Juan Pablo Gnecco Alvarino 2 35 0.00 57.91
Class 10: Miami Beach 2015 CSI2* 1.15m
RK CNR Rider/Horse EUR USD Round A Time
1 268 Tegan Elizabeth Treacy Catalyst 757 825 0.00 39.31
2 251 Lindsey Tomeu Bonapart 486 500 0.00 39.64
3 257 Skylar Rogalny Quiloa 344 375 0.00 41.68
4 300 Lea Allen Ginger 729 229 250 0.00 41.72
5 284 Alexandra Cherubini Equifit Carlos 138 150 0.00 42.25
6 298 Ahmed Alali Fenway 103 113 0.00 42.87
7 306 Couch Tara Callagher EV Allora 69 75 0.00 44.77
8 286 Nicolas Paillot Celine 57 63 0.00 46.41
9 206 Francisco Arredondo Gaitan Crawford 46 50 0.00 49.29
10 209 Jennifer Gates Toupie de Cantraie 46 50 0.00 51.82
11 304 Emma Dienst Cote d’Or Vis 23 25 0.00 56.28
12 285 Alexandra Cherubini Equifit Cayenne 178 23 25 4.00 40.12 |