Edited press release from Andalucía Sunshine Tour

Great Britain’s Scott Brash won Sunday’s CSI4* 1.55m Stephex Grand Prix at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour, sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Government of Andalucía, through Tourism and Sports of Andalucía. Riding the 10-year-old Hello Valentino (Diamantino x Careful 28), owned by Brash’s long-time supporters Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham, the former world no. one beat a strong field of horses and riders in the Grand Prix – that was jumped on sand in the Milton-ring due to the last days’ heavy rain in the region. This Grand Prix was a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2025 European Championship, and also counted for the Longines Ranking. 

“I thought he jumper super, I’ve struggled a little bit with the rideability but he gets away with it because he has so much quality in his jump,” Brash said after his victory. “I’ve just been working on that; to improve the rideability. I wouldn’t say it is perfect yet, but he jumped a great round to win."

“I’m just trying to bring him on, I want to produce him to be a consistent five-star Grand Prix horse and just really want to work on the rideability down here,” Brash explained about Hello Valentino. “The Sunshine Tour is great for that; the horses can get a lot of experience, we can ride them in a lot of different arenas, on grass, sand, in sunshine and rain,” Brash laughed – with reference to today’s weather. “It’s all good, gives us a lot to work on and sets us up for the season."

Stopping the clock on 36.98 seconds, Brash left Rene López Lizarazo (COL) and Driss de Kerglenn (Mylord Carthago*HN x CAP Kennedy*Bois Margot) to second place– separated by 0.15 seconds. Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) and In Time (Biscayo x Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve) completed the top three, with a time of 37.19 seconds.  Fourth and fifth went to Austria; Max Kühner with EIC Quantum Robin V (Carambole x Stakkato), followed by Christoph Obernauer with Kleons Renegade (Quintero x Stakkato).  

After Friday's cancellations due to heavy rain and strong wind, it was a lot going on at Montenmedio on Saturday and Sunday. The CSI4* 1.50 Medium Tour Grand Prix counting for the Longines Ranking, jumped in the Baloubet du Rouet arena, went to Sameh El Dahan (GBR) who topped the podium after a cracking round aboard WKD Aimez Moi (Je T'aime Flamenco) in a ten-horse jump-off.  With time of 36.86 seconds, El Dahan left Bertram Allen (IRL) and Castigo de Amor (Cascadello x Con Air) to the runner-up spot after the Irish rider had clocked a time of 37.42. Emanuele Camilli (ITA) and Chaccos’s Girlstar (Chacco-Blue x Sandro Boy) placed third with a time of 37.57 seconds. 

Swiss legend Steve Guerdat, currently third on the Longines Ranking and reigning European Champion, was the winner of the Big Tour’s Small Grand Prix – set at 1.45m. Riding the 10-year-old stallion Easy Star de Talma (Quick Star x Opium de Talma), Guerdat delivered a lightning-fast round in 28.79 seconds – which no one else could match. Second place went to Penélope Leprevost (FRA) and Fantasy de La Roque Z (For Hero*de Hus x Heartbreaker) with a time of 30.05 seconds, followed by Andrzej Oplatek (POL) and Le Cordial (Lyjanero x Singular Joter) in third in 30.40 seconds.

The fourth Longines Ranking Grand Prix of the day was in the Small Tour. Set at 1.45m, seven horse-and-rider combinations managed to deliver clear rounds to move on to the jump-off. Fastest was Helmut Schönstetter (GER) and Anton SBK Z (Arko III x Quintero Z) with a time of 33.37 seconds. In 34.77 seconds followed Ivan Dalton (IRL) and Plaisire D’Api (For Pleasure x Apple Juice) in second and Matteo Leonardi (ITA) aboard Daytona Della Caccia (Diamant de Semilly x Caretino) in third – just 0.02 seconds slower.