Scott Brash and Hello Mr President (Comme d'Api vd Hacienda x unknown) took the top honours in Saturday's CSI5* 1.50m jump-off class at Hubside Jumping Grimaud in St. Tropez, France.
With a time of 36.81 seconds in the jump-off, Brash and the 13-year-old gelding bested a field of 39 horse-and-rider combinations. Ten pairs cleared their way into the deciding jump-off, where only the top five managed to deliver a double clear result. Max Kühner (AUT) on Up Too Jacco Blue (Chacco-Blue x Douglas) had to settle for the runner position when the clock stopped at 39.96, while 37.94 secured the third place for Rene Lopez Lizarazo (COL) on Kheros van'T Hoogeinde (Echo van'T Spielveld x Darco). Wilm Vermeir (BEL) on Joyride S (Toulon x Pachat II) placed fourth and Roger Yves Bost (FRA) on Delph de Denat (Air Jordan x Dollar Dela Pierre) fifth.
"Hello Mr President jumped great today," Brash said after his victory. "He is a naturally very fast horse, so I just had to stick to my initial plan in the jump-off, and today that was enough. Currently, he seems to be in particularly good shape, and has jumped better and better each day this week."
The second CSI5* class of the day, a 1.45m in two phases – also counting for the Longines Ranking – was a treat for the hosts as the top five had four French riders in it. Julien Gonin (FRA) on Cymba (Radieux x Adelfos) took home the top honours, while Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) on Luigi d'Eclipse (Catoki x Calato) slotted into runner-up position in between the French. Olivier Perreau (FRA) on Bresil de Carnaval (Mylord Carthago x Rosire) took the third spot, while the fourth place went to Penelope Leprevost (FRA) on Texas (Tornesch 1042 x Robin Z) and the fifth to Perreau on GL Events Dolce Deceuninck (Toulon x Cartier van de Heffinck).