Text © World of Showjumping

Scott Brash (GBR) and Hello Vittoria (Kannan x Olisco, bred by Henriette Evain) won Saturday's Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup Final at CHIO Aachen.

Ten out of the 30 horse-and-rider combinations that had qualified for the final cleared the first-round track and joined the jump-off, where Brash and the 8-year-old Selle Francais mare were the fastest. As the last pair out, the two stopped the clock on 40.08, taking home the win – pushing Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) on the 8-year-old Selle Francais mare Extase Ste Hermelle (Uto Kervec x Babylis de Ste Hermelle) down to the runner-up position after shaving off 0.59 seconds on the time to beat. Patrick Stühlmeyer (GER) and the 7-year-old stallion Chad Blue PS (Chacco-Blue x Sandro Boy) took the third place, while fourth went to Christian Ahlmann (GER) on the 7-year-old stallion Condor One Z (Codex One Z x Berlin) and fifth to Andre Thieme (GER) on the 8-year-old gelding Paule S (Perigueux x Sir Shutterfly). 

"She is a lovely mare," Brash said about Hello Vittoria after their victory. "She is really careful, and very clever. When you go quick, she is looking for the next fence; she is dead sharp and has a great brain on her. She has a great temperament, she is easy to work with. I have had her since was five, I bought her from Shane Breen, she came from the Fences Auction. I saw her jumping at Hickstead with Georgia Tame and just really liked the look of her. I know her quite well because I have had her for quite some time now; I think she has a great future ahead of her."

"Today, I think she was really good in the jump-off," Brash said about his winning round. "It is a big ring, and she has never gone that fast before, but she coped with it really well and kept her jump – it felt like she really enjoyed it." 

"I think her temperament is the best quality in her," Brash continued. "She is so easy and willing, takes in the atmosphere great, it does not affect her at all, she keeps her jump, she does not get shy or scared – that is a big plus. To be in Aachen, it is always great; you push that extra bit, you want to entertain the crowd, especially when you are last to go, so the pressure is on." 

"I only have her and Jefferson here, so I have had a quiet week really," Brash told about his feelings ahead of Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix. "I have been sitting and watching many of the classes I would have liked to be in. Jefferson jumped great in the Nations Cup, that was our target and the Rolex Grand Prix tomorrow. I have set myself this goal for a long time and Jefferson feels in great shape. Of course, you need a bit of luck on the day, hopefully the course will suit us. If I ride him right, I think he has a good chance tomorrow."