Brilliant Brash! Super Scott is in a league above in Doha
Tuesday 27 January 2026
Scott Brash was in phenomenal form to pull off a magnificent Grand Prix victory double with three-star and five-star wins in Doha, Al Shaqab, Qatar, only two weeks after achieving the same feat.
It seems Scott has another superstar in the making in his string as, under his expert and careful guidance, Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s Hello Mango stepped in to take her first international win and therefore, her first 5* Grand Prix win.
“I’ve always thought she was very, very good and always thought she was capable of winning [at this level], so this doesn’t altogether surprise me, but I didn’t expect to win [a 5* Grand Prix] so early,” said Scott.
Thirty-seven riders faced German course-designer Peter Schumacher’s 13-fence, 16 effort 1.60m track in the 5* Grand Prix with nine mastering every fence on the course to go forward into the jump-off. Winner of the 5* Grand Prix two weeks earlier with Hello Jefferson, Scott was out for another world class win.
Drawn midway, he rode in his super-cool, seemingly unhurried customary style to secure his fourth consecutive Grand Prix win, the Untouchable 27 x Numero Uno 11-year-old mare Mango easing ahead to win by 0.45 seconds, relegating Austria’s Gerfried Puck on Equitron Naxcel V to second.
“She’s very talented and a lovely, all-round mare; scopey, careful, rideable and lovely to look after, but she sometimes stresses with the atmosphere, so I’ve taken my time with her, and this is the result of many years of hard work from the whole team,” said Scott. “I’ve not really pushed her before, but she feels ready for it now and winning what she is capable of. “She won’t jump for the next two weeks and will jump a smaller class next time out.”
Following the conclusion of Tour 3 on the Doha Equestrian Tour 2026, Scott now leads the 4/5* Grand Prix leaderboard of H.H. The Father Amir’s Prix 2026 by an impressive 49 points. Harry Charles sits in third, the two British Olympic 2024 team gold medallists split by Harry’s wife Eve Jobs in second.
The fiery powerhouse Hello Folie handed Scott another world ranking Grand Prix win in the 3* Grand Prix. Again, over a 13-fence, 16-effort course, the fences standing at 1.50m reduced the 44 riders to 13 for the jump-off.
On this occasion, Scott knew exactly what was required as, in the favoured last-to-go draw, he powered Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s Luidam x Diamant De Semilly 11-year-old mare into victory, beating Belgium’s Abdel Said on Wathnan Zasou Vom Claashof into second by 0.42 seconds.
“Folie had an easier trip this week [after taking second in the 4* Grand Prix three weeks ago]. This was well within her comfort zone, and she will compete in the five-star next week,” said Scott. “I had every advantage going last and watched Abdel just before me – which always helps – and she was quick; she loves going quick.”
A little more than half a second denied Scott a third win and he had to settle for second in the 5* 1.55m with Hello Chadora Lady, his 3* Grand Prix winner two weeks ago. Fifteen of the 32 starters jumped initial clears to qualify for the jump-off, Scott and the Chacco-Blue x Nintender 13-year-old finishing 0.61 seconds off the pace. Millie Allen was fourth here on Quickly D VH Ijzerenlindehof but picked up a win earlier in the day.
Twenty-eight riders contended the 5* 1.45m speed, but Millie was too fast for them all on Karel Cox Horses’ Quick Diamant HR, the Diamant De Semilly x Quidam De Revel 10-year-old mare striding out to win by 0.63 seconds.
Sandy McLean secures a World Cup podium place at the Al Shira’aa Tour CSI4*-W in Abu Dhabi with the exciting prospect Calixte Heartbreaker Z
Sandy McLean and fast-rising star Calixte Heartbreaker Z were on course for a Longines FEI World Cup victory on the Al Shira’aa Tour in Abu Dhabi, UAE, one frustrating pole falling to narrowly deny them the win.
Fifty competitors tackled the 13-fence, 16-effort 4* 1.60m track designed by Italy’s course-designer Elio Travagliati with 13 qualifying for the jump-off, six clear rounds joined by seven others carrying their faults under the 25% rule.
Sandy’s boss, Ireland’s Shane Breen, was at the top of the leaderboard on BP Arctic Blue when Sandy entered the arena as last to go. Nonetheless, he gave it his all with the 10-year-old Cicero Z Van Paemel x Heartbreaker mare – bred in Britain by Georgia Wells at Weston Lawns Stud and owned jointly by Annabel Vere Nicoll and Breen Equestrian Ltd – wiping almost four seconds off Shane’s time, but at the expense of four faults.
“It was an unforgettable night in the desert, she jumped absolutely insane, and I’m delighted owners Annabel and Shane were here to celebrate the result,” said Sandy, who has been selected with this mare to represent Great Britain’s Team Audevard in the CSIO4* Nations Cup at the end of the month at the Sharjah Equestrian Club, UAE.
This was only Sandy’s second World Cup qualifier with the impressive grey after making their debut in Al Ain at the end of 2025, where they finished eighth.
Sandy enjoyed a terrific show, recording a hat-trick of wins. Calixte added to his tally, flying into victory for Sandy in the 4* 1.50m speed, outpacing all 74 rivals by 0.18 seconds. The stallion Opportunity (Grandorado TN x Kashmir Van Schuttershof) was very consistent in the Seven-year-old series, winning the initial 1.30m two-phase with 0.47 seconds to spare, finished second in the 1.35m speed 1.15 seconds behind the pace and went on to win the Seven-year-old Final. Fourteen from the start list of 27 returned initial clears to join the jump-off, Sandy and Opportunity scoring a 0.52 second win.
Katie Speller secured victory in the 2* Grand Prix with Z&’s home-bred Z7 Pink Panther, a Cuick Star Kervec x Obos Quality eight-year-old she has produced through the grades. Seven of the 33 starters mastered the first round at 1.45m to contend the jump-off, Katie snatching the win by 0.44 seconds.
Robert Whitaker is on form in Amsterdam five-star with a win on Gentlemen VH Veldhof
Robert Whitaker claimed a 5* 1.50m victory on the final day in the Amsterdam CSI5*-W in The Netherlands, with reigning Hickstead Derby winner Gentlemen VH Veldhof.
Forty-one riders came forward over a 1.50m course, these reduced to nine for the jump-off. Advantageously drawn in the penultimate position, Robert had a good idea of exactly what he had to do and, with equal measures of skill and daring, steered Caroline Blatchford’s evergreen 20-year-old (Quite Easy x Calido I) into a 1.01 second win, relegating The Netherlands’ Leopold van Asten into second on VDL Groep Kwienbellie.
Robert was in the money all week, taking third in a 1.50m with Caroline and Stephen Blatchford’s 2025 King George V Gold Cup winner Vermento. Sixteen of the original 47 entry qualified for the jump-off, Robert and the Argento x Skippy 13-year-old – bred by Robert’s father John – slipping into third 0.82 seconds behind the winner, The Netherlands’ Willem Greve on Grandorado TN NOP.
Robert picked up the pace on the promising Strike A Pose to finish third in a 55-strong 5* 1.45m speed, the handsome nine-year-old who is the spitting image of his sire, Robert’s former top ride Catwalk IV, 1.20 seconds off the pace.
Jodie Hall-McAteer jumped the 16-year-old Chatman daughter Kimosa Van Het Kritrahof into third in the early 44-horse 5* 1.45m two-phase 0.21 seconds off the winning time set by France’s Kevin Staust aboard Hermes De Vasquerie. Robert and Gentleman finished just off the podium in fourth spot.
Anna Power scores a hat-trick of wins on the MET Spring Tour in Oliva Nova
The Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, is fast becoming Anna Power’s favourite showground and, after a phenomenal tour before Christmas, she returned to the venue in the New Year to notch up a hat-trick wins on week 2 of Spring MET.
Bina Ford’s quirky but talented McQueen secured victory in and early Gold 3* 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier for Anna. A total of 66 competitors contended this speed class, Anna guiding the big-striding Cobra x Nissan Caretano Z 13-year-old into a 2.60 second win.
Anna was also on form with Bina Ford’s Oxford V/D Witte Driesendijk, capturing the top spot of the 54-horse Gold 1.40m speed with 0.63 seconds in hand. The pair went on to finish fourth in the world ranking Gold 1.45m Final in a nine-horse decider, 0.94 seconds off the winning time.
Anna beat 79 competitors in the Silver 1.40m two-phase with Calgary PH Z, the Comme Il Faut 5 x Caretano Z eight-year-old winning by 0.58 seconds. The pair were also on the podium in the Silver Tour 1.40m Grand Prix as 15 from the 60 on the start list tackled the jump-off, Anna finishing third 0.97 seconds off victory.
Pollyanna Gredley was also a winner, topping the 94-strong Silver 1.30m speed by 0.38 seconds on the 11-year-old Kesha From Second Life Z (Kannan x Heartbreaker).
Image: (C)DET/Lukasz Kowalski
.jpg "Young Riders Shine at Aintree Equestrian Centre Large Pony Premier")
