Scott Brash leads New York Empire to victory in Cannes
Monday 08 June 2026
In a blockbuster night of Global Champions League action in Cannes, Scott Brash led New York Empire powered by Lugano as the sole team to leave every fence intact to seal victory.
Forever cool and unflustered, Scott delivered a crucial first-round clear on the eager Hello Jefferson and, added to partner Max Wachman’s two time penalties on Fancy De Kergane, stood top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage.
Scott added one time penalty in the second half with the 13-year-old Chacco-Blue daughter Hello Chadora Lady. Added to Max’s three time faults in this round, the New York Empire total came to six faults, two faults in hand over the Doha Falcons.
The charge from Doha Falcons was one of the stories of the night. Sitting sixth after Round one, Jess Mendoza and In The Air bounced back from an opening-round eight faults with a flawless clear when it mattered most. Sanne Thijssen then piled on the pressure, delivering a second consecutive clear aboard Cupcake Z as the Falcons rocketed up the leaderboard on eight faults with 5 teams to go. And as each following team fell by the wayside, they climbed up the leaderboard to second place.
In pole position, New York Empire entered Round two in prime position and never looked back. Max was first to return, picking up three penalties aboard Fancy de Kergane to leave the door slightly ajar. But when the pressure reached its peak, Scott produced exactly what his team needed, guiding the athletic and keen Hello Chadora Lady to a superb round with just a single time fault to secure victory on a final score of six faults.
Taking the first win of the season for New York Empire, long-term team member Scott spoke of the supportive crowd and team performance, ultimately allowing him to guide Hello Chadora Lady around round two with room to breathe and enjoy the moment.
“The atmosphere here in Cannes is always buzzing under the lights. Max did two super rounds which really let me have the time with Chadora in round two and ultimately deliver for the team.”
Young talent Max Wachmann smiled: "I'm absolutely delighted. To win anywhere on the GCL circuit is special, but to do it here in Cannes with this atmosphere is great. The crowd was incredible and there was such a great buzz around the arena. A huge thank you has to go to our team owner Georgina [Bloomberg] for the opportunity, and everyone involved with New York Empire team."
A Cannes debutant, Jessica Mendoza talked of the feeling of jumping here: “It’s my first time here in Cannes and really couldn’t be happier with how tonight unfolded. After the first round we knew we were in the running. I knew I had to produce a quick clear in round two, and sitting watching the other teams behind us fall behind us kept us on the edge of our seat up until the end.”
As a result of her second-round efforts, Jess and In The Air topped the 5* 1.55m speed, run concurrently with the GCL. Twenty competitors chased after the win, Jess proving the quickest on the 13-year-old mare (Air Jordan x Indoctro) to triumph with 3.46 seconds in hand.
Ben Maher is top of the podium in St Gallen
Ben Maher captured the Prize Suttero 5* 1.50m in St Gallen, Switzerland, with Jane Forbes Clark’s Ginger-Blue.
Ben showed his class in this 5* 1.50m speed against some tough competition. Fifty-seven riders came forward over the 13-fence, 15-effort 1.50m track designed by Gerard Lachat with Ben showing just why he is World Number 4 with a masterclass round on the 15-year-old Ginger-Blue (Plot Blue x Royal Bravour) to scoop the top spot by 0.28 seconds over The USA’s Aaron Vale on Fray’s Inn.
Ben picked up third in the MS Direct Group 1.50m aboard Maddox VH Haringvliet Z. Sixteen of the 61 starters qualified for round two, although four opted not to jump again and save their horses for the 5* Grand Prix. Ben jumped another good clear on the Monte Bellini x Ogano Sitte nine-year-old to slot into third 1.75 seconds behind the winner, France’s Kevin Staut on Exquis RB.
Harry Charles steered Bandit into third in the City and Canton of St Gallen Speed and Handiness. Aaron Vale and Gray’s Inn took the win with Harry and the Obos Quality x Cruisings Micky Finn 11-year-old finising 1.61 sec in arrears for third. Ben and Ginger-Blue were in contention and proved more than two seconds quicker, but a rail down dropped them to fourth.
Cousins Donald and Robert Whitaker claim a five-star British top two at Spruce Meadows Continental
Whitaker cousins Donald and Robert landed a British top two in the Duncan Ross Cup for a good start at the 5* Spruce Meadows Continental in Calgary, Canada.
Course-designer Tom Holden (IRE) set a 12-fence, 15-effort 1.45/1.50m track for the 17 horse and rider partnerships forward with six posting clear rounds, although only five opted to join the jump-off.
Robert set the pace in the opening draw with the evergreen 20-year-old Equine America Gentlemen VH Veldhof (Quite Easy 958 x Calido I) and held the top spot, until Donald maxed on his final draw. Donald, who got the ride on this Cornet Obolensky x Elvis Ter Putte eight-year-old last October, took a similar route but with a gallop to the final vertical, stopped the clock with 0.55 seconds in hand and snatch victory.
Joe Whitaker lands the 3* Al Shira’aa Tour Grand Prix in Deauville with Hulahupe JR
Joe Whitaker jumped to the top of the 3* Al Shira’aa Tour Grand Prix in Deauville, France, with Hulahupe JR.
Only eight of the original 68 competitors conquered the 13-fence 1.50m course to qualify for the jump-off, but no-one could catch Joe. The VDL Bubalu x Indoctro 14-year-old Hulahupe eagerly answered every question Joe asked to fire into the top spot with 3.38 seconds to spare.
Chad Fellows is a winner in Greece
Chad Fellows seized victory in the 3* 1.45m with Pesgo Adeheid Z at the Thessaloniki - Ippos Club in Greece.
Twenty-one of the original 43 starters returned for round two over a 12-fence, 15-effort 1.45m course with an on-form Chad taking two of the top three places. The 12-year-old Pesgo Adelheid Z (Gestion Priamus Z x Chardonnay Z) leading the way for Chad by 0.89 seconds and the 12-year-old Creevyquinn Pearl filling third spot.
Tim Gredley claims third place in Sentower Park’s hotly contended 3* Grand Prix
Tim Gredley claimed a podium place in the 3* Grand Prix at Sentower Park in Belgium, with Medoc De Toxandria.
Only eight from the field of 59 mastered course-designer Raf Suarez’s 13-fence, 16-effort 1.55m track with five again jumping clear rounds. But it was tight at the top. Tim guided the Der Senaat 111 14-year-old Medoc only 0.26 seconds behind the winner, Sweden’s Karin Martinsen on Tailormaid Conita Blue PS.
Ellen Whitaker guided Conshira Blue PS into second in a 55-strong 3* 1.45m speed on the 13-year-old Conthargos x Chacco Blue mare 2.79 seconds off the pace.
Fraser Reed is victorious in the 2* Grand Prix of Tours-Pernay
Fraser Reed claimed victory in the 2* Grand Prix of Tours-Pernay, Haras De Bel Air in France, with SES Jumeirah.
Fifty-three competitors set out over the 13-fence 1.45m course and, with 18 qualifying for the jump-off, it was set to be hot. Trusting the Diamant De Semilly x VDL Douglas nine-year-old SES Jumeirah’s carefulness, Fraser was determined from the off, slicing corners to break the finish beams with 1.57 seconds to spare.
Will Fletcher takes a Grand Prix second place in The Netherlands
Will Fletcher eased the eight-year-old Shelton DD into second place in the Tubbergen 2* Grand Prix in The Netherlands, 0.73 seconds behind the winner in the 17-horse decider.
Image: Global Champions League
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