Super-charged Scott Brash lands another 5* Grand Prix victory in Doha
Tuesday 03 February 2026
It was another week, another 5* Grand Prix win for the phenomenal Scott Brash at the H.H. The Father Amir’s Prix 2026 in Doha, Al Shaqab, Qatar, on this occasion riding his seasoned star Hello Jefferson.
“Today was a special day because it was Jefferson. It wasn’t my plan to jump him in the Grand Prix this week, it was actually Folie,” said Scott.
This marked his fifth Grand Prix win in three weeks having previously won two x 5* Grands Prix with Hello Jefferson and Hello Mango and two 3* Grands Prix with Hello Folie and Hello Chadora Lady. A remarkable achievement.
Scott and Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s evergreen and effervescent Jefferson started the week with a respectable second place in the 5* 1.50m speed. 0.65 seconds behind the winner, Austria’s Max Kuhner aboard Greece 5.
“Because he went quite quick on day one, I had two down the next day then he jumped the next double fantastic. I only jumped six fences and retired but I said to my groom as I came out, ‘He feels amazing although he had two down, I wouldn’t mind jumping him in the Grand Prix’. It was a hard decision as Folie also feels amazing, but I decided to go with Jefferson and that’s what makes the win extra special as it wasn’t my first plan to go with him,” said Scott.
Thirty-nine riders faced German course-designer Peter Schumacher’s 14-fence, 17-effort 1.60m track with 12 returning – seven clears joined by four four-faulters carrying their faults – over a different 10-fence course against the clock. Drawn fourth and using his customary cool but fast approach, Scott had the ever-eager 17-year-old Jefferson (Cooper Van De Heffinck x Irco Mena) striding out between distances to cover the ground and perfectly executing a tight rollback turn to the penultimate tall vertical. They proved the sole partnership to break the 53 second barrier, comfortably remaining ahead to win by 1.93 seconds. Fellow Brits Harry Charles (Sherlock) and Millie Allen (Quickly D VH Ijzerenlindehof) also provided first round clears but dropped to sixth and eighth respectively.
“Jefferson is 17-years-old but I know him so well – we’ve had a 9/10-year partnership – and for him to come out again and win was amazing and it’s all credit to my team he looks as good as he does. He loves jumping and always jumps very good here because of the space in the big ring; when old horses feel like that, they tell you when they’re ready to jump and the horses feel very happy here in the amazing facilities,” added Scott.
Harry topped an earlier 5* 1.50m two-phase with Bandit, the Obos Quality 004 x Cruisings Micky Finn 11-year-old stallion cruising ahead of their 23 rivals to win by 0.48 seconds.
Millie claimed her own win with Karel Cox Horses’ 10-year-old mare Quickly D (Quint VH Maarlo Z x Nevado Van De Rostal) in the Six-Bar as the sole partnership to leave every pole up over four rounds. Eleven started with only two left by round four, but Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt opted to withdraw Lady Concern Du Rezidal at this point, leaving Millie to jump another flawless round to win outright.
Millie picked up second in the initial 51-strong 5* 1.40m two-phase with the Diamant De Semilly 10-year-old Quick Diamant HR 0.79 seconds off the pace. Olli Fletcher also notched up a British win, outpacing 50 rivals with 1.65 seconds to spare on the 11-year-old Krack Bleu C.
Ben Maher celebrates his birthday with a four-star double with Ginger-Blue at Wellington International in The USA
Ben Maher hit form with Jane Forbes Clark’s Ginger-Blue in week 4 at the three-month long Wellington International in Florida, USA.
The pair made their intentions clear in the $32,000 4* 1.50m speed on the grass Derby field as they galloped to the top, beating their 22 rivals by 1.82 seconds to celebrate Ben’s 43rd birthday. Fellow Brit San Hutton had to settle for second with Etincelle D’Ellipse.
The win set up Ben and Ginger-Blue perfectly for the final day’s $62,500 4* Hermes 1.50m Classic. Seven of the 17 starters conquered the first round track but Ben had the jump-off sewn up with the 15-year-old Plot Blue x Royal Bravour mare. Again, held in the Equestrian Village Derby field, Ben had the confident mare striding out to win with 1.14 seconds to spare.
Amanda Derbyshire was another to score a winning double with her consistent long-term campaigner Cornwall.
Amanda sped to the top in the Griffis Residential $32,000 2* 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier where the top 12 of the original 62 starters returned for the jump-off. The clock played a major part with Amanda forging ahead to take the win on the Holsteiner 18-year-old Cornwall by 0.82 seconds to celebrate her “First win as a Mom!” following the birth of her son Max in November.
It was a great run to set them up for the final day’s 2* Grand Prix, where Amanda took full advantage of her final draw. Almost half of the 44 starters accessed the jump-off as 21 returned to battle it out against the clock. Amanda besting them all as she swept into victory by 0.76 seconds on the eager Cornwall.
Matt Boddy was also a 2* 1.45m winner, mastering the Griffis Residential 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier with the 14-year-old Ugano Sitte x Darco mare Keatingstown Miami. Eighteen competitors came forward in the speed class with Matt and the year-old outpacing them to win with 1.74 seconds in hand.
Jess Mendoza is in the money in Ocala
Jess Mendoza was less than half a second away from a major Grand Prix win in Ocala, USA, with In The Air.
Nine of the original 30 competitors touted initial clear rounds over the 4* 1.55m course to head for the jump-off, Jess and the Air Jordan Z x VDL Indoctro 13-year-old posting another flawless round to slot into second spot only 0.46 seconds off the winning time set by Ireland’s Daniel Coyle on Farrel.
The I’m Special De Muze 14-year-old I Cap CL Z was also in the money for Jess, taking third in the 21-strong $32,000 2* 1.45m speed, one full second behind the pace and picking up fourth in the $32,000 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier with a double clear in the 13-horse decider.
John Whitaker narrowly misses out on a win in Hong Kong
John Whitaker was only a fraction from victory in the Longines Welcome Stakes at the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show with Unick Du Francport.
The 24 starters came forward to tackle a 5* 1.50m course with eight achieving their initial clear round aim to join the jump=off, although one dropped out at this stage to leave seven against the clock. Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher posted a sizzling round from the penultimate draw on Cous Cous 3 to give last-to-go John a new target to chase.
He gave it all with the Zandor sired 18-year-old ‘Frank’ but despite the supreme effort, crossed the finish beams just 0.16 seconds off the pace for second place.
Sameh El Dahan finished just off the podium in the concluding Longines Grand Prix in an exciting jump-off with Oscar-A. Ten of the 21 starters returned for the jump-off, Sameh guiding the Harley x Cardento 12-year-old into another clear round for fourth a little over three seconds behind the winner, France’s Roger Yves Bost on Ballerine Du Vilpion.
Anna Power claims podium places in Oliva Nova
Anna Power picked up money throughout week 3 on the Spring Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, with Bina Ford’s Oxford V/D Witte Driesendijk and Calgary.
Oxford claimed two third Gold 1.45m places, the Emerald x Echo Van Het Neerenbosch 12-year-old stallion finishing just over two seconds behind the winner in the early 60-strong 1.45m speed. The pair also picked up a podium place in the world ranking Gold 1.45m Final over a 13-fence track as only three of the 42 starters reached the jump-off, round two not going their way to earn third.
Anna scored a win in the Silver 1.25m speed with the eight-year-old Calgary PH Z (Comme Il Faut 5 x Caretano Z), beating their 66 rivals by 0.73 seconds. The pair proved 0.89 seconds off the pace in the 77-strong Silver 1.40m speed for second place.
Adrian Speight claimed second in the Six-year-old 1.30m Final with Gypsy Casalensky (Casall La Silla x Cornet Obolensky) 1.89 seconds off the winning time in the 12-horse jump-off. Their consistency earned second place in the MET Young Horse Champions Trophy, just two points behind the winner.
Image: Lukasz Kowalski
 c. Majestic Photography.jpg "James Smith Dominates in the Penultimate Winter Grand Prix at Aintree Winter Classic Show")
