Scott Brash Hello Sanctos Win at WEF

Scott Brash And Hello Sanctos End FTI WEF With Major Victory

The final day of competition at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival adjusted it’s schedule to make way for the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* after inclement weather forced show organizers to postpone the event.

The star-studded class that is traditionally held each year on the final Saturday night of week twelve was bumped over to Sunday afternoon. In the international ring thirty-eight horse and rider combinations were welcomed by the Florida sunshine, clear blue skies, temperatures in the high 70’s, and eager spectators watching their every move.

The course, designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), consisted of 14 obstacles that included a water jump, triple bar, two combinations, and some massive oxers.

Margie Engle and Royce, as well as Eric Lamaze and Zigali P S, jumped exhilarating clear rounds but fell short on time, receiving one time fault that kept them out of contention for the jump off.

A starting field of 38 only saw 7 advance to the jump off. Canadian rider and 7th to go, Ben Asselin was the first to jump clear aboard Makavoy, the KWPN entry owned by Attache Stables, and was immediately followed by Marie Hecart (FRA) and Myself De Breve, the 13-year-old Selle Francais mare owned by Normandie Connection. Asselin and Hecart were later joined by Jessica Springsteen (USA) aboard Vindicat W, Richie Moloney (IRL) aboard Slieveanorra, Scott Brash (GBR) aboard Hello Sanctos, Beezie Madden (USA) aboard Cortes ‘C’, and Kent Farrington (USA) aboard Voyeur.

Hecart and Myself De Breve, the fiery little mare with a powerful back end.

Richie Moloney and Slieveanorra take second with 44.64 seconds, followed by Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W with 44.87 (3rd), Ben Asselin and Makavoy with 46.01 (4th), Kent Farrington and Voyeur with 42.72 and 4-faults (5th), Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ with 43.72 and 4-faults (6th), and Marie Hecart and Myself De Breve with 45.23 and 8-faults (7th). Crossing the finish with a time of 43.44 seconds Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos are the official winners and it’s fitting to say that after 12 weeks of top notch competition hard work really does pay off.

Putting an end to his “Bridesmaids Curse” Brash holds his first place check, cut for a generous $165,000, and is presented with a stunning Rolex timepiece. Looking over at Ben Maher, Brash says, “I have been coming in second a lot to this man,” the two Britt’s laugh along with everyone in the press conference. “So, to win a class at the end is very rewarding and good for my team that has worked so hard during the circuit. Sanctos was fantastic today. I gave him a rest when I first came here and then I started him back and he felt just a little bit rusty and not quite jumping fit, so I jumped two weeks and then gave him last week off. This week he has just felt great and is jumping back to how he was. I’m very happy and looking forward to Europe. There’s a lot of big shows coming up with the championships and everything, so it’s good to feel him in such good form early on in the year.”

Hello Sanctos is a 12-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding and, “He is a fantastic horse and is just an absolute privilege to ride,” says Brash. Purchased in 2012 and currently owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham, the goal in mind for the gelding is to make it to the Olympic Games.

“I thought [Anthony D’Ambrosio] did a fantastic job with the course.” Brash comments, “It was big, it was hard, and to get seven clears was a good number. The jump-off I thought was very good and entertaining for the public. It is a real spectacular class and is all credit to Mark Bellissimo who puts on a fantastic tour here and now with Rolex sponsoring, it really brings the prestige of the show up to the top standard of high level sport. I think that is what everyone is looking for and I think it’s great.”

When asked if he gets nervous during such big classes Brash chuckles and modestly admits, “I probably get more nervous here sitting and talking to [the press] than I do in the ring.” Lets be honest, sitting in a room full of writers and reporters holding camera’s, voice recorders, and snapping pictures is a pretty intimidating and unpredictable scenario – you never really know what questions may be asked. #DidIReallyJustGetAskedThat

Finishing in second place with a time of 44.647 seconds, Ireland’s Richie Moloney recalls his ride, “The plan was to go as fast as I could and try to leave the jumps up. Maybe I could have been a little bit quicker, but I am very happy with second. I wasn’t that worried [about the oxer at the end]. Maybe there was one less there, but I thought it was a bit risky, so I just held steady and kept going on the one I knew [Slieveanorra] could jump from. Maybe the rolex jump I could have done one less or to the double at the end as well, but I’m happy with that.”

Slieveanorra, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse by the legendary show-jumping stallion Voltaire, was formerly owned by Moloney’s brother, Eddie Moloney, who rode the gelding to international victory at the 2011 CSI 3* Grand Prix in Vidauban prior to being purchased by Equinimity LLC. “He was purchased as a nine-year-old from my brother after winning the national championships in Ireland. He is a very good horse and it is nice to see him end [FTI WEF] so well.”

Sitting at the end of the table in the media tent Moloney graciously adds, “I would just like to say well done to Scott and also thank my owners and all of the staff who work very hard at the farm. It’s nice to get this result for them.”

Whats next? Brash will return to Scotland for two weeks before traveling to Lyon, France, for the World Cup Finals and will then be dedicating his time to the GCT. As for Springsteen, Moloney and Maher, you can find them at Sun Life Stadium in Miami on Saturday April 5th as they take on the $200,000 American Invitational.

By: Claudia Lorena

Check out some of the photos from the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* below.