Brash's Masterclass: Scott Steals Shanghai Victory By 0.17s

Scott Brash and Hello Chadora Lady delivered a masterclass in precision jumping to snatch victory in the €626,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Shanghai. The British rider's ice-cool performance ended his LGCT Grand Prix victory drought that stretched back to 2021, earning him not only the winner's share of the massive prize pot but also that coveted Golden Ticket to the Prague Super Grand Prix.

Peter Grant's first-round course was officially described as "tough but fair" by the eventual winner, but with 16 clears from 40 starters (40%), it didn't provide the level of challenge typically expected at this level of competition. The first round did present specific challenges though - most riders struggled with the second-to-last fence, a delicate plank positioned after a demanding triple bar. The triple combination also caused problems for several competitors, and fence 8, a careful vertical following a liverpool oxer, came down multiple times throughout the class.

The jump-off field of 16 was larger than usual for a 5* Grand Prix, essentially turning the competition into two Grand Prix events back-to-back. Denmark's Andreas Schou and Con Cosmos set the early pace with a clear in 45.32 seconds, setting a solid target for the field. Several riders chased his time until defending champion Gilles Thomas took over the lead with a blistering clear in 44.11 seconds that had the crowd on their feet.

When they returned for the jump-off, Brash was the last to go, with Thomas having thrown down the gauntlet. "I managed to watch Gilles' round because I knew he was one of the favorites in the jump-off. I knew he'd done a fantastic round... But I'm very confident how fast my mare is, so I knew if I could keep the rest smooth it would be close," Brash revealed afterward.

Brash and his "electric" 12-year-old Chacco-Blue mare responded in emphatic fashion, shaving milliseconds at every turn to stop the clock at 43.94—winning by just 0.17 seconds. That's basically a blink of an eye at that level! After his victory, an elated Brash praised his mount: "I'm absolutely delighted with my mare Shadora. She jumped incredible today. She gives her heart for you... one of the nicest mares I've ever worked with, really. She wants to win as much as me."

The jump-off proved treacherous for several combinations, particularly at the turnback from the second to the third fence. Lorenzo De Luca had a drive-by, Robert Murphy collected a refusal there, and Michael Duffy's round fell apart with a refusal at the Longines oxer near the end. Germany's Janne Meyer Zimmerman had a dramatic moment when her horse hit the wing of an obstacle, costing her valuable time, while Max Kuhner's blazing pace to the final fence resulted in it falling, dashing his hopes for a top placing. Pressure does strange things, even to riders at this level.

Spain's Eduardo Alvarez Aznar completed the podium with Legend, delivering a conservative but effective clear in 45.28s. His upcoming home event in Madrid should be interesting to watch—hometown advantage is real in this sport.

The results caused a significant shake-up in the LGCT championship standings, with Edwina Tops-Alexander (6th in Shanghai) taking the overall lead with 75 points, followed by Thomas (67) and Brash catapulting into third (61). With five legs completed and the series moving to Madrid next, the championship race is heating up nicely.

Quick Hits

🇮🇹 CSI4 Montefalco: 

Portugal's Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida and Karonia L captured the Grand Prix with a scorching 42.69s round in the jump-off, edging out Abdel Said by just 0.05s. The UAE had a strong showing with Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi taking third and Ali Hamad Al Kirbi winning Friday's 1.50m class.

🇩🇪 CSIO3 Mannheim: 

Team Germany delivered a home victory in the Longines EEF Series Nations Cup qualifier, defeating Switzerland in a jump-off after both finished on zero penalties. Sophie Hinners clinched it with Iron Dades Combella, despite picking up four faults in the deciding round. The week wrapped with Sweden's Peder Fredricson taking the Badenia Grand Prix aboard SV Vroom de la Pomme Z.

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🇧🇪 CSI3 Sentower Park: 

Dutch domination in Belgium with Harrie Smolders and Deesse de Kerglenn winning the Grand Prix in 36.97s. A Netherlands clean sweep of the podium was completed by Sanne Thijssen (2nd) and Bas Moerings (3rd). Speed, precision, and orange glory all around!

Industry News: Rankings Shake-Up, Market Moves & Welfare Focus

Kent climbs to the top: A major shift has occurred at the top of the Longines World Rankings. As of May 6, 2025, America's Kent Farrington has reclaimed the Longines World #1 ranking with 3,269 points, ending Henrik von Eckermann's impressive 33-month reign. This marks Farrington's second time at the pinnacle of the sport, having previously held the position from May 2017 to May 2018, and makes him only the second American rider after McLain Ward to achieve this prestigious ranking.

The top 10 has seen significant movement, with Great Britain's Ben Maher climbing two spots to #2 (3,064 points) and Sweden's von Eckermann dropping two places to #3 (3,026). Germany's Christian Kukuk slipped one position to #4, while Switzerland's Steve Guerdat held steady at #5. Martin Fuchs moved up one spot to #6, and Max Kuhner dropped to #7. America's McLain Ward made a notable jump of two places to #8, Richard Vogel fell one spot to #9, and Ireland's Cian O'Connor rounded out the top 10 after climbing two positions.

Farrington's return to #1 after a seven-year absence shows remarkable consistency and longevity, fueled by recent strong performances including a CSI5* Grand Prix win in Lexington. Kent did it right. Bought young horses, took his time and now it's paying off. The dynamic nature of the top rankings promises a compelling race for the #1 spot in the coming months.

Welfare initiatives gaining momentum: The Chromatic BF Memorial Fund has launched, supporting science-based research for sport horse health following the tragic loss of the US jumper at the 2024 World Cup Final. Meanwhile, the FEI has mandated a new noseband measuring device across all disciplines—standardizing equipment checks to enhance equine welfare.

Market moves: Swedish star Rolf-Göran Bengtsson's Olympic prospect Zuccero HV (Zirocco Blue) has been sold—another reminder that in this sport, even the best partnerships can be broken for the right price. That's gotta hurt with Paris on the horizon.

Deadlines approaching: NAYC applications for jumping close June 2, with Certificates of Capability due by June 9. FEI elections for various committee positions closed May 1, with a new Medical Committee Member position open until August 31.

Looking Ahead: A 4* & 3* Filled Week

The 5* circuit takes a breather this week with no top-tier shows scheduled, but the CSI4* action continues at Lido di Camaiore (ITA), Bourg en Bresse (FRA), and Montefalco (ITA).

The Americas see some action with CSI3* events in San Miguel de Allende (MEX), North Salem and Lexington (USA), while Europe hosts Le Touquet (FRA) and a World Cup qualifier in Szilvásvárad (HUN).

Looking ahead to the following week, LGCT Madrid (May 16-18) promises to be a highlight, where we'll see if Brash can continue his return to form or if Thomas can reclaim the winning touch he showed last year in Shanghai. The prestigious Royal Windsor Horse Show also takes place, featuring the €500,000 5* Rolex Grand Prix that always attracts a star-studded field.

Rating: 7.5/10

Shanghai gave us elite sport at its finest, with Brash's precision riding earning him a well-deserved victory after years of building his string back up. The jump-off was thrilling with the narrow margin of victory, but the course could have been more selective in the first round. Sixteen clears in a 5* Grand Prix? Come on! The emerging championship battle adds intrigue, and Farrington's rise to World #1 gives us two major storylines to follow. Losing points for the oversized jump-off field and some course design issues, but gaining some back for the global spread of competition and dramatic finishes.

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