![Scott Brash & Hello Sanctos (Stefano Grasso/LGCT)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/7336/brash.jpg)
Scott Brash & Hello Sanctos (Stefano Grasso/LGCT)
Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT) and his relatively new ride Palloubet D Halong put in the performance of their young partnership to take Silver. While 2014 Longines GCT of Shanghai Grand Prix winner Pieter Devos (BEL) and Candy finished with a worthy Bronze medal. From the VIP Lounge, Michael Bloomberg, Bruce Springsteen, HE Sheikh Joaan Al Thani and Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine watched world-class sport at it's very best.
Speaking from the VIP Hospitality Lounge Mr Bloomberg said: "I think this is a wonderful thing for Miami and for the economy of Miami. This could become like the Formula 1 is to Monaco and places like that not just the people who come to watch the show, the people who support it, the people who work in the hotels where we all stay, the restaurants. It is amazing the hard work that goes into this."
Having claimed a strong victory with his new mount Hello Forever in yesterday's 42nd American Invitational, Scott Brash went into the Grand Prix a firm favourite, but facing hot competition from a stellar line-up of world-class riders from around the globe.
The first round of the Grand Prix was a testing and technical course which caught out many an experienced combination. The tight, awkward distances, tall uprights and sharp corners demanded precision, control and power. There were no clear bogey fences, though an airy vertical on a dog-leg following the Longines combination claimed many.
Of the 50 Grand Prix starters, 12 clears proceeded to the 2nd round, including Katie Dinan (USA) and Stakorado, Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) and Royce, Denis Lynch (IRE) and Ho Go van de Padenborre, Luciana Diniz (POR) and Apollonia, Beezie Madden (USA) and Simon, Kent Farrington (USA) and Voyeur, and Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Rosana du Park.
The top 18 riders came back to try their talents against another Uliano Vezzani course, including four on 4 faults. The U.S. had a strong showing with seven riders going through to the next round. All eyes were on Scott Brash and his 2012 Olympic mount as the combinations came back for their next test against the course.
The second round saw an early clear from Laura Kraut (USA) and Nouvelle carrying four faults from the first round. But subsequent clean rounds were few and far between until Bassem Mohammed and Palloubet D Halong notched up the first double clear. The course was twisty and with many turns, requiring immense control, with big oxers demanding scope and care.
Beezie Madden and Simon agonisingly lowered the final fence, but were swiftly followed by reigning European Champion Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) and Nippon d'Elle who were the second double clear. It wasn't until near the end of the first round that Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos joined Bosty and Bassem in the final showdown - the combination looked on cracking form from the very beginning.
Bassem set the standard first to go in the jump-off, clear in a time of 39.74s. Second to go, Bosty risked a tight turn back to a tall upright and picked up a refusal, leaving him in 4th place. Scott Brash knew what he had to do and executed his plan with foot-perfect precision to stop the clock in 38.57s. Last to go, Pieter Devos pushed his mare, recently returned from a long break from competition, but lowered an early fence in the tricky jump-off course leaving Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos once more unbeatable.
Scott will be back in action in Antwerp in a few weeks once again hot on the trail on the Longines GCT Championship, which if he wins once again this season, will be his 3rd in a row - a truly incredible feat.
Class 14: Miami Beach 2015 CSI5* 1.60m
RK CNR Rider/Horse EUR USD Round A Round B Jump-Off Time
1 26 Scott Brash Hello Sanctos 181,735 198,000 0.00 0.00 0.00 38.57
2 41 Bassem Mohammed Palloubet D Halong 110,142 120,000 0.00 0.00 0.00 39.74
3 7 Pieter Devos Candy 82,607 90,000 0.00 0.00 4.00 44.19
4 22 Roger-Yves Bost Nippon d'Elle 55,071 60,000 0.00 0.00 5.00 47.33
5 134 Lauren Hough Ohlala 33,043 36,000 4.00 0.00 61.98
6 128 Kent Farrington Voyeur 16,521 18,000 0.00 4.00 62.38
7 133 Margie Goldstein-Engle Royce11,014 12,000 0.00 4.00 63.91
8 39 Luciana Diniz Apollonia 2311,014 12,000 0.00 4.00 65.00
9 139 Laura Kraut Nouvelle 11,014 12,000 4.00 0.00 65.32
10 140 Eric Lamaze Rosana du Park 9,000 0.00 4.00 65.79
11 142 Beezie Madden Simon 6,000 0.00 4.00 67.71
12 34 Denis Lynch Ho Go van de Padenborre 6,000 0.00 4.00 67.81
13 110 Katherine Dinan Stakorado 6,000 0.00 8.00 65.37
14 104 Doda de Miranda AD Rahmannshof's Bogeno 3,000 0.00 8.00 66.04
15 32 Hans-Dieter Dreher Embassy II 3,000 4.00 8.00 61.84
16 122 Georgina Bloomberg Lilli 3,000 4.00 8.00 66.47
17 47 Jane Richard Philips Pablo de Virton 3,000 4.00 12.00 63.78
18 30 Daniel Deusser Pironella 3,000 4.00 997.00