Scott Brash and Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof Shine in $200,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI 4* Presented by The Bainbridge Companies

Great Britain's Scott Brash guided Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof to victory in Saturday night's $200,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI 4* presented by The Bainbridge Companies at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). In a suspenseful jump-off, Brash beat out Richard Spooner (USA) and Cristallo, and Kent Farrington (USA) and Voyeur, who finished second and third.

Forty-five entries showed in the World Cup qualifier, jumping a course set by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Eleven cleared the first round course without fault and returned for an exciting jump-off. The nations of France, Ireland, Great Britain, Russia, Canada and the United States were all represented. Nine entries cleared the jump-off course.

Ireland's Andrew Bourns and Roundthorn Madios were the first pair to clear the jump-off course and finished seventh overall with their time of 41.79 seconds. Fellow Irishman Kevin Babington bested that with his clear round in 40.51 seconds aboard Mark Q to finish in fifth place. Great Britain's Tina Fletcher and Ursula XII, owned by Lady Harris, completed the course in 45.84 seconds to place ninth. Russia's Ljubov Kochetova also cleared the short course aboard Aslan and stopped the clock in 45.82 seconds to earn eighth place honors.

Canada's Ian Millar lowered the winning time to 39.90 seconds aboard Team Works' Star Power to eventually finish in fourth place. Kent Farrington and Amalaya Investment's Voyeur immediately followed and pushed the mark down to 38.19 seconds, which would place third. Lauren Hough (USA) and Robin Parsky's Blue Angel were next to return and stopped the clock in 40.86 seconds to earn the sixth place prize.

The final two competitors were Scott Brash and Richard Spooner, whose times were separated by just 3/10ths of a second for the top prize. Brash and Sanctos Van Het Granvehof, owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham, were first to compete and jumped into the lead with their time of 37.27 seconds. Spooner and Show Jumping Syndications International's Cristallo jumped last and stopped the clock in 37.52 seconds, just shy of the mark, to finish second.

The fastest round of the night belonged to Marie Hecart of France with Haras De La Roque's Myself De Breve. The pair completed the short course in 37.03 seconds, but dropped a rail at the last fence and finished in tenth place. Conor Swail (IRL) and Ecurie Michel Hecart's Oceane De Nantuel also had a rail in the jump-off and their time of 39.77 seconds took the eleventh place honors.

Class winner Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof is a ten-year-old SBS gelding by Quasimodo Vd Molendreef x Nabab De Reve. He is a new mount for Brash as of January, and the pair has already had great success together, including a win earlier this week in Thursday's $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 Section B.

Brash deemed tonight's win one of the biggest of his career, and the $60,000 first place prize his highest pay day yet. "This was definitely one of my best wins for sure," he admitted. "Toronto was also a good win. I have not won so many top classes. I have only won two World Cups and been to the championships, but I have not won a big, big grand prix like this. It's high up there."

Richard Schechter spoke on behalf of the Bainbridge Companies for their sponsorship of tonight's class as well as the whole week of competition. "We are extremely pleased to have sponsored the grand prix tonight and to have sponsored the week. This was an incredibly exciting grand prix; I think the best one so far this year," Schechter noted. "The jump-off was unbelievable. I have to give everyone incredible compliments. We are very proud that we can do this. This is my 12th year sponsoring at WEF and it has been very rewarding for us and rewarding for me personally. In our own business, we aspire to be the best in the country and what is so exciting about this is that you have the world's best riders here. There's just nothing like it and it is very, very special. We are extremely pleased that we can be part of it."

Second place finisher Richard Spooner was very happy with his horse Cristallo's performance tonight and spoke about his round. "I was lucky enough to go last in the jump-off, so I saw these two lads go, and I know how fast they are. Scott was absolutely incredible," Spooner acknowledged. "It was one of those rounds that you don't want to see as you are about to go in because you think, 'How can I beat that?' He was slick and he rode brilliantly. I just hoped my horse would be faster across the ground."

Kent Farrington and Voyeur were super fast and put in an excellent round, but Farrington is just getting to know the horse after only a month of riding him, and remarked that his round may not have been as smooth as the other two. "My horse is new for me and he has just stepped up to this level of jumping. I took a big gamble with him," Farrington stated. "This was about as fast as he is ready to go. He still doesn't turn as well, so I had to take a wider turn to the double and then to the last fence I went as fast as I could, but I still had to square him up there because he hasn't been in too many jump-offs to be looking for the next fence at that speed."

Jumper Results: Wednesday through Sunday

The ninth week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival began with Wednesday morning's $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic, and Laura Kraut (USA) rode Stars and Stripes' Teirra to victory. Richard Spooner (USA) and Billy Bianca, owned by Molly Ohrstrom, were second, while Ben Maher (GBR) and Rowan, owned by Mrs. Louise Flower, were third. Today's 1.45m class featured 49 horse and rider combinations from 13 different nations competing over a speed course set by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Going at the end of the class, Kraut and Teirra brought the winning time down to 59.25 seconds with no faults. They were chasing the previous time of 60.75 seconds set by Spooner and Billy Bianca. Last in the class, Maher and Rowan were close in 62.71 seconds but finished in third place.

Following the 1.45m class, there were two 1.40m classes in the International Arena sponsored by Spy Coast Farm. In the first speed format class, Conor Swail (IRL) and Winand, owned by Vanessa Mannix, were victorious over 80 other entries. They posted a clear round in 53.269 seconds. Laura Chapot (USA) and Bradberry were second in 53.447 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Kalle, owned by Siboney Ranch, finished third in 55.478 seconds.

The $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m class (Table II, Sec. 2b) saw riders returning for an immediate jump-off if they were clear over the first course. Samuel Parot (CHI) and Boudicca, owned by Vick Russell, went fifth in the order out of 64 entries and their time of 33.831 seconds in the jump-off phase was able to hold up throughout the entire class. Second place went to Laura Chapot again, this time on Quointreau un Prince, owned by Chapot and McLain Ward. They stopped the timers in 34.155 seconds. Paloubet and Wilton Porter (USA) were third in 34.276 seconds.

Top British riders David McPherson and Scott Brash each took home their winner's share on Thursday in a split class for round nine of the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Held in a 'California Split' due to the large number of entries, the class awarded two sets of placings, each with $32,000 distributed. McPherson and his own Silver Spring and Brash and Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham's Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof were both awarded top honors.

Today's $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup featured 99 horse and rider combinations jumping a course set by Venezuela's Leopoldo Palacios. Just ten were able to clear the first round course without fault, and an exciting jump-off ensued. The day's class was split into two with equal prize money awarded to each section. The class ran as a whole and the jump-off scored the clear rounds together to determine the overall standings. The top placings were then split accordingly.

With ten returning for the jump-off, five were able to jump double clear, and David McPherson and Scott Brash had the two fastest times. McPherson and Silver Spring were fastest overall, completing the jump-off course in 39.56 seconds to become the winner of Section A. Brash and Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof finished in 39.74 seconds, earning the top prize in Section B.

Section A awarded second place to Jeffery Welles (USA) and Aries, owned by Noel Love Gross, who cleared the jump-off course in 40.42 seconds. Third place went to Marie Hecart (FRA) and Opal Du Golfe, owned by Ecurie Michel Hecart, for their clear round in 41.91 seconds. Brianne Goutal (USA) and Nice De Prissey, owned by Remarkable Farms LP, finished with four faults in the jump-off in 43.63 seconds to claim Section A's fourth place prize.

In Section B, Kent Farrington (USA) and Amalaya Investment's Voyeur finished in second place with a clear round in 41.49 seconds. Scott Brash and his second mount, Whisky Mac IV, finished third with a four-fault round in 38.93 seconds, and Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm's Vornado Van Den Hoendrik placed fourth with eight faults in 42.28 seconds.

There were eight teams that competed in Thursday night's $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Team event, each with four riders. The winning team was led by Chef d'Equipe Ralph Caristo and consisted of riders from Zone 2: Lillie Keenan, Lydia Ulrich, Charlotte Jacobs, and Gabrielle Bausano. Led by Lillie Keenan's clutch clear round, they kept their lead from the first round where they had just four faults and posted zero faults in the second round.

Second place went to the team of Tatiana Dzavik, Christina Kelly, Caitlin Ziegler, and Daniel Bluman. They posted five faults in the first round and were able to keep that score by having no faults in the second round.

The third place team consisted of Jessica Springsteen, Navona Gallegos, Nayel Nassar, and Alise Oken, who rode Kaid Du Ry to double clear rounds. They had five faults in the first round and eight faults in the second round.

There were four double clear rounds in tonight's event, including: Liza Finsness and Ormsby Hill, Lydia Ulrich and Santos Utopia, Alise Oken and Kaid Du Ry, and Lillie Keenan and Vanhattan.

Also showing in the International Arena this morning, Jessica Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm's Tinsday VDL jumped to victory in the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class.

California's Richard Spooner and Billy Bianca led the victory gallop in Friday afternoon's $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). California native Ashlee Bond followed in a close second with her mount Apache, while Great Britain's Scott Brash and Bon Ami finished third.

In the 1.45m, Palacios set a great course for the roster of top riders competing towards ROLEX FEI world ranking points. Forty-seven entries started the class in a timed first round format. Nineteen were able to jump without fault, and Richard Spooner and Molly Ohrstrom's Billy Bianca completed the fastest clear round in 63.38 seconds for the win. Bond and Little Valley Farm's Apache stopped the clock in 65.69 seconds to finish in second. Brash and Liz McTaggart's Bon Ami completed the course in 65.82 seconds to earn third place.

Other top finishers in today's 1.45m included Peter Leone (USA) and Monica Carrera's Lincourt Gino, who placed fourth with their time of 66.33 seconds, and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm's Cyklon 1083, who stopped the clock in 66.65 seconds to finish fifth. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) and Cantano, owned by Octavia Farms LLC, placed sixth in 67.13 seconds.

In the first class of the day, Catherine Pasmore and Pasmore Stables' Pacific Beach-H.C. won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge with the fastest of 13 clear rounds in a field of 52 starters.

The $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class immediately followed with a victory for Margie Engle and Hidden Creek's Pamina L. Twenty-six of 84 competitors went clear in round one to jump-off, and Engle and Pamina L were the fastest of 16 double clears for the win.

Also competing in the International Arena on Saturday, Dana Scott and Nod Hill Farm's KM Whatever RV started out the morning with a win in the Griffis Group High Junior Jumpers. Kelsey Thatcher and Pony Lane Farm's Klotaire Du Moulin won in the Surpass Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers, and Anna McWane and her own Rusi won in the FarmVet Adult Amateur Modified Jumpers.

The ninth week of competition at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday with a one-two finish for Great Britain in the $32,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Beverley Widdowson's Unique took home the top prize with Tina Fletcher and Unique IX in second. USA's Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet finished third.

Competing over a course set by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela, 57 entries started the class, and just six were able to clear the obstacles without fault. The jump-off saw only two clear rounds.

Tina Fletcher and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum were the first two competitors in round one to jump clear and were then first to jump-off. Fletcher rode her own Unique IX first in the jump-off and went clear in 39.08 seconds to earn the second place prize. Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum went next aboard Cantano, owned by Octavia Farms LLC. In the jump-off, the pair had a rail at the first fence and stopped the clock in 38.80 seconds to finish in sixth. Young American rider Wilton Porter put his name on the jump-off list aboard Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Paloubet, but also had a rail over the short course and finished in fifth with his time of 36.33 seconds.

Nick Skelton (GBR) and Unique made it to the jump-off next and the pair jumped a clear round in 35.03 seconds to take over the lead. Ben Maher (GBR) and Katie Dinan (USA) each bested Skelton's time, but incurred faults. Maher and Mrs. Louise Flower's Rowan stopped the clock in 34.99 seconds with four faults and finished in fourth place. Dinan and Grant Road Partner's Nougat Du Vallet were last to go and finished the jump-off course in 32.86 seconds with four faults to place third.

The amateur-owner, junior and adult amateur competitors also showed in the International Arena earlier on Sunday. Due to thunderstorms on Saturday, the $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic had to be cancelled halfway through the class. The entries were therefore scored in two sections. Twenty-three riders showed in Section A on Saturday with three entries jumping clear, but they were unable to complete a jump-off once the rain set in. The three riders were scored by their times in round one, and the win went to Charlie Jacobs Sr. and CMJ Sporthorse LLC's Flaming Star. Section B of the class went on Sunday and saw 27 entries with a win for Amelia McArdle and Old Barrington LLC's Nicholas.

Also showing on Sunday, Victoria Colvin and Waminka, owned by Rivers Edge, won the $10,000 Griffis Group High Junior Jumper Classic. Melanie Brown and Windward's Tilia triumphed in the $10,000 Martha Jolicoeur Adult Amateur 36-49 Jumper Classic.

Week 9 Classic winners:

$10,000 Equine Tack and Nutrionals Adult 18-35 Jumpers - Valentina and Hannah Murrin

$10,000 Martha Jolicoeur Adult 36-49 Jumpers - Windward's Tilia and Melanie Brown

$10,000 Charles Owen Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Lucifer and Cara Dayton

$10,000 South Florida SportChassis Low Junior Jumpers - Can Be Good and Alexandra Crown

$10,000 Surpass Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Pipa and Meagan Nusz

$10,000 Reist Industries Medium Junior Jumpers - Star Watch and Brittni Raflowitz

$10,000 Masters Jumpers - All That and Murray Kessler

Week 9 Champions:

Farmvet Adult Modified Jumpers - Rusi and Anna McWane
Children's Jumper 14-17 - Campesino IV and Gillian Kelley

Children's Modified Jumpers - Caretino and Katherine Strauss

Low Adult Jumper 18-35 -Pollyanna and Judith Sagal, Harvey and Alexa Paprosky

Paddock Cakes Low Adult Jumper 36 & Over - Leopold and Gigi Stetler

Sidelines Magazine Pony Jumper - Iceman and Dagny MacTaggart

Hunter and Equitation Results: Thursday through Sunday

Scott Stewart and his seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding Tristan earned championship honors in the Sanctuary Green Conformation Hunters for week nine. Stewart and Tristan won the model and finished first and third over fences on the division's first day of competition. After winning both classes over fences on day two, the duo totaled 39 points for the championship. Reserve honors went to Erynn Ballard and Well Adjusted, owned by Melissa Ziegler. The pair was fifth in the model, first and second over fences, and fourth under saddle to total 18.5 points.

Stewart also took home a reserve championship in the Sanctuary First Year Green Working Hunters aboard his own Caldwell, with Ken Berkley and Gina Day's Prestige earning the division's top honors.

Stewart and Dr. Betsee Parker's Inclusive was champion in the Sanctuary Second Year Green Working Hunters with young rider Victoria Colvin in the irons. Come Monday, owned by Davlyn Farms and ridden by Christa Endicott finished in reserve.

Close competition in this week's Low Adult Hunter 2'6" Section A division led both champion and reserve tricolor winners to finish with 18 points. Hillary Jean of Castle Rock, CO, was declared the division champion scoring 16 points over fences with first and second place honors and collected two additional points by placing fourth in the under saddle on her mount, D'Amour. A close reserve tricolor went to Lynn Rogers and her mount Blue Point, who scored 14 points over fences with first and third place honors, and gathered four additional points by placing third in the under saddle.

Martha Ingram of Nashville, TN, surpassed a field of 39 competitors to claim victory in this week's Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) Children's Medal 14 & Under atop her mount, Kosta. Ingram reserved her first round lead after testing against the top four riders and emerging on top once again. The final four called back to test included Ingram, Megan Blum, Jordyn Rose Freedman and Maria Moore, with Freedman receiving second place honors on her mount, S & L Play It Again, and Blum finishing in third atop her mount, Buckwheat. Ingram's partner in her victory, Kosta, is a fourteen-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood by Calvados. Owned by Danielle Cooper of Syosset, NY, and leased by Ingram, the chestnut gelding has had a rich show jumping career in the Jumper and Equitation arenas.

Mackenzie Hamill of Buffalo, NY, rode to the top of this week's Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) Children's Medal 15-17 class against a field of 25 competitors. Hamill and her mount, Einstein, were called back to test in the top spot with a first round score of 84 and were able to maintain the lead after executing a beautiful test course. Competition among those called back to test (Kate Ross, Marissa Damone, Matthew Kracklauer and Mackenize Hamill) was fierce with a spread of just three points between the first and fourth place finishers in round one. Ultimately, Hamilll claimed victory with Damone and her mount, Paramour, finishing second and Kate Ross and her mount, Chi Wah Wah, finishing third. Hamill's partner in today's victory, Einstein, is a thirteen-year-old Selle Francais owned by Monty Kelly of West Sand Lake, NY.

For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.