Twice the Winners! Scott Brash & Hello Forever Pick up Victory in €155,000 Trofeo Banorte at LGCT Mexico City

Scott Brash and Hello Forever. Ph. Stefano Grasso/LGCT

It was another ideal day in Mexico City as the Longines Global Champions Tour wrapped up a wonderful weekend of world-class show jumping. Starting with the €155,000 Trofeo Banorte 1.50m, thirty-seven entries attempted to master the track set by Uliano Vezzani of Italy. Of the eight who qualified for the competitive jump-off, it was Scott Brash of Great Britain who led the victory gallop aboard the scopey Oldenburg gelding Hello Forever.

First to go in the round against the clock was two-time LGCT champion and 2016 LGCT Grand Prix Gold Medalist Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia aboard last week’s LGCT Grand Prix of Miami Beach winner Lintea Tequila. The pair set the track and time to beat, going super quick and clean in 43.53.

The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders on the gorgeous Zangherziede stallion Don VHP Z executed a smooth and slick jumpoff ride, but in 46.73 seconds, it was not fast enough. Hometown hero, amateur rider Antonio Chedraui made a super effort on La Bamba, stopping the clock in 46.13 seconds to take over the 2nd place spot, but his placing wouldn’t hold for long as Sergio Alvarez Moya of Spain on the Selle Francais gelding G&C Quitador Rochelais turned up the heat and finished clean in 44.86 seconds, stealing the 2nd spot from Chedraui. Kent Farrington and Gazelle of the USA were on track to take over the lead, when a tight rollback turn came up a bit too quick, causing a surprise refusal.

Next in it was the eventual winners, and in demonstrating unbelievable scope, Hello Forever hopped each obstacle with ease, carrying a slick pace that ultimately stopped the clock in 43.07seconds, .46 seconds faster than Tops-Alexander, slipping into the top spot by a slight margin for the win. Last to go, Jerome Guery of Belgium tried to catch the lead, but with a rail along the way for four faults he finished in 45.17 with Grand Cru van de Rozenberg.

Just two days ago, Brash and Hello Forever picked up another major victory in the Prize of Massimo Dutti, proving that the Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham-owned gelding is in super competitive form.

Show jumping does not get better than this as each exhibition over the weekend has demonstrated superb competition in front of a massive crowd of spectators in Mexico City.

See full results of the €155000 Trofeo Banorte 1.50m at this link.