The world number one show jumper brought H & M day at Olympia, the London International Horse Show, to a stirring close with a brilliant performance in the jump-off for the H & M Ivy Stakes. Scott Brash’s draw as last to go in the six-horse jump-off gave the packed house at Olympia hope that another British winner might be in sight at last, following John Whitaker’s victory in the Show’s opening class on Thursday. They roared their approval as the super-talented Scott shaved 0.16 seconds off the fast time set by Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya on Abab van het Molenhof. Scott has decided to rest his top horse Hello Sanctos this week and instead bring three promising young horses to Olympia. He rates his winning ride, Lady Kirkham’s eight-year-old Hello M’Lady, whose grandsire is the 2004 Olympic champion Baloubet de Rouet, as “a special, special horse”. “She jumped wonderfully and I have high hopes for her,” he said. “I thought it was time for her to be tested and I wanted to win for the public, to give them something to cheer about. The reaction you get from the crowd at Olympia is beyond description.” Six horses went through to the jump-off, with Ben Maher consolidating his grip on the H & M Leading Rider of the Show with a sixth place on Wings Sublieme. He now leads Dutchman Maikel Van der Vleuten by 21.5 points. The Irish 19-year-old Bertram Allen is third. Ben was also in the money in the preceding class, the H & M Mistletoe Stakes, in which he finished second on Cloud Nine ll behind American rider Reed Kessler on Soraya de l’Obstination. “I’ve been knocking on the door all week, so I’m really happy to get one on the door,” said Reed, who is staying in London for Christmas with her family. “The crowd is amazing. Nothing compares with winning at Olympia.”
