\u201cI am obliviously delighted with Hello Mr. President!\u201d a happy Brash said after winning. \u201dHe is coming into his own this year, and is really stepping up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 1.45m course, set by\u00a0Peter Schumacher (GER) and Franz Madl (AUT), counted thirteen fences and was set in the beautiful Valencia ring in lovely, sunny January weather. For another weekend, there were top names on the start list \u2013 including Lorenzo De Luca (ITA), Julien Epaillard (FRA), Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) and Pedro Veniss (BRA) \u2013 all winners of some of the biggest Grand Prix competitions on the circuit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a nice course for a two-star Grand Prix, and with eleven of the 46 riders going clear we got a good number for the jump-off,\u201d Brash detailed. \u201dI think we have seen good course building here during the first part of the Tour.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the jump-off, no one could beat Brash who left a margin of 1.45 seconds down to the runner-up position \u2013 and it was another smooth performance against the clock from the British rider. \u201cI thought he probably jumped even better in the jump-off than in the first round,\u201d said Brash about Hello Mr. President’s round against the clock. \u201cI just tried to keep it smooth, and go as fast as he is capable of at this stage of his career.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe each horse is very individual, and has its own character,\u201d Brash answered when asked if Hello Mr. President has any similarities to any of his other more famous mounts. \u201cHowever, his mother is a pony and what I can see in him sometimes are some of those features. He is very clever, very quick and a real winner!\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind Brash, in second and third, followed two French riders: Nicolas Deseuzes\u00a0on Quilane de Lezeaux (Grenat de Grez x Page de Paulstra) and Olivier Robert on Eros (Querlybet Hero x Forever) who had only 0.02 seconds separating each other in the jump-off. Home favourite Laura Roquet Puignero (ESP) with Sandi Puigroq (Diamant de Semilly x breeding unknown) was again best for the hosts to take the fourth place with the last double clear of the day.<\/p>\n
Brash\u2019s competitors better watch out, he will return to the second part of the Spring MET 2018 that gets underway on February 6th as the Tour now takes a one week break.<\/p>\n