Hello Sanctos flies business class to Grand Slam

Hello Sanctos made his way to Calgary in Canada in style for the most important competition of his career.

Business class

After winning the Grand Prix at CHI Geneva and Aachen in succession with his rider ScottBrash, they are well on their way to becoming the first winners of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – worth €1 million.

A victory at CP International in Spruce Meadows will seal the deal, but Sanctos was blissfully unaware of the task ahead as he tucked into his haynet.

The star performer travelled ‘business class’ with his stablemate Forever, with the two geldings given extra leg-room in a box all to themselves.

This is a luxury around a third of the 67 horses travelling to the show are allowed. Otherwise, there are three horses in each cargo box – unless they’re a stallion.

Good traveller

Only three grooms and a vet are allowed to travel with them, one of which is Sanctos’ groom Hannah Colman.

“I am delighted that I am allowed to fly with him,” she said. “He actually doesn’t mind travelling, whether by truck or by plane. But it puts my mind at rest, if I can be close to him the whole time.”

Joining the grooms on the long flight was Jon Garner, show director of Spruce Meadows, who travelled from Calgary to personally to chaperone the equine stars.