Scott Brash scoops €500,000 bonus at Aachen

Scott Brash has won the Rolex Grand Prix in Aachen, making him the first rider in history to win two of the Rolex Grand Slam competitions in succession – netting a €500,000 bonus in the process.

Cool head

Seven riders from five nations made it through to the jump-off, with Scott and Hello Sanctos last to go.

Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Cornet d’Armour were the ones to beat after jumping a fast clear in a time of 48.37sec.

Scott kept a typically cool head, despite the big money at stake. Hestarted steady, but Hello Sanctos made up time over the second half of the course, andshaved 0.33secs off the leader’s time to win the class, and that all-important bonus.

Dream come true

“Of course, that was going through my head, but in the jump-off, I simply concentrated on one jump after the other,” said Scott. “I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet, it has been my dream to win Aachen, so to win is a dream come true, I am ecstatic.”

In third place, behind Daniel was Simon Delestre with Ryan des Hayettes, while Ludger Beerbaum was fourth on Chiara 222.

The third and final leg of the Rolex Grand Slam is the Spruce Meadows Masters in Calgary, Canada (9-13 September). In order to secure the €500,000 bonus (£359,000) Scott has to compete.

In it to win it

“I will ride there – even if I have broken my leg,” joked the world number one, who no doubt be aiming to double his winnings. If he can pull off a third victory in the CP International Grand Prix he will win the Rolex Grand Slam and claim the €1m bonus (£720,000).

“To win one leg is already hard enough, to win two is extremely difficult, to win three is going to be really hard, but it would be silly not to try so I will definitely try and win it,” he said.

Watch highlights from the World Equestrian Festival at CHIO Aachen at the following times.