Brash and Hello Jefferson Blaze to Victory Under Longines Global Champions Tour of Riyadh’s Towering Skyline

0.01 seconds between Brash and Kukuk…

Beneath the glittering Saudi night sky of the King Khalid Financial District, where glass towers meet desert sky, Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson produced a performance of pure brilliance to claim victory in the CSI5* 1.50m Table A presented by KAFD beating Christian Kukuk and Chageorge by just 0.01 seconds. 

It was an evening that captured everything the Longines Global Champions Tour of Riyadh stands for - world-class sport, modern elegance, and atmosphere to remember.

The scene was magnetic. A beautiful Saudi evening, balmy air, and a skyline that shimmered as thousands packed the grandstands, their excitement building as the world’s best combinations entered the floodlit arena. Riyadh’s unique fusion of heritage and modernity was on full display - a venue that truly turns heads at every corner.

Speaking after his win, Brash said: “Jefferson was super tonight, really tried his heart out for me. It was a super tough class with a lot of clears and I knew the likes of Christian were to follow so really had to put it all on the line. Luckily Jeff is super quick and thankfully he put his nose out that little bit further. Very happy to win it!”

From the very first fence, Uliano Vezzani’s course demanded precision and nerve. Rails fell for some of the sport’s biggest names, keeping the jump-off exclusive and hard-earned. Sophie Hinners and Combella for the Iron Dames, Simon Delestre and Gatsby du Tillard, Henrik von Eckermann and Glamour Girl - all brilliant, all denied by a single mistake. It wasn’t to be for veterans John Whitaker and Sharid or Pieter Devos aboard Jarina J and Denis Lynch with Brooklyn Heights who all retired waiting to fight another day.

Those who made it through were treated to a jump-off that had every fan on their feet. Cheers, whistles and whoops echoed through the night as the contest unfolded, with four of the contenders riding horses bred by the legendary Lewitz Stud.

Emanuele Camilli and Chacareno PS set the tone - electric, daring, galloping flat out to the last before the final rail fell in heartbreaking fashion. Wilm Vermeir and Top Invest 313 Z posted a stylish, measured clear, but Katrin Eckermann and her homebred mare Chao Lee blew the doors wide open, slashing over four seconds from the leading time.

Then came the home nation’s hero, Khaled Almobty with Spacecake. With the crowd roaring them on, they produced a fearless clear - 0.34 seconds faster - sending the arena into rapture. Abdulrahman Alrajhi leapt from the Kiss & Cry to celebrate before his own round aboard Heartbeat W, which later earned a polished top-ten finish.

The tension only grew. Christian Kukuk and Chageorge looked set to seize the win, but the clock told a different story - 41.51 seconds, just 0.01 behind Brash’s eventual winning time. Scott and Jefferson had already produced a masterclass - bold in the turns, perfectly balanced, and fearless to the last - crossing the finish in 41.50 seconds to steal victory by the narrowest of margins.

Germany’s Jana Wargers and I Know completed the podium with another foot-perfect clear, while Khaled Almobty, Jörne Sprehe and Katrin Eckermann rounded out an exceptional top six. Each round showcased the razor-thin margins that define the world’s best riders - tenths of a second separating triumph from heartbreak.

Top Six Results - CSI5* 1.50m Table A presented by KAFD
1st - Scott Brash (GBR) & Hello Jefferson | 0 | 41.50
2nd - Christian Kukuk (GER) & Chageorge | 0 | 41.51
3rd - Jana Wargers (GER) & I Know | 0 | 42.28
4th - Khaled Almobty (KSA) & Spacecake | 0 | 42.81
5th - Jörne Sprehe (GER) & Toys | 0 | 42.84
6th - Katrin Eckermann (GER) & Chao Lee | 0 | 43.15

As night fell over the Saudi capital, the arena lights reflected off the skyline - a vivid reminder of how sport and modernity unite in this extraordinary setting. 

Tomorrow, 31 October at 19:00 local time, the curtain rises on the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Riyadh - the 16th and final stage of the regular season, where glory, pride and crucial championship points are all on the line. And while Gilles Thomas has already secured the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship, the fight for every final point continues.

Riyadh is ready for one last night of brilliance - and if tonight was any indication, the grand finale will be one for the history books.