Scott Brash and Whisky Mac IV narrowly beat Ben Maher to take the $25,000 Suncast Championship Jumper Classic in Florida.

A tough course

There were 44 starters in the 1.50m class, but only six went through to the jump off, showing the skill of 2012 Olympic course designer Bob Ellis.

Scott was quick to praise Bob for his work throughout the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). “I think the course builder got it right all week," he says. "He has got the right number of clears in every class. Course builders don't really get credited enough when they do a good job and I think Bob did a fantastic job."

A real trier

Five riders went on to jump a double clear – three of which were flying the flag for Britain. It was a closely fought competition, but Scott and his father's nine-year-old gelding proved unbeatable, with a time of 44.670.

Ben Maher on Rowan gave it a good crack and came in just behind Scott on 45.608, while third place went to Andrew Welles from the USA, riding Boo Van Het Kastanjehof, with a time of 46.121. Britain's Tina Fletcher and Unique IX weren’t far behind on 47.365, followed by Ireland’s Cian O'Connor on KEC Alligator Alley in 47.650 seconds.

“Whisky Mac is dead easy and he is the nicest horse to work with, but he is actually still very green," says Scott. "Even when I'm turning him he still doesn't really know where he is going and he is just not totally with me at the moment. At fence number two, I turned him back and because he fought with me a little bit on the turn we were quite far off the fence, but when he gets there he tries his best for you.”

Exciting future

Scott has only been competing Whisky Mac IV since August, although he started the Scottish sport horse when he was four years old. The gelding, by Emilion, then went back to his owner for showing, but he came up for sale last year and Scott's dad, Stanley, decided to buy him.

"This was one of the first big classes that he has done and I can't talk highly enough of the horse,” says Scott. “Hopefully this tour is going to bring him forward in the education that he has missed in the last couple of years. I am really excited about his future."