JUST as it looked as though Scott Brash was about to add yet another major Grand Prix title to his collection, Germany’s rider Marco Kutscher piped the World No1, to win the 1.60m Longines Masters Grand Prix last Sunday in Los Angeles.

Thirty-six of the world’s best riders competed in the grand finale of the American leg of the Longines Masters series, with $450,000 in prize money up for grabs, making it the largest purse in any United States indoor competition. Ireland’s Bertram Allen missed out on a place in the jump-off after he knocked a single fence with Romanov, while Kevin Babington also finished with four faults aboard Shorapur.

Belgian course designer Luc Musette set a technical and demanding 13 fence track, with seven combinations making it into the jump-off. Britain’s John Whitaker and Argento entered the ring with hopes to claim the Masters bonus following their victory in the Longines Grand Prix of Hong Kong, but their chances ended when they finished with one fence down.

The final line-up included 2012 Olympic gold medalist Steve Guerdat riding Kavalier and in-form French rider Patrice Delaveau who had scored a double of wins the previous day in LA.

However it was Brash and Hello M’Lady who looked set for victory, although the American crowd had plenty to cheer when Kent Farrington and Voyeur came a mere 0.15 seconds from knocking Scott off his throne.

Last-to-go, Kutscher and the 13-year-old Numero Uno stallion Van Gogh stunned the crowd with a jump-off time of 37.04, almost a full second faster than Brash, to claim the Longines Masters trophy.

“I had a very good start to the jump off. The second part was maybe a little bit slower but anyway I’m super pleased with my horse because for the rest of the weekend nobody realised that I was here. So I took my chance and I’m very pleased, and very happy to go home tonight,” said Kutscher.

Brash however blamed himself for not winning the class: “I’m absolutely delighted with the horse. I was just annoyed at myself that I didn’t do a smoother round. Marco’s horse was so smooth and it was a joy to watch really if you weren’t sitting where I was. All credit to Marco, he’s done a great round,” he said.