Irishman Denis Lynch and stable newcomer Chablis have formed an instant and very mutual attraction and they charged away with the Longines Grand Prix of Hong Kong on Sunday, bringing to a close a weekend of supreme excitement to conclude the Asian leg of the Longines Masters Series.

โ€œI never see myself as a favourite,โ€ said Lynch after the win. โ€œBut I didnโ€™t feel the pressure. Pressure is for tyres. This is a new horse for our stable so I am over the moon. Iโ€™m just very, very proud of this horse.โ€ Lynch and the 12-year-old Chablis were timed at a sizzling 39.35 in the final round of the day โ€“ and of the weekend โ€“ and that meant they were way out in front of second-placed Frenchman Simon Delestre and Uccello de Will (47.07) โ€“ the only other pair to have two clear rounds. Swiss Pius Schwizer and About A Dream (38.56) came in third. โ€œThe course designer today did an amazing jobโ€ said Lynch. โ€œIt was exciting for us and for the fans and they really get behind you here in Hong Kong. What EEM are doing here is growing every year. The crowd just go with you [over the jumps] and thatโ€™s very nice.โ€

It was a stunning way to end the seventh edition of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong as Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, presented the Longines Grand Prix trophy to Denis Lynch, thrilled to celebrate Hong Kong as the unrivalled equestrian capital of Asia.

Advertisement