Irishman Denis Lynch and stable newcomer Chablis (Couleur Rubin x Hamlet) have formed an instant and very mutual bond, and on Sunday they charged away with the win in the CSI5* Longines Grand Prix of Hong Kong – bringing a weekend of supreme excitement at the Asian leg of the Longines Masters Series to a close. 

“I never see myself as a favourite,” said Lynch after the win. “This is a new horse for our stable so I am over the moon. I’m just very, very proud of this horse.”

Lynch and the 12-year-old Chablis were timed at a sizzling 39.35 in the final round of the day – and of the weekend – and that meant they were way out in front of second-placed Frenchman Simon Delestre and Uccello de Will (Marlou des Etisses x Marlon) – the only other pair to have two clear rounds. Swiss rider Pius Schwizer and About A Dream (Clinton x Indoctro) came in third. 

“The course designer today did an amazing job,” said Lynch. “It 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 that’s very nice.”

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.

Earlier in the day, the DBS Trophy, was won by the veteran Frenchman and king of speed, Roger-Yves Bost, in front an incredible Hong Kong public. The Olympic champion, who competed in every single edition of the Masters of Hong Kong, had Castleforbes Talitha (Cardenio x Baloubet Du Rouet) in form. Their 57.35 seconds over the 1.45m fences proved too fast for Belgium’s Pieter Clemens on Caldero (Camaro M x Cortez) who finished second, with Frenchman Patrice Delaveau and Vestale de Mazure HDC (Landor S x Quidam de Revel) following in third. “She was feeling good yesterday and I made sure we prepared well,” the winner said afterwards. “I tried not to look at the board but I knew there would be some fast times. The field is strong but we got off to a good start, we picked up a stride early and then she kept the pace up.”