The Hong Kong Jockey Club was celebrated Friday at the Longines Masters of Hong Kong and Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts brought the crowd to its feet with a thrilling ride to capture the night’s main event, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy.
Philippaerts proved in irresistible form onboard H&M Cue Channa (Cardento 933 x Robin Z), sealing the Masters One event over 1.50m with a second round that clocked in at 34.72 and was enough to keep the flying Swiss star Pius Schwizer onboard About A Dream (Clinton x Indoctro) at bay with their time of 35.07.
"What a night," said Philippaerts, and what a ride. “I knew we had speed but I also knew there would be other quick times,” he said. “But once we got over that first jump I felt really confident.”
Third place went to Italy's Emanuele Gaudiano on Chalou (Chacco Blue x Baloubet du Rouet) with a time of 35.73 seconds. Ireland' Denis Lynch finished fourth on Chablis (Couleur Rubin x Hamlet), and Egypt's Sameh El Dahan fifth on Suma's Zorro (Douglas x Horos XX).
Press release from EEM
Photo © EEM