Longines Masters makes a triumphant return to Hong Kong
Press Release Longines Masters Hong Kong – On opening day, a sell-out crowd welcomed Asia’s most glamorous equestrian sporting event for the last leg of the second season of the Longines Masters Series. The prestigious 3-day event, created and organized by EEM, runs from today until Sunday, February 12 and will combine heart-pounding competition between the world’s top show jumpers with stylish lifestyle and entertainment for equestrian sports enthusiasts of all ages.
Highlights of opening day were two exciting competitions presented by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, founding partner of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong.
Kicking off a thrilling afternoon was “The HKJC Race of the Riders” which paired four Hong Kong jockeys – Joao ‘Magic’ Moreira, Neil Callan, Derek Leung and Vincent Ho – with star showjumpers in an entertaining team sprint relay competition. Cheered on by thousands of local fans from packed stands, it proved a tight, enthralling competition involving world-class riders from different disciplines working together. “Team Magic” partnered Joao ‘Magic’ Moreira with French show jumper Roger Yves Bost; “Team Blaze” paired Neil Callan with German Olympian Daniel Deusser, who won the initial Los Angeles leg of the Longines Grand Prix; “Team Flames” paired Derek Leung with French showjumping star Simon Delestre; while “Team Hong Kong” paired Vincent Ho with Jacqueline Lai, who is Hong Kong’s representative rider.
To the crowd’s delight, Hong Kong’s own Joao ‘Magic’ Moreira and French champion show jumper, Roger Yves Bost clinched the trophy.
Next up was the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy, contested by the world’s best riders! Swiss rider, Martin Fuchs put on an amazing performance and jumped to victory as the Hong Kong crowd cheered the horse and rider duo on. New to this year’s line up, the EEM Trophy was won by Spanish show jumper, Pilar Lucrecia Cordon.
The show’s entertainment was headlined by Shanghai Tang presenting the first of a mesmerizing daily “natural dressage” show by legendary “horse whisperer” Santi Serra and his team of performing horses. Choreographed especially for Hong Kong, the unique performance highlights the historical links between Chinese culture and horses, combining classic Chinese music with stunning costumes.
On opening night, Hong Kong’s society and business elite was out in force at the prestigious ringside ‘VIP Masters Club’, the most exclusive seats in the arena. Here guests watched the action as they enjoyed a gourmet dinner of Michelin-star cuisine crafted by Belgian celebrity chef, Yves Mattagne.
After all the equestrian excitement, the crowd continued partying at the elegant “Prestige Village” which is billed as an “event within an event”, and where sophisticated luxury lifestyle takes centre-stage.
The glamorous 3-day showjumping spectacular continues tomorrow Saturday, headlined by speed & skill with the Longines Speed Challenge – the fastest class in the world, contested over an identical course from Los Angeles and Paris to Hong Kong.
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www.longinesmasters.com
Source: Press Release Longines Masters Hong Kong
