Delaveau a true Master with three on the trot
Frenchman proves too good once again as he triumphs for the third straight night to bring the curtain down on the Longines HK Masters
One horsepower - a nine-year-old stallion Lacrimoso 3 - was more than enough to give France's Patrice Delaveau total control of the inaugural Longines Hong Kong Masters as he won the showpiece event with a faultless display of horsemanship.
In an unprecedented display of dominance at an international five-star show-jumping competition, Delaveau won four of the six competitions including the two majors to sweep away the opposition, which included seven of the world's best riders and their horses.
Last night, in front of packed stands at the AsiaWorld-Expo, Delaveau finished the way he had begun two days earlier by standing on the winner's podium and listening to the French national anthem having won the Longines Grand Prix to pocket the US$230,000 winner's purse. It took his total takings to nearly US$290,000 for the week. "It has been a wonderful week for me. Everything went off well and the horse was wonderful," 47th-ranked Delaveau said, speaking with the help of an interpreter.
Then, with a little bit of Gallic humour, he gave a possible explanation for the astounding success. "The horse was comfortable in Hong Kong. I don't think he will want to come back with me to France."
While most of the other riders used a couple of mounts during the three days of competition, Delaveau chose to go with Lacrimoso 3 mostly, and the mount repaid the faith of his master by winning three of the four competitions. Delaveau, 48, won yesterday morning's prelude on his second-choice mount, Ornella Mail.
The imperious rule of the French master was greeted with awe by his peers.