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German perfection prevails in Hongkong

Feb 12, 2017

Christian Ahlmann probably wasn't the greatest favorite to win the Longins Masters of Hongkong, riding his relatively inexperienced Caribis Z. But he rode the Grand Prix class with perfection, as always. An amazing end for this new year of the Grand Slam Indoor whose conclusion couldn’t be any more positive for the future.
Italy’s course designer Uliano Vezzani had put into his course of the Longines Grand Prix all the technicality and tricks only he is capable of. First round was tough, a level as we can expect from a 5* Grand Prix, with two decisional fences, two planques, feared a lot by the riders and which indeed had helped to draw out the best.

Different from a traditional Grand Prix, the Longines Grand Prix of Hong Kong was going on with a 12-riders second round. Among them, Roger-Yves Bost, Simon Delestre, John Whitaker, Lorenzo de Luca, but also two women: Edwina Tops-Alexander and Pilar Lucrecia Cordon. This second round was as technical as the first, the riders took all risks to sit in the leading blue chair. We expected the domination of experienced riders and fast horses, but all predictions were wrong.
Christian Ahlmann himself is surprised by this victory over the more experienced pair: “It’s unexpected. Caribis Z is a very good horse, with great qualities, but he hadn’t jumped a lot of classed at this level”. Indeed, the grey stallion was considered to be a good second horse, but you can count on the German champion expertise to make the best out of his horse when needed.

That’s what Ludger Beerbaum, who came in second with Casello in this Grand Prix, wanted to point out: “I have a lot of respect for what Christian has done today. He made the trip with a inexperienced horse, perfectly knowing he wouldn’t be one of the favorites for the Longines Grand Prix. But I think we can all agree on the fact the he rode with accuracy, perfection, at his best level and that he fully deserves this victory”. The Zangersheide rider was quite moved by this admission.
In third place is one other German, native, competing under the colors of Austria, Max Kühner, riding the phenomenal Cornet Kalua. Also, the excellent performance of Lorenzo de Luca and Halifax van het Kluizebos, must be highlighted, as his stallion participated for the first time in a 5* Grand Prix, and he finishes fifth, after the legend John Whitaker, riding Ornellaia.
Ahlmann succeeds Marco Kutscher, grand winner of the 2016 edition in Hong Kong, and ends the second season of the Longines Masters on a high note. He also now becomes the new contender for the €1 million Grand Slam Bonus whose history will continue in Los Angeles. The City of Angels will also be the occasion for the EEM teams to reveal all new developments that are, as of now, already in preparation backstage. They will as expected, keep proposing the best of sport and lifestyle during each one of their events.