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Paul McNamara

Zascha Nygaard, the poster girl of the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, said it was growing harder to leave behind her young son and travel the world for competition.
The Germany-based Dane is preparing to defend her prestigious Longines Grand Prix title at AsiaWorld-Expo on Sunday.
Nygaard finished 13th in Saturday’s Longines Stakes, won by 2016 Olympic gold medallist Kevin Staut, who immediately phoned his 92-year-old grandmother on her French farm to share the good news.
The 33-year-old Nygaard acknowledged she had “not expected to see my face everywhere”, but that the recognition had made “me feel comfortable and welcome”.
Married to fellow show jumper Maxi Lill, Nygaard became a mum to Louke nearly four years ago.

“It’s definitely way harder to leave him now than two years ago … but I feel he understands everything and I can explain when I’m coming home,” Nygaard said.
“It requires a lot of balance, and my mum helps a lot … when I’m here I have to fully concentrate; not be at home in my head.
“I know a lot of people have career breaks after becoming a mum, but I think you can do both. If you’re happy and chasing your dreams, you take [happiness] back home.”
Riding grey mare Com’on Coffee, Nygaard knocked down one of the 15 1½-metre fences in Saturday afternoon’s 21-rider competition.
Her 2025 grand prix winning mount, Com’on Stanley, was sold to the Qatar Equestrian Federation last July.

“Some horses, you know from the beginning they will be sold, but we had Stanley for five years and always planned to keep him,” Nygaard said.
“I have new horses to step up, and [raising and selling horses] is part of my job, but you develop a bond and it’s difficult and sad to let them go.”
Nygaard said she was feeling no additional pressure as defending champion for Sunday’s marquee event, and said having the expertise of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which has been providing technical support for horse transport, biosecurity, veterinary care and stable management, made things easy behind the scenes.
“You always have to prove yourself again and again, so I’ll just reset and go in and do my best,” she said. “The horses have everything they need here, and as riders, we don’t miss anything at all.”
Staut, meanwhile, the 19th rider to go, delivered a fast and flawless round to steal Longines Stakes victory from long-time leader and last year’s winner, Richard Vogel.

Unlike German Vogel, who intimated he had kept something in reserve for Sunday, Staut, part of France’s 2016 Olympic champion team, came to Hong Kong with specialist speed-class mare Kannonqulan and his eyes on this prize.
“It’s satisfying when you have a plan and travel so far, and it works, it doesn’t often happen in equestrian,” Staut, who banked winnings of €14,200 (US$16,840), said.
“I did 10 strides more than [Vogel’s mount] Cloudio, but [Kannonqulan] is so quick on the ground and clever over the jump.”
After Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen, who finished third, disclosed his grandfather was turning 100 on Wednesday, Staut revealed why he was in touch with grandmother Giselle straight after his success.
“I live with her on the farm in Normandy,” he said. “She used to follow me to all my competitions and is still really focused on the sport. On Mondays, I take breakfast with her, and she tells me where I wasn’t good enough or asks why I didn’t push more.”

A popular winner, Staut was swamped with autograph and selfie requests.
“The sport is really growing in Asia, you see kids who are starting to ride watching their role models and it’s important to show how good it is to compete at the highest level, and how the horses fight for their riders,” said Staut, adding that his time in the competition ring provides “the best moment of my day”.
“I’m totally free of every pressure and the problems in life,” he said. “You have 1½ minutes that are for you and your horse. When I leave the ring, I’m back to my problems.”


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Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show: poster-girl mum Nygaard’s elite juggling act

Zascha Nygaard, riding Com’on Coffee, finished 13th in the Longines Stakes on the second day of the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show on Saturday. Photo: Elson Li

Kevin Staut won the Longines Stakes on the second day of the horse show. Photo: Elson Li

Mini jockeys cheered on by the crowd during the Shetland Pony Grand National. Photo: Elson Li

Children having fun on the horse racing games. Photo: Elson Li

Competitors being put through their paces in the dog agility competition. Photo: Elson Li

Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show: glitz, glamour and four-legged performers

The Shetland Pony Grand National was one of the highlights of the opening day of the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show. Photo: Elson Li

Hans-Dieter Dreher won the Longines Welcome Stakes on Friday. Photo: Elson Li

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Joanna Garland in action during the One Point Slam exhibition ahead of the Australian Open this month. Photo: EPA

Joanna Garland strikes out during her defeat by Solana Sierra in Manila this week. Photo: Xinhua

Joanna Garland is at a career-high world No 117 following a succession of positive results. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Hong Kong

Zascha Nygaard poised to defend grand prix crown on Sunday, Kevin Staut of France dashes to Longines Stakes success


Zascha Nygaard poised to defend grand prix crown on Sunday, Kevin Staut of France dashes to Longines Stakes success.


Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show: poster-girl mum Nygaard’s elite juggling act

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Zascha Nygaard poised to defend grand prix crown on Sunday, Kevin Staut of France dashes to Longines Stakes success

Zascha Nygaard poised to defend grand prix crown on Sunday, Kevin Staut of France dashes to Longines Stakes success