Bordeaux, France – February 07, 2025 – He left the 2024 edition of the Jumping International de Bordeaux with a victory in the Audi Grand Prix and has now opened the 2025 edition with another victory, again with the same Donatello d’Auge. Julien Épaillard (FRA), from Normandy, has winning in his blood. He proved it once again in the ‘big’ class of this first day of show jumping, the FFE Generali Prize CSI 5*-W .

Better still, it was a French triple that rounded off this against the clock class, with Julien Anquetin (FRA) aboard Ice Cube Z and Philippe Rozier (FRA) with Dirty Sweet completing the podium. But when Julien Épaillard (FRA) decides to win, it’s hard to go against him.

This FFE Generali Prize CSI 5*-W is usually a dress rehearsal for the Grand Prix Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ the following day and everyone adopts a different strategy to prepare for Saturday’s class. Some go for the win while others prefer a slower pace to allow the horse to get into peak condition at a quieter rhythm. Others, like Sophie Hinners (GER), see our interview on Thursday, have even preferred to enter their World Cup horse, in this case Iron Dames My Prins, in the small class of the day, the Bordeaux Events And More Prize (won by Irish rider Denis Lynch), for a smooth ride without the pressure of height.

Julien Épaillard (FRA), however made his intentions clear from the start: ‘Yes, it’s important for us to show that we’ve arrived here in Bordeaux in good shape. It’s in France and it’s always a special competition for us. Donatello is in good shape, he jumped very well in Basel and Amsterdam. It looks good for tomorrow because, of course, he’s the one I’m going to ride in the World Cup qualifier. I don’t know if it’s going to be as easy as today. It’s going to be bigger, but I think I’ve done the best possible preparation, he’s got the experience, we’re going to give it everything we’ve got, but faults can happen so quickly. The good news now is that I’ve already got my points for the final and I’m already working on my plans to be in top shape for Basel.”

Final Results – €46,500 FFE Generali Prize CSI 5*-W

1) Julien Épaillard (FRA) & Donatello d’Auge – 0 – 58.13

2) Julien Anquetin (FRA) & Z Ice Cube Z – 0 – 58.24

3) Philippe Rozier (FRA) & Dirty Sweet – 0 / 0 – 60.22

Source: Press Release by Pascal Renauldon / Agence R&B Presse for Jumping International de Bordeaux

Photos: © Jumping Bordeaux / Artiste Associé

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Tumblr