Mathieu Billot Turns on Supersonic Mode to Win the GL Events Prize CSI 5*

By Jumper News on 2026-03-22

Paris, France – March 21, 2026 – Playing out on as sublime a course as ever amidst the interplay of light and shadow created by the Grand Palais‘ glass roof, the second day of the 16th edition of the Saut Hermès took place on Saturday.

Setting a lightning quick pace from the first of the course’s 12 fences (15 jumps), optimising each of the turns along the way, Frenchman Mathieu Billot (FRA), paired with Cosacara Z, a 9-year-old mare, was victorious in the €62,000 GL Events Prize CSI 5*, a class run against the clock with jumps sets at 1.45m.

**Mathieu Billot** (FRA) & **Cosacara Z**

“It feels fabulous to win in style at the Grand Palais, enthuses the 40-year-old rider, a member of the French Team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Thank you Edouard Coupérie and Olivier Guillon for selecting me to compete in this event. I’m in superb shape, as are my two fantastic nine-year-olds. The mare is jumping really well. She won the CSI 4* Grand Prix in Rouen in November and then ranked well in Vejer (Spain). We’ve prepared her thoroughly for the Saut Hermès. I didn’t really take any notice of the others’ times because I know my mare is very quick, highly respectful and very capable. I can make tight turns. That fills me with confidence in the run-up to Sunday’s Grand Prix Hermès, which I’m competing in with my other nine-year-old, Heartlove de Pleville, which had a clear round on Friday.”

**Jeremy Leroy** (FRA) & **Falkira de Mormoulins**

Second, 1”46 off the pace, Jérémy Le Roy (FRA) can also be pleased with the performance of his 11-year-old French Saddle mare Falkira de Mormoulins. “We bought this mare 4 years ago and it has taken years of work after a tricky start. It’s immensely satisfying to secure these results. She hasn’t knocked down a single rail since the start of the year. I’m thrilled.”

**Gilles Thomas** (BEL) & **Qiara de Kalvarie**

Riding Qiara de Kalvarie, a 10-year-old BWP mare, Belgian Gilles Thomas (BEL), ranked No.5 in the world, European team champion, secures third.