Deauville, France – August 16, 2026 – Normandy’s own Julien Épaillard (FRA) has just brilliantly won the x Longines – Région Normandie Grand Prix at the Longines Deauville Classic CSI 4*. Aboard Donatello d’Auge, who is making a triumphant return to competition, the winner of the 2025 World Cup Final in Basel got the better of Brazil’s João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima (BRA) and the stylish Cashpaid J&F. The top three was completed by local rider Kevin Staut (FRA) and Vida Loca Z.

For its tenth edition, the Longines Deauville Classic CSI 4* could hardly have dreamed of a better winner. Since 2017, the Longines Grand Prix of Deauville has seen eight riders write their names on its roll of honour, starting with Alexandra Paillot (FRA), then Mathieu Billot (FRA), twice, Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA), Edward Levy (FRA), Ioli Mytilineou (GRE), Juliette Faligot (FRS), Mariano Martinez Bastida (ESP) and, last year, Rik Hemeryck (BEL). Until today, no member of the world’s top 10 had ever won the class. Rated 3* until 2022 before gaining a star in 2023, this afternoon crowned one of its big favourites and a member of that top ten: Julien Épaillard (FRA), aboard Donatello d’Auge, to the delight of a large crowd at the Pôle International du Cheval Longines – Deauville.

Today, with his son of Jarnac having begun his return to competition at the end of June at a national show held at this very venue, the pair left their rivals no opening whatsoever. More recently, the winners of the Longines World Cup Final in Basel had come close to victory in the Grand Prix of the Saint-Lô CSI 3* a week ago, setting the fastest time in the jump-off but leaving one pole on the ground. On Friday, the pair had taken second place in the day’s 1.50m feature class, behind Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf (LUX) and Encore Toi du Linon. “After the indoor season, I gave Donatello a rest. When I tried to bring him back to competition, notably in Cabourg and Opglabbeek, I did not find him at his best, so I preferred to wait. When I came back here recently, I felt he was in top form and I understood he wanted to compete again. In Saint-Lô, I should have delivered a double clear, but I asked him for too big an effort given the condition he was in that weekend,” the Normandy rider explained.

João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima & Cashpaid J&F Aecond Once Again

To say the jump-off was quickly settled would be an understatement. Setting off second, the world number nine left his rivals no chance and proved uncatchable. In 42.34 seconds, the thirteen-year-old Selle Français and his rider took over from the 2024 French Pro Elite champions, Cédric Hurel (FRA) and Fantasio Floreval (44.85). Straight after, local rider Kevin Staut (FRA) moved into provisional second place with Vida Loca Z. Aboard his Vigo d’Arsouilles daughter, the rider, who will travel to next week’s World Championships in Aachen as reserve, stopped the clock in 43.68 seconds. Brilliant runners-up a year ago behind Rik Hemeryck (BEL) and Inouï du Seigneur, João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima (BRA) and Cashpaid J&F once again finished second. This afternoon, the exceptional former partner of Belgium’s Nathan Budd (BEL) edged Kevin Staut by four hundredths. Counting on the immense scope and rare carefulness of his son of Casall, the Brazilian gave victory his best shot, but ultimately finished one second and thirty hundredths behind the winners.

“Today, I tried to go fast in the jump-off without leaving out strides in the lines. On the other hand, Donatello and I can make up time in the turns, and that is what we did. This win feels good and I can sense he wants to compete again. I thought today’s course was very well judged, with a good clear-round rate. In the jump-off, there were options, and the track suited every type of horse, with turns and long gallops,” the winner added.

Kevin Staut and Vida Loca back & Fine Tune

With this third place, Kevin Staut (FRA) and Vida Loca Z are back on song. The Vigo d’Arsouilles daughter and the team Olympic champion of the Rio 2016 Games (the anniversary of that title falls tomorrow) had recently suffered several misunderstandings. The ten-year-old mare twice refused the water at the Rolex Grand Prix in Dinard two weeks ago, and on Friday the chestnut had four fences down in the second Grand Prix qualifier, set at 1.50m. This third place should therefore restore confidence to a partnership that, let us remember, won the Grands Prix of the Canteleu and Cabourg CSI 4* in 2024 and 2025.

Final Results – €105,500 Longines Grand Prix – Région Normandie CSI 4*

1) Julien Épaillard (FRA) & Donatello d’Auge – 0 / 0 – 42.34

2) João Victor Gomes de Castro (BRA) & Cashpaid J&F – 0 / 0 – 43.64

3) Kevin Staut (FRA) & Vida Loca Z – 0 / 0 – 43.68

Source: Press Release by Clara Heurteux (edited) for Grand Prix Events

Photo: © Grand Prix Events

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