Unbeatable Epaillard bests the rest with another Grand Prix win at the Spring MET 2020

Julien Epaillard has made sure that the La Marseillaise has been played on repeat at the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour since it kicked off in January, and Sunday’s CSI2* Grand Prix presented by CHG was no exception. Epaillard has embarked 2020 on a winning streak, and today the French rider took his fifth Grand Prix victory in less than two months.
 
The Spring MET II has been successful for Epaillard, who today recorded his fourth world ranking win in two weeks. In Sunday’s Grand Prix, Epaillard and the 10-year-old gelding Edesa’s Kzoom van de Wittemoere (Carabas V/D Wateringhoeve x Upsilonvd Heffinck Z) were up against a big field of competitors – over 70 horse-and-rider combinations in total. With 25 of them managing to answer all the questions asked of course designer Gregory Bodo, the crowds were in for yet another Sunday afternoon treat in Oliva Nova.
 
Fresh from his victory in Saturday’s world ranking class, Epaillard left his competitors no chance in today’s 1.45m Grand Prix – beating his compatriot Harold Boisset on Verone de La Rouqe (Kannan x Quick Star) with over two seconds. Third place went to Belgium’s Jerome Guery on BCO Milton Z (Mylord Carthago*HN x Sandro Boy) – 2.62 seconds behind the winning time. The French domination continued with Maelle Martin in fourth, while fifth went to Ireland’s Clem McMahon.
Photo © Hervé Bonnaud / www.1clicphoto.com.
“Edesa’s Kzoom van de Wittemoere is a new horse in my stable, he actually came directly here to Oliva Nova,” Epaillard explained. “He has already been successful and winning at CSI3* level, but his owner thinks he is a horse for the 5* as well – that is why he came to me. The Spring MET has been a great way for me to get to know him better,” Epaillard commented.
 
The French rider has had an extremely successful beginning to the year, and is now ranked 12th on the world ranking – his personal best ever. “I have really good horses in my stable, a great team and great owners behind me. We try to make the best plan for each horse, and try not to make mistakes. It has been going really well for now,” he said.
 
Nel Grand Prix Silver Tour di sabato, Francesco Turturiello e Mona Lisa Van Dorperheide (Zilverstar T x Cascavelle) si sono aggiudicati la categoria. Il binomio ha battuto il belga Koen Vereecke e Call Me de Muze Z (Clarissimo Z x Ramiro Z) di quasi un secondo. Al terzo posto, la francese Megane Moissonnier in Die Hard of Roses Z (Diamant de Semilly x Cristo).
Martedì 25/2,  MET II 2020 entrerà nella sua ultima settimana di gare, con i momenti salienti della finale dei giovani cavalli di mercoledì per i cavalli di 5, 6 e 7 anni e il Gran Premio della CSI3 * di 1,50m di domenica.
Photo © Hervé Bonnaud / www.1clicphoto.com.
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