Julien Epaillard jumping in Hagen. Ph. CSI4* Hagen
The second day of the tournament at Horses & Dreams Meets Denmark CSI4* in Hagen, Germany was ruled by French rider Julien Epaillard. Early Thursday morning, the Frenchman had led the victory lap in the Medium Tour Prize of Performance Sales International GmbH CSI4* aboard the 2008 Selle Francis Usual Suspect D’eye (Jamac x Papillon Rouge).
Later that afternoon in the Preis Gegeben vom Hof Kasselman CSI4*, part of the Big Tour of the CSI, a winning streak began for Epaillard. He saddled the 10-year-old, Diamant de Semilly son Safari D Auge, and beat out New Zealander Bruce Goodin with Baloppi by less than a second in the single round class. The colorful-international podium was completed with Britain’s William Funnell with Billy Angelo. The best German rider was Felix Haßmann with Cayenne WZ in 4th place (the pair had already won the opening competitionwith SL Brazonado on Wednesday.)
“Horses & Dreams is a great tournament for the riders and horses – everything is well organized,” praised Epaillard. The 38-year-old show jumper operates his Stal Lisieux with his wife Susana in Normandy, France.
His performance in Hagen, if it continues in winning form through the weekend, could have bearing on whether Epaillard moves up the rankings to be considered for the “Road to Rio” on the French Team. Although he is not yet ranked among the top five in France, “if things go well, I might be!” he laughed.
No international jumping tournament is complete without theYoungster Tour, in which the top riders can measure their future hopefuls. Two Colombian riders had the best round in the first test of the Spring Tour for seven and eight-year-old horses. Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo won with the eight-year Selle Francais mare Ultramarine ahead of his countryman Rene Lopez, with the also eight-year-old Sandro Boy daughter, Destiny’s Child. Second place went to Philipp Weishaupt with the only seven year old Hanoverian mare, Call me Eva by Chacco-Blue.