In a truly masterful performance, French rider Julien Épaillard, aboard Donatello d’Auge, secured victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco, boasting an impressive €1.5 million prize pool, marking the pinnacle of the LGCT - Jumping International de Monte-Carlo. This brilliant success served as a perfect conclusion to three days of extremely high-level competition on the Monaco Port Hercule track.
The equestrian world unanimously agrees that Julien Épaillard is currently the fastest rider on the circuit, and he reaffirmed this on Saturday evening. Despite a challenging first round, marred by two tricky triple and double combinations, Épaillard, the world's second-ranked rider, took to the course as the last of the five riders in the jump-off and once again left no room for his competitors. With maximum risk-taking, flawlessly executed turns, and unwavering control, Épaillard, partnered with Donatello d’Auge, a 10-year-old Selle Français gelding by Jarnac, succeeded in outshining the field.
This victory allowed him to follow in the footsteps of Kevin Staut, the last and only French winner in Monaco back in 2012, and to succeed Austria's Max Kühner (who placed sixth this year). Épaillard shared his thoughts on the victory, stating, "This Grand Prix in Monaco was a goal for me, having already been crowned on the Longines Global Champions Tour circuit earlier in Saint-Tropez in early June. Donatello jumps very well on smaller indoor-like courses.
I had a fault in the Grand Prix in Paris last week, but he had jumped very well. Having won the qualifying event yesterday, I started last today, which is always good. I tried to ride as best as possible, and the horse was fantastic. In the jump-off, I had seen Harrie's (Smolders) round. My horse is very fast, and I knew I could do better. Donatello is one of the best horses in the world. Winning with him is a source of pride because my wife and I bred him. I am starting to know him well, and I know what he needs. He is always better on the second or third day of the competition. The 2024 Paris Olympics are clearly our goal. We will prepare him for that event in Paris. He is a horse made for it. We will have to make as few mistakes as possible in that preparation."
Behind Épaillard's remarkable performance (36.54 seconds), Dutch rider Harrie Smolders, world No. 8, had given his all with Monaco N.O.P, taking the lead ahead of Greek talent Ioli Mytilineou (40.17 seconds), who was initially in pole position with Levis de Muze but had to settle for second place (37.81 seconds). France also had reason to celebrate with the fourth-place finish by the Olympic team champion from Rio, 60-year-old Philippe Rozier, aboard Le Coultre de Muze. All three French riders made it to the jump-off. Youngster Jeanne Sadran, 22 years old, also earned her spot in the final act with Unforgettable Damvil but a fault on the last obstacle left her in fifth place. She commented, "My horse may not be the most technical, but he has a huge heart. The first round was really tough with very difficult verticals. Qualifying for the jump-off is undoubtedly the highlight of my career."
The much-anticipated world No. 1, Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann, who arrived in the Principality with his top horse King Edward, had to settle for a modest 19th place with two faults.
In the overall Global Champions Tour standings, Maikel van der Vleuten maintains his lead ahead of Germany's Christian Kukuk and Sweden's Malin Baryard Johnsson. While Simon Delestre remains the top French rider in 6th place, Julien Épaillard, with this victory, climbs to 10th place. The next stop on the circuit will be in Riesenbeck, Germany, from July 21st to 23rd.
In the early evening, CSI 5* riders competed in a 1.50m speed event. In great form throughout the competition, Irishman Richard Howley proved the fastest with Mansini Ltd, a 14-year-old SWB horse he has been riding since the beginning of the year. He even managed to outpace Sweden's von Eckermann, who participated this time with Dzara Dorchival, by 16 hundredths of a second. Brazilian rider Francisco José Mesquita Musa (Catch me Marathon) secured the third spot on the podium.
In the CSI 2* highlight, the Grand Prix presented by Constance Hotels & Resorts was claimed by Brazilian rider Felipe Coutinho Mendonca Nagata, riding a 9-year-old KWPN mare, Joy For Ever. While three riders made it to the jump-off, the Brazilian, based in Monaco and the trainer of some young Monegasque riders, was the only one to complete the course without faults. He was followed by Belgian rider Bart Jay Junior Vandecasteele (Kadee van het Heikanthof) and French rider Louise Sadran (Erfurt). Inès Joly, very fast but with a fault, finished just off the podium after her victory the previous day. Anastasia Nielsen, seventh with Beau van de Hagenhorst Z, was the best Monegasque rider. Notably, American rider Wilton Porter emerged victorious in the Constance Hotels Challenge, which rewarded the best rider across the CSI 2* events in Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Monaco.
Belgian rider Kasper de Boeck on Flandria Rent Queen of Hearts Dwerse Hagen had previously triumphed in the 1.30m class, while UAE rider Mohammad Saeed Saif Ahmad Al Ghurair, aboard Ikaros, claimed victory in the 1.15m class.
In the National competition, Monégasque riders Giacomo Paneraj (Devinette Colloise) and Sophia George (Isha), along with Qatari rider Fahad bin Jassim Ah Thani (Vegas de Ray), ended their weekend on a high note by winning their final FEPM – Cavalleria Toscana events.
Diane Fissore, President of the Monaco Equestrian Federation and President of the Jumping International de Monte-Carlo, expressed, "The 2023 edition was exceptional and will be etched in the history of the LGCT - Jumping International de Monte-Carlo! With the world's top two riders and many of the planet's best riders at the start, we witnessed a display of high-level sporting prowess. It is a great joy and pride to see their loyalty to our competition. A big thank you to all our partners who allow us to maintain this very high standard year after year. We are also very happy to see more and more Monegasque riders making significant progress with very encouraging results for the future. The work initiated by the Monaco Equestrian Federation is paying off."