Julien Epaillard (FRA) – current world number seven – and the 12-year-old mare Cancun Torel Z (Cosinhus x Grannus, bred by Francois Xavier Guyard) took Saturday's biggest win at Jumping Verona 2023 when taking the top honours in the CSI5*-W 1.55m winning round presented by Crivelli.

With a time of 36.78, Epaillard and Cancun Torel Z were the fastest out of the eleven horse-and-rider-combinations in the winning round – spoiling an Italian party as they pushed Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and F One USA (Toulon x Otangelo, bred by Th. H. W. ten Brinke & R. Bril) down to the runner-up spot in the 1.55m class that counted for Longines Ranking Group B. 

"I started riding her this summer," Epaillard said in a press release from Fieracavalli Verona. "Yesterday was her first time indoors and she had one down but she was already super, and today she was amazing – a little bit lucky but she doesn’t have much experience. She’s super-brave. She was previously ridden by French lady rider Dorothee Amar who was jumping 1.45m classes with her. She’s a really lovely mare, and she has a big heart." 

Ben Maher (GBR) – current world number three – and Enjeu de Grisien (Toulon x Andiamo, bred by SCEA Elevage de Grisien) placed third, while Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) and Delta Del'isle (Tibet Tame x Grain de Soleil, bred by GAEC De la Perrette) finished fourth and Jeanne Sadran (FRA) aboard Dexter de Kerglenn (Mylord Carthago x Diamant de Semilly, bred by EARL Alain Richard) fifth. 

Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and Violino Il Palazetto (Verdi TN x Jasper, bred by Maria Rosaria Il Palazzetto di Marzotto) won the second CSI5*-W class of the day – a 1.50m against the clock presented by Franco Tucci, counting for Longines Ranking Group D.

"It was a proper 1.50m course and with the speed it was very delicate," de Luca said in a press release from Fieracavalli Verona. "There was a difficult double of verticals (6a/b) and there were some problems with the liverpools for some horses. He is fast, very fast, and he doesn’t waste any time in the air," de Luca said about his horse Violino. "Violino is 14 years old and was bred by Rori Marzotto, an Italian owner who has supported me for a long time. She gave him to me in April and we started to build up our partnership and it’s always been good. At every show he does a very good job, he’s very competitive so I’m very glad to have him." 

Stopping the clock on 58.96, de Luca took the win ahead of Gianpiero Garofalo (ITA) and Jorisca (Dantos x Larino, bred by A. Derks) in second in 60.32 and Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) aboard Ma Belle (Ugano Sitte x Bayard d'Elle, bred by Gust Brosens) in third in 60.47. Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and Poppemieke JW van de Moerhoeve (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Diamant de Semilly, bred by Jan Wuytack & De Moerhoeve BVBA) finished fourth, followed by Kevin Jochems (NED) aboard Camilla van de Helle (Crumble x Casall, bred by Klaus Thiedemann) in fifth.