Text © World of Showjumping
Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Gracieux du Pachis (Tinka's Boy x Caretino) won Saturday's CSI4* 1.55m TM² Equestrian Grand Prix at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium.
Twelve out of the 49 participants cleared the first-round track and joined the deciding jump-off. Oliver Lazarus (RSA) on Butterfly Ennemmel (Quaprice Bois Margot x Lux Z) was the first to set a clear in round one, and was joined in the jump-off by Epaillard on Gracieux du Pachis, Pieter Clemens (BEL) on Malibu de Wiqui (Nabab de Reve x Tinka's Boy), Katharina Offel (GER) on Chaning Tatum (Canturano x Balou du Rouet), Guillaume Foutrier (FRA) on Corneska de La Falize Z (Cornet Obolensky x President), Gregory Wathelet (BEL) on Argentina de La Marchette (Acajou de La Marchette x Del Piero PB), Emily Moffitt (GBR) on Bacara d'Archonfosse (Asca Z x Kannan), Lars Kersten (NED) on Emmerton (Silvio I x Sam R), Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) on Scuderia 1918 Highlight W (Berlin x Clearway), Harry Charles (GBR) on Stardust (Chacco-Blue x Con Air 7), Angelie von Essen (SWE) on Happiness DK Z (Hooch DK x Andiamo Z) and Manuel Fernandez Saro (ESP) on Jarlin de Torres (Jarnac x Calvaro F.C.).
Second out in the jump-off, Epaillard was his usual lightning fast and crossed the finish line in 35.61 seconds –- setting a time to beat that none of those to follow could match. Fernandez Saro got the closest as the last man out in the jump-off, stopping the clock on 39.74 and taking the runner-up position, while Angelie von Essen on Happiness DK Z placed third, Harry Charles on Stardust fourth and Oliver Lazarus on Butterfly Ennemmel fifth – the latter two as the quickest four-faulters in the jump-off.
"Gracieux du Pachis is an amazing horse," Epaillard told World of Showjumping after his win. "He won his first ever two-star Grand Prix in Nancy, he won the Grand Prix qualification as well as the three-star Grand Prix here last week, he was second here on the first day this week... I have been riding him for two months, and I think I have had one fence down. The course today was good, twelve clears is a perfect number for a jump-off."