Edited press release from Hubside Jumping
Julien Epaillard and the 9-year-old stallion Calgary Tame (Old Chap Tame x Kashmir Van't Schuttershof) won Friday's feature class at Hubside Jumping in Grimaud, France – the CSI4* 1.50m with a jump-off, counting for the world ranking. The French rider smashed the time to beat by more than two seconds, once again demonstrating that he is one of the fastest in the world. It was a full French podium in Grimaud on Friday, with Michel Robert and Emerette (Diarado x Chellano Z) following in runner-up position, while Cyril Bouvard and Broceliande du Lac (Rock'N Roll Semilly x Persan II) ended third.
“At the start of the course, Calgary Tame was going a bit too high for my taste," Epaillard commented after his win. "But he finished the first round really well and in the jump-off I think he had taken the measure of the height, did not do more than what was requested and did not make unnecessary efforts. By nature, he is a very fast horse and in the jump-off I was lucky to have systematically good distances in the short turns. This class was to test Calgary for the Grand Prix on Sunday. Verdict: He will jump! It will be his first at this level. I think he is a real horse for the future."
Earlier in the day, Frenchman Benoît Cernin won the CSI4* 1.45m with Cookie de Vesvre (Dollar Dela Pierre x Drakkar des Hutins) – making it a good day for the hosts. Michael Duffy (IRL) finished second with RMF Charly (Clearway x Silvester) and Jerome Hurel (FRA) third with Fair Play d'Esquelmes (Darco x Carthago).