It was Julien Epaillard and his reliable Cristallo A LM (Casall x Corofino) that took Thursday’s biggest win in Knokke. The Spanish rider took an early lead on the amazing gelding that notches up one win after another. Stopping the clock at 54.76 seconds as tenth to go, nobody could catch this pair – who is always a danger against the clock – as was the case today in this 1.50 speed class.

Second place went to the always well riding Marlon Zanotelli who had chosen Rock’n Roll Semilly (Diamant de Semilly x La Mare) for the class. The two made it all look smooth and easy around the track, to finish on 57.11 – but Epaillard overtook them as next to go.

Ending third was Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat on Kavalier (Kannan x Alligator Fontaine), while Janika Sprunger ended fourth – with Katharina Offel claiming fifth.

Epaillard also won the opening five star 1.40 earlier in the day.