Julien Epaillard continued his incredible winning streak on home soil at the 2022-edition of Longines Equita Lyon on Saturday night. Riding his home-bred 9-year-old Donatello d'Auge (Jarnac x Hello Pierville), Epaillard won the traditional CSI5*-W 1.60m Equita Masters presented by Hermes Sellier. 

Twenty horse-and-rider-combinations had qualified to take part in Saturday's feature class, where the best ten pairs from the first round continued on to round two. While six pairs moved on to the second round on a score of zero penalties, only two could produce another clear. When Epaillard entered the ring as the last man out in round two, Jur Vrieling (NED) and the impressive Comme-Laude W (Comme Il Faut x Diagonal) was holding the lead with the only double clear. True to their style, Epaillard and Donatello d'Auge did not hold back, and leaving all the fences intact, crossed the finish line two seconds faster than Vrieling. 

Taking his third win of the weekend – and the 67th of the year – Epaillard said: "I can't believe it myself; I have won the last seven classes I have jumped. I have the opportunity to ride exceptional horses, and it always takes a bit of luck as well. You have to enjoy it while it lasts." 

“Starting last gave me a lot of information about the jump-off," Epaillard continued. "I saved time at the start of the course, and that allowed me to take good care of the end – which was delicate, in particular the very last vertical." 

While Vrieling was pushed down to the runner-up position, Penelope Leprevost (FRA) on Texas (Tornesch 1042 x Robin Z) – who clocked the fastest time of the class – had to settle for the third place when the last fence fell in round two. Megane Moissonnier (FRA) on Bracadabra (Pacific des Essarts x Couleur Rubin) placed fourth and Harry Charles (GBR) on Romeo fifth.