“It is nice to have a good start to the weekend," Julien Epaillard told WoSJ after Donatello d'Auge won the CSI5*-W 1.50m Prix FFE Generali in Bordeaux. Photo © Nanna Nieminen for World of Showjumping.
Text © World of Showjumping
The 2025-edition of Jumping International de Bordeaux kicked off with a home win for France’s very own Julien Epaillard and the 12-year-old Donatello d’Auge (Jarnac x Hello Pierville) in Friday’s CSI5*-W 1.50m Prix FFE Generali.
With a time of 58.13, the current world number ten bested a field of 35, taking the win ahead of his compatriot Julien Anquetin (FRA) and Z Ice Cube Z (Zacharov x Casco) in second in 58.24. The hosts came in form, with Philippe Rozier (FRA) and Dirty Sweet (Cornet Obolensky x Lavillon) completing the podium in third in 60.22.
“Bordeaux is an important show for us in France, an old show with a long tradition and great atmosphere,” Epaillard told World of Showjumping after his victory. “It is nice to have a good start to the weekend. My plan for Donatello is to jump the World Cup tomorrow, and then he will have three weeks off.”
The current world number two, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte (Bamako de Muze x Tinka’s Boy) finished fourth in 60.99, followed by Marcus Ehning (GER) and Priam du Roset (Plot Blue x Tanael du Serein) fifth in 61.81.
Then