Press release from Stuttgart German Masters, edited by World of Showjumping

“I saw that Richie was amazingly quick and just knew I had no other chance but to take even more risks,” France's Julien Epaillard said after his daring ride on Donatello d'Auge (Jarnac x Hello Pierville) handed him the win in Friday night's CSI5*-W 1.55m Stuttgart German Masters presented by DVAG in Stuttgart, Germany. 

As the last pair to go in a full-throttle jump-off between six horse-and-rider combinations that went clear in the first round, Epaillard was victorious in front of 8,000 thrilled spectators in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle on Friday. Going clear in a time of 31.39 seconds, he snatched the win from Germany's Richard Vogel and Cloudio (Casall x San Patrignano Cassini), who eventually had to settle for second place after being pipped by the Frenchman.

Bas Moerings (NED) and Kivinia (I M Special de Muze x Calido I) placed third after stopping the clock at 34.05 seconds, followed by Peder Fredricson (SWE) on the 11-year-old gelding SV Vroom de la Pomme Z (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Untouchable) in fourth with a time of 34.27 seconds and Sophie Hinners (GER) aboard Lommers (Carrera VDL x Quasimodo Z) in fifth in 34.62.