“I won my first 5* Grand Prix in Casas Novas”

Julien Epaillard became the most successful driver on the international circuit during 2022. The French driver rose to the top of the classification after achieving no more than 75 wins last year. His streak continued this year, recording good results, despite no longer having a mare Roque snail. These days, Julien Epaillard is racing again in Casas Novas, on a track he knows well and where he hopes to achieve great success again.

«I have very good memories of this competition in A Coruña, here I won my first big prize 5*, although it was in the winter indoor competition. But I don’t keep track of how many times I’ve competed here, let alone how many competitions I’ve won at Casas Novas. It is a competition where I usually get good results and I hope it will be the same this year.

— Is the rider a winner as you were born or made?

— It’s complicated, you need good horses and experience. It is something that is built over years and you learn to win over time.

-He just got over with Donatello D’Auge in the grand prize of 495,000 euros for the winner. Are we facing a new crack?

— I hope so, he is a horse born at home, so we still have more confidence in him and we know that he just needs experience. He jumped his first 4* Grand Prix here in Casas Novas last year, his first 5* in Rome in September, and already won his first World Cup in Amsterdam in January. It fulfills what we expected from it and we are most satisfied with that.

— Shall we see Donatello win in Casas Novas?

– I prefer not to forecast, we will do our best. The horse is in good shape and we will try everything

— And in Paris 2024?

“That is our number one goal. I hope to be there and do my best at the Olympics.