Julien Epaillard wins battle of the Eiffel Tower in Global Champions Tour czarinas

Epaillard and his horse, French-bred stallion Usual Suspect D'auge, won a three-horse jump-off over eight fences in 40.67 seconds on the Champ de Mars, against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.

'It's amazing, here in Paris, in this special place, it is just fantastic,' Epaillard, 39, said in a televised interview after seeing a high-risk ride being rewarded with victory on home soil.

'My horse is only nine years old, this is his first five star show,' said the Frenchman, who learnt to ride in his parents' equestrian center.



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'He was crazy good. It's a big surprise for me and I am so happy today.'

READ: Why Cedric is the horse of a lifetime

Smolders regains overall lead

It was tough course in the sand arena, with the last two parts of a three-jump combination that was built close to the VIP stands falling seven times each. In the end, only three riders out of a field of 25 produced a clear round.

Belgium's Olivier Philippaerts, son of the country's most successful rider Ludo, and H&M Legend of Love finished second in 41.98 seconds while Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands aboard Don VHP Z took bronze with a calm and controlled ride in 42.13 seconds.

Television pictures after the jump-off showed Epaillard and Philippaerts had been even until the Belgian had a miscommunication with his horse between the second and third jumps which cost him the victory.

His podium finish meant Smolders regained the overall lead of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) from Christian Ahlmann. Smolders now has 185 points, five points clear of the German.

Italy's Alberto Zorzi, who claimed his maiden LGCT win in Monaco last weekend, lies in third place with 161 points.

READ: Nicola Philippaerts reveals his favorite horse

50,000 specators

The event, which attracted seven of the top 10 riders and the entire gold medal-winning French show jumping team from the Rio Olympics, was free to attend following a partnership between the LGCT and the Paris mayor's office.

Some 50,000 spectators were expected to attend what was the eighth leg of the 15-stop Longines Global Champions Tour, the world's richest for the top 30 riders in the world which will finish in Doha, Qatar in November.

Global Champions League

Earlier on Saturday, Belgium's Simon Delestre and his best friend Jérôme Guéry of France gave St. Tropez Pirates a win in the Global Champions League team competition.

It meant they took the overall lead from long-term frontrunners Valkenswaard United with 152 points and 133,931 euros in season prize money.

With seven more events to go, the team competition is going to the wire with the top three teams now separated by a mere three points.

The next leg of the LGCT will take place July 7 and 8 in Cascais, Estoril in Portugal.

'It's amazing, here in Paris, in this special place, it is just fantastic,' Epaillard, 39, said in a televised interview after seeing a high-risk ride being rewarded with victory on home soil. Earlier on Saturday, Belgium's Simon Delestre and his best friend Jérôme Guéry of France gave St. Tropez Pirates a win in the Global Champions League team competition. Italy's Alberto Zorzi, who claimed his maiden LGCT win in Monaco last weekend, lies in third place with 161 points. Some 50,000 spectators were expected to attend what was the eighth leg of the 15-stop Longines Global Champions Tour, the world's richest for the top 30 riders in the world which will finish in Doha, Qatar in November. The next leg of the LGCT will take place July 7 and 8 in Cascais, Estoril in Portugal. With seven more events to go, the team competition is going to the wire with the top three teams now separated by a mere three points. READ: Why Cedric is the horse of a lifetime Television pictures after the jump-off showed Epaillard and Philippaerts had been even until the Belgian had a miscommunication with his horse between the second and third jumps which cost him the victory. Global Champions League Italy's Alberto Zorzi, who claimed his maiden LGCT win in Monaco last weekend, lies in third place with 161 points. Italy's Alberto Zorzi, who claimed his maiden LGCT win in Monaco last weekend, lies in third place with 161 points. Italy's Alberto Zorzi, who claimed his maiden LGCT win in Monaco last weekend, lies in third place with 161 points. Belgium's Olivier Philippaerts, son of the country's most successful rider Ludo, and H&M Legend of Love finished second in 41.98 seconds while Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands aboard Don VHP Z took bronze with a calm and controlled ride in 42.13 seconds. His podium finish meant Smolders regained the overall lead of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) from Christian Ahlmann. Smolders now has 185 points, five points clear of the German. Epaillard and his horse, French-bred stallion Usual Suspect D'auge, won a three-horse jump-off over eight fences in 40.67 seconds on the Champ de Mars, against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. Italy's Alberto Zorzi, who claimed his maiden LGCT win in Monaco last weekend, lies in third place with 161 points.

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