Renowned Frenchman Julien Epaillard and Donatello d’Auge emerged triumphant in the esteemed €1.5 million Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco. Securing his second LGCT Grand Prix win of the year, just four weeks after the first at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Ramatuelle/St. Tropez, he won the high-stakes competition which took place against the picturesque backdrop of Monaco, captivating fans from around the world.
Emotions ran high as Harrie Smolders and Monaco N.O.P took second place securing their Golden Ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Prague later this year. Young talent Ioli Mytilineou collected her first-ever LGCT podium taking third place on the uber-consistent Levis de Muze.
Under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, the ninth leg of the Championship race is a long-standing and popular stop on the calendar with illustrious names listed on the winner’s roster over the years.
Speaking after his win, Epaillard smiled: “This Grand Prix was a big target for me. Maybe this is the best Grand Prix I’ve ever won, today, so we will enjoy it! Donatello is a special horse for us – I bred him with my wife, he is now 10 years old and he has now won three or four 5* Grand Prix’s, so it is very nice to breed a horse like this and celebrate the win with him.”
