As he passed the final fence, he first looked at the giant screen. Incredulous. It only took a few seconds for him to realise what was going on and to let his joy explode, first with a fist in the air and then with his arms around his mare's neck. The last of the 25 competitors to take part in the Derby de Bretagne, an event awaited each year by thousands of spectators in the Val Porée amphitheatre, Félix Jarry undoubtedly scored the greatest victory of his career. Based in Saint-Augustin-des-Bois, near Angers, the 31-year-old rider, son of former French national team rider Pierre Jarry, rode Elgaura, a 10-year-old Selle Français mare by L'Arc de Triomphe. "I can't find the words to describe it,’ he says, still reeling from the emotion. Last year, we came to compete in this Derby for the first time.We made two small mistakes on the simplest verticals, but I told myself that it was all over.We agreed to meet again this year.I knew that the mare was upright and capable of doing it. But I didn't want to beat Nicolas Delmotte, Julien Gonin, Roberto etc. I'd seen their tricks. I'd seen their tricks. I told myself that to go after them, I was going to have to gallop like hell. And I won! At the end, I heard a lot of noise and I saw people who looked happy. And when I saw the first one, I said to myself that it wasn't possible. And yes, it is! Wow, that feels great!" He succeeds Émeric George, winner last year with Dune du Ru, but guilty of eight points this Saturday (10th).

Nicolas Delmotte was the first rider to complete a clear round with Citadin du Chatellier on this course of 21 obstacles (24 efforts), designed by Jean-François Morand, a mixture of classic and natural obstacles close to eventing efforts (ford, mound, counter-high and counter-low). "I'm very happy with Citadin, comments Delmotte. I had to balance him out a bit at the end because he was pulling hard, but in any case, I couldn't have gone faster than Félix. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Mars family for this competition. The horses here are given a superb welcome and, as I often say, this is one of the best competitions of the year."

His time (172‘’58) was quickly bettered by Colombian Roberto Teran Tefur on Iron Maiden (169‘’00). The experienced 47-year-old rider, who took part in the last Olympic Games in Tokyo as well as the 2002 World Championships and had already finished 4th in the Derby de La Baule last June with this young 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding, thought he had won for a long time. Until the last passage. That of Félix Jarry, the third and final clear round. And above all, the fastest (162‘’76). 

Julien Anquetin with Fiona des Ibis and Julien Gonin with Estrella de la Batia undoubtedly deserved better. Well ahead of his rivals' times, Anquetin initially hesitated on his course, looking for the right obstacle. Once he had found his mark, he took all the risks to try and make up for lost time and made a mistake on the final obstacle. Despite the rain, Julien Gonin had mastered his course better. But he too made a mistake on the final hurdle. "I'm disappointed because my mare was fantastic, said Gonin. She dominated the whole Derby. But in the final furlong, perhaps I was in too much of a hurry. I should have taken more time. I started a bit flat, I should have sat her down more. But what if..."