FRESH from winning three cars in Stockholm, Bertram Allen struck again to collect a €70,000 pay cheque for his runner-up position in what was another breath-taking five-star Paris Masters Grand Prix with the thrilling grey stallion Hector van d’Abdijhoeve in Paris last Sunday.
Italian course builder Uliano Vezzani built a big 1.60m track, which caused plenty of difficulties for the 45 starters with Scott Brash, world number four Kent Farrington and Ludger Beerbaum the big names among the seven riders that elected to retire.
However, eight combinations managed to make it through to the second round against the clock.
Half of those jumped clear in the jump-off, but it was ultimately Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet and the 12-year-old stallion Eldorado van het Vijerhof who stopped the clock with the quickest time in 41.86 seconds.
Wathelet had an anxious wait and Allen’s time of 42.08 seconds was just two-tenths of a second slower, for what was his highest five-star placing with the nine-year-old entire.
Hector van d’Abdijhoeve is by Cabrio van de Heffinck and is owned by Noel Delahunty from Galway. Allen took over the ride on the grey last summer from Galway show jumper Thomas O’Brien, who produced him from a four-year-old.
BEST EVER
Speaking after the class, Allen said: “It was a very big first round with only eight clears but still an amazing jump-off. I think Gregory [Wathelet] would have been very hard to beat and I’m surprised I got so close. I am just so happy with my horse Hector – I think today was the best he has ever jumped.”
Germany’s Daniel Deusser completed the podium with Equita van’t Zorgvliet, almost two seconds behind Allen in 43.81, while Britain’s John Whitaker was the last of the double clears in a slower time of 47.35 for fourth place with his Olympic mount Ornellaia.
The atmosphere in the Salon du Cheval was superb as the French crowd cheered for a home winner, but a refusal for Simon Delestre, the sole French rider in the jump-off, after a tight turn back to the oxer at fence one meant he had to settle for seventh place.
“My horse has been fantastic,” Wathelet said afterwards. “For me, he did the first course perfect and then in the jump-off, he was very fast.
“With eight clear, you have to be fast so I took all the risks and today luck was on my side and I’m very pleased.”
Third-placed Deusser, who won the LA Masters with his mount in October and was chasing the series bonus, added: “I have to say my horse jumped very very good today, she tried in the first round really hard and in the end, even if I didn’t win the bonus, I am very very happy with third place.”
Mayo’s Cameron Hanley introduced his mount Cas 2 to five-star Grand Prix level at the Parisian venue and the combination finished with a fantastic round to end in 12th place.
Hanley picked up €3,500 for the Indoctro-sired nine-year-old gelding’s efforts.
The Longines Masters series concludes in Hong Kong in February.
GOLD CUP
Allen also managed to grab a fourth place finish in the 1.50m Paris Gold Cup on Saturday night with Izzy By Picobello.
Ten combinations jumped clear in the one round speed class, won by Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren’s Happiness (Heartbeat x Lambrusco Ask) in a time of 41.92.
Izzy By Picobello (Cicero Z x Capriano) stopped the clock clear in 45.04 seconds to pick up €6,180 behind Daniel Deusser in second (0/ 43.90) and Belgium’s Jérome Guery in third (0/44.87).
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch got his show off to a good start in the opening class, scoring a third place finish with Ho Go van de Padenborre (Darco x Chin Chin).
Lynch guided the 11-year-old stallion to one of just three clear rounds in a time of 76.36 seconds behind French winner Julien Epaillard, who was lightening fast in 63.45, with Quatrin de la Roque LM, and Simon Delestre in second with Sultan du Chateau (0/75.53). Cameron Hanley came home in seventh place with Cas 2 (3/89.43).