BERTRAM Allen is continuing to show his good turn of form at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, where he won a five-star class with Lafayette van Overis last week.
Allen claimed two of the podium places in Friday’s $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m at the venue, when he guided both Lafayette van Overis and Quiet Easy 4 to two of the 21 clear rounds from 53 starters over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s track.
The nine-year-old Kashmir van Schuttershof-sired gelding showed his speed when breaking the beam in 59.91, with almost a second to spare over Mexico’s Santiago Lambre and Doloris (0/0 60.71) in the runner-up place. Allen also slotted into third place with Quiet Easy 4 (0/0 60.78) to earn a total of €16,000.
Allen took over the ride on the winner last August from Britain’s Joe Clee and they secured two five-star victories in Tryon last October before the horse had a short break. “He was very good during my first trip to America in the fall, which was great for an eight-year-old,” said Allen “I eased off him a bit after that, and now he’s back. I was delighted with him today.
“He has a fantastic brain and truly understands the sport. He’s very competitive, brave, and wants to do it, so I think he’ll end up jumping a few bigger classes in the future,” the happy winner added.
Shane Sweetnam placed seventh with Seabrook LLC and Sweet Oak Farm’s ZAndora Z, when clear in 63.94 seconds, while Cormac Hanley shared eighth place after a nice clear round with Heathman Farm’s Copain Z.
Allen then took the runner-up spot in Sunday’s $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m in the main arena aboard Lafayette van Overis.
From a field of 53, only seven advanced to the jump-off as they commanded a tricky first round course set by D’Ambrosio. Allen’s time of 34.90 was fractions slower than Canadian winner Tiffany Foster and Brighton (0/0 34.59).
Shane Sweetnam also produced a clear round against the clock to take fourth place with Spy Coast Farm and Sweet Oak Farm’s nine-year-old mare Deleyn.
Captain Brian Cournane was best of the Irish in Thursday’s Grand Prix qualifier, the $137,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 5. He guided the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Penelope Cruz (Ustinov x Peter Pan) to one of eight clear rounds in the jump-off, breaking the beam in 43.16 seconds to earn $8,220.
Penelope Cruz was bred by Liam McKee and is owned by Cournane and his parents-in-law, Bob and Christine Stiller. Daniel Coyle finished seventh aboard Farrell. Victory went to USA’s Kent Farrington with Austria 2.
Two-star division
Cameron Hanley was best of the Irish in Sunday’s $50,000 Rushy Marsh Farm Grand Prix when finishing in fourth place. Hanley, who is spending the winter in Wellington after taking up a job with Poden Farms late last year, guided their 10-year-old stallion Kasper van het Hellehof to one of eight clear rounds in the 19-horse jump-off, breaking the beam in 39.89 seconds.
Victory went to 19-year-old American rider Madison Goetzmann and Prestigious (0/0 38.15). Former Irish show jumping chef d’equipe Rodrigo Pessoa finished third aboard Carlito’s Way 6.
Paul O’Shea finished third in Friday’s two-star 1.45m jump-off class with Skara Glen’s Chancelloress. The 11-year-old mare is owned by Skara Glen Stables, OBS Equestrian LLC, Michael Hayden and Gerry Hayden.
They produced one of seven clear rounds against the clock in 43.10 to finish this. Victory went to Pessoa and Carlito’s Way 6. Hanley finished fifth with Kasper van het Hellehof.