BERTRAM Allen landed his second five-star Grand Prix of 2022 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last Saturday. The victory came on the inexperienced eight-year-old gelding Empoli de Champloue who the Wexford rider has huge hopes for.

Competing at the venue for the second week, Allen and the Ballywalter Stud-owned gelding by Arko III were one of seven clears over the 1.60m track. Against the clock, five of those went clear again and Allen posted an incredible smooth round with the scopey chesnut, every fence coming up perfectly for the pair to cross the line in the winning time of 33.60 seconds and earn €23,800.

Saudi Arabia filled the rest of the steps on the podium; Abdullah Waleed Alsharbatly was runner-up with Kannabis van de Bucxtale (0/0 34.76), ahead of Abdulrahman Bader Alrajhi with Bravour (0/0 36.19).

In fourth place with the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Maxwin Kinmar Agalux. Bred by Gerry Marron, the mare is by Aganix du Seigneur out of Kinmar Lux Good (Lux Z). She was ridden by Thailand’s Janakabhorn Karunayadhaj.

“He is very very exciting,” Allen told The Irish Field about Empoli de Champloue. “He is only eight so to win a five-star Grand Prix at eight is unusual. We have had him since a five-year-old, he was produced in Ireland by Daren Hopkins at our stable in Wexford and he has been good the whole way along.

“He is probably the most exciting horse we have ever had, we have big expectations for him so hopefully they come through.”

In Friday’s €300,000 World Cup qualifier, Allen faulted once in the first round with his Olympic mount Pacino Amiro (ISH, Pacino x NC Amiro) to finish in ninth place. Saudi’s Abdulrahman Bader Alrajhi took victory with Babalou HD.

On Thursday, Allen and Empoli de Champloue claimed sixth place in the 1.40m two phase, when slowest of the six double clears in a time of 37.67. Winner of the class was Saudi’s Khaled Almobty, who put in a blistering round with Limonca in a time of 25.31.