WEXFORD’s Bertram Allen, aiming to defend his title as speed master, posted a superb third place finish in the Longines Speed Challenge at the Hong Kong Masters last Saturday.

The 21-year partnered last year’s winner, Quiet Easy (Quidan’s Rubin x Zapateado), to the quickest round of the day on the clock (65.79), however the 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding finished with one pole on the ground to add four seconds to their time and finish on 69.67 seconds.