WEXFORD’s Bertram Allen had a successful first visit to Tryon in North Carolina for the five-star action last week.

Riding the eight-year gelding Lafayette Van Overis, Allen won two five-star classes and placed sixth in the only other class they started. The first win with the horse, who joined Ballywalter Farms from Britain’s Joe Clee in the summer, came in Friday’s $36,000 1.45m Speed Stakes. They earned $11,880 when breaking the beam in 60.56 seconds ahead of Mexico’s Santiago Lambre and Ibabco (0/ 61.84).