ON his first time to compete at the venue, Wexford’s Bertram Allen won Wednesday’s four-star $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m class during week four at the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Riding Ballywalter Stables’ Quiet Easy 4, he produced the fastest of 20 double clear rounds in 31.46 seconds to get off to the perfect start at WEF. “I had Quiet Easy a few years ago, then he was sold to Norway and I only recently got him back,” Allen said.

“I really like him and I’ve known him a long time. This was one of my first classes back with him, and he’s really fresh, so it’s lovely to have him back. The owner didn’t have so much for him to do, so they said they’d send him back to me if I could retire him when he was finished. He’s nearing the end of his career now, so it’s nice to just enjoy him.

“He’s very, very quick and he’s won a lot of speed classes all his life, so it wasn’t difficult for him to go fast today. My brother Harry had him at a national show two weeks ago and he jumped so well that I said I’d bring him here. It wasn’t originally the plan.”

Allen has been impressed with his Wellington experience so far, adding: “The Derby Field is a fantastic arena. This is my first time seeing them jump in here on the grass and it’s absolutely immaculate. It’s lovely here, a great lifestyle, and it definitely beats the cold.”

Allen’s time was just fractions faster than Canadian runner-up Erynn Ballard riding Canora Z (0/0 31.66 seconds). Ireland’s Capt. Brian Cournane capped the top five in 33.55 seconds riding Colourful Lady for Glenbeigh Farm LLC.