WELLINGTON, Fla.--Irish Olympian Bertram Allen won the CHF37,000 ($40,000) CSI4* 1.45m on Emmylou during Week 3 of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Bertram Allen on Emmylou (Photo by Sportfot)Canadian course designer Peter Grant’s set a one-round speed track for 50 competitors.

Allen on 2012 Irish-bred mare (Billy Mexico x Lupin Z) finished in 61.85 seconds to beat U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Jessica Springsteen on Naomi van het Keizershof, who was two seconds off the pace in 63.36 seconds, while Vanessa Hood on Cascalretto was third in 63.51 seconds.

“I was very early to go in fourth, so I was just going to go and give it my best shot," said Allen. "I have a very competitive horse, and she gave a massive effort. She’s just fantastic and I knew that if I rode well that I could have a chance today.”

“I started with her here last year,” said Allen. “She’s really cool and she tries absolutely everything because she’s quite small and maybe does not have all the scope in the world. Sometimes she jumps classes bigger than she should be able to normally because she tries so hard and is brave. That makes it all possible.”

Allen has returned to Wellington this season with seasoned mounts like Emmylou, as well as a string of 9-year-olds that will step into the International Arena.

“I’m hoping to keep winning with the older ones and have the younger ones jumping some bigger classes by the end,” he said.

 

TOMAS YOFRE of Argentina won the CHF37,000 ($40,000) 1.45m, a qualifier for Sunday’s CSI2* Grand Prix , over 56 competitors, 12 of which advanced to the jump-off.

Yofre on Cardora finished in a jump-off time of 43.02.

Second place went to Maria Costa on Coup De Coeur, clean in 43.96 seconds, and third went to Chris Pratt (of Canada on CJOXX Z, clean in 44.99 seconds.

"First of all, let me say thank you to the owners, they are like family, and to my uncle who has trained me,” said Yofre. “I have been riding the mare for a year and a half and she is super. She’s not the fastest but she has a huge stride. In the jump-off, I did one or two less strides from one to two, so I think I won there because in the race I was doing the same as the other people. She’s becoming faster and really good. I trust her and she trusts me.”

“She really is an amazing mare, definitely a little shy but once she gets to know you and trusts you, she is the best horse in the world," he said.