Saturday night of WEF 6 features the $50,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, February 20, under the lights in the International Arena and the $137,000 IDA Development Grand Prix CSI3* takes place Sunday, February 21, on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village. Competition wraps up Sunday on the Derby Field with the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix and the $25,000 CP National Grand Prix. Spectators can watch feature classes live and on demand for free using the livestream.
A field of 86 combinations challenged the class in hopes of qualifying for Sunday’s $137,000 IDA Development Grand Prix CSI3*. Catsy Cruz (MEX) continued her duties as course designer for the week, setting the 1.50m with 16 jumping efforts, narrowing the field to 24 to qualify for the jump-off and 16 elected to return.
Last to go in the order, Allen and the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Cassino x Lux Z posted the fastest time of the day, leaving all the jumps in their cups in 36.09 seconds.
“He’s a very new horse to me,” said Allen. “He arrived three weeks ago. I jumped him last week and he was very good, so it wasn’t the plan to jump him this week but because he was so good, we decided to jump again. We thought he’d like the grass and he just seems to be getting better and better every round at the moment. He’s very competitive, and he’s a nice nature. He’s very careful and always trying his best.”
With an abundance of rain coming down during the late stages of the first round, there was a momentary delay in the action. Once the first round finished up, the savvy jump crew got to work, moving and resetting obstacles for the second round for the best possible footing. Riders had the chance to walk the adjusted track before the jump-off got underway.
“The field is great,” said Allen. “There were a lot of starters today and with the rain, the grass held up super. No one was slipping or sliding, even in the jump-off after the rain.”
It was less than a second separating the winner from the runner-up as Beezie Madden (USA) and her veteran partner Breitling LS, owned by Abigail Wexner slotted into second place. Madden and the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Quintero x Accord II put forth a double-clear effort in 37 seconds flat.
Paul O’Shea (IRL) piloted Skara Glen’s Chancelloress, owned by Skara Glen Stables, to a third-place finish. O’Shea and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Chacco Blue x Balou du Rouet left all the rails up for a double-clear finish in 37.72 seconds.
Allen has already had success earlier in the winter circuit, winning the $37,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 aboard Pacino Amiro as well as a sixth place finish in the CSI5* grand prix during WEF 5.
“Pacino Amiro is only nine so it’s great to be able to build him up here as well,” said Allen of one of his top horses. “[Pacino Amiro and Castlefield Vegas are] both competing at a very high level and doing it well, so hopefully we’ll have a good season if things keep going this well.”
Full results here