Wellington, Florida, USA – January 29, 2020 – Action during week four of the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) had a change of scenery, with 80 riders crossing the road to the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village (home to the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival). It was third to go Bertram Allen (IRL) whose round on Ballywalter Stables’ Quiet Easy 4 proved unassailable in the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m CSI 4* class in the 24-year-old Irish rider’s first event of the season in his first-ever visit to WEF.

Of the Quidam’s Rubin gelding, Allen said, “I had Quiet Easy a few years ago, then he was sold to Norway and I only recently got him back. 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.”

This was Allen’s first visit to Wellington as a competitor, and his first class of the season. He is usually based in Germany and will be flying back and forth to compete the three horses he has in Florida, as well as riding his remaining string back in Europe.

Bertram Allen (IRL) & Quiet Easy 4 in their winner’s presentation with ringmaster Steve Rector.

Although turning 16 this year, Quiet Easy, the chestnut Oldenburg gelding (Quidam’s Rubin x Zapateado) shows no sign of slowing down. “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,” said Allen. “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.”

The two-phase class produced 20 double clears within the 48-second time allowed over the course designed by Brazilian Anderson Lima (BRA). Allen’s time bested the field in 31.46 second, just fractions faster than runner-up Erynn Ballard (CAN) riding Canora Z, owned by Emma Waldfogel, to a time of 31.66 seconds.

There were three nations represented on the final podium, with USA home rider Peter Lutz (USA) riding Bosch Sport Horses’ Excellent to third in 31.68 seconds. Fellow U.S. rider Todd Minikus (USA) finished fourth on Bit by Bit Group’s Amex Z in 33.06 seconds, while Capt. Brian Cournane (IRL) capped the tap five in 33.55 seconds riding Colourful Lady for owner Glenbeigh Farm LLC.

WEF continues through March 29, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The fourth week of competition at WEF, sponsored by Marshall & Sterling Insurance/Great American Insurance Group and recognized as a CSI 4* by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), runs January 29 through February 2. Highlights include the $73,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 4 on Thursday, $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic on Friday, and the $214,000 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/Great American Insurance Group Grand Prix CSI 4* on Saturday. The Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments will take place during “Saturday Night Lights” at 7 p.m. in the International Arena.

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release by Alice Collins  / Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. for ESP – Equestrian Sports Productions / PBIEC – Palm Beach International Equestrian Center

Photos: © Sportfot