Text © World of Showjumping
Ireland's Bertram Allen and the 8-year-old gelding Classified (Je T'Aime Flamenco x Libertino I) won Friday's CSI5* 1.50m Prix des Communes Genevoises at CHI Geneva. Stopping the clock at 53.99 seconds, Allen left French veteran Roger Yves Bost on Ballerine du Vilpion (Baloubet du Rouet x Quidam de Revel) to runner-up position in 54.33 seconds, while Jessica Springsteen (USA) on Volage du Val Henry (Quidam de Revel x Cassini I) placed third in 54.47 seconds. Kevin Staut (FRA) on Blackonda (Kannan x Lone Star I) placed fourth and Edward Levy (FRA) on Uno de Cerisy (Open Up Semilly x Siego) fifth.
"It was quite good everywhere, he is a naturally fast horse," Allen said when asked where he thought he made the winning difference in the Table A against the clock-class. "He is only eight, but he has a really good brain and he is always looking to the fence. It was a nice course, big enough and my guy does not have so much experience so for him to go in and do that here at one of best shows of the year is nice."
"I have had him for little bit over a year, his breeder still owns him," Allen continued to speak about his winning mount. "He is just a lovely horse, every show he goes to, he gets results. He is already fantastic, and just getting better and better every weekend."
Allen is happy to be at CHI Geneva. "It is a brilliant show," he said. "Just being here, being around all the best riders in the world, it is a great feeling. It is not so easy for the organisers at the moment with Covid, so for them to make an effort to run such a brilliant show, all of us riders are very appreciative of that."