Wellington, Fla. – February 15, 2026—Bertram Allen rode longtime partner Pacino Amiro to victory in the $140,000 IDA Development CSI3* Grand Prix to close out Week 6 of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) season on Sunday. The win marked the Irish Olympian’s fourth win in this particular event.
Bertram Allen & Pacino Amiro. Photo © Sportfot
Hosting 12 weeks of international competition, WEF runs at Wellington International through March 29 in Wellington, FL.
Course designer Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris’ (MEX) welcomed five pairs to the jump-off, including Allen and his mount from the Tokyo Olympic Games—14-year-old Pacino Amiro. Allen and the Irish-bred gelding (Pacino x NC Amiro) owned by Aloga Stables stopped the clock at 46.67 seconds.
Bertram Allen & Pacino Amiro are presented as winners of the $140,000 IDA Development CSI3* Grand Prix by Christine Deka, Theresa Knopp, Shane Knopp and Harry Knopp. Photo © Sportfot
An injury sidelined Pacino Amiro just before the Paris games, but Allen says the gelding is finally feeling like himself again. “He has been back now the last few months, but even before Christmas, he wasn’t in the best form. My grooms do a great job—they have him feeling much better,” said Allen of his team, which includes Lovisa Minter, who was honored with the Double H Farm Grooms Award and $500 prize for her care and preparation of Pacino Amiro.
Lovisa Minter was honored with the Double H Farm Grooms Award and $500 prize for her care and preparation of Pacino Amiro. Photo ©Sportfot
“He’s looking great, and he jumped super this weekend,” said Allen, who also rode Pacino Amiro to second in the Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup qualifier earlier in the week. “I couldn’t be happier. He’s been a great horse for me, and a special horse in the stable.
“It must be my lucky week,” continued Allen on his track record during WEF 6. “I like jumping on the grass here, and I wasn’t originally planning him for this week, but I knew he likes to grass too. We swapped plans at the last minute, and that paid off.
Zoe Hank Conter (BEL) rode Tombola Z to second for owner Stephex Stables. She and the 12-year-old Toulon daughter clocked in at 49.60 seconds. After consistent placings during WEF 6, Hank Conter was awarded the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award.
Zoe Hank Conter was awarded the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award from Martha Jolicoeur and Dr. Stephen Norton. Photo ©Sportfot
Rounding out the podium, Yali Kass (ISR) was third riding Obora’s Crunchy Nut. For complete results from the $140,000 IDA Development CSI3* Grand Prix, click HERE.
To close the week on the grass derby field, Ariana Marnell (USA) topped the $25,000 Dodd Technologies National Grand Prix riding her own 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood, Navaar.
Alexander Alston and Spider Top BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix
BrainJuice Under-25 competition returned to the grass derby field at Equestrian Village on Sunday with a win for 22-year-old Alexander Alston and his own Spider in the $31,020 BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix.
Alexander Alston & Spider. Photo ©Sportfot
Coming off a victory in the U25 Team Competition a couple of weeks earlier, Alston and his 13-year-old mare by VDL Cardento 933 pipped Mimi Gochman in an eight-horse jump-off.
“The U25 series has been a steppingstone for me and has helped me move up into the FEI level,” said Alston about his participation in the series aimed at developing up-and-coming riders and horses. “I stepped up to the three-star level over the summer, and it’s because of this series. I love to compete in the U25 here—it’s so much fun.”
Alston clocked a winning time of 40.25 seconds, while Gochman settled for second in 41.58 seconds riding Tage BH. The podium finish came one day after she punched her ticket to her first FEI World Cup™ Final by winning the final qualifying grand prix of the season.
Rounding out the podium, Eva Fisherman was third in 42.63 seconds riding Casallvano.
When asked about how his partnership came together with Spider, Alston said it was ‘love at first sight. “I flew to Europe to try her, and I didn’t want to try her second time because I loved her so much. She’s so athletic, smart, forgiving and kind. She’s also beautiful.”
Alexander Alston & Spider are presented as winners of the BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix by Molly Erickson, Coordinator at BrainJuice. Photo ©Sportfot
Alston now sets his focus on the BrainJuice U25 Sem-Final Grand Prix during WEF 8.
For complete results of the BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix, click HERE.
For full results from WEF 6, click HERE.
