July 16, 2023 
Ioli Mytilineou (GRC) left it all on the line when she galloped through the timers with 12-year-old gelding L’artiste de Toxandra during the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Grand Prix of A Coruña.
“Literally any shot I saw, I just took…It was messy but I suppose if it’s not messy you don’t get anywhere,” laughed Mytilineou, who clocked in a blistering 41.21 second time thanks to her dauntless decisions.
Bertram Allen (IRL) was waiting in the wings, however, as the last of nine combinations to jump-off and contest her top finish. Ironically, it was watching Mytilineou’s brazen ride that gave him the confidence to ride the same bold track. And if any horse could shave the time down, it would be 11-year-old gelding Pacino Amiro.
“I had a similar plan to what she did, then when I watched her go, I knew it was all possible, and thankfully I was just a little bit quicker,” said Allen.
Indeed Allen stopped the clock in 40.61 seconds, which not only secured the win but a spot in the LGCT Super Grand Prix at Prague, a longtime career goal.
“It is not easy to win these Grand Prix so I am delighted…It is fantastic to qualify for the LGCT Super Grand Prix as it is something I have always wanted to do,” said Allen.
Harry Smolders (NED) landed in third position with 14-year-old gelding Monaco N.O.P. on 41.75 seconds, the podium being a comfortable place for the pair as of late. They placed second in the LGCT Grand Prix of Monaco, but for the Paris Panthers riders staying ahead of the group is essential.
“Monaco [N.O.P] will have three weeks off, and I will then take him to London. I only have four or five results, so I cannot afford for myself to have any mistakes as I really want to be high on the standings,” said Smolders.
Mytilineou was anything but disappointed herself, proud to have finished ahead of Smolders and maintaining her zero fault record this season. The Greek rider also finished third last week in Monaco with 12-year-old stallion Levis De Muze.
“It feels like a dream. To be able to have two horses podium at an LGCT Grand Prix, which as we know, are not small Grand Prix, is surreal,” said Mytilineou. “It feels pretty cool to beat Harry, but I have to say he rode unbelievably and his jump-off was definitely smoother than mine.”
Bertram Allen (IRL) has been a cutthroat competitor since his pony days, winning every championship in Dublin before moving to Germany when he was 16-years-old to pursue the big tour. Allen was selected for his first Irish Nations Cup team by the age of 17 and at 18 became the youngest competitor at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy. Back in the day, it was a mare called Molly Malone V who put him on the map.
When Molly retired in 2019, it was after jumping 191 international classes, where she logged an overall 36% clear round and 31% top ten finish rate (Jumpr App). The horse of his career today is undoubtedly Pacino Amiro, who by comparison sports an overall 40% clear round and 31% top ten finish rate and is still on the rise (Jumpr App). His Tokyo 2020 Olympics partner won a pair of CSI5* classes in Wellington this past season before placing third in the CSI5* Grand Prix at Royal Windsor in May.
Their partnership has paid, literally. To date, Pacino Amiro has brought home 1,520,874 Euro in prize money. The number has steadily climbed with their stats. This season their clear round rate has improved by 18% and their top ten finish rate 15% at 1.60m.
While Allen might look back to check Pacino Amiro’s hind legs, the direction is forward to Riesenbeck and, before long, the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague.
