Riding the grey mare Molly Malone, Allen produced a performance that mirrored his surprise success on the opening day of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy last September as he left the 39 other starters trailing in his wake

Although the 19-year-old claimed he did not get a perfect stride going into the triple combination, he steadied on the approach to the last and put the new target of 1min 5.45sec on the scoreboard.

Runners-up were the 2012 FEI World Cup Jumping champions, the United States' Rich Fellers and the Irish-bred stallion Flexible, who belied his 19-years of age with a fantastic tour of Anthony d’Ambrosio’s 13-fence track.

There was a divide for third spot as both France’s Patrice Delaveau, riding Orient Express HDC, and The Netherlands’ Jur Vrieling, riding VDL Zirocco Blue NOP, cleared the line in the exact same time of 1 min 6.44sec.

"I was always going to try to win the class, but for it come off is amazing,” said Allen, who recently moved to number 10 in the Longines world rankings.  

“I'm very happy with my horse, she jumped super, the atmosphere and the Arena were very different but she coped really well with it.

“Molly is quite a strong character and she has her own special ways.

“She had me worried earlier today because she half ran away with me when I was riding her.

“But this evening she knew what she had to do and just went in and did it, she always gives her best.”

Allen holds a slender two-point lead over Fellers going into tomorrow’s second leg, with Delaveau and Vrieling just a single point further behind, and defending champion and world number one Daniel Deusser of Germany lying in 10th position.

Meanwhile on the opening day of the FEI World Cup Dressage Final, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro lived up to expectations by winning the Grand Prix.

The reigning Olympic, world and European title-holders produced a brilliant test to finish more than six marks ahead of The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover, and just over two marks further clear of home favourite Steffen Peters who lined up third with Legolas.

Dujardin had been concerned about her multiple record-breaking gelding who she said had been “a bit flat” over the last few days.

But, in pounding out his trademark passage and piaffe, strutting his stuff through extravagant extended trot, and producing the most exquisite of pirouettes, he soared to the top of the leaderboard with a mark of 85.414 points.

“He had a massive journey and it hit him as well as the temperature change, but I got on him today and he was all ready to go,” said Dujardin regarding Valegro.

“I think he just knew what he had to do and that’s what I mean - he just never lets me down.”

With everyone scoring well over the required 60 per cent mark, all 18 starters now go through to the freestyle on Saturday (April 18) when the new champion will be decided.


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