Allen scores 'dream' double

Millie Allen scores her first Hickstead victory since the JC title in 2010 and a diminutive mare shows her star quality

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MILLIE ALLEN’S debut in Hickstead’s CSIO5* classes marked a triumphant return to British soil: she claimed two wins and narrowly missed out on a third on her first home appearance in three years.

The 27-year-old, who now works for Karel Cox in Belgium, was almost unbeatable on Karel’s Quick Diamant HR, taking strong wins in Thursday's Royal International vase and Friday's ClipMyHorse.TV international stakes, before finishing 0.28sec off victory in Saturday's speed classic.

“To win in that arena is always a dream, especially for an English person,” said Yorkshire-born Millie, who was scoring her first main arena victory since she claimed the winter JC title in 2010.

“When we were younger, competing here on ponies, we used to pretend we were doing the five-star, doing little jumps on foot in the garden. To have two wins this week is really special.”

Millie has been riding the aptly named Quick (Diamant De Semilly x Quidam De Revel) since the mare was seven and first tapped enduring form in Doha at the start of the year, where they claimed three four-star and five-star wins.

In Thursday’s class they held their own over fellow Brits Guy Williams (Presley OL) and Joe Whitaker (Icaterina), and on Friday they again beat two very fast home partnerships – James Smith and Juno Rose 23 and Mark Edwards with Flying Tinker II – to spearhead another British one-two-three.

“You never know how the first time in the main arena how will go but she loved it,” said Millie.

“For a small horse she has such a big stride and is so quick. She’s a joy to ride.”

James Smith followed up on his winning debut here last year with a victory in the table A 1.40m Brilliance Horse Auction salver.