$1 Million-Added NRHA European Futurity Presented by DeNiroBootCo.: Zehetbauer and SS Gunnafreezeya Soar To Victory in the $300.000-Added NRHA European Futurity Non Pro

Cremona, May 23—The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity crowned the Non Pro Futurity Champions today in Cremona, Italy. Anna-Maria Zehetbauer, riding SS Gunnafreezeya (NRHA $3 Million Sire SG Frozen Enterprize x Gunnaoutfoxya), clinched the Level (L)4 Championship with a 222.5 score, making this her second consecutive European Futurity L4 Non Pro win.

The young Austrian rider entered the pen with confidence after topping the qualifier aboard her trusted mare, an NRHA/Markel Elite Yearling Sale grad owned and nominated by Zeidelhof Reining Horses and bred by Silver Spurs Equine. The duo gave it their all when they ran into the Quarter Dream Arena in CremonaFiere, greeted by a loud applause from a thrilled audience. As Zehetbauer exited the arena, she knew their run was solid: The 222.5 on the score board confirmed it.

“This mare is amazing and probably the best-minded horse I’ve ever had,” she said. “We purchased her as a yearling in Oklahoma City, and I’ve loved her since day one.” The win was especially meaningful for Zehetbauer who started and trained the mare herself, as she does with all her horses. “Tonight was amazing. I could really push her, and she stopped every time. I’m more than happy—she did an amazing job.”

Zehetbauer also picked up the L4 Reserve Championship with a 219.5 aboard her second mount, SS Party Rockin (Ruf Lil Magnum x Xtra Taris Voodoo), a stallion owned and nominated by Zeidelhof Reining Horses, bred by Silver Spurs Equine. “He was great as well,” she added. “He was with me the whole run, and even though we had a penalty in the first turn—which was my fault—he still did amazing.”

 

Level 3

In the second section of the Finals, Italian Luca Piolanti and his own PP Hurricane Ruf (NRHA $2 Million Sire Not Ruf At All x CN Arena Queen) performed to a 214 for the lead the L3 division.

“Tonight, my horse was simply incredible—he’s got such a big heart and is always so genuine,” he said. “I haven’t ridden him much, but I believed in him, and he gave me everything. It all came together beautifully.” Piolanti returned to the show pen after a 14-year hiatus. “Stepping back into the arena and achieving this result means the world to me. I’ve been working with him at home, but I really have to thank [NRHA Professional] Pierluigi Fabbri; his support this past week has meant so much to me and I couldn’t have done it without him.” The powerful stallion was bred and nominated by Az. Agr. Piero Pollarini.

Stephanie Blessing of Switzerland and Tarantino Voodoo (NRHA $5 Million Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Fly Flashy Whiz) claimed the Reserve Championship with a 211.5 score. The flashy palomino gelding is owned and nominated by Grey Stone Ranch and was bred by Mariusz Grzywacz Baurski.

 

Level 2 & 1

Carmela Natale rode her gelding Chocolate Inthe Nite (NRHA $8 Million Sire Gunners Special Nite x Chocolate Enterprise) to a 209. At the end of the first section, the Italian rider knew she had secured top honors in the L1 and that she was leading the L2. Natale and the Marco Filimberti-bred and -nominated entry officially added the L2 title to their résumé at the end of the second section.

“This result is truly an immense—it means so much to me on so many levels,” she said. “We drove 1,200 km to pick him up when he was a colt, and from the very first moment I rode him, I felt a special connection. He’s always been a joy to ride; he’s sensitive, responsive, and a really kind spirit. My husband, Luca Piccolo, trained him and this motivated me to do as well as I could with him. In the qualifier he felt calm and completely in tune with me, and that gave me so much confidence going into the Finals. Once again, he proved just how talented and generous he is. He gave me everything out there, and I couldn’t be any prouder of him.”

Italian Nicole Cerantola rode American Horses FC’s-owned and -nominated entry Dolls Night Again (Late Night Stopper x Dolls Dun It Again), a mare bred by Marc Gordon, to a score of 208.5 and the L2 Reserve Championship.

Fellow Italian Chiara Alboni and her mare Ops I Did It Again (Gunner Dun It Again x Dun Whiz Crome), bred and nominated by Luga Quarter Horses, scored a 208 earning the L1 Reserve Championship.

 

APHA Chrome Cash Incentive

Gregory Morat of France and Camilla Orlandini of Italy tied to win the European Futurity L4 and L3 Non Pro Chrome Cash Incentive divisions with a 206.5 score. Morat rode Artemide Spatwhiz 76 (NRHA $10 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x RS Countach Olena), a mare owned by BO Ranch and bred and nominated by Alfredo Di Caro; Orlandini rode BH Gunna Step Ya (NRHA $14 Million Sire Gunnatrashya x Star Wimpis Delmaso), a gelding owned by Alice Marinoni, bred by Bosin Hubert, and nominated by BH Farm.

Martina Panizza and PL Thestepbewithme (Maytheforcebewhizyou x PL Imperius Step), owned by Lucilla Panizza and bred and nominated by Luigi Parise, scored a 207.5 to win both the L2 and L1 European Futurity Non Pro APHA Chrome Cash Incentive titles.

Non Pro Futurity: $300.000-Added (includes $88.860 Nomination Money)

• $144.000-Added Level 4 Non Pro
• $ 84.000-Added Level 3 Non Pro
• $ 45.000-Added Level 2 Non Pro
• $ 27.000-Added Level 1 Non Pro

 

Saturday, May 24

The weekend at the 38th edition of the International Salone del Cavallo Americano will open with the NRHA Ancillary Non Pro classes run class-in-class with the World Reining 2025 Qualifiers.

The NRHA European Futurity Open Finals, presented by DeNiroBootCo., will close the day and the 2025 edition of the European Futurity.

$700.000-Added Open Futurity (includes $207.340* Nomination Money)

• $420.000-Added Level 4 Open
• $154.000-Added Level 3 Open
• $ 91.000-Added Level 2 Open
• $ 35.000-Added Level 1 Open

(*subject to change in nominations)

Follow the action:

• Watch live here
• Live score here
• Tickets for the NRHA European Futurity Open Level 4 Finals on Saturday, May 24 available for purchase at the box office
• View the 2025 Salone del Cavallo Americano & NRHA European Futurity Show Program here and discover what’s happening in Cremona!

For further information www.NRHAEUROPEANFUTURITY.com

Photos by Bonaga Communication

NRHA European Futurity Media Contact:

Simona Diale/International Horse Press

Whatsapp: +39 340 5354629 – Email: internationalhorsepress@gmail.com