CremonaFiere Sets the Stage for the Inaugural Million Dollar Added NRHA European Futurity

Cremona, May 20 — Provided by Simona Diale — The stage is set for the history-making edition of the NRHA European Futurity this year where Italy will reach yet another milestone by offering the first million dollar added event in Europe.

Open to 4-year-old horses enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program, the first European Futurity was held in Kreuth, Germany, in 2009. In a joint effort with European affiliates, NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee Eleuterio Arcese made both the show and the nomination program happen. Sixteen years later, thanks to Arcese’s vision and determination, a pool of sponsors in Italy along with European purse supporters made the million dollar added event — which includes the Nomination Program money — happen in Cremona during the 37^th edition of the international horse fair Salone del Cavallo Americano.

Non Pro qualifier

51 horse-rider combinations competed in the De Niro Boot Co Non Pro qualifier to earn a spot in the De Niro Boot Co Non Pro finals that will take place on Friday. It was the young talented rider of Austria, Anna-Maria Zehetbauer, who rose to the top of the leader board with the Zeidelhof Reining Horses‘ mare SS Pretty Nifty (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage x Custom Nifty Nic). The duo scored 219 to lead the field of 31 entries. SS Pretty Nifty is a NRHA Markel Futurity Sale graduate and was nominated by Richard Zeidelhof.

“I am really happy with my mare, she is just amazing. I showed her in all three [3-year-old] futurities last year – Austrian Futurity, German Futurity, Italian Futurity – and we won all L4 Non Pro Championships!” Said the proud rider and continued, “now we made the L4 finals here with a 219, so I am very pleased with her and cannot wait to show her in the finals. I will try to have a clean run on Friday and not go crazy, but we will try to push a little bit more. But regardless of what happens, I am really happy with the run we had today.”

L3 qualifier also consisted of 31 entries and it was the renowned rider of Switzerland, Adrienne Speidel, who took the lead aboard her own Colonel Einstein (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Kaysolve), nominated by Fabian Strebel. Speidel and her gelding scored 214 for the lead.

Two riders walked out of the pen with a score of 213.5 to top the L2 Non Pro qualifier. Matt Legrand, a youth rider of France, riding GB Malibu Gunrise (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x LC Electric Lady), owned and nominated by Gregory Legrand, shared the lead with Italian Cecilia Frediani and her own Shes A Spark (Spark N Whiz x Shes A Lil Showgirl). Frediani‘s mare was nominated by Edoardo Bernardelli. The two riders topped the largest class of 32 entries.

L1 qualifier saw 16 entries among which Annalisa Solbiati of Italy performed the best run on her home turf scoring 212.5 with SM Magicice Valentin (ARC Magic Enterprise x Iceinside), owned and nominated by Massimo Solbiati.

Last to walk out as a leader of the Non Pro qualifier was UK’s Francesca Sternberg, who topped the L4 Non Pro American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash Incentive go round. Sternberg rode her own and nominated mare My Kinda Shine (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x See My Way) to a score of 201.

L4 entries – 31
L3 entries – 31
L2 entries – 32
L1 entries – 16

Open qualifier

Currently leading in the first section of the European Futurity MS Diamonds TX L4 Open qualifier is the NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck of Belgium with Katharina Mayer’s entry Single Malt Xo (NRHA Million Dollar Sire In Like Flinn x Gunners Doll), a gelding nominated by Fabien Boiron. The duo scored 220.5 to lead the qualifier.

Italian Giuseppe Prevosti rode Gunnabeafox (ARC Gunnabeabigstar x Thelastmissolenashow) owned and nominated by Ambrosini Quarter Horses ASD to a score of 218 to top the L3 Open qualifier.

215 was the score to lead the L2 Open qualifier, which was reached by two Italian riders. First to hold the score was Sebastiano Valtorta riding AR Gotta Valentine (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Arc Shinin Valentine) owned by AR Breeding Horses and nominated by Elisabetta Raviola. To tie Valtorta, Matteo Vedovato rode Hittin The Brakes (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Wimpys Lil Diva), owned by Maurizio Furlan and nominated by Karin Machalek.

French Mathis Muller and Lars Nordin’s owned and nominated mare Wrangler Wish A Wave (What A Wave x Wrangler Wishes) topped the L1 Open qualifier with a score of 211.5.

Italian Pierluigi Fabri rode Igor Rozman’s owned and nominated stallion Infernos Cocktail (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six x Robys Neadsacocktail) to lead the L4 Open APHA Chrome Cash Incentive go round with a 214.5 score.

The second section of the Open qualifier will take place on Thursday.

CremonaFiere doors opened on Monday to European reiners from 12 nations. With competition starting today featuring the NRHA European Futurity Non Pro qualifier, the following three days will include the European Futurity Open qualifier, NRHA ancillary classes, the first World Reining Championship qualifiers for riders vying for a spot on the Italian teams, and once again NRHA Alliance Partner American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash will feature $5,000 in added money just for Paints in the NRHA European Futurity L4 Open and Non Pro divisions as well as the Open and Amateur Category 4 classes will each offer $1,250 each.

 

Photos Bonaga Communication

For further information: NRHAEUROPEANFUTURITY.com
For ticketing and entry to fairgrounds: SALONEDELCAVALLO.com

 

Media Contact: Simona Diale / International Horse Press
Whatsapp: +39 340 5354629
Email: internationalhorsepress@gmail.com