Wiener Neustadt, August 20—Provided by Marie Klimova/International Horse Press—After an exciting finish in the 4-year-old Non Pro Futurity Finals, it was time for the Open riders to take the stage at the H&D Schulz Quarter Horses and compete in the 4-year-old $2,000-added Level 2 and $1,000-added Level 1 Open Finals.
Orel and White Shade post the highest score of the day to win the 4-year-old L2 Open Futurity Championship
The energy in the crowd was high until the very last run and it was Pavel Orel riding his and his client’s Vladimir Cejka’s 4-year-old stallion White Shade (Yankee Gun x Shyaning Electric x NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Jacs Electric Spark), who topped the $2,000-added Level 2 Open Futurity Finals scoring an impressive 220 to win the class.
Orel, thrilled about his run, stated; “It was fantastic! I was nervous going in, but everything worked out just perfect and I am really happy.” The duo also made the 4-year-old Futurity Finals in Levels 3 and 4, so they will return to action tomorrow.
The Reserve Championship in Level 2 went to Quentin Galliere aboard Linda Verstappen’s LVR Hero Of Magic (Inferno Sixty Six x Juana Sparkle x NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Shining Spark). The pair scored 218 to capture the title.
Lulli and Frozen Jessie Oak claim the 4-year-old Level 1 Open Futurity
Italian Dino Lulli piloted Angelucci Quarter Horses’ Frozen Jessie Oak (Frozen Sailor x Jessie Oak Tari x ARC Oak Enterprise) to the $1,000-added 4-year-old L1 Open Championship scoring 215.5.
Lulli said that his mare was really good today, proving her qualities especially in the stops and spins, and overall having a nice run. He is looking forward to the 2021 NRHA European Futurity with her.
June Alustiza Martinez De Rituerto and Call Me Mr Ghostface (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit x Roosters Sally x NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gallo Del Cielo), owned by Elisabetta Zoccarato, were just half a point short of the winners and with their 215 score finished Reserve Champions.
Cestari and Whizin With Spook win the 3-year-old Level 2 Open Futurity
Fabi Cestari and Whizin With Spook (NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x Whizin Off Sparks x NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz) walked in the pen second to last and the crowd went wild. After hearing the score of 216, Cestari was enthused with their performance.
“She is a really special mare and today was with me the whole time. She is the type of horse that goes in the show pen and runs better in than anywhere else. I just needed to trust her and it worked out. I don’t think I’ve ever turned as fast as in my right spins today!” With their score of 216, the pair won the $3,000 added Level 2 Open.
Whizin With Spook is owned by Wolfgang Hammer who bought her in the U.S. and turned the reins over to Cestari last August. Thanks to her royal legacy, the mare will be kept at Hammer’s ranch Hammerhof, hoping for a successful broodmare career later on.
Longobardi slides to the 3-year-old Level 1 Open Championship
Miriam Longobardi rode Shine On Me Sugar (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shine Chic Shine x One Sugar Chex x NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Nu Chex To Cash) owned by Marina Hrzenjak Belusic to a score of 214.5 to top the $2,000 added Level 1 Open Futurity. The score also brought the team a Reserve Championship in the Level 2.
Miriam was pleased with her run. “My horse was great in the pen, much better than outside in the warm up. I really enjoyed the second spins and especially the stops.” The pair plans to show again in the Italian Futurity later this year.
Lena Maas rode The Last Electricopy (Electric Code x Little Copy Chex x Buenonic Chex) owned by Quarter Dream Srl to the Reserve spot in the Level 1 with a score of 213.
Three Champions crowned in the 4-year-old Level 2 Non Pro Futurity
A three-way tied occurred in the $1,500 added 4-year-old Level 2 Non Pro Finals, where the last three entries all tied with 211.5 and decided to opt out of the run off and be Co-Champions.
First going in was Alexander Nestelberger aboard his mare Ima Doctress (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Im A Classy Whiz x NRHA Million Dollar Sire West Coast Whiz).
“She felt really nice, especially at the beginning, ran in and stopped really well. Then she listened to me throughout the whole run and even though we had some errors, it worked out after all. I am excited to show her tomorrow again in the Level 3 and 4 Non Pro Finals,” said Nestelberger about his run.
Julia Knapp showed her stallion Gunlover (Tinseltownsmokingun x Ruf Lil Scamp x NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Lil Ruf Peppy) to tie the top score.
“My horse was amazing tonight! He felt super cool, I could really ride him and he did great. I really enjoyed our circles, where I sent him out and then he came back so easy when I asked him to.” Knapp also qualified for the Level 3 and 4 Non Pro Finals tomorrow and afterwards plans to take the stallion to the 2021 NRHA European Futurity.
Valentina Monti and her mare Valentina Baby Pale (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit x OT Luky Highway Baby x Topgun Whiz) were the last to compete in their class and managed to score as high as their preceding competitors.
Monti was proud of her mare: “She got little scared from all the cheering, so we ended up having a penalty, but otherwise she was really good. She is very good minded. [NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider] Craig Schmersal told me that she is just like her sire Pale Face Dunnit.”
The tie continued in the $1,000 added Level 1 Non Pro Finals, where Knapp & Gunlover and Monti & Valentina Baby Pale also held the highest scores of 211.5.
Krosejl and Gunner Hez Chics top the 3-year-old Level 2 and 1 Championships
Tamara Krosejl and her 3-year-old stallion Gunner Hez Chics (Heza Gunner x Walla Walla Chics x NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz) had to wait through almost the whole class to enter the show pen for their Finals run. They walked out with a loud cheer from the crowd and a score of 214 that secured them the win in the $1500-added Level 2 and $1,000-added Level 1.
“My run today was super! Really the best in my life. I always like his spins, but he is a really good stopper and today the stops were the best maneuvers, so I enjoyed the whole run. I was really nervous before, because I went close to the end of the class, but that’s OK. I am always nervous before shows and that’s when we perform the best,” said the happy champion about their run.
Reserve honors when to Czech Klara Rehackova aboard her mare PD Bonita White Face (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit x Muyconquistadorflame x Muy Bueno Starlight) with a score of 211.5.
Austrian Reining Horse Association (ARHA) Futurity action will conclude tomorrow with the 3-year-old Level 3 and 4 Non Pro and Open Futurity; 4-year-old Level 3 and 4 Non Pro and Open Futurity.
Photos by IHP Media Partner Tom Hautmann
For the live score: https://www.showmanager.info/Eventliste.aspx?turnierID=1031
By International Horse Press Release
