Lyon, October 29—The first day of the 15th edition of the NRHA European Derby kicked off on Wednesday during the opening of the 31st Equita Lyon, Salon du Cheval, held in Lyon, France. 106 horse-rider combinations rode in the Oklahoma Arena competing for a spot in the $95,000-Added Non Pro Derby Finals that will take place on Friday, October 31.
$48,034-Added Level 4
Austrian Anna-Maria Zehetbauer rode Zeidelhof Reining Horses’ entry SS Pretty Nifty (NRHA $4 Million Sire A Sparkling Vintage x Custom Nifty Nic) to top the Level (L)4 Non Pro Qualifier, scoring a 216. The 5-year-old chestnut mare, bred and nominated by Silver Spurs Equine, LLC, and purchased by Zeidelhof Reining Horses at the NRHA Markel Futurity Sale in 2021, is no stranger to the winner’s circle. With Zehetbauer in the saddle, as a 3-year-old she clinched the Austrian, German, and Italian L4 Non Pro Futurity; took the win at the 2024 NRHA European Futurity and 100X European Classic Derby; and added the IRHA Derby and Germany Breeders titles to her name.
$24,017-Added Level 3 & $15,641-Added Level 2
With a 214.5 score, Filippo Milani of Italy and Tonystrip (Elvis Peppys Taco x Dark Blue River), an 8-year-old gelding nominated by Tommaso Beltramini and owned by Alessandro Milani, claimed the lead in the L3 and 2 divisions. The pair are fresh off their team gold medal at the 2025 World Reining Championships Young Non Pro Riders.
Tying Milani’s top score in the L3 lead was Poland’s Irena Grygiel aboard her CSG Exsallypress (NRHA $4 Million Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Lil Juice), a 6-year-old mare bred and nominated by Katarzyna Roleska.
$7,475-Added Level 1
Swedish youth rider Alicia Levander and her gelding Shinersvoodoojunior (Shiners Voodoo x MV Miss Chocolatekid) topped L1 after riding to a 213. Kimberly Wegner bred and nominated the 6-year-old gelding.
Youth
After leading the section 1 of the qualifier, Emanuel Gebert of Germany and No Trash In My Genes (Sugar Little Step x Gay Jays Little Step), a 5-year-old gelding owned, bred, and nominated by Angelika Gebert, finished on the top of the leaderboard in the Youth Non Pro Derby Qualifier scoring a 213.
APHA Chrome Cash Level 4
Italy’s Francesca Ferrarol and her own 6-year-old mare VD Snarling Miracle (BB One Miracle Gun x San River Clara), nominated by Mario Corteletti, rose to the top of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash L4 Qualifier scoring a 213.
Tying Ferrarol was German Emanuel Gebert aboard 7-year-old stallion Spooksgottacoolstep (NRHA $12 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Charly Step N Cool), bred and nominated by Angelika Gebert. The duo also topped the APHA Chrome Cash L3 and 2 Qualifiers.
Luigi Sabatino of Italy rode QQ Merlin Whizard (NRHA $4 Million Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Whiz A Blue), a 5-year-old stallion owned by Sabatino QH Srl and nominated by Chiara Colombi, to lead the Level 1 with a 209.5 score.
The Non Pro Draw party will be held on Thursday morning prior to the $207,000-Added Open Derby Qualifier.
If you can’t make it to Lyon, watch live here: https://nrhaeuropeanderby.com/live
For further info: www.nrhaeuropeanderby.com
Photos by Wanted Photo
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