Lyon, October 31—The 15th edition of the $307,600-Added NRHA European Derby is hosted in Europe’s largest temporary stable and exhibition hall: Equita Lyon and Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International in Lyon, France.
Open to 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old horses entered in the NRHA Nomination program, the $98,790-Added Cheval Liberté European Derby Non Pro Finals kept the excitement up as non pros and youth riders performed in the Oklahoma Arena. Once the last horse left the pen, Anna-Maria Zehetbauer had firmly captured the Level (L)4 Non Pro Championship, adding yet another title to her accolades.
$48,844-Added Level 4
With two horses left to go, Zehetbauer and SS Pretty Nifty (NRHA $4 Million Sire A Sparkling Vintage x Custom Nifty Nic) stormed into the Oklahoma Arena set to beat the leading score of 218 posted by Emanuel Gebert and Spooksgottacoolstep.
With the 5-year-old chestnut mare between the reins, Zehetbauer performed a clean and precise pattern paid back by the judges with a 220 and the Championship.
Bred and nominated by Silver Spurs Equine, LLC, and purchased by Zeidelhof Reining Horses at the NRHA Markel Futurity Sale in 2021, with Zehetbauer in the saddle she clinched the 3-year-old 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.
“This mare has such a big heart. She was with me in the warm up and show pen; I am so happy with her,” said the Austrian rider. “She has done so much for me and now she will take a well deserved break. Next year, after we pull some embryos from her, we will enter more derbies.”
$24,422-added Level 3 & $15,925-added Level 2
11-year-old Emanuel Gebert once again proved his grit, focus, and talent in the show pen. Riding Spooksgottacoolstep (NRHA $12 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Charly Step N Cool), a 7-year-old stallion owned, bred, and nominated by his mother Angelika Gebert, he closed the day taking home the L3, L2, Reserve Championship in L4, and $2,000-Aded NRHA France Youth Derby. “He is such a nice horse, I really enjoy showing him. Today I especially liked our left turns and the last stop was amazing as well. This arena is nice to ride in, so I am happy that we won here.”
$7,596-Added Level 1
Italian Manuele Bonzano and Mr Shines (NRHA $3 Million Sire Shine Chic Shine x The Electric Sparkle), 6-year-old gelding, owned by 23 Quarter Horses SRL, bred and nominated by Alois Kompatscher, scored a 216.5 to top the L1 and capture the reserve honors in L3, L2, and Youth Derby. “I am really happy with my horse who I’ve been riding for the past two years,” said the youth rider who clinched the World Reining Championship Team gold medal this year with Mr Shines under the saddle. “It took a while to get to know each other but now we are a team and he truly gives me all he has in the arena.”
Claiming reserve honors with a 214.5 was Italy’s Margot Leonardi riding her own Ladys Prize, an 8-year-old gelding by NRHA $4 Million Sire SG Frozen Enterprize out of Ladymaster nominated by Roberto Cuoghi.
European Derby APHA Chrome Cash Non Pro Champions
The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash Non Pro division counted 46 entries across the four levels. Since 2022, Chrome Cash has paid out over $50,000 in European reining events, and is distributing $8,000 in the Open and Non Pro European Derby divisions.
$1,000-Added Level 4, Level 3, Level 2 Non Pro: Emanuel Gebert and Spooksgottacoolstep
$1,000-Added Level 1 Non Pro: Italian Silvia Pellegrinato and her own Caronte Sixty Six (NRHA $4 Million Sire Inferno Sixty Six x Ima Late Doll), a 5-year-old stallion bred and nominated by Nicola Cordioli, scored a 211 for the win.
NRHA #facts
European Derby Non Pro total added Nomination money $65,288
• Level 4 Non Pro Derby Nomination money $32,644
• Level 3 Non Pro Derby Nomination money $16,322
• Level 2 Non Pro Derby Nomination money $11,425
• Level 1 Non Pro Derby Nomination money $4,896
Friday NRHA Ancillary Action
Claiming the win with a 210.5 score in the $500-Added NRHA Grand Prix Limited Open was Austria’s Nina Dan riding her own Blue Eye Gunlady (NRHA Million Dollar Sire HF Mobster x Darlene Enterprize). Taking second place honors a point behind the winner was Willeke Van Uden of the Netherlands with her own JC Huggamuggacoconut (NRHA $4 Million Sire Colonels Shining Gun x MP Huggamuggawhiz) between the reins.
NRHA European Derby Open Finals & TRFAM Qualifier
On Saturday, November 1, the NRHA European Derby Open Finals and The Run For A Million 2026 Million Dollar Competition Qualifier will crown the last Champions of the 15th edition of the NRHA Euro Derby and will determine who will go to Las Vegas, USA, next year!
Tickets for the Open Finals and TRFAM Qualifier may be purchased here: https://www.equitalyon.com/fr/informations-billetterie
For full results click here
About Equita Lyon: From October 29 to November 2, 2025, Eurexpo Lyon will be transformed into Europe’s largest temporary equestrian venue, featuring expansive stables and exhibition halls. Covering a total of 140,000 m², Equita Lyon – le Salon du Cheval de Lyon, together with the Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International (International Horse Show and Riding Competition), invites equestrian enthusiasts and the general public to enjoy an immersive experience that awakens all the senses. Visitors can look forward to world-class competitions, spectacular equestrian shows and events, opportunities to meet and interact with horses and ponies, a wide variety of food stalls offering regional specialties, and much more. experiences to share. The 31st Lyon Horse Show is a real feast for the senses! Find out more at https://www.equitalyon.com/en
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
NRHA European Derby Media Contact:
Simona Diale/International Horse Press – Whatsapp: +393405354629
