It Takes Two to…Win!
Kreuth, October 22— Provided by International Horse Press—On a chilly but sunny Friday afternoon, 19 Non Pro and 41 Open horse-rider combinations competed in the 2021 NRHA Germany Breeders 3-year-old Futurity Finals at the Ostbayernhalle arena in Kreuth, Germany.
At the end of the day, one barn was happy to celebrate with two Level 4 Futurity Champions: French Arnaud Girinon and Swiss Stephanie Blessing entered the arena together for the awards ceremony hand in hand as this year’s NRHA Germany Breeders 3-year-old Futurity Open and Non Pro Level 4 Champions.
During their run, the crowd was excited to watch Girinon and Heza Frozen Inferno (Inferno Sixty Six x Sailor Will Win), owned by Società Agricola Le Fattorie Di Matilde, in the pen. The pair had a strong run, which was awarded a 222 score by the judges. Girinon was sincerely excited after he heard the score, dancing and cheering together with the audience in the saddle while walking out of the pen. “I’m really happy about my run,” commented the Level (L)4 Open Champion. “My goal was to plus half every maneuver and stay out of the penalty box and it looks like it worked out. He stopped huge and turned great and that’s just what we needed tonight.”.
Sylvia Rzepka & AR Gunnaboy
Sylvia Rzepka scored a 220.5 aboard stallion AR Gunnaboy (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya x ALV Wimpylittlegold) owned by AR Showhorses Rzepka & Aubruner clinching the reserve spot.
Rzepka, who also tied for the Co-Championship in the L3, noted after her ride: “I had a really fun run tonight. We had a little bubble, but I am super happy with my horse. Sadly, he may be sold after tonight, so I don’t know if I will continue his training, but I will be happy for him either way; if he stays, or if he sells, he will be in good hands.”
Markus Süchting & Hfwannabeashockstar
Tying Rzepka for the title was Markus Süchting with Hfwannabeashockstar (HF Mobster x Shock Star Groupie) owned by Thomas Till. Süchting was pleased with his performance tonight: “My horse was great, he stopped so well for me. We are getting ready for the Italian Futurity next month, so I am happy he rode so well here and it all worked out.”
Stephan Rohde & Xtra Doo Little
One point short of Rzepka and Süchting was Stephan Rohde riding Katharina Voelkel’s stallion Xtra Doo Little (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Wimpy Little Sinbar), who claimed the Open L2 Championship with a score of 219.5. “I am so happy with my run tonight and my horse felt great,” stated Rohde, who also plans to take his mount to Italy, so today’s run assured him that his horse is ready for the Italian Futurity.
Nina Dan & Gunfire N Roses
Nina Dan performed a clean run aboard Irmgard Brendgens’ mare Gunfire N Roses (Lil Gun Fire x Mae Buds N Roses) scoring a 216 which earned them the L 2 Reserve Championship as well as the L1 Championship. Dan was pleased with her run. “My mare felt amazing. I knew she could do it and I really enjoyed the stops on her.” The pair is done for this season, but Dan is excited for next year’s 4-year-old futurities with the mare.
L1 Reserve honors went to Jérémy Ropert of France riding Jag Spatigun (Colonels Shining Gun x Nd Montenisa Spat) for owner Aude Gruber; they posted a 215 to capture the title.
Blessing and Shiners Dreamer Take the Non Pro Championship
Stephanie Blessing didn’t know until the very end what her score would be. Going in the last section of the NRHA Germany Breeders 3-year-old Non Pro Futurity and walking out of the pen with a held score, she had to wait for the class to conclude to hear her score. When a 217 was announced, she knew the wait was worth it and the L4 Championship was hers!
“I didn’t care so much about the score, because I was so happy with my run. It was very smooth and my horse was there for me every step of the run. He has a heart of gold,” said happy Blessing, who rode her stallion Shiners Dreamer (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Jessies Lil Dreamer).
Emmalee Penha & Dalmore Selene
Emmalee Penha and her mare Dalmore Selene (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Whizkey N Diamonds x Pine Finest Jewel) held the highest score of 215 until the end of the class, when Blessing’s score was announced. That bumped Penha down to a Reserve Champion position in Level 4, but the pair held their lead in L3 and 2. “I am really happy with both of my horses, they are so special. They were bred at our place and I trained them from the beginning and now we won the Futurity, so it’s an incredible feeling,” noted emotional Penha, who also finished in Top 5 in L4, 3 and 2 with her second entry Lightning Spook (Undercover Spook x Bms Texas Lightning).
Marina Becker rode Whiz Gunnas Treasure (Walla Whiz Crome x ARC Lendmeyourgun) to a score of 214.5 to claim the Reserve Championship in L3 and 2.
Sabrina Volgberger & BH Ruf Moonshadow
Sabrina Volgberger and her stallion BH Ruf Moonshadow (I Am A Ruf Boy x RR Haida BH) scored 212.5 to capture the first place in L1 division. Volgberger was thrilled about her run: “My horse felt good the whole time. It is a special win for me, because we bred the horse, we own his sire, so to win on a homebred horse is even more rewarding to me.”
Nadine Kamintzky rode her gelding Frozen Gambler (SG Frozen Enterprize x Surprise ME Gamble) to a score of 211 to finish Reserve Champions in 1.
As tonight concluded the 3-year-old Futurity, NRHA Germany Riders Committee Chairman Grischa Ludwig was happy with the outcome: “We have a bright future ahead of us, even though we have a little financial gap for the next few years because we recently changed the payment program. Now, instead of just the stallions, we pay in the foals, and we are going to pay out this money only to the foals who are paid in, so we are not paying in advance. This means that we have to wait now, but later on we are going to have big payouts in the Futurity and Derby classes, which I am really excited about. We work hard on a daily basis to be on a higher level as an affiliate and I have to admit that we have a really good board members and great leaders Gerd [Wilhelm] and Joachym [Zangerle], who know how to do a good job, so I enjoy working with them.”
Photos by Tom Hautmann
Tomorrow, the show continues with the 2021 NRHA Germany Breeders 4-year-old Futurity Finals with the Non Pro Finals starting at 13:00, followed by Open Finals starting at 16:30.
Follow the action live here https://www.westernsport.tv/fehlereite
By International Horse Press
