Cremona, November 12—Excitement builds at CremonaFiere, Cremona, Italy, where the 41st edition of the $700.000-Added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Futurity presented by DeNiroBootCo., the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE)/IRHA Open, Non Pro, and Youth Championship Finals, and Elementa FISE/IRHA Para Reining Championships are being held.

Wednesday action concluded with the second go round of the Quarter Dream $353.600-Added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA 3-year-old Open Futurity. Italian NRHA Professional Nico Sicuro and Mobster N Spook (NRHA Million Dollar Sire HF Mobster x Dance Little Spook), a stallion owned and bred by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Quarter Dream, held the lead in the $240.500-Added Level (L)4 division after performing to a 445.5 (223.5/222) composite score following the two qualifying go rounds. “This is the third time I’ve shown him and am really happy with how things have gone so far,” said Sicuro. “I did my best to perform a clean run in both the go rounds, and he was amazing and made me happy. Now we need to fix a few things that I can improve for the Finals, and also try to go a little bit faster on Saturday night!” Sicuro is one of only two L4 riders advancing to the Finals with two horses: His second mount Smoking Dance—a mare by NRHA $15 Million Sire Gunner out of Dance Little Spook—is also owned and bred by Quarter Dream. The bubble score for the L4 Open Finals, counting 20 combinations, is 433.5.

Maintaining the lead in the $65.000-Added L3 divison with a 439 composite was Germany’s Kim Obenhaus riding Bo Brutsaert’s KB By Davinci (NRHA $4 Million Sire Inferno Sixty Six x Pumpkin Rooster), a stallion bred by Bruko Quarter Horses and owned by Koen Brutsaert. Pierluigi Fabbri and The Force Is Back (Maytheforcebewithyou x Great Eva), a stallion bred and owned by Antonio Pedron, continues to lead the $32.500-Added L2 with a 438 composite. Capturing the $15.600-Added L1 lead was Barbora Prekopová and her own SZ Keep The Face (NRHA $4 Million Sire Pale Face Dunnit x Ses Lady Crome) with a 432 composite score. The double-registered AQHA/APHA stallion was bred by Stefanie Zotti. Leading the composite score in the Prime Time division with a combined score of 429.5 is Dario Carmignani riding his owned and bred mare Yankee One Force (Yankee Gun x CL Gun Sarah).

Open Futurity bubble composite scores: Level 3 (426); Level 2 (419.5); L1 (416.5); Prime Time Open (419). The Open Finals will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15. Tickets for the Level 4 Open Finals may be purchased at the CremonaFiere Box Office on Friday and Saturday morning.

FISE/IRHA Italian Championship Finals The first year-end FISE/IRHA Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, and Limited Non Pro Italian Champions were crowned in Cremona on Wedenesday. Competition was tough as qualified riders from each Italian region who qualified in their regions, battled for the titles in the Quarter Dream Arena.

Winning the gold in the FISE/IRHA Non Pro Championship was Tobia Cesare Lonati (Lombardia) riding his 14-year-old gelding, Sevenchextocash (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Big Chex To Cash x Lil Chic Peppy). “I took part in the Italian Championships a few times and this is my first win,” said Lonati. “I’ve had my horse since he was 8 years old and am very happy with him. He’s always been great and amazing and I love him. I ride with my trainer Davide Brighenti, who is great, and, since I live close to him, I train with him four times a week.”
Andrea Castrucci (Lazio) aboard KN Reining Resort’s RS Nebbiolo Blue (Spat A Blue x RS Hollywood Hglo) took the silver medal. Alice Baldazzi (Emilia Romagna) and PL Magnum Chic Chex (NRHA $14 Million Sire Magnum Chic Dream x Nu Dynamite Chex), a 9-year-old gelding owned by Ettore Baldazzi.

Castrucci and his mount also rode to the FISE/IRHA Intermediate Non Pro Championship. “This isn’t just a special horse,” said Castrucci following his winning ride. “I got to the show three horses before we were supposed to enter the arena, I wore my chaps, so I hardly rode him. He always gives me everything he has, I’m really happy, and if ever there’s a mistake, it’s my fault. This year together we brought home theWorld Reining Championship Team gold medal and the individual silver for Italy, amongst other great results, and I hope to be able to ride him next year as well because I don’t know if I will ever find a horse like him again.” Castrucci was quick to credit his trainer, Andrea Napolitano, for the work done with his horse.
Alice Baldazzi and PL Magnum Chic Chex claimed the second step of the podium and Agata Cremaschi (Emilia Romagna) aboard MC Delta Feona (Deltas Peppy Playboy x RS Feo Pine Jac), owned by Marco Cremaschi, closed with the bronze.

On the highest step of the podium in the FISE/IRHA Limited Non Pro Championship was Riccardo Laurenzano (Lombardia) and his 6-year-old gelding Super Little Step (NRHA $13 Million Sire Wimpys Little Step x Tuck Oak Enterprise). “It’s been a super experience and my horse was always with me; he’s amazing,” said Laurenziano who trains with Professional Moreno Sacchi. “My future project includes the Derby next year but no specific plans have been made yet.” Riding to second place were Agata Cremaschi with MC Delta Feona; third place went to Josefat Zanelli (Piemonte) and his 9-year-old stallion Peppy Justin Time MR (SDP Justice Is Comin x Little Peppy Lena KR).

$1000-Added NRHA Non Pro: Lisa Werdaner and her own Please To Nite (NRHA $8 Million Sire Gunners Special Nite x ARC Pleasetogunyou) rode to first place honors in the $1000-Added NRHA Non Pro with a 215 score. A half-point behind, Castrucci and his RS Nebbiolo Blue shared second place with three-time NRHA Non Pro World Champions, Nikolai Stiller and Hollywood Gunrunner (Gunner x Dun It For Missy)

Thursday Action: The day will open with the FISE/IRHA Italian Championship Open, Intermediate Open, and Limited Open Championship Finals—run class in class with the $1.000-Added NRHA Open ancillary class—followed by the IRHA/FISE Youth Finals run with the NRHA Youth.

The $39.930-Added Tenuta Equitem IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA 4-Year-Old Non Pro Finals will close the intense day of competition and unveil the first 2025 Champions. Don’t miss out on Europe’s biggest reining event: Follow the action live here & the live score here

Follow the Blazing Futurity Auction here

The ACME Prospect Show Horses & Stallion Presentation catalog here

Find the Futurity Official Show Program by International Horse Press here

For further info: www.irha.it – www.futurity.it

Photos by Bonaga Communication

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