The remarkable offspring of Colonels Shining Gun and Not Ruf At All have solidified their latest accomplishments as National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) $2 Million Sires.
Lyon, November 5 — Sunday at the $305,595-added NRHA European Derby held during the 20th edition of Equita Lyon, hosted the NRHA Non Pro Gran Prix action as well as the Non Pro and Youth 2024 The Run For A Million (TRFAM) qualifiers. The morning started with the Euro 7.000-added Roleski Ranch Non Pro and theTRFAM Non Pro 2024 Million Dollar Competition qualifier. On home turf, Alexandre Giarratano claimed the only available Non Pro spot in the European qualifier for the Million Dollar Competition in Las Vegas next year. Giarratano rode his The Electric Bandit (Dont Miss My Guns x Electra Stop Ruff) to a 218 score.
Stare Żukowice, Poland - The $74,800-added Roleski 4 Spins Futurity kicked off on October 19 at the beautiful Roleski Ranch, owned by reining enthusiast and breeder Katarzyna Roleska who also owns Poland’s first NRHA Million Dollar Sire, Colonels Shining Gun.
The Roleski 4 Spins Circuit officially closed the show season and year-end Champions were also determined.
In 2010, a flashy young colt burst onto the reining scene. By National Reining Horse Association Thirteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner, and out of Shining Little Peach (by Shining Spark), Colonels Shining Gun was poised to do great things. In early November, the stallion, affectionately known as Jojo, added another line to his resume when he became a Million Dollar Sire. While he’s now known for his prepotency, he proved his prowess in the show pen early on.
Excitement ran high tonight in Verona, Italy, as the IRHA/NRHA 4-year-old Open Futurity finalists gave all they had to clinch the titles and paychecks up for grabs in the highest-paying 4-year-old Open Futurity ever offered in Europe.
Level of competition ran deep, scores rose, and so did the public’s cheers as some of Europe’s best horses and riders performed in the Veronafiere Arena. Half way through the second section, the loudest cheering was for Poland’s Lukasz Czechowicz and CSG Kenzo (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Shiner Brimolena) who thrilled the fans with his powerful yet smooth ride. From the first stop and back, through the fast and precise spins, to the speed transitions and imperceptible lead changes, Czechowicz’s mount stopped deep in the ground raising the dirt which resulted in the highest score of the evening, a 227.5, and the win in both the $ 144.390-Added Level L(4) Championship as well as the $ 38.654-Added L3 title.
Stare Zukowice, Poland–On a sunny afternoon at Roleski Ranch, Open riders met to compete in the $3.150 added Roleski 3- and 4-year-old Open Futurity and $3.150 added Roleski Open Derby. NRHA Czech officially closed the show season with the NRHA Czech Ride&Slide IV where Futurity and Derby Champions were crowned and year-end Champions were determined.
Kozlovice, Czech Rep., July 30—During the last weekend of July, NRHA Czech riders met at the Smart Ranch in Kozlovice, Czech Republic, to compete in the NRHA Czech Derby. The Derby classes were open to 5- to 10-year-old horses and NRHA Czech offered Derby classes in Levels (L)4 and 2 in both Open and Non Pro.
The 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel is the second richest event in reining, with more than $1.3 million paid out in 2021. Once again, the Level 4 Open Champion will win $75,000, the Level 4 Non Pro titlist will pocket $30,000, and there are guaranteed payouts for the rest of the regular divisions in the Non Pro and Open. Special division sponsors, including Story Book Stables, Colston Paving, Tamarack Ranch, and Clark’s Pump-N-Shop account for an additional $110,000 in added money.
The 3-year-old 2021 IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Futurity filled the day at Cremona Fiere, Cremona, Italy, with the second go round of the $289,181-added Open Futurity. Held in a two go round format and seeded finals,122 horse-rider combinations across the four levels (L4, 56 entries; L3, 47 entries; L2, 69 entries; L1, 46 entries) took the reins performing for a spot in the finals.
Wiener Neustadt, July 3–The $112,700-added Colonels Shining Gun NRHA European Open Derby finals closed the 2020 edition of the European event.
Draw #4 in the second section, Nico Sicuro and Quarter Dream’s Colonels Dancing Gun set the bar by scoring a 221.5. Twenty horses later, their score held, securing the $45,000-added Level (L)4 European Derby Open Championship as well as the $24.300 paycheck for first place.
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