The number of entries of the Euro 180.000-added 3-year-old Non Pro Futurity has almost doubled since the 2017 edition: 81 (44 in the Level (L)4, 48 in the L3, 57 in the L2 and 44 in the L1) as opposed to 44 last year. The answer probably lies in the added money, thanks to the main sponsors, Santa Hill Ranch/ACS.

Two young riders, Lisa Werdaner and Andreu Nogue Puig, were the main actors in the qualifier. Italy’s Werdaner leads the L3 and L2 with a 216.5 score and was in the lead until German Gina Schumacher, riding Colonels Danger Zone (Lil Gun x Step Up And Play), bred by Paul and Pam Rohus of Double PR Ranch, Valley View, Texas, stepped up a notch and scored a 217. The stallion, owned by CS Ranch Management, has won $5,000 in NRHA competition following his co-championship, between Schumacher’s reins, at the 2018 Belgium 3-year-old Futurity.

Not only does Werdaner lead the L3 and L2, riding her Pl Special Surprise, a gelding by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite out o ARC Martha Surprise and bred by Luigi Parise, she is also the AIQH Non Pro Futurity Champion. Before making their way to Cremona, the pair was a finalist at the ARHA 3-year-old Futurity and earned the Reserve Championship in the LRHA Pre Futurity. The 17 year old reiner riding her Shine N Roll Spook, is a past IRHA Futurity L1 Co-Champion and rides under the guidance of past NRHA Open Reserve World Champion Gennaro Lendi.

Leading the L1 division is Nogue Puig and his A Whiz N Cash; the duo also posted the second highest score in the L3 and L2 divisions and took home the AIQH Futurity Non Pro Reserve Championship. The 16 year old Spanish rider rides in his family’s private facility and is followed by Italian professional Eugenio Latorre. He was part of Team Spain in the FEI World Reining Championships held in Givrins, Switzerland, riding ARC Sparkle Magnetic, owned by Mirko Midili, who is also his mentor. A Whiz N Cash, a stallion by Custom Cash Advance out of Whiz N Wranglers, bred by Carlo Sala, was purchased by the Spanish rider as a 2-year-old. Prior to the Cremona show, the two had won the Lazio Non Pro Pre Futurity.

The second highest score behind Nogue Puig, with a 215.5 score, is Giovanni Lugarà — owner of Luga Quarter Horses where Mirco Midili is head trainer — riding La Marka De Spark (Spark N Whiz x Marka De Gunner).

Riders will have a second chance at earning their ticket to the Non Pro Futurity Finals in the Consolation which will be held on Tuesday, December 11. The finals will be held on Friday, December 14.

2018 IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA OPEN FUTURITY FIRST GO ROUND LEADERS

Euro 265.000-added Level 4 – score 221

• ANN FONCK & SMART LITTLE RUFFLE (NRHA FIVE MILLION DOLLAR SIRE SMART SPOOK x RUFFLE ME UP) / AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE MARE / OWNER BRIGITTE STEINER
  Breeder: GREG L. HILL
  $3,747 NRHA LTE
• GUGLIELMO FONTANA & OAK SMOKING FACE (NRHA MILLION DOLLAR SIRE PALE FACE DUNNIT x GENUINE BENITO PAP) / AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE STALLION / OWNER GIULIA AMOLARO
  Breeder: DANIEL MORO
• CIRA BAECK &  NF SHINING WHIZ (COLONELS SHINING GUN x WHOWHIZTHISPEPPYCHIC) / AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE MARE / OWNER DAVID PERNEEL &  KIM WINDEY
  Breeder: DAVID PERNEEL
  $3,564.79 NRHA LTE
• MIRKO MIDILI & SG ICETOPMAN (SG FROZEN ENTERPRIZE x AB LADY TOPSAILENA) / AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE STALLION / OWNER ANTONIO MAGGIORE
  Breeder: MARCO FRANCHINI
  L4 tie & Euro 75.000-added L3

Euro 35.000-added Level 2 & Euro 15.000-added Level 1 – score 219

• GAL GRAHELJ & WALLA WHIZ A DUN IT (NRHA TWO MILLION DOLLAR SIRE WALLA WALLA WHIZ x THE BUN IS DUN) / AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE STALLION / OWNER KATJA ZRIMSEK
  Breeder: SUSAN JONES
  $3,922 NRHA LTE

Italian Reining Futurity press office