“We went in and gave it all we had,” said Cortesi. “He’s never scored a 228 —his highest score is 227.5 — thanks to his athleticism and incredible maneuvers. In the past two years I was fortunate to have had July Joe Snap perform incredibly, and are super happy to carry on the winning streak with another great athlete.”
The IRHA-IRHBA Level 4 Open Reserve Championship, with a 226 score, was for Arnaud Girinon riding Flexing Guns N Town (NRHA 3 Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown x Sheza Fashion Gun), a 6-year-old stallion owned by Anna Maria Scheiflinger and bred by Peter Morgan. “He’s an exceptional horse; I made a few mistakes tonight, but he took care of me. He has a huge heart, and is super easy to handle both at home and in the show pen.”
Level 3 Open
Riding to the IRHA-IRHBA and IRHA Level 3 Open Championship, after posting a 220 score, was Andrea Costa and Gunnaceemerock (NRHA 13 Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya x ARC Cee N Sparks), a 6-year-old stallion owned by Daniel Straumann and bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA. “I am very attached to this horse that belongs to the owner of HorseAcademy where I am head trainer. Straumann purchased him at the end of his 3-year-old year in the U.S. where he was in training with [NRHA Million Dollar Rider] Martin Larcombe. He was pretty green when I got him and he’s now six; together we rode to quite a few important results since he is very talented and has improved so much through the years. This result is the best so far and we’re thrilled.”
One point behind, Gilles Huyghe and Brand New Seven (NRHA 2 Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x A Rowdy Chic) owned by 7 Heaven Reining Horses and bred by Michaela Hejlova, took Reserve honors in both the IRHA-IRHBA and IRHA Level 3 Open Division.
Level 2 Open
With a 218 score, the IRHA-IRHBA and IRHA Level 2 Open Champions were Dominik Reminder and PL Yankee Littlewhiz (Yankee Gun x Little Dolly Whiz), an 8-year-old stallion owned by Simone Zen and bred by Luigi Parise. “I won the 2023 NRHA European Derby Open with him and qualified for The Run For A Million. I made a little mistake along the way so the reins passed on to Arnaud [Girinon]. He then came back to my place. The go round didn’t go really well; he was a little better in the Finals tonight, so I guess we need to go back to schooling him and will try to get him ready for the NRHA Germany Breeders Derby after which we will go to the Euro Derby in Lyon”
With a 217.5 score, the IRHA-IRHA and IRHA Level 2 Open Reserve Champions were Pierluigi Fabbri and Captain Rooster Jac (AB Captain Badger x Rooster Flash N Glo), a 5-year-old stallion owned by Giorgio Guida and bred by Angelucci QH.
IRHA-IRHBA Level 1 Open
Thomas Sciascia and Colonel Electricwhiz (JD Colonel Whiz x Electra Stop Ruff), an 8-year-old stallion owned by Krystel Galtier and bred by Claude Roux, claimed the IRHA-IRHBA Level 1 Open Championship with a 217.5 score. “I’m very happy with the horse—he performed incredibly well, and it was a real pleasure to ride him at this event. He is owned by my wife who purchased him a year ago from David Roux. We showed him a few times last year, and this year we came straight here to this Derby. A major event like this is a demanding and lengthy competition for me—something I’m not quite used to yet—but we’ll try to compete as much as possible to keep improving and raising our level. The first go didn’t go as I had hoped, mainly due to my nerves, but in the finals, I tried not to let the stress get to me, and it went much better—I was finally able to show the way I wanted to. My wife will show him in the French Non Pro Derby and we’ll definitely go to the European Derby as well.”
IRHA Level 1 Open
Rabie Kort and RM White Check (One Gun x Sheisthechecktocash), a 6-year-old gelding owned by Ilaria Guarino and bred by Massimo Rudari, scored a 214.5 to win the IRHA Level 1 Open. “The show was fantastic and the entire week spent here has been full of great emotions. I’ve been riding him for about four months, and he was excellent throughout the whole show. As for future plans, we’ll decide together with the owner.” The duo also took Reserve honors in the IRHA-IRHBA Level 1 division.
Tying for the Reserve Championship with a 213 was Filippo Ghiotto and Thunder Dude Gun (Yankee Gun x SQ Ambra Surpi Dude), a 7-year-old gelding owned by Lucia Chinellato, and Hayley Verlinden and Friz Whiz Chex (Chexolution x Sailor Whiz Ina), a 5-year-old mare owned by Lucia Chinellato and bred by Eyal Carmon.
The Open DerbyNumbers
- $64,480-Added IRHA-IRHBA Level 4 Open – Entries 58 – Finals 22
- $23,920-Added IRHA-IRHBA Level 3 Open – Entries 48 – Finals 23
- $15,600-Added IRHA-IRHBA Level 2 Open – Entries 49 – Finals 26
- $12,480-Added IRHA-IRHBA Level 1 Open – Entries 23 – Finals 15
- $50,090-Added IRHA Level 4 Open – Entries 77 – Finals 22
- $16,696-Added IRHA Level 3 Open – Entries 83 – Finals 16
- $ 9,600-Added IRHA Level 2 Open – Entries 106 – Finals 16
- $ 7,096-Added IRHA Level 1 Open - Entries 57 – Finals 10
Further information:
- Official Website www.IRHA.it
- Full results: www.SHOWMANAGER.info
IRHA-IRHBA-NRHA Derby Media Contact
Simona Diale / International Horse Press
