Should anyone have thought, after the unlucky runs Andreu Nogue Puig had at the IRHA Derby in May, that the gritty Spanish teenager and his A Whiz N Cashwere a one-hit wonder on the international reining scene, this performance will have clearly disproved that idea: the pair triumphed with a score of 218 in the Futurity Non Pro 4-yr-olds Level 4 final to become 2019 IRHA/NRHA Futurity 4YO level 4 Champions.
Andreu, now 17, left school at the beginning of 2019 and currently works in the family business in Lloret de Mar, near Barcelona.He started riding reining horses in 2015 under the supervision of Eugenio Latorre, and in 2017 qualified to be part of the Spanish National team in the FEI World Reining Championship for Juniors, in Givrins, but unfortunately did not have a suitable horse for the event.On that occasion, Mirko Midili saved the day by lending Andreu his beautiful black horse, Arc Sparkle Magnetic.It was the beginning of a partnership that, under Mirko’s guidance, led the young Spaniard to meet and buy his current champion, A Whiz N Cash (by Custom Cash Advance x A Whiz N Wranglers by TopsailWhiz), bred by Carlo Sala, and started by Mattia Nadalini. Andrea is now supported technically by Bernard Fonck, and travels back and forth between Spain and Belgium to train with the Two Million Dollar Rider.
“Whiz N Cash has always been a super horse”, comments Andreu. “He is a quiet, cool and great minded: atruly fantastic horse.In this last year we have had more time to work together and get to know each other, we have deepened our understanding.”After the Italian Derby, Andreu took the horse to the family facility in Spain, where he rode him on his own until three weeks before this trip to the Italian Futurity.He competed in Equità Lyon, where the duo won the Grand Prix Non Pro, after which they entered the Elementa Master Premiere Show in Verona. They then had a week riding with Bernard in Belgium before setting off for the IRHA Futurity.“This show was tough for me, because my grandmother passed away one week ago," the young champion explains."She was not particularly fond of horses, but she was really in love with this one.She said he was the best and strongest horse I have ever had.And winning here, for me, is very emotional and I dedicate my show here to her. I can't describe what I feel… she was with me there, in the arena.It was her gift, she brought me luck”.
Confirming her consistency, Swiss rider Fabienne Kuratli-Suter, a 31-year-old entrepreneur, already go-round leader at levels 4, 3 and 2 in the 4YO Non Pro Futurity, won the levels 3 and 2 with her fantastic Alpha Top Gun,a flashy palomino gelding by Hollywoodstinseltown out of Shiney Walla Wanda. Her horse, bred in Oklahoma at Alpha Quarter Horses and started by Jonathan Gauthier, was previously 2018 Belgium Futurity Open Reserve Champion L4 between the reins of Grisha Ludwig (Fabienne's current trainer).The duo, last to enter the arena following young Andreu’s superb performance, really went for it with a truly aggressive run. A mistake on one of the stops robbed the pair of the victory at Level 4, but the final 214.5 clinched the two titles for the blonde rider. “I am very happy with my final run.The horse was great, he was with me all the time.I made a mistake on a stop and we lost half a point; however, I am really pleased with how honest Alpha Top Gun was.We have not trained him since the Breeders Futurity in Germany, and yet in this race he gave me everything he could.I think Andreu is the rightful winner of this Futurity, today he did the best ride ever and I'm really happy for him.I think our horses are both equally strong, but there is no doubt he did the better run.” Despite being the last to enter, Fabienne managed to control the pressure; she says she felt quiet, focused, and serene because she knew both she and her horse were ready and were working together in this adventure. “I think the judges were very tough with the scores. But they marked everyone in the same way, so that's fine. I would have given Andreu at least a couple of points more... and myself too, to be honest!” The beautiful rider, who lives on Lake Constance and has been reining for 13 years, inherited her passion for horses from her parents. Currently busy in the family business, she is also the mother of two small children and, therefore, has little time to ride and train. Thanks to Grisha Ludwig, who prepares her horse, she can compete despite her other commitments. Fabienne adds the prestigious double title to a rich show record: 2015 NRHA European Futurity Non Pro Champion and IRHA/NRHA 4YO Non Pro Futurity Champion L3 and 2; 2017 Finalist L4 Breeders Futurity 3YO Non Pro in Germany (4th), French Futurity Champion 3/4YO L4 and this year, with Alpha Top Gun, Reserve Champion Non Pro at the EuroFuturity L3 and 2 and Champion at the NRHA Germany Bit Futurity levels 4, 3 and 2.
Susanna Sodi, a 44-year-old entrepreneur from the field of finance, with a passion for reining, won the Level 1 Non Pro Futurity 4 YO as well as the Reserve Championship in the levels 3 and 2 ridingLadysdreamofblueeyes, a sorrel gelding by Magnum Chic Dream x Check Your Gun Lady. Susanna, who has now been reining for 4 years, came to western riding from trail riding, but felt this activity did not enable her to develop a deeper relationship with the horse. She thus decided to pursue a competitive career to build a greater feeling with this specialanimal. “Reining is a great passion for me.It allows me to me work in close contact with the horse and to develop a stronger rapport and understanding with him.” Susanna, who rides at Luga Quarter Horses, has trained under the close guidance of Elio Simonini since the beginning of her adventure: “He had the patience to put me in the saddle and let me grow and learn, right up to this victory.I owe everything to him!” Susanna bought her beautiful horse, nicknamed “Legacy”, last year at the NRHA Futurity. The horse had been trained by Craig Schmershal and arrived in Italy in February.The IRHA Futurity is this pair’s first Special Event following their participation in some regional shows. “He is a real show horse, who never lets you down: he listens, he waits for you, but when you ask him to go, he is ready to do his best.”Susanna built up a nice run, starting quietly to then finish with phenomenal stops and rollbacks, which earned her the necessary credits for this victory. “I woke up after the second spin,” she says laughing. “I made a bad start.He didn't get into the spin, but I managed to keep him going.Then I said to myself: “Now I must run like hell, to make up for it!” He was fantastic in the circles and even I was surprised by his rollbacks!This is a characteristic of Craig's horses: they have a catlike agility on this manoeuvre that drives me crazy!”This horse and rider have now set their sights on the IRHA Derby in May 2020.
The Reserve Honoursin the Level 4 Non Pro went to Giovanni Lugarà and Big Code (Electric Code x Roosterina), a stallion owned by Luga QH (the pair scored 215), while in the Level 1, the Reserve Championship went to Francesco Freschi and IM A Walla Walla, Quarter Horse mare by Walla Walla Whiz x Sexy Peponita, bred by Piero Priori (score 210).
Italian Reining Futurity press office
