First to go in Section 2 of the Open $196,686-added Level (L) 4 Open Finals, Mirko Midili set the bar by posting a 221.5 on Frozen Natrashya, a stallion owned and bred by Angelucci Quarter Horses by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of Frozen Tari. Eighteen horses later, Midili burst into the oval arena of CremonaFiere with Spark Made Whiz, a stallion by Spark N Whiz out of Mare Made owned by Luga Quarter Horses and bred by Silvano Ronzullo. With an explosive ride, the Italian Professional bested his own score by performing to a 223 which remained the top score with four horse and riders left to go.
“I really didn’t think we would take first and second place, not because my horses weren’t good enough, or because I didn’t feel they were in the right condition; we’ve been here for two weeks, having had the Euro Futurity here last week, and it’s truly a long time for these young horses. On top of this, some of the horses showing here tonight were truly hard to beat,” he said. “The horse I won with is a super good non pro horse but tonight he showed us all that if he wants he can truly be competitive in the open division. He’s always been really serious, even as a 2-year-old. My other horse is very talented even though he needs to always be between the reins of someone that understands him. I’m sorry my good friend Lukasz [Czechowicz], who was riding an amazing horse, unfortunately, had some bad luck tonight. It was God’s will that I won again, and I really don’t know why…I think there’s someone up there that has been following me this year. It’s not only about me.” Last week in Cremona, Midili also took home the 2021 NRHA European Open Championship with GD Peptos Olena Blue owned by Domenico Giannitti.
Giacomo Ronchi gave up his non pro card three years ago and started showing in open competition riding products from Roberto Cuoghi’s breeding program. With a string of important wins riding San July Jo Magnetic, the dam of Letters To Juliet (by Master Snapper), the mare he clinched the $53,158-added L3 Open division tonight with a 221.
“This was definitely a long and intense Futurity!” said Ronchi. “The mare I rode is as special as her dam who I won levels 4, 3, 1 of the IRHA Non Pro Futurity in 2012, along with a long list of events, and she is a full sister of Magnetic Master with whom I won the Level 2 Open Futurity in 2019. I am very happy with the result and how she behaved during this 12-day trip. The first couple of days she didn't feel very comfortable here but then she calmed down and was always very good. I worked a lot but I also enjoyed this show that gave me a lot of satisfaction. This mare is the fruit of the partnership with Roberto Cuoghi and Impresa Agricola Cuoghi where I board my mare. Together we built a breeding program project and now a younger full brother to Letters To Juliet seems to promise very well and hopefully we'll see him in the next Futurity.”
Francesco Barbagli and SQ Magnetic Dreamer (Chic Magnetic x DC Reyning Olena)
owned by Marco Martinelli and bred by Francesco Martinotti rode to the $26,579-added L2 Open Championship and also took reserve honors in the L3 with a 217.5 score.
“I’m happy,” said Barbagli. “This was truly an incredible year for me and I don't know if another season like this will occur again soon. All my dreams came true and closing the year with this win is really big time. The mare I rode is simply amazing; during the
Finals I felt she was really good, so I decided to run and have fun, and everything worked out perfectly!” The Italian Professional added that one of the most difficult things during the two-week show was managing the horses, especially the younger ones. “After the second go I gave her a day off and when I rode her last night she was really fresh but I decided to let her do whatever she wanted to, with her imperfections, because I was sure she would be super in the Finals. I've only been riding her for a month and the owner, Marco Martinelli, used to ride with me when he was a non pro. I rode her a month ago, liked her a lot, asked him if he would let me bring her here…he did and it worked out great!
With a 216 score, Stephan Rohde riding Xtra Doo Little, a mare by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr out of Wimpy Little Sinbar, owned by Katharina Schwarz and bred by Xtra Quarter Horses, took the L2 Reserve Championship.
$12,758-added L1 Open Championship, with a 215.5 score, was for Tommaso Beltramini riding Steppin To Amarillo, a stallion by Steppin On Sparks out of Frosted Wimped Cream,
owned and bred by Riccardo Abati. “What to say except that this little horse has a big heart, considering he only has ten months of training,” said Beltramini. “I loved riding him from day one, and -as I said before- there is something special that connects us because I won my first NRHA bronze riding his mum. He has always been very good, and it was really a long time since I had the chance to ride a horse like him. On top of that, he also gave me back the confidence in the show pen and helped me get my grit. It has been an intense and long week especially, for the 3-year-olds that have been here for a long time, but he is always ready to give everything. I had no problems with him during this time and tried to make him feel happy. He is a consistent and honest horse, in the arena like at home; and I knew it from our first show together!
Co-Reserve honors in the L1 division went to Fabio Russo who rode both his mounts to a 214.5 score: Piccola Sparkya (ARC Gunna Sparkya x Spanish Little Nina), a mare owned by Niccolo Azzarone, and Golden Sparkya (ARC Gunna Sparkya x Cadillac Dun It), a mare owned by Rabboni Reining Horses.
2021 IRHBA AWARDS
The International Reining Horse Breeder Association (IRHBA) Best Breeder Award went to Silvano Ronzullo, breeder of the L4 Open Championship Open Champion Spark Made Whiz.
The IRHBA Best Stallion Award went to Filippo Donadeo, owner of Spark N Whiz, sire of Spark Made Whiz.
For full results: ShowManager.info
IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Futurity Media Contact
Simona Diale / International Horse Press
