The only “new entry” came from the performance of pretty, young Franziska Wallner, the only lady rider among the Champions, who advanced 12 positions from the qualifier with Mai Tai Enterprise, adding 3 and a half points to her score to take the Level 1 title.
At the end of the go-round, nineteen-year-old Carlo Ambrosini told us that he had ridden Gunnalittlestep for the first time just the day before... It sounded like a joke, instead it was completely true. Indeed, blessed is the character of the Quarter Horses - or at least of some of them: Gunnalittlestep who, by the way, is only 4 years old, led him straight to victory almost without knowing who was in the saddle: “My father had entered the Derby himself on this horse but he could not be here when a work commitment cropped up suddenly,” Carlo explains. “For me, it was a pure stroke of luck! So, I want to thank my dad a lot, as well as Marco Pettinari who deserves all the merit for preparing Gunnalittle so perfectly!” A half point above his go-round performance brought the son of Gunnatrashya and Gay Jays Little Step to the top spot. Ambrosini describes him as “Really good and sincere; all I had to do was make a confident start and he gave me his everything. This horse may not produce +1, but he can achieve + ½ in all the manoeuvres, and this is what it takes for a Non Pro”. Carlo admits he was nervous as the final approached as the fact that he was “standing in” for his dad, whom he greatly admires, added that extra responsibility: “But I have learned that being decisive when you go through the gate always pays,” he explains, and his approach worked as well this time as it did throughout last year for the young rider from Lombardy who in 2018 made it into the world Top 20 with over $ 76,000 in lifetime earnings. Gunnalittlestep, previously third at L3 and fourth at L4 at April's NRHA European Futurity between the reins of Carlo’s father Pietro Paolo, was bred by Angelika and Markus Gebert but was started and trained at Ambrosini QH where he is managed by Pettinari (Rudi Kronsteiner also showed him in 2018). When describing the few hours he had to get to know this horse prior to entering the arena the first time Carlo is sincere, saying he did not take an immediate liking to him. “You have to leave him be, and let him “get on with it”, while I prefer to be a little more incisive when I ride. But then I realized that he is cool and reliable, and my confidence grew”. Now Gunnalittle is headed for the 4-year-old Futurities and all the European Derbies. A long road in which he will be accompanied by Carlo... “I’m going to steal him... sorry Dad, say goodbye to your horse! My thanks go to my mum, the Ambrosini Team, my girlfriend Francesca Bosoni and my best friend Andrea Pedrotti who is always by my side when needed”.
In second place, with a 217, came another decidedly shy rider (at least when faced with a recorder for the post-run interview), the Level 3 Champion Edoardo Bernardelli. Edo, 28 years old, also from Lombardy, like Carlo came to Western riding at an early age thanks to his father’s passion. His partner in the arena was Whiz Wild West, who is in the running for the Open final with Mirko Midili in the saddle; “Mosè” was bred at Luga QH, sired by Spark N Whiz out of West Coast Oak, and in 2017 was crowned IRHA/NRHA Futurity 4 yr-olds Champion with Guglielmo Fontana: “A week ago we decided that Mirko Midili would follow me and Mosè through this Derby adventure, and it worked. This is my third competition with him: I have only had him for a year, but we immediately clicked; this is a horse that never holds back in the show pen. He needs to be managed and helped on the stop, which is perhaps his least convincing manoeuvre, but when you find the right key everything falls into place”. Now, straight to the European Derby, with Edo also looking after his three Futurity prospects.
Co-Reserve Champion at Level 4 is the brilliant young Spaniard, Andreu Nogue-Puig, the rider who surprised everyone at the 2018 Big Futurity Non Pro by conquering all four levels of Europe’s richest-ever Futurity while participating in his first Special Event at just sixteen, thus immediately precluding his access to the lower levels. At the Futurity he was riding A Whiz N Cash, while here at the Derby his partner was Ricostyle, a 2013 mare by Ricochet Rooster out of Gangsters Chrome.
After a great start to his 2019 Derby for Wolfgang Hammer here in Cremona, leading the Level 2 go-round with two of his horses, Chicago Lena and Mr Ricochet, on the “big night” it was the second, Mr Ricochet, son of Ricochet Rooster and Docs Oak Rosy, bred at 23 QH that assured his owner the title of Champion at Level 2 and Reserve Champion Level 3 with a smooth 214.5. Hammer bought the stallion, now 6, from 23 QH as a three-year-old and has since been riding the horse together with Tomas Martinek who is the trainer at Hammer’s barn, 80 kilometres from Vienna. The Austrian businessman has repeatedly made the finals in which he has competed with this horse, from the Futurity 4-year-olds to the Derby events in Austria, Italy and Germany as well as being Austrian Futurity Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Champion in 2017. “I was so happy as this is a horse that has performed well, consistently making the finals, but we have always had some hiccoughs on the big night; today he performed really well and I am extremely pleased, any little slips were mistakes of mine, not his,” explained Hammer. “I concentrated on keeping him relaxed between the qualifier and the final, just riding very little because of the heat here – and it worked,” he concluded.
Wrapped in smiles was Franziska Wallner who today conquered the title of Level 1 Champion and Level 2 Reserve - her first win at a Special Event - on the 6-year-old mare Mai Tai Enterprise who marked a 211.5. “I can’t describe my feelings - I’m so lucky and so happy,” said the German rider, “she is truly amazing especially on the stops that are undoubtedly her strongest manoeuvre. It is probably also my favourite manoeuvre, but then she is easy to stop, she really puts her heart into it”. The mare was bred at home from her mother Heidi’s stallion, Chex Enterprise, out of Revolutions Chic Jac. “We raised her ourselves, so I have known her since her first moments,” explained Franziska who finished school last year and now divides her time between helping out at her mum’s stables located at Dünzling near Munich and spending time in the saddle. The mare was started by Guy Zemah at two years and then in August of her three-year-old year, Franziska took the reins and she has been riding and showing her since, immediately making the finals of the Austrian Futurity in 2016 and again the following year, as well as being the only Youth to make all four levels of the European Derby last year. She is helped in her training and showing by her mum and NRHA professional Dominic Reminder. Franziska is still undecided as to what her future might bring: “Riding other horses would be super nice, but having my own makes it really special,” but she is certain about one thing: “I want to compete in other Derby events this year - but I also want to give her time to have a rest and enjoy her life!”
A 210.5 secured the second step on this podium for the Italian rider from Sud TirolKatherine Dejori on her Unique Remediz, a 5-year-old stallion by Remins Remedy out of Margaritaz.
Salone del Cavallo Americano press office
powered by Reiner of Europe
