Barbagli and Gunnabeagreatdude conquer First $1 Million Added NRHA European Futurity

Saturday night was full of excitement as the $700,000-Added MS Diamonds TX NRHA European Futurity Open finals took place at CremonaFiere, home of the the international horse fair Salone del Cavallo Americano. For the first time, a million dollar added event took place in Europe and attracted 179 horse-rider combinations from 12 countries to participate at the prestigious event. 62 Open riders across the four levels made their way to the finals on Saturday where, in front of a full house of reining enthusiats, Italian Professional Francesco Barbagli performed a breathtaking run aboard Gunnabeagreatdude. The duo was awarded a 226 score that earned them the $420,000-Added Level 4 Open Championship.

Gunnabeagreatdude’s Potential Realized

Barbagli was truly excited about his run and even more about the score when it was announced.

“I don’t know what to say and I won’t hide the fact that I shed a tear or two after realizing that I had won,” he said. “This horse’s talent is simply incredible; all his maneuvers come to him naturally and I think that this factor, which made me put my hand down with slack in the reins and trust him completely, is what made us win tonight. From the run in, until the very end, I told myself either it works or it doesn’t. In any case, I still don’t believe it.’

The flashy Arcese bred sorrel stallion by ARC Gunnabeabigstar and out of Great Dudes Whiz (by Conquistador Whiz), is owned by Alessio Fraboschi and was nominated by Vittorio Rabboni.

Only a half a point behind Barbagli, scoring a 225.5 and taking reserve honors, was the qualifier leader Manuel Cortesi aboard Frozen Sven (SG Frozen Enterprize x Ladymaster x Master Snapper). The duo boast the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) Open Futurity Reserve Championship as well as the NRHA Germany Breeders 3-year-old Level 4 Open Championship. The athletic stallion is owned by Cuoghi-Arcese and was bred and nominated by Impresa Agricola Cuoghi.

Giuseppe Prevosti & Top Whiz Shine * Bonaga Communication

Giuseppe Prevosti rode in the first section of the Open finals teamed up with Top Whiz Shine (Colonels Shining Gun x So Whiz Up x Topgun Whiz). The precision and degree of difficulty earned them a score of 224.5 which held until the end of the Finals earning them the $140,000-Added Level 3 Championship. The stallion is owned and nominated by Tullio Mascarello, a long-time customer of Prevosti.

“Mascarello bred and also started this horse,” said Prevosti about his mount. “I rode his  mother and showed her throughout her long career. When I got him in training, I liked him immediately and showed him at the pre futurities, but at the IRHA Futurity we were a little unlucky and didn’t make the finals so he really deserves this. The go round didn’t quite work out because of a freeze up which is the reason we didn’t make the Level 4 finals so this win really showed everyone what a good horse he is and am so happy things turned out this way.”

After leading the Level 3 qualifier, Stefano Cerutti of Italy and Questionably Frozen (SG Frozen Enterprize x Unquestionably Crome x Custom Crome) finished Reserve Champions after performing to an impressive 220. The stallion, an NRHA Markel Futurity Sale graduate, is owned by Stefano Scotti and was nominated by Lorenzo Lotti.

Patrick Goeschl of Germany and Yell Low Stone (Tarysmart x Whiz Jackie x Laredo Whiz) did not hold back when they entered the pen. After their strong run, the score of 218.5 appeared on the score board with the pair earning the $91,000-Added Level 2 Championship. Goeschl’s stallion is owned by Geraldine Grafen and nominated by Helmut Schulz.

“I have no words, it was just awesome,” said NRHA Million Dollar Rider Grischa Ludwig’s assistant about his run. “It felt really good, we had awesome stops and even though we overturned on both sides, he circled well and I felt pretty comfortable during the run. I gave him a break yesterday and I trusted him going in and it worked out. Now he is going to get a short break and then we will continue with the futurity season.”

Sebastiano Valtorta placed second in the Level 2 scoring a 218 aboard AC Not Ruf My Whiz (Not Ruf At All x Gotta Shiney Remedy x Spooks Gotta Whiz), a stallion owned by Giovanni Cioli and nominated by Alessandro Cazzaniga.

The $49,000-Added Level 1 Championship was split internationally with Italy’s Steven Della Casa and French Kevin Paquet both scored a 214.5 and opted to not run off for the Co-Championhip.

Della Casa had a big run with the Cisal QH owned and nominated gelding, Lenas Frozen Gun (Hollywood Gun Dunnit x Frozen Sparn x Frozen Sailor).

“I’m really happy with this title,” he said, hot off his win. “This is my third special event and I truly want to thank all the Cisal Quarter Horses team and owner Mario Erbetta for giving me this opportunity and for all their support. I broke and trained this horse and have had him since he was a 2-year-old so this makes this win even sweeter.”

It was a big night for Kevin Paquet and ND Step N Crome (Walla Whiz Crome x Dun Step N Out x Wimpys Little Step), a flashy palomino mare owned by Birgit Schaefer and nominated by Nathalie Derua.

“I’m really happy about tonight for more reasons than one: It’s my first time here and the first 4-year-old I made myself and, she was there for with me all the way,” said Paquet who purchased her as a 2-year-old from Derua and has had her in training since. “As a 3-year-old she had an injury which kept her out of the futurities so she took a rest during the winter and this is only the second show for her. She’s a really good minded and cool horse, gifted, and fun to ride. My wife will show her in the Non Pro Austrian Futurity and I will show her in the German Breeders Futurity and then in Italy.”

APHA Chrome Cash Incentive

France’s Arnaud Girinon and QQ Merlin Whizard (Colonels Shining Gun x Whiz a Blue x Topsail Whiz) did not have the best luck in the finals. After a few bobbles, the team scored a 213.5, enough to take the NRHA European Futurity Level 4 Open Chrome Cash Incentive title. The stallion, owned by Sabatino QH Srl, was nominated by Chiara Colombi.

“I am a little disappointed about the run today. It was our first time together in the show pen so now I know what to prepare better next time. We were planning to take him to the 100X Stakes, but we will see after tonight what the owner wants to do. Hopefully the future will bring some better runs since we know what to work on now,” said Girinon.

Ancillary action

Mattia Cosio of Italy entered his gelding Hollywood Reminy (Remin Whiz x CN Tari Dun It x Hollywood Dun It) in all divisions of the GD Performance Horses NRHA Non Pro ancillary class. The duo scored a 217 to win the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and Limited Non Pro.