Leading the composite score of the Euro 265.000-added Level 4 division with a 441.5 was multiple past NRHA Open World Champion Ann Fonck of Belgium riding Brigitte Steiner’s Smart Little Ruffle. The American Quarter Horse mare by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook out of Ruffle Me Up was bred by Greg L. Hill. The pair had tied for the highest score in the first qualifier with a 221 and went on to top the composite score after posting a 220.5 in the second go-round. Before making her way to Cremona, where the Futurity is being held, Smart Little Ruffle had already accumulated over $3,747 NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) after placing sixth in the Belgium Snaffle Bit Futurity and taking third place honors in the NRHA Germany Breeders Futurity with Fonck in the saddle.
Another Belgian lady reiner took the second highest composite score, a 441: Cira Baeck and NF Shining Whiz, an American Quarter Horse mare by Colonels Shining Gun out of Whowhizthispeppychic owned by David Perneel and Kim Windey and bred by David Perneel today scored a 220 after having posted a 221 to tie for the lead in the first qualifier.
In the Euro 75.000-added L3 division Manuel Cortesi topped the composite score by posting a 219 in the first go-round and a 220.5 in the second riding PC Tinsel Whiz (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown x PC Sliderina Whiz) owned and bred by Az. Agr. Cortesi Piero. The Italian professional also detains the second highest composite score, a 437.5 (218.5/219) riding PC Fogger Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Fogger Lady), also owned and bred by Az. Agr. Cortesi Piero.
Euro 35.000-added Level 2 & Euro 15.000-added Level 1 Gal Grahelj firmly holds on to the leading composite score, a 437, after having closed his first run with a 219 and the second with a 218 riding Katja Zrimsek’s Walla Whiz A Dunit, an American Quarter Horse stallion by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz out of The Bun Is Dun, bred by Susan Jones.
The finals of Europe’s highest paying Futurity open to 3-year-old horses enrolled in the Italian breeding program IRHBA will take place on Saturday, December 15.
Italian Reining Futurity press office
