Morey Fisk Shiners Party Dress

Canadian wins back-to-back NRHA European Futurity Championships

Morey Fisk Shiners Party DressShiners Party Dress and Morey FiskSeveral thousand visitors watched an exciting €146,000-added NRHA European Futurity Open final on Saturday night with scores climbing as the evening progressed. Canadian trainer Morey Fisk repeated last year’s success aboard Claudia Simon’s beautiful palomino mare, Shiners Party Dress (Shining Spark x Smartly Dressed). He set the event’s high score, a 226, winning the NRHA European Futurity Level 4 Open Championship for the second year running.

“I first saw her when we were looking for a European Futurity prospect at the 2012 NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma. I fell in love with this mare immediately,” explained Morey. “She has such a huge heart. There never seems to be a bad day for her. She always wants to do everything right, and I cannot believe I won this title again. It almost drives me crazy with joy. My respect to Jay McLaughlin and [breeder] Carol Rose, who made this fantastic mare thanks to their great program. A special thank you goes to her owner, Claudia Simon, who has been my customer for many years. She has always had a lot of confidence in me.“

Morey Fisk, who boasts $194,500 in NRHA LTE, is head trainer at Daniel Straumann’s Horse Academy in Mooslargue (France).

The Reserve Championship in the €92,000-added Level 4 Open went to Ann Fonck-Poels riding Roosters Minnie (Ricochet Rooster x Raise The Dealer). The mare, owned and bred by Manuel Bonzano of 23 Quarter Horses, scored a 222.5.

“I am so happy,” said the Belgian rider now based in Italy. “Roosters Minnie has such a good mind. We started her and she was great from the beginning.”

Fonck-Poels has been competing in the NRHA European Futurity for four years and has made the finals every time.

Levels 3 & 2 Open: Keen Little Juice and Guy Zemah

Guy Zemah Keen Little JuiceKeen Little Juice and Guy ZemahWith a score of 215.5 Guy Zemah and Olga Hofmann’s Keen Little Juice (Smart Like Juice x Keen Little Katie) claimed the NRHA European Futurity Levels 3 and 2 open division titles. Hofmann also bred and nominated the horse.

This was the first time Hofmann entered a horse in the NRHA European Futurity. Keen Little Juice is a product of her breeding program, as she bred both his dam and grand dam. Hofmann showed Keen Little Juice at the 2012 NRHA Germany Breeder’s Futurity, but missed the finals. Guy Zemah then trained the horse in view of the European Futurity and made the finals thanks to the consolation. This is Zemah’s first major event win, but he has been a finalist at the NRHA European Futurity in 2009 and in 2011.

The Reserve Champion title in both divisions went to Fabio Polesel of Italy with Fortuna Gun Dunit between the reins. By Gunners Smokin Oak  and out of RX Rec Dunnit, this mare is owned by Forest Creek Ranch of Austria. The pair scored a 214.

Level 1 Open: Senorita Cal Chex and Arnaud Girinon

Arnaud Girinon Senorita Cal ChexSenorita Cal Chex and Arnaud GirinonIn the €6,386-added Level 1 Open Arnaud Girinon scored a 211.5 riding Senorita Cal Chex (Big Chex To Cash x ARC Senorita Cal Bar) winning this division for owner Thomas Yvan. The two had the second-highest score in the qualifying go round and also took fifth place honors in the Level 2 division.

The 21-year-old assistant trainer at 23 Quarter Horses in Italy won the first go round of both the Level 2 and 1 divisions riding ND DJ Gun (Gunner x Hustle Up A Star), for owners Steve Vannietvelt and Gina De Pauw.

Philipp Martin Haug of Gemany and ARC Captain (Master Snapper x Sailing Spark) scored a 210.5 for the Reserve Championship in the Level 1 division.

This was the first NRHA European Futurity for multiple FEQHA European Champion Working Cowhorse Open and Reined Cow Horse Futurity Champion Philipp Martin Haug. ARC Captain is owned by Denkert Till and trained by Marco Ricotta.

“I’m happy about our success and even more so about my horse,” said Haug. “I pushed him a little bit too much after the first roll back which made him back a few steps, but after that we were fine. ARC Captain was with me all the time. He has really got a great mind.”

Complete results, daily videos, interviews with participants and more can be found on the official NRHA European Futurity website: www.nrhaeuropeanfuturity.com