Ann-Fonck-and-Rooster-Attitude-open-champion-L4-DOM 0290

NRHA European Futurity Features Fonck’s Winning Attitude

Ann-Fonck-and-Rooster-Attitude-open-champion-L4-DOM 0290Ann Fonck and Roosters Attitude clinched the NRHA European Futurity Level 4 Open Championship. • Photo by Andrea Bonaga

The Open finals of the NRHA European Futurity closed the eighth edition of the prestigious show in the Ostbayernhalle arena. Draw 46 in a field of 50 finalists, multiple NRHA Open World Champion Ann Fonck and Roosters Attitude, claimed the Futurity Level 4 Open Championship and a €20.135,03 paycheck. 

Fonck and the bay gelding (Ricochet Rooster x Jackie Cody Pine x Im A Topsail Cody), bred, nominated and owned by 23 Quarter Horses Az. Agricola SS, thrilled the crowd with their run, which the judges rewarded with a score of 223.5.

“This is just amazing,” said an enthused Fonck, who also placed eighth with her second mount, 23 Quarter Horses’ High Rollin Spook (Smart Spook x Shining High Roller x Shining Spark), nominated by Rosanne Sternberg. “We didn’t do too well in the first go-round, and we managed to make it back to the finals through the Consolation. I couldn’t be any happier.”

Roosters Attitude held an Equi-Stat record of $13,360 before competing in Kreuth, Germany.

Taking the Level 4 Open Reserve Championship was former NRHA Open Reserve World Champion Cira Baeck, riding KR When In Rome, a Markel Insurance/NRHA Futurity Sales graduate. Bred by Pete and Tamra Kyle and owned by Katarzyna Rolseka, the mare (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Crome Shiner x Custom Crome), finished 1 point behind the winners, adding €14.994,23 to their earnings.

Bjoern-Binek-and-ARC-Shesgunnasparkia-open-champion-L2-BON 5976Bjoern Binek and ARC Shesgunnasparkya took the Futurity Levels 3 and 2 Open championships. • Photo by Andrea Bonaga

Winning the Futurity Levels 3 and 2 Open with a 219 was Bjoern Binek riding ARC Shesgunnasparkya (Gunnatrashya x Saling Spark x Shining Spark), bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA and nominated by Claudia Simon. The mare was ridden by Martin Larcombe and by Joe Schmidt in the U.S., accumulating $34,478, before coming to Kreuth.

“She was great tonight, had huge stops and felt really easy all the way through the pattern,” said Binek, of Germany. “She’s a really sweet mare and showing her was a lot of fun.”

Binek took home a total of €18.059,21 for his wins aboard ARC Shesgunnasparkya and €11.710,41 for the Levels 3 and 2 Reserve titles riding Winnie The Boo (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Jac Golden Faith x Jac O Rima), a stallion bred, owned and nominated by Claudia Hahn. The duo marked with a 217.5.

Roberta-Dubini-and-Gunners-Topchic-Open-L1-champion-BON 5902Roberta Dubini and Gunners Topchic were the Futurity Level 1 Open Champions. • Photo by Andrea Bonaga

Winning the Futurity Level 1 Open and a paycheck worth €3.457,99 was Roberta Dubini aboard Gunners Topchic (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Hollywoods Topchic x Top Dun Cody), a mare bred by Penni Gerardi and owned and nominated by Luga Quarter Horses, of Italy. The pair posted a score of 215.5.

“Gunners Topchic was really good with for me tonight and the crowd was awesome”, said Dubini, who was the NRHA European Futurity Level 1 Open Champion last year, as well. “Before coming here, I showed her at the Italian Futurity, where we didn’t do very well, so I would like to thank the owners for trusting me to bring her here.”

After leading the Level 1 Open qualifying go-round, Christelle Graffeuil and Customized Whizcrome (Custom Black Crome x Roxy Whiz Pine x JD Colonel Whiz), owned by Laurent Garrido and nominated by Graffeuil, settled for Reserve honors with a score of 213.

The NRHA European Futurity is open to 4-year-old horses nominated in the NRHA European Nomination Program and offered a total purse of €306.000.