Carlo Ambrosini rode into the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity Non-Pro, threw down a great run and dared the others to catch him.
In the end, 37 other horse-and-rider combinations couldn’t match the 217 marked by Carlo Ambrosini and Saturdaynight Tag. The 19-year-old rider and talented reining horse swept the Levels 4 and 3 championships with their performance in CremonaFiere Arena in Cremona, Italy.
“It was worth waiting until the second section was over tonight, even though it was nerve racking” Ambrosini said. “This win is so special for me because my parents gave me Saturdaynight Tag — who is by our stallion, Saturdaynight Custom, and out of one of our broodmares, Kachina Tag [by Whiz N Tag Chex]— when he was 2 years old for my 17th birthday. He’s always been very special to me and he is super-talented. I didn’t realize until my last stop how well he had performed for me tonight.”
Ambrosini was quick to thank his parents for always being by his side and gave credit to his trainer, Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Rider Rudi Kronsteiner, for his work as well as NRHA Professional Marco Pettinari, who has been working for Ambrosini QH for the past five years.
Saturdaynight Tag was bred and nominated by Ambrosini QH.
Level 2
Lara Lorengo of Italy rode Magnum Chic N Chex to the Futurity Level 2 Non-Pro Championship as well as the Level 3 and Level 4 Non-Pro reserve championships with a 216.5. The pretty mare by Equi-Stat Elite $5 Million Sire Magnum Chic Dream out of Buenonics Doughter (By Buenonic Chex) is owned by PL Reining Horses — a breeding and training facility owned by Lorengo and her boyfriend, NRHA Professional Giuseppe Prevosti.
Bred in Italy by Enzo Gola, Magnum Chic N Chex came to the NRHA European Futurity with the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) Level 4 Open title to her name and more than $35,000 in earnings, according to Equi-Stat.
“Giuseppe gave me this mare to ride with the intent of me showing her here in January,” Lorengo said. “I was afraid I would not be able to ride such a talented and powerful horse. She’s small but she has a big heart and she showed me that from day one. I am very happy with our results tonight and cannot thank Giuseppe enough for all the support and for believing in me.”
Level 1
Another teen rider, Wictoria Stanco, of Poland, showed there’s a talented and enthusiastic bunch of young European reiners when she won the Futurity Level 1 Non-Pro Championship.
She and Remy Rooster SG had already left her mark in the European Futurity Non-Pro by posting the highest score in the non-pro qualifier. They put in another strong performance on finals night with a 212.5, which also earned the Level 2 Non-Pro Reserve Championship.
The stallion Stanco rode to top honors (Remin Whiz x Tea Rooster x Richochet Rooster) was bred and nominated by Italian Silvia Gandolfi.
“I got this stallion last year two months before the Italian Futurity where I showed him and won the go round in the Level 1 Non-Pro division,” Stanco said after her win. “I’ve always really liked him and I have to thank my trainer, Lukas Brucek, for doing a great job with him. The intention was that of showing him here this year but, before making the final decision, I showed him at the show held at Roleski Ranch in March where I won the NRHA Intermediate Non-Pro class. At that point we decided we would come and he was great from day one.
“When you ride this horse, he makes everything seem so simple; all you need to do is trust him and he does the rest.”
The Futurity Level 1 Non-Pro Reserve Championship went to Italian Matteo Bonzano and Dyro Big Chex (Big Chex To Cash x Miss Pickie Cody[PT], by Ima Topsail Cody [PT]), a mare owned and nominated by 23 Quarter Horses Az. Agricola SS, to a 210.
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