German Gina Schumacher and Snip O Lution laid down an impressive run in draw 16 of the second section of the finals, earning an impressive 224.5.
The 7-year-old stallion by Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Sire Einsteins Revolution out of Snip O Chex (by Nu Chex to Cash) was bred and nominated by Cinder Lakes Ranch LLC. He is owned by CS Ranch Management SA, of Givrins, Switzerland.
Schumacher, who made the finals with all three of her mounts, was thrilled with the win.
“This horse is very sensitive and you have to ride him very little before showing him. That’s what we did tonight and it worked!” she said. “I could not do all this without my parents and my coach [NRHA Professional] Cira Baeck. It’s been a super show.”
Snip O Lution entered the Derby in Kreuth, Germany, with more than $81,000 on his Equi-Stat record.
Derby Level 3 & 2 Non-Pro
Last to draw were the $17,393-added* L3 and $9,939-added* L2 Non Pro Derby go-round leaders, Ulrike Krueger and her 6-year-old mare SL Shesgotmesparklin.
The Austrian rider and the daughter of Equi-Stat Elite $3 Million Sire Jacs Electric Spark needed to beat Schumacher’s 224.5. They gave it all they had and, although they couldn’t quite grab the Level 4 Non-Pro crown from the German, they marked a 221 to take the championship in the Levels 3, 2. Krueger and the mare out of Shes Customized (by Custom Crome) also earned the Level 4 Non-Pro Reserve Championship.
“It’s been an incredible week and it’s great to have been able to achieve this result with this mare who I’ve had ever since she was a 2-year-old. Being able to work her from the round pen to this incredible result is great,” said Krueger who was quick to credit her mentors NRHA Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck and his wife NRHA Professional Ann Fonck.
Italian Carlo Ambrosini took the Level 3 Non-Pro Reserve Championship by marking a 219.5 with MF Over The Rainbow (Shortys Buck A Roo x Jodies Nice Rainbow x Jodies Doc Tari). They also claimed third place in the Level 4 Non-Pro The 5-year-old stallion is owned by Ambrosini’s family breeding and training facility, Ambrosini Quarter Horses ASD, and was nominated by Andrea Cappelletti.
Derby Level 1 Non-Pro
Another Italian, Susanna Sodi, was the $4,969-added Level 1 Non-Pro champion with her horse, Saturdaynigh Mizzen.
The 6-year-old stallion by Saturdaynight Custom out of Westcoast Mizzen (by West Coast Whiz), was bred and nominated by Ambrosini Quarter Horses ASD, of Albano, Italy. He has an impressive curriculum to his name having won the 2015 Italian Reining Horse (IRHA) Futurity Level 4 Open and is fresh off his 2018 IRHA Derby Level 4 Open Championship with NRHA Professional Pierluigi Chioldo in the saddle.
“Considering this horse’s talent and his great show record which has earned him over $71,000, I certainly felt the pressure here,” said Sodi. “He was great for me from the day one all the way to the finals and I could not be any happier.”
Sodi and Saturdaynigh Mizzen also were co-reserve champions in the Level 2 Non-Pro.
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