horse and rider
Manuel Cortesi • Photo courtesy of Christian Kellner

Manuel Cortesi Guides Two Horses to Top AustrianRHA Futurity Open Go-Round

During the Austrian Reining Horse Association (AustrianRHA) Futurity go-round, 70 horses entered in the Levels 4-1 Open went through the ring.

It was Manuel Cortesi who took the lead in Levels 4 and 3, scoring a 215 not with one, but two horses: mare PC Nana For Me (Dualin For Me x The Slide Surprise x ARC Sparkle Surprise) and stallion PC Tinsel Whiz (Hollywoodstinseltown x PC Sliderina Whiz x Topsail Whiz). Both horses were bred and are owned by Az Agr Cortesi Piero. The 26-year-old Cortesi, who has already been a Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) European Champion Young Rider and won the AustrianRHA Futurity Non-Pro, claimed 2013 Team Gold and Individual Silver at the FEI European Championships in Manerbio and was the Austrian Futurity Level 3 Open Champion in 2015.

horse and rider
Jeremy Ropert • Photo courtesy of Christian Kellner

National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Rider and multiple Austrian Futurity Champion Rudi Kronsteiner placed third aboard Dr. Daniela Ratschew’s Dr Lee Jeff (Dr Lee Hook x Nu Rum To Smoke x Nu Chex To Cash) after scoring a 214.5. The stallion was bred by Glis Ranch.

In Levels 2 and 1, Jeremy Ropert, of France, took the lead aboard Jan Tobias Kock’s QT Devil Of Heaven after sliding to a 214.5. The stallion is by Dun It On The QT and out of Moms Lil Ruffian (by Lil Ruf Peppy), and was bred by Michael Jungfer-Schubert. Ropert won the NRHA Breeders Derby Level 1 Open this year after a run-off. 

Steffano Cerutti and Giannitti Domenico‘s mare GD Wimpy Taris Step (Wimpys Little Step x Cutter Holiday Jacs x OT Taris San Peppy) placed second in Level 2 after scoring a 213, followed by Gal Grahelj and Walla Whiz A Dun It (Walla Walla Whiz x The Bun Is Dun x Hollywood Dun It), who scored a 212.5 to place second in Level 1.