Fifteen-year-old reiner Francesca Ferrarol made a splash at the European Derby Non-Pro — winning three titles at the prestigious event at the Ostbayernhalle arena.
Ferrarol and Wimpy Margarita, a 6-year-old stallion owned by her father, Maurizio Ferrarol, laid down an impressive run on NRHA Pattern No. 9. The judges paid her back with a 217.5 and her score won the Levels 3, 2, and 1 championships.
The run was, of course, three-times as special for Ferrarol.
“I still cannot believe all this is happening,” she said. “I didn’t really feel comfortable with my horse in the go round, plus we made the Level 3 finals through the Consolation. Tonight, before entering the pen, I thought to myself: ‘If I am here, there must be a reason, so I should give my best no matter what the final outcome will be.’ It went really well and I’m extremely happy – this horse has a heart of gold and tonight he knew I was hoping he could give me all he had …and he did!”
Wimpy Margarita is by Equi-Stat Elite $11 Million Sire Wimpys Little Step and out of Custom Margarita (by Custom Crome).
Level 4 Non-Pro
As Draw No. 2 in the second section of the Finals, Wolfgang Hammer and his Mr Ricochet (Ricochet Rooster x Docs Oak Rosy x Doc Sail Win) marked a 217. Hammer and the 6-year-old stallion bred and nominated by 23 QH Az. Agr. SS held the lead until it was matched by Edoardo Bernardelli and Whiz Wild West.
“Sometimes you feel like your run is bad but in reality, it’s good,” Hammer said. “This time around, he felt super and it was so much fun to show him. He did everything we trained for and everything I know he can do… He was amazing today and I could not be any happier.”
Bernardelli, of Italy, and Whiz Wild West also took Reserve honors in Levels 3 & 2. Bred by Italian Mattia Camisi, Whiz Wild West is by Spark N Whiz and out of West Coast Oak (by West Coast Whiz).
“I’m really happy with the way my horse performed tonight,” said Bernardelli. “Everything I asked for he did well. We missed one stop, but that’s ok; he topped the qualifier and tonight he repeated his performance in the finals. I would like to thank my family, who is always there to support me, and my girlfriend. A big thank you to Andrea Napolitano and Andrea Grazi for helping me before the finals.”
The European Derby Non-Pro was one of the star events of the major NRHA European event. This year’s European Derby Level 4 Open was won by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck.
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