2022 NRHA European Derby

October 26-30, 2022 | Equita Lyon - France

Fonck and Grisha Tie For the Open Championship; Young Sára Karasová of Czech Takes the Non Pro Title

The highly successful 2022 edition of the NRHA European Derby was held during the renowned European horse fair Equita Lyon in Lyon, France. This year’s European Derby, open to 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old horses nominated in the NRHA Nomination Program counted a rise in the number of entries with riders representing Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Competition ran deep in the Open Finals with two horse-and-rider combinations tying for the Level (L)4 Championship with a 228: NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck and Shines Like Spook (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x NRHA Million Dollar Dam Ebony Shines), a 6-year-old gelding owned and

The Numbers

The $153,235 European Derby Open counted:

58 entries in the $61,294-Added L4

71 entries in the $45,970.53-Added L3

70 entries in the $30,647.02-Added L2

39 entries in the $15,323.51-Added L1 nominated by Rosanne Sternberg, and Grischa

Ludwig and M Snow Pearl (NRHA Million Dollar Sire SG Frozen Enterprize x Spooks

Pearl), a 5-year-old mare owned by Fabian Strebel and nominated by La Maqueline. It took a 219.5 or more to be in the top 20 final rankings.

“I think my wife [NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck], who has always ridden this horse, did a super job with him,” said Fonck. “We actually switched horses for this event, I showed him and she showed GP A Spook In Town as I thought he would work better with her after my competing with him for four years. I did a few schooling rides with Shines Like Spook and today was the first time I rode him asking for more and he was really good. When I went in the arena tonight we were both really relaxed. Before going in, my wife told me to trust him, ‘if you speed him up he’s going to be there for you; put your hand down and just go.’ I did exactly that and it worked out.”

Ludwig was just as happy with his two mounts. “It was one hell of an evening,” he commented. “I felt it was my arena. I knew that I could completely trust my horses and since the level of competition was so high, I could not afford to think about any strategy. I put the hammer down and went. I wanted to finish my runs with a high score, I knew I had the horses— even though they are completely different—and they were both good in the qualifier. To top it all off, here in France the people are with me. 2022 has been a great year!”

Ludwig also went on to clinch the $45,970Added L3 Open Championship aboard the talented mare and also took the Reserve Championship with a 227 riding Gunnit In Hollywood (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya x Buffy In Hollywood), a 6-year-old stallion owned by Alexandra Schmitz and nominated by Giulio Trevisan.

$30,647-Added Level 2 was with me the whole time, but here, he definitely did. Today is also special for both of us because this win pushed him over $30.000 in NRHA LTE and me over $100.000, so I am truly happy. He is a really sweet horse.”

Reserve honors with a 221.5 went to Italian Stefano Cerutti and FB Topsail Shine (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shine Chic Shine x Topsail Del Cielo), a 6-yearold mare, owned by Claudia Rizzola and nominated by Francesco Bonadeo.

$15,323-Added Level 1

It was a big night for Italy’s Filippo Paris riding Maria Cecilia Fiorucci’s talented Americasnextcovrgirl (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz x Americasnextgunmodel), a 5-year-old royally bred mare, bred and nominated

Quentin Galliere of France and Tinsel Whizington (Tinsel Jac x Conquistador Sis), a 6-year-old stallion owned and nominated by Sharon De Groot, topped the division in the Finals, after leading the qualifier, with a 223. “I feel amazing, my horse did all he could do today. We started him and trained him all the way and last year his owner showed him and won over $20.000 in the non pro classes. This year she asked me if I wanted to show him and of course, I said yes. At the beginning of the season he didn’t feel like he

NRHA European Derby by Arcese Quarter Horses USA. The pair scored a 218.5 which brought them the L1 Open Championship. Showing at a major NRHA event for the first time, Paris was quick to credit his horse for the results, as well as owner Fiorucci and the whole Elementa team. “This mare is fantastic. She deserves to be in the L4 Finals and win that level, but this is my first big show, so I am really happy with the results. She helped me in there a lot, so my biggest thanks definitely go to her. I am very thankful to Maria Cecilia, who trusts me with her horses even though I don’t have very much experience showing. This mare is really special to me; she is like a princess. Sometimes I stay in her stall and talk to her and I know she understands me. She can definitely pull the best out of you. I’ve only been riding her for about a month and a half and I love her, so I hope to be showing her again next year. ”

With Fiorucci’s 6-year-old stallion Mister Grey Wolf (NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream x NRHA Million Dollar Sire Dun It For Chex), bred and nominated by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, the Italian Professional also took reserve honors.

European Derby Novice Horse and APHA Chrome Cash Incentive Program

This year the inaugural and very well-accepted $3,000-Added LL Tecnologie Novice Horse Open Derby and $3,000-Added Gunna Sparkle Novice Horse Non Pro Derby divisions for horses that have less than NRHA $5,000 LTE (Lifetime Earnings) were introduced and for the second year running, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash Incentive Program offered $1,500-Added to both the Open and Non Pro L4 Champions.

Canadian Professional based in Switzerland Morey Fisk and Jayson Henri’s owned and nominated by Gunny Trashy Tucker, a 6-year-old mare by NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of Tuckers Starlight, scored a 220 to win the division. “I was really happy with the mare, she did everything I asked her to and I especially liked how she stopped as she’s a big stopper. There is no particular plan for her for next year, I think we are going to breed her and then decide if she should show more,” said the Fisk about his horse. “To have the Novice Horse classes here at the Derby is great because it gives the horses another shot to do something at this major event. It was a tough qualifier this year, so this is definitely a nice bonus.” A point behind, Fisk also took reserve honors on Addys Lil Step (NRHA Thirteen Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Miss Lil Adytude) owned by Annika Bootsman-Kleberg.

It was an emotional night for Showgirl Shining Gun (Colonels Shining Gun x Shes A Lil Showgirl) shown by French Professional Arnaud Girinon. The flashy double-registered AQHA/APHA 7-year-old mare owned by Grey Stone Ranch closed her career in

The Numbers

The $153,235 European Derby Open counted:

58 entries in the $61,294-Added L4

71 entries in the $45,970.53-Added L3

70 entries in the $30,647.02-Added L2

39 entries in the $15,323.51-Added L1 front of a full house with top honors and a 225 score which earned her the $1,500-Added APHA Chrome Cash European Derby L4 Open Championship as well as her retirement after a successful show career.

MARKEL/NRHA SALE GRADS OPEN DERBY FINALISTS

• Dances With Spook (NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x Shining Dancer), owned by Margot Van Doorne and nominated by Rosanne Sternberg, ridden by Levin Ludwig.

• Dun Lost My Shine (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shine Chic Shine x Dun Lost My Freckles), owned by Julia Schuberl, ridden by Morey Fisk.

• Angel On Fire (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six x Lena Dun It), owned by Luga LLC and nominated by Stacey Huska, ridden by Mirko Midili.

• Spooks Gotta Deal (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun x The Rio Deal), owned by Lisa Schlatter, ridden by Markus Gebert.