Ferrarol and Wimpy Margarita Are 2020 Smart Spook NRHA European Derby Non Pro Champions

Wiener Neustadt, July 2— The 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) $48,000-added* Smart Spook European Non Pro Derby held at Western Training Center H&D Schulz in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, provided thrills and excitement. 

Until Francesca Ferrarol and her Wimpy Margarita, owned and nominated by her father Maurizio Ferrarol, rode in the pen with one horse left to go in the Finals, two riders had posted a 214.5 for the lead: Gina Schumacher with Little Joe Rush and Wolfgang Hammer aboard Call Me Lil Josie.

The 18-year-old Italian rider and her stallion by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step out of Custom Margarita (by Custom Crome) had won both the $19,200- added* Level (L)4 and $14,400-added* L3 qualifier. Determined to take the title, the duo came back strong, riding to the Championship and to the $12,150 guaranteed paycheck. “All I can say is ‘thank you Wimpys Margarita,’” said an emotional Ferrarol about her NRHA/Markel Sales Graduate. “I couldn’t be more blessed and, as I said after the go round, he was the coolest horse at our place and I never thought I would ever be able to show him. Thanks to my dad, who believed in us, we managed to win the L3, 2, and 1 Non Pro divisions at the 2019 edition of the NRHA European Derby. We would have won the level 4 division had we entered and now, his performance today made up for that.” Once again Ferrarol thanked her trainer past NRHA Intermediate Open World Champion Guglielmo Fontana who, in turn, had three words to say: “They deserve it!”

Schumacher and her NRHA/Markel Sales Graduate Lil Joe Rush (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x Rush N Cat), a 2015 American Quarter Horse gelding bred by Lorenzo Lotti, nominated by Prospects Unlimited, LLC, owned by CS Ranch Management SA, and Hammer riding his own Call Me Lil Josie (NRHA Million Dollar sire Lil Joe Cash x Call Me N Hollywood), a 2015 American Quarter Horse mare bred by Sergio Elia and nominated by Wolfgang Hammer tied for the L4 Non Pro Reserve Championship.

Tying for the L3 Non Pro Reserve Championship with a 214 score was Enrico Sciulli of Italy riding his own SH Spooksgottabadger (Que Peseta x Shot Gun Shea), a 2015 American Quarter Horse stallion, nominated by Staffoli Horses SNC, and Dutch Suzanne Scharroo riding her own Shortyslittlestep BB (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Short Rooster), a 2014 American Quarter Horse gelding bred and nominated by Eifel Gold Ranch Baeck.

Three riders decided to run off for the $9,600-added* L2 after posting a 213.5: Nikolai Stiller riding his own Hollywood Gunrunner (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Dun It For Missy), a 2012 double-registered AQHA and APHA mare bred by James Frahm, nominated by Rudi Kronsteiner; Markus Spreitzhofer riding his own Cant Hide A Gun (The Big Gun x Cattrena), a 2013 APHA gelding bred by Robert Windisch and nominated by Spreitzhofer; and Jürgen Pritz riding his own Rose of Mercedes (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Cromed Out Mercedes x Smooth Star Freckles), a 2013 AQHA mare nominated by Pritz.

Following the run off, the latter took the win with a run paid back by the judges with a 215.5. “This is simply amazing. Winning this title is unbelievable,” said Pritz who has had his mare since she was a yearling. “She’s 8-year-old now and has always been great to show. The best thing about her is that she is always calm and always perfect!”

Spreitzhofer and Stiller settled for the Reserve Championship after scoring a 213 and 212 respectively and also agreed to tie for the $4,800-added* L1. “We decided to tie for the level 1 and run for the level 2 because it was fair on the horses to do so,” said Stiller who also tied to win the L1 and 2 qualifier with his mount. “This mare who I’ve had since she was a yearling has been so good in the past two years and I am thrilled with these results tonight.”

Spreithofer was also happy with his rides and the Championships. “He’s an 8-year-old gelding who I paid in last year and he was so good,” he said. “He did well in the go round and tonight. He’s so easy to ride and has a huge heart.”

NRHA $112,000-added* Colonels Shining Gun European Derby Open finals will conclude the tenth edition of the Euro Derby on Saturday, July 3. The riders will be vying for the Championship titles as well as a guaranteed $24.300 paycheck for the L4 Open Champion. The 2020 European Derby is open to 6-7-8 and 9-year old horses.

(*subject to change in nominations)

FRIDAY ANCILLARY ACTION

NRHA Youth 13 & Under – Tie with a 206 score
Sophie-Marie Muendl riding Star Miss Dunitwhiz (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz x Gk Hollywoodshowtime), owned by Sonja Muendl

Emanuel Gebert riding his own Gunnalittlestep (NRHA Four Million Dollar sire Gunnatrashya x Gay Jays Little Step)

NRHA Youth 13 & Under – 208 score
Alice Baldazzi riding Holly Jolly Whiz (Whiz Ruf Peppy x Smart Dolly Hickory)
owned by Ettore Baldazzi

$1,600-added NRHA Open – 217.5 score
Klaus Lechner riding Cody Rooster Delmaso (Ricochet Rooster x Made Of Lacy)
owned by Julia Gaupmann-Lechner

$700-added NRHA Intermediate Open – 214 score
Patryk Peszke riding HA Handsome Harry (NRHA Two Million Dollar sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Chick Peas) owned by Bernice Engel

$500-added NRHA Limited Open – 209.5
Morgane Bohu riding MLC Whiz On Top (Sail On Top Whizard x CDS Frozzy Sail Spat)
owned by Danielle Dhinaut

Photos by NRHA Euro Derby Official Photographer Tom Hautmann

For further information: www.nrhaeuropeanderby.com

To follow the action live:

https://rh-video.de/livestreaming

To follow the live score:

https://www.showmanager.info/Eventliste.aspx?turnierID=1050

NRHA European Derby Media Contact:

Simona Diale/International Horse Press

Internationalhorsepress@gmail.com

Cell: +39 340 5354629