Fonck and Masi de Vargas tie to lead the Level 4 Open Derby qualifier

Manerbio, September 14 – Provided by Simona Diale – The NRHA (National Reining Horse Association) European Derby & Pre Futurity officially started today at the Palasturla facility in Manerbio, Italy. A clean-slate finals included 94 entries in the €87,500-added Open Derby.

Tying to lead the go-round with a 219 were NRHA Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck aboard Smart N Sparkin and Giovanni Masi de Vargas riding Dance Little Spook. Bernard and his mount, owned by Seven Heaven Reining Horses, had already claimed the European Derby Open Level 4 championship in 2013. Giovanni and his ride, owned by Quarter Dream, a little less than a month ago were on the Italian gold medal team at the FEI European Reining Championship in Aachen, Germany. The duo also went on to win the individual gold!

Yet another young Italian rider, Manuel Cortesi, took the lead in both the Level 3 and 2 divisions. Cortesi, riding Paolo Muccini’s MP Gun It To Go Mars, scored a 217. Two riders posted a 214.5 to lead the Level 2 division: Nicola Sergio riding Ferruccio Bucci’s Ruf Little Chex and Francesco Fabbri riding his own Frizzys Blue.

Open to 4-7 year old horses, the European Derby is run in a qualifying go-round and clean-slate finals. All 4-6 year old horses must be nominated in the NRHA European Nomination Program. The second day of competition will host the Non Pro European Derby qualifying go-round.

Facts and figures:

Open level 4: 53 entries. Top 15 scores plus ties advance to the finals. The next 15 scores plus ties show in the Consolation. The top 3 scores plus ties from the Consolation will join the finalists. The ‘bubble score’ was a 215.5.

Open level 3: 43 entries. Top 15 scores plus ties advance to the finals. The next 11 scores plus ties show in the Consolation. The 2 top scores plus ties from the Consolation will join the finalists. The ‘bubble score’ was a 210.

Open level 2: 49 entries. Top 15 scores plus ties advance to the finals. The next 14 scores plus ties show in the Consolation. The 2 top scores plus ties from the Consolation will join the finalists. The ‘bubble score’ was a 207.

Open level 1: 27 entries. Top 11 scores plus ties advance to the finals. The next 6 scores plus ties show in the Consolation. The 2 top scores plus ties from the Consolation will join the finalists. The ‘bubble score’ was a 206.