ERCHA/NRCHA Metallic Cat Derby
2023 Metallic Cat Derby Champions are crowned today in the beautiful Palacittà arena of Travagliato (BS) Italy. The best horse and rider combinations from all over Europe were abled to perform also in the Bridle Spectacular event and in the Ancillary classes. European Reined Cow Horse Association wants to thank its sponsors for the great support during 2023 show season.
Metallic Cat Derby
Open
The talented duo formed by Sara Casalini and Shine On Line dominated in the 2023 Metallic Cat Derby Open and Level 1 Open. With a fast cow work final with 2 open field turns for 150.5 points and a total of 568.5 the young Italian Professional rider add this important title to her career. Gunner On Line is a 5-year-old gelding sired by Shine On Line and out of Shyawhiz and owned by Giovanni Conti who showed his abilities down the fence: “I got the title I missed with Gunner On Line and I never thank him enough. He’s simply great and always by my side and ready to help me in difficult situations. Today we got a very fast cow but as usual he can work well in every situation, I just need to trust him, he’s fantastic”.
Italian professional rider Alessandro Coppari got Reserve Champion honours in Metallic Cat Derby Open and Level 1 Open divisions. Between his reins the 4-year-old mare Top Star All Dun (Billy All Dun x Tops O Lena Star) owned by Andrea Ambrogiani. This horse and rider combination got a spotlight in the Open finals with a 150 cow work score for a total of 577 points.
Non Pro
In the cow work only Non Pro finals on Saturday afternoon we enjoyed the beautiful run of Giorgia Girardello and Girl Of Spark, 4-year-old mare sired by Spark N Whiz and out of One More Whiz Girl. The talented duo marked a big 147 down the fence, with a total of 568.5 and got the Champion title also in the Level 1 Non Pro division: “I never expect to win this Derby. After the rein work where I did some bubbles my horse told me that we have to win, I felt her very constant with the cow and from the first turn I understand, we are ready to have a big score. I want to thanks my trainer Andrea Sanfelici and for sure my family for the great support, today also my father saw my fence work!”
Second place honours in the Metallic Cat Derby Non Pro went to Ilaria Traverso and her own Stylish Tassa Mr (Tassa Aristocrat x Bar Stylish Susy. For this horse and rider combination the score in the Non Pro finals was a 136 for 557 total point. While in the Derby Level 1 Non Pro is young Italian rider Vittorio Ambrosini Nobili the Reserve Champion, Custom Spider Dual between his reins got the cow work final score of 142 that means a total of 551 points.
Non Pro Boxing
In the lead from the beginning Alice Bruscaini and 4-year-old gelding DG Pep Rey (Roany Rey x Mariah Pep) got a nice win in Non Pro Boxing division. Thanks to the score of 146 in the cow work only final for a total score of 567 they won first ever special event title. “This is our very first ever show in the working cow horse, I felt my horse very well in the final today. I’m for sure happy for this result. We will continue with ERCHA special events.”
Marco Pulerà and DG Vega Dollie Rey (Roany x Madam Dollie) are the Reserve Champions with 141 points on cow work final (558.5 total).
Bridle Spectacular
Gabriele Poli Barberis from Italy rode Highbrow Fletch to the win in the Open division. With a total score of 422.5 points (141 rein, 140.5 cow, 141 herd) the young rider bring home Champion title. “I switched the position in the ranking with my father, who won the first Bridle Spectacular of this show season, but I have to pay attention in the future. I feel very lucky to ride an horse like Highbrow Fletch is and I feel him very constant during the show.”
Reserve Champion title went to Gabriele’ father, Samuele Poli Barberis presented Cats Got Freckles (WR This Cats Smart x Playboys Girl) and posted a 422 score (140 rein, 149 cow, 133 herd) for owner Luca Terzi just half point behind the winner.
In the Non Pro division of the Bridle Spectacular, for Italy with a total of 425 (141.5 rein, 140 cow, 143.5 herd) is Sarah Destefanis to stepped up on the first step of the podium. With the talented Hot As Wasabi (Little Dulcis Rey x Whirlacat) between the reins, the young rider is very happy and she commented after the awards presentation: “I really love Hot As Wasabi. This event for us was funny especially in the herd work, my favorite event. This is the very first time I can make a good cow work and I think I will continue to show her in bridle spectacular.”
Reserve Champions honours went to Germany, Sabine Brasche on her second title of the day, with her 6-year-old gelding Bet Hesa Wildcat posted a 421.5 (141.5 rein, 140 cow, 140 herd).
Filippo Masi Novice Riders + Youth
Filippo Masi Novice Riders competition started the full day in Palacittà arena. 8 horse and rider combinations battled themselves for the Champion title that went in Switzerland with the great performance of Kathi Gfeller and 10-year-old stallion Chics Smart Lover (Smart Chic Olena x Ellevi Love Jac) for owner Eliane Gfeller – Seiler. They ended with a total score of 286 (141 rein, 145 cow). “My horse was really incredibile, I had only to trust him nothing more. I tried to improve my stops and it worked. I’m proud!”
Three points behind (283: 141.5 rein, 141.5 cow) on second place Cristina Cacciolatti from Italy placed her 12-year-old gelding CMP Mifi Leo Jac (Mifillenium x Leona Jac). In the Novice Riders regional division Cristian Gorni stepped on first place aboard 6-year-old gelding Boomer Little Uno (Mister Little Uno x Make A Boom) and the score of 264 (120 rein, 144 cow). “Boomer Little Uno is a really nice horse and I own him since April 2022, after being showed by my trainer Andrea Sanfelici. I’m happy today because it’s only our 4th show together and I hope in the future to go down the fence. That’s my goal”.
Davide Mangione and his 5-year-old gelding Stick Snapper Quick (Quick Kid Roan x Jasmine Bob Acre) won the Youth Novice Riders with a total score 260 (124 rein, 136 cow). “I really enjoy my runs today. This is only our second show together with this horse and I want to say thank you to Luigi Di Felice and to my father for the great support.”
NRCHA Two Reins
The pair formed by German rider Sabine Brasche and her Bet Hesa Wildcat is NRCHA Two Reins Open and Non Pro Champion with a nice 286 score (140 rein, 146 cow). Bet Hesa Wildcat is a 6-year-old gelding sired by Bet Hesa Cat and out of Lil Peptorella, historical Brasche’ mare. “I’m having fun in the arena! NowI can trust my horse and try to not mess up. I know he can do very nice run!”
279 is total score (138 rein, 141 cow) of the Two Reins Open Reserve Champions. From Austria, Tomas Barta and 6-year-old mare Purrsuasion (Meteles Cat x Spooks Twilight) owned by Ingo Linke. NRCHA Two Reins Non Pro Reserve Champion and Regional Champion titles went to France with the performance of Jacky Molliex – Donjon and Smoke With Justice, 6-year-old gelding owned by Four Season Ranch and sired by SDP Justice Is Coming with dam Dry Smoke Lena.
Box Drive
Is a 71-year-old rider form Austria the Box Drive Champion. Karl Simon aboard his Bricks Smart Player (Jac O Rima x Avril Smart Play) took the win with a 278 score (141.5 rein, 136.5 cow): “I become more solid on saddle and now I can make less mistakes, I always try to be in the right position with the cow and today I’m happy with my horse and my runs for sure”. Second place honours went to German Christian Conrad on Hes Smart N Dark (Hes A Peptospoonful x Smart And Dark) owned by Angelina Gily, this pair took home a score of 276.5 points (136.5 rein, 140 cow).
