Fifteen finalists, one Champion. One champion because the two horse and rider combinations that scored a 222.5 decided to run off for the title, the trophy and the highest guaranteed paycheck to a Futurity Open Champion ever in Europe: Euro30.000.
Until Ricky Nicolazzi astride Pic A Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Meesan Okie Bailey) owned by Azienda Agricola Pollarini rode to a score of 222.5, after having won the first go round with a 223.5 and having tied for second place in the Intermediate Open Futurity the night before, two Australian trainers were heading the finals with a 220. One was Martin Larcombe with Maxinic Rm, a mare by Reminic and out of Lil Peppy Doll, for Cisal QH, and the other was Rob Lawson astride Briga For Money, a paint stallion by Slide Me To The Bar and out of Kweek Money, for GRC Horses.
Martin entered the show pen with his second mount, Taristorm (Taris Valentine x Pride Stormita), right after Ricky without knowing what the young Italian rider who in the past spent two years working with Bobby Avila in the US had scored. Ricky's run infact had been held for a review and it would only be after the end of the class that the score would be announced and once it was, the two riders had to gallop back to the warm up pen before going back to the show arena in order to run for the title as both had scored a 222.5.
First to enter was Nicolazzi who performed hard aboard his chestnut mare with already one Futurity title to her name, the Regional Futurity of Lazio. A break of gait in the first set of circles from fast two slow was the only flaw in their pattern and the score was a 215.5.
Larcombe entered the arena on his bay stallion and performed a near perfect run. Before the last stop and back, the public was already standing up and cheering for he who was about to win his third Italian Open Futurity Championship with a final score of 221.5.
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Martin Larcombe astride Taristorm owned by Cisal QH - Futurity Open Champions
Photo by: PhotoEmotion |
Martin was of course thrilled with his third title. He had won the first with Sci Olena Peppy in 1999, the second in 2000 with Pride Gallito Ð after running off against himself Ð and now with Taristorm, the first horse by Taris Valentine to obtain this result. Both Pride Gallito and Taristorm are owned by Cisal QH of Mario Erbetta. "He's a great horse", said Martin after his go. "Not only was he born in Cisal, I actually helped his mother deliver him so this makes the win twice as special. I am very happy for Ricky too, after all he is an ex Cisal boy!" Nicolazzi had infact worked for Cisal QH before going to the US. For Cisal QH this is the fourth futurity trophy won, but the special story for this Italian breeding futurity owned by Erbetta has more to it. The first title was obtained in 1995 by Don Boyd, at the time head trainer, astride Taristorm's mother: Pride Stormita. "The greatest thing about tonight was the fact that everyone was already cheering when Martin went to his last stop" said Mario Erbetta, "at that point there was no doubt about the fact that he was the Champion and he truly deserves it. I cannot hide the fact that I was also cheering for Ricky: even though he does not work for us anymore he is still one of our boys."
Third place honours of the Euro100.000 added Open Futurity went to past futurity champion Stefano Massignan here seen riding Rs Bonnie Jac owned by owned by Daniel and Alexandre Laurent of France. With the bay mare by McJac Flash and out of Nmsu Bonitas Jo, Stefano had won the second go round and was last to enter the seeded clean slate finals having to his name the highest combined score.
The Open finals closed the 18th edition of the Italian Futurity which offered a total added money of Euro210.000.
During the last day of the futurity, the finals of the Regional Affiliate Trophy were also held prior to the NRHA approved Euro2.500 added Non Pro and Euro2.500 added Open classes. Once again Luca Piolanti astride Dragon Heart won the class with a score of 218 and reserve honours went to Cecilia Frediani astride Spanish Snapper with a score of 215.
Martin Larcombe struck again in the afternoon with Arc Oak Enterprise (Suprise Enterprise x Sophie Oak) owned by Cisal QH by winning the NRHA approved Open with a score of 226. Second place went to Adriano Meacci here seen riding Mr Dual Spring, and own son of Dual Pep, owned by Ferrarini QH and a score of 222.
