$700,000-Added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Futurity: Nico Sicuro Leads the L4. First Italian Championship IRHA/FISE Titles Awarded

Cremona, November 13 — Excitement continues to rise at CremonaFiere as the 41st edition of the $700,000-Added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Futurity, presented by DeNiroBootCo., takes center stage. The event also hosts the FISE/IRHA Open, Non Pro, and Youth Italian Championship Finals, as well as the Elementa FISE/IRHA Para Reining Championships, confirming Cremona’s role as the heart of European reining.

Nico Sicuro Leads the 3-Year-Old Open Futurity

Wednesday concluded with the second go-round of the Quarter Dream $353,600-Added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA 3-Year-Old Open Futurity. Italian NRHA Professional Nico Sicuro topped the Level 4 (L4) division aboard Mobster N Spook (HF Mobster x Dance Little Spook), bred and owned by Quarter Dream. Their composite score of 445.5 (223.5/222) firmly secured their lead.

“It’s only the third time I’ve shown him, and I’m truly happy with how things are going,” Sicuro said. “I aimed for clean runs in both go-rounds, and he exceeded expectations. Now we’ll adjust a few details for the Finals—and on Saturday night, we’ll try to go even faster.”

Sicuro is also one of only two L4 riders qualifying for the Finals with two horses. His second mount, Smoking Dance, a mare by Gunner out of Dance Little Spook, is also bred and owned by Quarter Dream. The bubble score for the L4 Finals, limited to 20 horse–rider combinations, was 433.5.

Open Division Leaders Across the Levels

In Level 3 (L3), Germany’s Kim Obenhaus leads with KB By Davinci (Inferno Sixty Six x Pumpkin Rooster), owned by Koen Brutsaert, scoring a composite of 439.

In the Level 2 (L2) division, Pierluigi Fabbri is on top with The Force Is Back (Maytheforcebewithyou x Great Eva), bred and owned by Antonio Pedron, on a score of 438.

The Level 1 (L1) lead belongs to Barbora Prekopová, riding her AQHA/APHA stallion SZ Keep The Face (Pale Face Dunnit x Ses Lady Crome), with a composite of 432.

In the Prime Time division, Dario Carmignani is leading aboard his homebred mare Yankee One Force (Yankee Gun x CL Gun Sarah) with a combined score of 429.5.

The Open Finals will take place on Saturday, November 15. Tickets for the highly anticipated L4 Finals are available at the CremonaFiere Box Office on Friday and Saturday morning.

First Italian Championship Titles Awarded

The first titles of the FISE/IRHA Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, and Limited Non Pro Italian Championships were also assigned on Wednesday. Riders qualified from across the Italian regions competed in the Quarter Dream Arena for the national honors.

Non Pro: Tobia Cesare Lonati Claims His First National Title

The Non Pro Championship gold medal went to Tobia Cesare Lonati (Lombardy) aboard his 14-year-old gelding Sevenchextocash (Big Chex To Cash x Lil Chic Peppy).

“I’ve competed at the Italian Championships before, but this is my first victory,” Lonati said. “I’ve owned this horse since he was eight. He’s always been amazing. I train four times a week with my trainer Davide Brighenti, and it makes all the difference.”

Silver went to Andrea Castrucci (Lazio) with RS Nebbiolo Blue, while Alice Baldazzi (Emilia Romagna) took bronze with PL Magnum Chic Chex.

Intermediate Non Pro: Castrucci Strikes Gold Again

Castrucci went on to win the Intermediate Non Pro Championship aboard RS Nebbiolo Blue, adding to an outstanding year that already includes World Reining Championship Team Gold and Individual Silver. Baldazzi claimed second place, and Agata Cremaschi aboard MC Delta Feona placed third.

Limited Non Pro: Laurenzano on Top

The Limited Non Pro national title was claimed by Riccardo Laurenzano (Lombardy) riding his 6-year-old gelding Super Little Step (Wimpys Little Step x Tuck Oak Enterprise). Second place went to Agata Cremaschi with MC Delta Feona, while Josefat Zanelli (Piedmont) and Peppy Justin Time MR finished third.

NRHA Non Pro: Werdaner Wins the $1,000-Added Class

In the $1,000-Added NRHA Non Pro, Lisa Werdaner secured first place riding Please To Nite, scoring 215. Just half a point behind, tied for second place, were Andrea Castrucci with RS Nebbiolo Blue and three-time NRHA Non Pro World Champion Nikolai Stiller with Hollywood Gunrunner.

Thursday’s Program

Thursday opens with the FISE/IRHA Open, Intermediate Open, and Limited Open Italian Championship Finals, run concurrently with the $1,000-Added NRHA Open. The day continues with the FISE/IRHA Youth Finals run alongside the NRHA Youth classes. The program closes with the Tenuta Equitem $39,930-Added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA 4-Year-Old Non Pro Finals, which will crown the first Futurity Champions of 2025.

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