THE crowd knew the competition was top-notch in the Mavericks Western Wear Open Classic Challenge Final of the NCHA Futurity when it was hard to say who was favourite to take out tomorrow’s 11 horse final.
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Top pro trainer Todd Graham came out early on Timothy Turvey’s Kenetic to score a 147 in the final go round and the crowd assumed that was it for the herd, but the amazing display of skill from Reylee Play owned by Danny Carey and ridden by Victorian Pro Trainer Corey Holden blew the scores out of the water, landing an astounding 152.
The points stayed high from there on in with a few top rides but no other riders could reach the early high marker set by the pair.
Yesterday the second go rounds of the Non Pro Futurity, Non Pro Classic Challenge and the Non Pro Derby took to their course to find the finalists for each event.
Tapt One Moore and Jacqueline Dudley had the highest aggregate leading into the Roo-Hide Saddlery Non Pro Futurity final with a combined score of 288, while three people are sitting in second place down the list on 287 including Pimped Up Cat with Lloyd Neilsen, Hard Hat Girl with Amelia Servin, and Erin Topdrive on Lincoln Veraart.
The Two Bob Saddlery/Jeff Smith Saddles Non Pro Derby had some very talented competitors and horses as well, with Phil Conaghan of Marlborough and his 2015 Futurity Finalist mare Suicide Blonde taking on first place with a combined score of 294.
Eb’s Snow Thistle and Justine Hodgman currently sit in second place on 292.5, while very close in third is Sophisticated Doll and Jamie Everingham on 292.
Servin kept her good form up and took two pieces of the cake in the Marsh Carney Saddlery Non Pro Classic Challenge.
She took the top two spots on board World Series Cat and One Deluxe Peptos, with aggregate scores of 292 and 290 respectively.
Second place was also shared in the tight competition with Jacqueline Graham with Dora Rey and Mark Smith with his imported sorrel mare Cat With A Tude both scoring 289.5.
Today features the 2016 Select Cutting Horse Sale, with the most prestigious breeds in the country under the hammer, while the Longyard Hotel Open Futurity Final and the Stratton Open Gold Cup follow afterwards leading into the night with free entry.
Tomorrow’s final events will be the biggest and best of the fortnight with the Tim Mitchell Memorial Junior and Senior Youth up first, followed by the Two Bob Saddlery/Jeff Smith Saddles Non Pro Derby Final, the Marsh Carney Saddlery Non Pro Classic Challenge Final and then the main event, the $70,000 Bayer & Shadow Trailers Australia Open Futurity Final to cap off the 12-day competition.
Another attraction after the cutting every afternoon is the SDP Buffalo Ranch Bar in the VIP section of the Arena.
The weekend afternoons will feature live acoustic music from Jade Holland and a great atmosphere.
