The 2016 NCHA Bayer & Shadow Trailers Australia Futurity wrapped up last Sunday with some incredible results achieved.
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Bursting through the ranks and stealing the spotlight was the 30-year-old from Young, Trent Smith.
The up and coming professional trainer cleaned up several titles during the show, with his major achievement being the Open Futurity top spot on the red roan stallion Moore Metal owned by Moore Metal Syndicate.
The pair blitzed the final to run a score of 226, almost achieving the top score of the show, much to spectators’ delight.
Other titles taken by Smith were the Open Derby on Metallic CD owned by Paul and Katrina Poole with a score of 146 and the Limited Open Futurity on Metallic Bling owned by his parents Sue and Ken Smith with 224.
This horse also claimed eighth place in the Open Futurity final, scoring 215.5.
Smith backed up his Open Derby win by snatching second place on Stairway to Heaven also owned by Paul and Katrina Poole with a 145 and held down the Open Limited, taking second and third place on Dulce Merada Lena with 218 and Isle Drive on 217.
Cobram trainer Corey Holden took out the five and six-year-old event, the Open Classic Challenge on Reylee Play owned by Danny Carey with the entire show’s top score of 152 while Phil Conaghan of Marlborough in Queensland owned and rode his own horse Jaguar to win the Open Futurity Gelding Incentive with a 147.
The lineup of the Open Gold Cup comprised the top cutting horses around the country, with some travelling from across the nation to compete but it was the 2011 Open Futurity Champion and NCHA highest money earner Ducks Dux who made another well received appearance, with her owner John Brekelmans aboard to score 225 and take the title from the 40-horse field.
The Non Pro Gold Cup sported an even larger field and they didn’t disappoint, with the top earning cutting stallion in the country One Roan Peptos winning the competition scoring 151 with his owner Teresa Russo aboard.
In the Non Pro categories, Barraba’s Amelia Servin rode to victory on her parents’ Non Pro Futurity horse I’m Short a Hat, achieving a satisfying 145, while her own entrant Hard Hat Girl came 12th in a strong field on a score of 136.
The Non Pro Derby and Non Pro Classic Challenge ended up a family affair, with the Smith brothers from Queensland taking both top spots.
Steve Smith of Goondiwindi rode his self-trained chestnut mare Asa Cat into first place on a score of 215 while Emerald’s Mark Smith also showed the goods to take first in the Non Pro Classic Challenge on his imported mare Cat With a Tude with a 221 score.
The title was split for the Limited Non Pro Futurity.
Yulgilbar Famous Roc, with Jason Richards of Rolleston ( in Queensland), tied with Trudy Holden of Cobram in Victoria on her own horse Garter Cat on 145.
The amateur aged events showed what the non professional competitors could really do with an amazing display of skill and dedication shown by all finalists.
Lynda MacCallum of Gundy, NSW succeeded in the Amateur Non Pro Futurity on Catsasmart to score 145 while Lexton’sl Carl Stepnell rode Cataboonsmal to a score of 146 to take out the Amateur Non Pro Derby.
RBH Acres of Rey and Angela Crimmins won the Amateur Non Pro Classic, scoring 145.
The competitors were small but their hearts were huge, jumping aboard these amazing horses and showing spectators they had what it took with Tia Jewel Rey and Ben Hinman from Coolah winning the Junior Youth on 219 and Loomberah’s Matilda Shumack aboard Coreygous scoring a very cool 224 to take out the Senior Youth.
