Colonels Dancing Gun and Sicuro L4 Open Derby Champions

04/07/2021 – The finals of the NRHA European Open Derby 2020 have been concluded yesterday in Wiener Neustadt (AUT). In particular the € 42.800 added L4 division was exiting. Being the 4th entry Italian Nico Sicuro aboard the 7-year-old stallion Colonels Dancing Gun [Gunner] owned by Quarter Dream SRL set the bar at 221,5. The first challenging combination to enter was Bernard Fonck (BEL) with the 6-year-old gelding Spook Sunburst [Great Sun Burst] owned by 7 Heaven Reining Horses. Fonck definitely was heading for the lead but did not manage to get enough credit on the stops and rollbacks, finally resulting in a 220,5. With 6 more entries to go it was Ann Fonck (BE) taking up the challenge with the 7-year-old mare Gunners Specialolena [Gunners Special Nite] owned by Diego dalla Gassa. In 2019 Ann claimed the L4 Open title with this mare and a prolongation of the title was definitely possible. De run in and back-up were just correct, but in the 1st set of spins it was more than clear that Ann was riding for the title. The minor penalty could easily be overcome. Although Ann performed very well, she finally came 1 point short marking a 221,0. Being the very last entry, Dominik Reminder (DE) and the 8-year-old gelding Whiz Wild West [Spark N Whiz] owned by Martin Bachmann kept the excitement alive, but – just like Bernard – Reminder did not manage to get enough credit on the stops and rollbacks, leaving the arena with 220,5. The L4 NRHA European Derby Open Champion title along with the € 20.000 guaranteed prize money was for Sicuro, reserve honors for Ann and the tie for 3rd place for Bernard and Reminder.

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Photo: Nico Sicuro and Colonels Dancing Gun. Photo: Tom Hautmann, GER