July Joe Snap and Cortesi IRHA L4 Open Futurity Champion 4-years-old

19/11/2023 – The $ 73.123 added IRHA L4 Open Futurity finals for 4-year-old horses concluded past Friday in Cremona (IT) had a surprising ending. Sky-high scores like we have seen over the past month remained. Presumably due to the quality of the footing, because many entries encountered problems in the stops. The best was saved for the last. With 3 more entries to go PL New York Yankees [Yankee Gun] ridden by Nico Sicuro (ITA) was in the lead with a 220,5 score. At that moment Sicuro was dominating the complete class. With Whizkey Solo [Dun It For Whizkey] Sicuro had posted a 220,0, ranking 2nd and with West Coast Step [Sugar Little Step] a 217,0, ranking 3rd. All 3 horses are owned by Quarter Dream SRL.
The first combination of the last 3 entries was Arnaud Girinon (FRA) with Flexing Guns In Town [Hollywoodstinseltown] owned by Anna Maria Scheiflinger. Girinon earned a lot of credit on the spins, and marking a 222,5 the pair took over the lead. Being second last to enter Davide Brighenti (ITA) and Irish Coffee [Dunnit For Whizkey] owned by Emma Villa were definitely not inferior to Girinon, but in the stops the pair came short, resulting in a 221,5. With the last entry, Manuel Cortesi with July Joe Snap [Master Snapper] owned by Euletorio Arcese and Roberto Cuoghi, the excitement rose, even from behind the computer screen. At the NRHA European Futurity earlier this year in May Cortesi and July Joe Snap marked an impressive 232,0 score, a score he did not manage to equal this time though. The spins were breath taking, the circles just fine, but like many others Cortesi encountered problems with the stops, resulting even in minus. But by marking a 223,0 the L4 Open Futurity Champion title is a fact.

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Photo: Manuel Cortesi and July Joe Snap. Photo: Bonaga Communication, ITA