Lyon, November 2—The 15th edition of the NRHA European Derby held during Equita Lyon, Le Salon du Cheval de Lyon, closed with more NRHA Ancillary Action and The Run For A Million (TRFAM) Non Pro and Youth Qualifiers.
Opening the day was the $7,700-Added Non NRHA Pro Grand Prix and The Run For A Million (TRFAM) Non Pro Qualifier, run class-in-class with the $500-Added AM Rising Star NRHA Limited Non Pro.
NRHA Pro Grand Prix
Riding to top honors in the NRHA Non Pro Grand Prix was Italy’s Fabio de Iulio riding his faithful 9-year-old companion, RS Cronos Jac, a stallion by RS Great Jac Feona and out of RS Shadow Olena. The duo, hauling for the 2025 NRHA Non Pro World Championship, closed their performance with a 218 score. “I have no words for this horse: he is fantastic!” said the rider from Naples, Italy.
With a 217.5 score, second place went to Vladimír Čejka of the Czech Republic and his own Remy Rooster SG (Remin Whiz x Tea Rooster), an 11-year-old gelding bred by Silvia Gandolfi.
2026 TRFAM Non Pro Qualifier
The top five placed riders entered in TRFAM Non Pro Challenge Qualifier, run class-in-class with the Non Pro Grand Prix, earned a ticket for the TRFAM Non Pro Challenge 2026 held in Las Vegas, USA.
• Fabio De Iulio (ITA)
• Emanuel Gebert (GER)
• Vladimír Čejka (CZE)
• Georgia Wilk (GER)
• Adrienne Speidel (SUI)
AM Rising Star NRHA Limited Non Pro
Pauline Engel of Germany and Voodoos Shootingstar (NRHA $5 Million Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Select A Star), a 5-year-old gelding owned by Bernice Engel and nominated by Anne Tournay, scored a 211.5 to top the Limited Non Pro.
Tying for second place, with a 210.5 score, was Casey Reynaud of France and his own Sparkin Step (Horizons Big Step x Shining Sparktolena), a 10-year-old gelding bred by Dominique Reynaud; and Arfwid Grytfors riding his own 8-year-old mare Voodoosbigenterprise (NRHA $5 Million Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Just Miss Enterprise).
NRHA Youth & TRFAM Youth Qualifier 2026
The Youth classes were run class-in-class with TRFAM Youth Qualifier 2026.
With Birgitt Wagner’s 10-year-old gelding Wimpys Wanna Dance (NRHA $13 Million Sire Wimpys Little Step x Dance Little Spook), young Emanuel Gebert carried on his winning streak in Lyon by placing first in both The Run For A Million Qualifier and NRHA Youth 13 & Under presented by NRHA France, this time scoring 218.5. “I feel super. My horse was really good in the show arena and I had fun showing him,” said Gebert who took reserve honors in the 2025 TRFAM Youth Challenge.
Chjara Maria Gaffory of France rode Pierre-Toussaint Gaffory’s 8-year-old gelding Snap For The Prize (NRHA $4 Million Sire SG Frozen Enterprize x Miss Master Snap) to a 203.5 and reserve honors.
In the NRHA Youth 14-18, Italian Manuele Bonzano and 23 Quarter Horses’ 6-year-old gelding Mr Shines (NRHA $3 Million Sire Shine Chic Shine x The Electric Sparkle) scored a 216 to conquer the class and a spot in TRFAM Youth Challenge 2026.
Sarah Koegler and her own 9-year-old gelding Shining Spook Too (NRHA $9 Million Sire Smart Spook x Ebony Shines) teamed up in Lyon to take reserve honors with a 213.5 score.
The following top five placed riders earned a ticket to Vegas:
• Emanuel Gebert (GER)
• Manuele Bonzano (ITA)
• Federica Faccincani (ITA)
• Sarah Koegler (GER)
• Nicola Yannis Schoelly (SUI)
$10,000-Added NRHA Open
Based in France, Italian Professional Stefano Ferri and Gregory Morat’s 6-year-old gelding Spook Design (NRHA $9 Million Sire Smart Spook x Designed With Shine) performed the best run of the day awarded by the judges with a solid 225 score.
“I’ve had this horse in training since the beginning of his career and he has been fantastic for me. He is a great performer and today he proved it; even though he stumbled in the arena, we still received the winning score.”
NRHA $2 Million Rider Bernard Fonck of Belgium piloted GD Peptos Olena Blue (Spat A Blue x Miss Peptos Jacky), an 8-year-old stallion owned by Domenico Giannitti, to a score of 222 taking second place.
$5,500-Added NRHA Intermediate Open
Lars Suechting picked up another title on the last day of the show, this time aboard his and Julia Giacalone’s 6-year-old mare Feonalikesthemagic (NRHA $4 Million Sire Smart Like Juice x Magic Feona Jac). They performed to a 218.5 and the win.
Enrico Sciulli and Whateverittake (NRHA $5 Million Sire Walla Walla Whiz x Magnum Chic N Chex), a 5-year-old stallion owned by Lara Lorengo, slid to second place scoring a 217.
The first World Reining Continental 2026 Qualifier was held in Lyon. Entering the class was Klaus Lechner riding Highland Gun (Tinseltownsmokingun x ARC Ms Whiz) owned by LG Quarter Horses. The Austrian Professional and the 6-year-old stallion scored a 216. The 2026 World Reining Continental Championships will be held at BO Ranch in France.
From October 29 to November 2, 2025, Eurexpo Lyon was transformed into Europe’s largest temporary equestrian venue, featuring expansive stables and the renowned trade show. Covering a total of 140,000 m², Equita Lyon – le Salon du Cheval de Lyon, together with the Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International (International Horse Show and Riding Competition). Last year the event attracted close to 200,000 visitors and it seems this year may surpass this number.
For 2025 NRHA European Derby full results, photos, videos and info: www.nrhaeuropeanderby.com
Photos by Wanted Photo
NRHA European Derby Media Contact:
Simona Diale/International Horse Press
Whatsapp: +39 340 5354629
