The now 11-year-old stallion won the World Cup Cutting Open at AMERICANA in 2017 with Martina Annovazzi in the saddle and Marco Salvatori was 2019 NCHA European Non Pro Champion at EquitaLyon with Highbrow Time, among other great results achieved.

Taking the second highest score with a 145.5  was Marco's daughter Gaia Salvatori aboard Metallic Savanah (Metallic Cat x Savanah Holli). Her sister, Greta Salvatori riding Cat Rey Lou, scored a 144 for the third highest score in the qualifying go round.

Daniel Henriksson takes lead after Limited Non Pro go round

With a 143.5 score, the Limited Non Pro Go round of the European Cutting Championship was won by Daniel Henriksson riding Almond Rey. For Hendriksson, who actively showed in cow horse events, this is his first cutting show: It was a debut for him in the pen and the first time for the 5-year-old stallion Almond Rey (Smart Rey Pepto x Uno Scootin Dera) with the Swedish rider in the saddle.

“We wanted to move more over to showing cutting horses and were in contact with Italian Professional Denis Pini looking for a suitable horse,” he said. “Pini had a customer who was selling his stallion and he thought he would be as great match for us, and that it was! Two months ago we flew to Italy and a couple of days and vet tests later the stallion was ours.”

Based in the South of Sweden, the trip to AMERICANA started two weeks ago and the first stop—after two days of travel—was Denis Pini Cutting Horses in Italy. “Denis, who trained the horse, has been extraordinary in every way and both his son and assistant are amazing. We stayed over to train for a week before coming here. I must admit that the decision to make the debut at AMERICANA was a bit of a wild card!” he added.

Half a point behind, Matteo Chinaglia and Marco Salvatori’s Vino Cappuccino as well as Andrea Favaretto aboard Lenas Startaz tied for second the second highest score. Riccardo Pini and Merada Dreamcatcher came in fourth (142.5).

Photos by AMERICANA 2021 Official Photographer 8PhotoAgency.com

IHP Edited Press Release