There was excitement in the sold-out Oklahoma Arena Saturday night as 62 Open finalists competed in the $182,361 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Derby Open Finals. When Arnaud Girinon and Flexing Guns N Town topped the Level 4 Open finals, they not only took the championship but also qualified for The Run For A Million 2025.
With only one horse-rider combination left in the second section, the pressure was on for French rider Arnaud Girinon and his striking 5-year-old palomino Flexing Guns N Town (Hollywoodstinseltown x Shesa Fashion Gun x Colonels Smoking Gun). [Gunner]). The score to beat was a 228 from Nina Lil of Germany; Without hesitation, Girinon delivered a breathtaking performance that earned him a score of 230 from the jury.
Arnaud Girinon receives the Chrome Cash prize check from APHA Executive Director Dave Dellin. * Photo from Wanted Photos
Flexing Guns N Town, nominated by Anna Maria Scheiflinger, came to Equita Lyon with $74,758 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings. The duo won the $82,612 Level 4 European Derby Open Championship and secured their ticket to The Run For A Million (TRFAM) 2025 Million Dollar Championship. The $11,000 TRFAM Qualifier, featuring 13 participants, precedes the prestigious event taking place August 11-16, 2025 in Las Vegas. Additionally, Girinon and Flexing Guns N Town won the APHA Chrome Cash Incentive Level 4 Open Derby Championship with $1,250 in prize money.
“Today was just incredible. We have been working towards this success with this horse for so long. In the previous derbies we have been reserve champions three times and each time we only missed out on a lead of half a point. “Everything came together tonight,” Girinon shared. Looking back on the TRFAM qualification, he added: “This success is incredibly emotional for me. It's the kind of success you dream of and I knew my horse was capable of it – he really deserved it. Qualifying in my home country, surrounded by my family, made this victory even more special.”
Nina Lil had an outstanding run aboard Jewel Dream, a 5-year-old mare by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream out of GR Hug A Jewel (by Solanoswarlee Boy). The pair, owned by Martin Bachmann and nominated by Edoardo Bernardelli, scored a 228 to capture the NRHA European Derby Level 4 Reserve Championship, the $47,222-Added Level 3 Championship and the $34,565-Added Level 2 Championship.
Nina Lill rides Jewel Dream * Photo by Wanted Photo
“She is an incredible mare who can score points in every maneuver. “I wasn’t expecting such an outstanding run, but she was flawless today,” said Lil, who has trained the mare for a year. “Dominik Reminder started it first, followed by Davide Brighenti, and last year she handed over the management to me. I also trained and showed her mother and they have similar characteristics: an exceptional mind and great stops. I'm looking forward to her future offspring and she already has a foal on the ground. We look forward to many more.”
Anne Grether from the Netherlands won the Level 3 and Level 2 Reserve Championships aboard RS Reininghorses BV's TR Voodoo Doll (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Wallawhizagun x Walla Walla Whiz) with a score of 220.5. The 6-year-old mare was nominated by Tamarack Ranch LLC.
Anne Grether rides TR Voodoo Doll * Photo by Wanted Photo
Germany's Jasmin Andersdotter rode Sparkling And Spooky, a 5-year-old gelding by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage out of NRHA Million Dollar Dam Ebony Spook (by Astute Spook), with a score of 216 to secure the $17,961 added Level 1 Open Championship in the first section of the finals. The horse was bred and nominated by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Rosanne Sternberg and is owned by Alina Sira Herzlinger.
“This was my last year competing at Level 1, so my goal was to win a Level 1 championship. Achieving this on the final show of the season makes it even more meaningful,” said Andersdotter. “I've been showing it since the Futurities last year and this year we haven't missed a final. I’m proud of him – he’s great.”
Jasmin Andersdotter rides Sparkling and Spooky * Photo by Wanted Photos
The Dane Patrick Capobianco and Voodoo Majestic Gun (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Gunna Be Majestic x Colonels Smoking Gun). [Gunner]), a 7-year-old gelding owned by Cecilie Lyndrup and nominated by Quarter Dream Srl, won the Level 1 Reserve Championship with a score of 215.5.
Patrick Capobianco and Voodoo Majestic Gun *Photo by Wanted Photos
