Friday 15 March 2013
Glen Innes’ Phil Dawson has taken out the opening event of the 2012 National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) National Finals and 2013 Snafflebit Futurity with a breathtaking display of cutting at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) today.
Dawson and horse Turpentine Reyn claimed the $3,500 Novice event on 147.5 points in a closely fought tussle ahead of Rob Hodgman (also of Glen Innes) riding Bootscootin Sally on 147 points and Todd Graham (Oakey, Queensland) riding Reykn It In on 146.5 points.
Three riders finished in equal fourth position, just half a point behind Graham, reflecting the high standard of competition at one of the major events on the cutting horse calendar.“The cattle were really good, as good as we’ve ever had here and that made for some outstanding cutting,” Dawson said.“I was very happy with the horse today. I call him ‘Mr Consistent’ because he’s got a huge heart.”
“Unfortunately I don’t get to show him as much as I’d like to but when I do, he never lets me down,” Dawson said.Turpentine Reyn is owned by Dianne Bennett and Peter Karger of Bordertown, South Australia and has had an exceptional run of performances.“[Turpentine Reyn] has consistently been one of the top horses in the aged events,” Dawson added.
In other results, Andrew Daly of Jeeralang, Victoria, has taken out the Snafflebit on Smart Oaks Council, ahead of Willow Tree’s Clayton Evans who took out both second and third places on Jabell Shekera Spin and Yulgilbar Bella Rey respectively.
Other events taking place today included Go Round 1 of the Snafflebit Futurity, Rookies and the $10,000 Novice.The action continues tomorrow with the $5,000 Non Pro, Go Round 2 of the Snafflebit Futurity, $10,000 Non Pro and the Open Non Pro. The highly anticipated National Finals and Yulgilbar Snafflebit Futurity wrap up on Saturday.
The event includes competitors and horses from across Australia as they vie for the year-end national titles as well as a share of the $50,000 in prize money on offer.
Photo courtesy of Wild Fillies Photography
