The feature event on the final day of the 2018 Reining
Australia National Championships was the Derby, an
aged event for 4, 5 and 6 year old horses. Professional and
non-professional riders contest the Derby. They compete in
the Open Derby and Non Pro Derby and up to three divisions
of each class may be entered depending on the eligibility
of riders. All the Derby horses are in the same draw and
the score from one run counts for the classes and divisions
entered.
The Derby is for seasoned horses. This is reflected in the pat-
tern selected for the event and the speed and attack shown
by all competitors. Scores attained in a big Derby like this
one are often career “Personal Bests” for horses and riders.
Technically demanding, Pattern 10 was the task set for the
30 horse-and-rider combinations in the draw. With 22 of
them having entered the AQHA Open Derby, they were in the
running for the $2500 in extra prize money and $2500 in
owner/breeder incentives offered by the Australian Quarter
Horse Association.
AQHA Open Derby Rodney Peachey Gunnerreload
Judges Carlton Crowe III (USA) and Alberto Villani (Italy)
had their work cut out for the next three hours. Horses with
winning form were evenly distributed across the draw and
the Champion’s buckle was up for grabs until the last run.
The enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd at K Ranch sat
back and enjoyed the spectacle.
Angela Wicks and Q Vista Peppa Revolution opened the bid-
ding with a stunning run of 143½. They held the lead until
Ed Smith slipped around them with a 144 on Scott Finlay-
son’s Wimpys Dunit. This was great stuff. Could anyone do
better? Rodney Peachey and Peter Bartolo’s Gunnerreload
pulled out the stops. The crowd erupted when their score of
145 was announced. Rob Lawson and Gambling On Starlight
gave the leader a tense moment, but had to settle for equal
third with a final score of 143½.
Gunnerreload (Q-84062) was awarded the trophy, garland
and buckle as the Australian Quarter Horse Association,
Open Derby Champion. As a current financial member of
AQHA at the time of the event, owner Peter Bartolo also
picked up an incentive payment of $1250, for the highest
scoring registered Quarter Horse in the AQHA Open Derby.
AQHA Open Derby Gunnerreload trophy presentation
The incentive payment of $1250 to the breeder of the
highest scoring registered Quarter Horse in the AQHA Open
Derby was awarded to Ivy Thompson, breeder of the equal-
third placegetter, Q Vista Peppa Revolution (Q-76760), and a
current financial member of AQHA at the time of the event.
Results: AQHA Open Derby
1. Gunnerreload (145) Rodney Peachey/Peter Bartolo
2. Wimpys Dunit (144) Ed Smith/Scott Finlayson
=3. Q Vista Peppa Revolution (143½) Angela Wicks
=3. Gambling On Starlight (143½) Robert Lawson
5. Shine It Up A Notch (141) Cameron Halliwell
6. Dunit Magnum Style (140) John Wicks/Angel Marsh
AQHA Incentive Breeders Winner Angie Wicks Q Vista Peppa
Revolution
16 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • November • December• 2018
16 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • November • December • 2018