Cutting champs show their stuff at Tatura

The Deb Elliot Memorial championship played out at Tatura’s Southern 7 Cutting Horse Association.

Cuttabar Designer Cat ridden by Aaron Wheatley. Picture: Sally H

PROFESSIONAL cutting horse rider, Aaron Wheatley won the Deb Elliot Memorial championship on Cuttabar Designer Cat at Tatura’s Southern 7 Cutting Horse Association championships recently.

The Southern 7 Cutting Horse Association was founded in the ’80s and holds a popular Championship Show and Mare Stakes in August of every year.

The Mare Stakes is a special event for riders held in the memory of Deb, who was a passionate cutter before losing her battle with cancer.

The Wheatley Training stables husband and wife team had a great show, winning three out of four open events at this show with Cocoa Catallic winning the Open cutting for Lindsey Wheatley, and EBS Flametree ridden by Lindsey Wheatley winning the Open Novice.

Sinead Moran, who owns Cuttabar Designer Cat was in the saddle to win the Open Non Pro class.

The Wheatley’s Training Stable at Kaarimba near Shepparton has been training horses for more than 20 years with lifetime earnings of more than $1.5 million dollars.

Wheatley praised Designer Cat’s workability. “She tries exceptionally hard. She puts in 110 per cent at every event, that’s why she is successful, “he said.

Ethan Tanner’s Silk Chisum was two points ahead of the field in winning the Rookie class, and Metallic Toy Rider won the $7500 Non Pro class for Shelley Ruff and the $15000 Non Pro class went to Crystal Park Cats A Glory ridden by Samantha Stepnell.

Individual Rey ridden by Xavier Harris won the Novice Non Pro class.

The Grade two Mare stakes went to Kim Campbell on Who’s Moonshine and Kim took the award for the highest placed Non Pro in the championship. Juniors are always well catered for in cutting events and Johill Catolena ridden by Macey Tanner won the Senior Youth cutting and her sister Jacoba Tanner won the Junior Youth section on Peptos Angelique.

The Snaffle bit class was won by Bulla Change and Mark Ruff.