Jason Leitch and Hy On Turps Win the 2014 NCHA Futurity

By: eHorseTrainer.com

Jason Leitch and Hy On Turps on their way to winning the 2014 Bayer Imax Gold & Tamarang NCHA Futurity (photo: Stephen Mowbray)

With a hat-waving salute that was reminiscent of his days training dogs, ducks and steers for the entertainment of crowds at agricultural shows, Jason Leitch exited the Australian Equine And Livestock Events Center on Sunday night with his third Bayer Imax Gold & Tamarang NCHA Futurity Open champion’s buckle for marking a 151 aboard the mare Hy On Turps.  

“I’m a bit stunned,” said Jason in the moments after being presented with the $75,000 cheque about how Hy On Turps had to overcome go-round scores of 134 and 147 that forced them to qualify for the 25 horse finals via the wildcard round. “I didn’t have a great futurity through the rounds and we were lucky to get here tonight.” 

Hy On Turps (Hydrive Cat [IS] x Turpentine Acres x Acres Destiny [IMP]) is the second horse that Mark and Janelle Simshauser’s Kempsey Quarter Horses, has sent to Jason. The mare was a choice pick that was purchased on the trainer’s recommendation.

“I told them that we shouldn’t mess with anything unless it’s out of performed mares,” said Jason who liked that Turpentine Acres had won more than $70,000 over her career.

His theory proved true. 

A standout in the barn as a 2-year-old, Hy On Turps went in to her 3-year-old training in good form. Then, just three months before the start of the futurity she seemed to lose interest in cutting.

“She flattened right out. I wasn’t sure if she had the heart and real want to do it,” Jason said. “Then six weeks before the start of the futurity she started to brighten more and kept coming. By the finals tonight I had figured out that the best thing I could do was to not lope her too much and not work her too much and she showed better.”

With the preparation problems worked out, Jason had another issue to contend with; both his horses were in the first bunch, he was drawn up seventh on One Time Melody, eighth on Hy On Turps and he didn’t like the look of the cows.

“When the cows for the first herd first came in they didn’t want to go anywhere near that fence so they were a bit tough. I could see Johnny (Mitchell) settling them and they were frustrating but he did a real good job and the cows were alright,” Jason said.

What he cut suited Hy On Turps and allowed him to make a classic, championship run where the second cow builds the content and the third cow clinches the deal.

“I worked it (the third cow) for quite some time and it stayed in the middle and the mare was good,” Jason said. “She’s not a horse who feels like she’s over-achieving or doing a whole lot but she’s got a good look to her; she looks at the cow like she wants to work.”

Jason, Springsure, Queensland, won his other two futurity championships in 2010 aboard his own horse Winderadeen Whiskey Cat and in 2012 on Lil Rey Of Hope (TR Dual Rey [IS] x Chickasha Hope x Acres Destiny [IMP]).

“The guys over here have put on another good futurity,” Jason said. “It’s been another tough season (due to drought conditions) and they did a great job to find cattle and pull off a great show with no glitches. I think the standard of the horses was real good and it was excellent to see a few of the young trainers making the finals too.”

Jason is a Horsezone ambassador and we are very proud of his achievements!

Reserve champion, Satin Rey (Rey Dual [IMP] x Satin Oak x Docs Freckles Oak [IMP]) owned by Kellli Thomas and shown by veteran trainer Graham Amos scored 149 points, also made the finals via the wildcard.

Dianne Bennett took home the Docs Freckles Oak Partnership Trophy for being the breeder of the futurity champion.

Thank you to eHorseTrainer.com for sharing this story with Horsezone.

Watch Jason Leitch's winning run and more videos, plus read all about the NCHA Futurity at eHorseTrainer.com

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