Fort Worth, Texas (April 7, 2000)- Combine a spectacular rider with a spectacular horse to get a spectacular victory. Nikki Bentz and A Starlight Express, rode to the winner's circle on April 7^th at the National Cutting Horse Association Super Stakes Classic in the non-professional division held at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

A top non-professional in the cutting industry, Arrovo Grande, California resident Bentz, has earned her share of championship titles including wins at the 1996 Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Big "D" Futurity and the 1993 Gold Coast Winter Championship. Recently, Bentz rode A Starlight Express to the reserve championship title of the Red Bluff Winter Roundup.

A Starlight Express, a six-year-old gelding by Grays Starlight out of Docs Excitement, and Bentz defeated the other five- and six-year-old horses marking a 221 for the title and $15,699 in winnings, as well as a Gist Buckle, Cowboy Tack hand-woven blanket, Stetson Hat, and Professional's Choice products.

Taking home the Reserve Championship was Brenda Batty of Vernon BC, Canada riding Dual Til You Drop to a score of 218.5. Dual Til You Drop is a sire of Dual Pep out of Savannah White.

The NCHA Super Stakes Classic is a highly prestigious event, open to foals of nominated stallions. Held in conjunction with the NCHA Super Stakes for four-year-olds, the event will feature approximately 1000 cutting horses and riders competing for a total purse of more than $1.5 million during the shows two weeks of competition. Bloodlines seen in the pedigrees of the cutting horses competing in the Super Stakes and Super Stakes Classic represent many of the industry's foundation horses as well as some of the top horses in cutting history.

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