The NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity took over the John Justin Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, showcasing the top 3-year-old cutting horses making their major-event debut. Rising above a deep, talented field, Minkish(Metallic Rey Mink x Blackish) claimed theNCHA Open Futurity Championshipunder NCHA $5 Million Rider and Hall of Fame horseman, Beau Galyean. 

As Draw 11 in the first set, Minkish was the last horse to work that set of cattle. His bold, precise performance earned a 226, pushing him into the lead. Despite another full set of elite horses still to come, the score held—delivering the win by five and a half points. 

This marks the first big win for the 2022 Stallion. While the payout for the class was already more than $340,000, the stallion also collected earnings from the APHA Chrome Cash Incentive, the Valley Equine Incentive, the Beau Galyean Legacy Incentive, and the Metallic Rey Mink Incentive which totaled more than $350,000, pushing his lifetime earnings to $694,049, according to QData.  

A Pedigree Built for Major Championships

Minkish’s sire, Metallic Rey Mink, was the 2019 NCHA Futurity Champion and has more than $185,000 in NCHA earnings. His first crop of futurity-age foals is already making a powerful showing in the futurity pens, signaling a promising future for his breeding career. 

Metallic Rey Mink’s influence was felt throughout the 2025 finals. His daughter, My Kinda Mink, out of Jordie Get Your Gun, also advanced to the finals. Ridden by Austin Shepard, the mare scored a 202 and earned more than $32,000, plus an additional $100,000 from the Metallic Rey Mink Incentive for owners Belle Terre Ranch. 

On the bottom side, Minkish is out of the standout mare Blackish, shown successfully by Lloyd Cox, and boasting more than $400,000 in lifetime earnings. Blackish has earned multiple open derby championships, as well as the 2023 Run For A Million Open Cutting Challenge Championship and the 2023 American Performance Horseman Cutting Horse Reserve Championship, making her one of the most accomplished mares of her generation. 

With a sire and dam that both dominated in aged events, Minkish’s early success signals a career with huge potential, both in the show pen and future breeding shed. 

How the Futurity Works

Additional Finalists Shined in Fort Worth

Behind Minkish, a tie for Reserve Champion highlighted the depth of the field. 

SistersonTheWagon (Metallic Cat x Reys Desire), shown by Lee Francois, and Wood She B Arising (Badboonarising x Wood She B A Nockout), ridden by Adan Banuelos, both marked 220.5 to earn $229,670 each. 

Call Me Stevie (Stevie Rey Von x Call Me Catniss), ridden by Garrett Hampton, secured fourth with a 220, followed by SCR Metallic Soldier (Metallic Cat x Smart Crackin Chic) with 219.5 under Morgan Cromer to round out the top five. 

Results