On Nov. 29, 2025, Million Dollar Rider Cass Tatum rode Look My Rey into the final round of the Open at the NCHA Broke Spur Ranch World Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, determined to defend his hard-earned lead. As the first rider to work in the Open that night, Tatum clinched the 2025 NCHA Open World Championship title with $130,230.49 earned on the year.

World Champions: Cass Tatum and Look My Rey

Getting to the Finals

It’s been a big run for Tatum and Look My Rey, the 2018 gelding by Dual Rey and out of SVR Look Cat Me (by Metallic Cat), otherwise known as “Shrek.” In 2024, the pair claimed their first major Open title at the Augusta Cutting Horse Futurity, and followed up with a championship win at the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Futurity—early signals of their path toward world-caliber success.

They qualified for the 2025 World Finals at the top of the leaderboard with $112,968 earned throughout the season, including a victory at the 2025 Fort Worth Stock Show, according to QData. At that same event, Look My Rey also carried his owner—$3-million rider and 2004 Cowgirl Hall of Famer Mary Jo Milner—to the Non-Pro title. World Finals commentator and seven-time World Champion Tim Smith noted during the final round that Shrek went to the herd more than 200 times in 2025, helping both his trainer and owner qualify in their divisions.

Cutting it down to the wire

With almost $113,000 earned going into the Finals, Tatum, 35, and Look My Rey had a nearly $10,000 lead over the No. 2 team of Lee Francois and Preachersdrinknagain (Metallic Cat x Reys Desire). Tatum was in the money the first two rounds, dropping his hand for a 226 in Round 1 for $7,672.12, followed by a smoking 232 in Round 2 worth $9,590.15.

Francois answered with a 223 and a 227, then two more 227s, putting him in the money with each score. Meanwhile, Tatum and Look My Rey lost a cow in both of the last two rounds, costing them round money each time.

When the finals scores came in on Francois’s last run, he had gained $26,468 at the World Finals, landing him a mere $462 behind Tatum.

“Me and Lee’s helped each other all year,” Tatum told Courteney DeHoff in his post-win interview on the floor of the Watt Arena at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. “We’ve turned back for each other since Day 1. We’ve duked it out the whole time.”

Ahead of the award ceremony, the two riders shared congratulatory hugs in celebration of their new titles: World Champion and Reserve World Champion.

Claiming glory

It takes a special horse to qualify for the World Finals in both the Open and Non-Pro divisions, but that’s just what Look My Rey did for Tatum and Milner.

“He walked to the herd 237 times this year,” Tatum shared proudly. “He’s never taken a lame step. When the vets look at him, they say he’s the strongest horse they’ve ever seen.”

Before the Finals, QData reported Look My Rey as an NCHA earner of $359,023. He’s by $57 million sire and AQHA Hall of Famer Dual Rey, and out of SVR Look Cat Me (by NCHA Hall of Famer Metallic Cat). He’s also been the horse to hit major milestones in the careers of many.

“My first time to win an aged event Open championship was on him,” said Tatum, a 2025 NCHA Open Rider Hall of Fame inductee. “I’ve won two Open aged event champions[hips] on him, and now I’ve won the world on him, and it’s pretty surreal.”

Look My Rey winning the world also was a first for Milner Enterprise, Tatum explained.

“It’s actually Mary Jo and Jim Milner’s first-ever Open world champion. They’ve been cutting a long time. It’s pretty special to get to do that, and pretty special that [Mary Jo] got to show with me all year.”

As Tatum considered his journey to the winner’s circle, he shared his whole-hearted gratitude.

“First and foremost, I want to thank God—none of this is possible without Him,” said the trainer out of Ardmore, Oklahoma. “You can’t put it into words. And without my wife, I’d be nothing.”

Tatum is married to Chelsea Tatum, your 2025 NCHA Non-Pro Reserve World Champion.

“The amount of stuff she does behind the scenes is crazy,” he continued. “Without the owners, I’m nothing. I didn’t think I’d get teary-eyed, but here I am. I can’t do none of this without them.”

Winner’s loot

For their efforts, Cass Tatum and Look My Rey were awarded a South Texas Tack trophy saddle; a Jim Reno bronze; a Gist Silversmiths buckle; a Cuttin’ Up saddle pad; Sombrero Brands, Rios of Mercedes and Cinch gift certificates; a Tioga Territory jacket certificate, a WD Leather headstall; and a four-month supply of 4Cyte joint health support.

2025 World Finals Show Champions: Monty Buntin and Kat Play

Monty Buntin and Kat Play (Kit Kat Sugar x NQH Shadow Play) finished fourth in the world standings after a remarkable effort at the World Finals that garnered the pair $36,442 and the Show Champion title. With Buntin aboard, Kat Play, owned by Dacole Investment Company, crawled through cuts worth an aggregate score of 909.5, besting an equally impressive effort by Reserve Show Champions Kody Porterfield and Tried To Tell Ya (Stevie Rey Von x Abby Kadabra Acre) by just 2 points.

Full Results

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