Travis Linville, back in the saddle following reconstructive surgery on both of his knees last November, rode Whata Stylish Badger to a 218-point win in the XTO Energy NCHA Super Stakes Amateur division on Friday.

“I’ve only owned this horse for a month and a half,” said Linville, who purchased the gelded son of Reys Dual Badger from Kelle Earnheart, winner of the 2009 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity on Badgers Perscription, by Reys Dual Badger.

“He’s the best one I’ve had at this age. He’s easy to drive through a herd and you can move him around and position him and he listens to your body.”

Linville drew up first in the second set of cattle for his winning performance on three cows.

Marco Sacchetti, from Italy, drew next-to-last on Smart Freckled Cat, by Widows Freckles, to post 217.5 for the reserve championship.

Linville, 56, who runs a cattle backgrounding operation in Fox, Arkansas, participated in basketball and softball as a youth. Six years ago, he became intrigued by cutting, saw an ad for a cutting clinic in the Cutting Horse Chatter, and has never looked back.

The clinic was conducted by former NCHA Futurity champion Leon Harrel.

“He’s a good teacher and person to work with,” said Linville of Harrel. “He has a lot of patience and tried to make everybody feel good.”

Following his initiation into cutting, Linville was a 2008 NCHA Futurity Amateur finalist and placed fourth in the 2009 NCHA Derby Amateur aboard Red Mecom.

Marco Sacchetti, a financial broker from Bolongna, Italy, purchased Smart Freckled Cat. by Widows Freckles, from Painted Springs Farm last November.

Under the guidance of trainer Brad Mitchell, Sacchetti showed the colt as a finalist in the NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Limited Finals, and most recently to place sixth in the NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Limited.

“It is not easy for me to ride when the horse is fast,” said Sacchetti, who had never ridden horses until five years ago, when he became hooked on cutting as a spectator at the Americana event in Europe.