August is a month when the eye of Arabian horse world is focused on Poland. Since 6 years already it’s not only the famous auction taking place in our country but a week later – one of most prestigious and most talked about event is held at Al Khalediah Stud Poland thanks to HRH Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival.
Since 2018 the show has ECAHO A rank with the prize money awards that arouse the emotions every year and – whatever to say – gather a big number of high quality international participants. Close to 130 horses checked in the show catalogue for the 6th edition of the event to compete for the total of 125 000 euro that was dedicated to the winners: all the horses placed 1-5 respectively in their classes as well as in the championships with top fives and the Al Khalediah Poland Cup race held traditionally at Warsaw Racetrack on Sunday.
Although A-ranked, the show has no qualification requirement so it’s open for all Arabian horses, it also gives a chance to top 3 horses from each class to qualify to the finals. The new rule added this year was ECAHO open system with top five being used for the championship that raised the chances for every classified horse for the medal places. The show was judged this year by the international panel of jury as follows: Maria Ferraroni (IT), Helen Hennekens Van Nes (NL), Irina Stigler (RU), Klaus Beste (GER), Mark Ismer (GER) and Tamas Rombauer (HU). Every class was scored by 4 out of 6 judges selected by computer lottery system and the whole show has been live thanks to Arabian Horse Global team.
Traditionally, the first day belonged to the junior classes – females and males from 1 to 3 years old while Saturday noon was senior section with many famous names in the catalogue. The quality of horses that came to 6th edition of Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival can be imagined by the names that appeared on the medal and top five places on Saturday afternoon…
In the yearlings – both golds and silvers in females and males went to Dubai Stud bred horses: full sisters D Shu’alah and D Shamkah, both by FA El Rasheem and out of world’s famous dam – FT Shaella shared gold and silver medals respectively, the first one currently owned by Sh. Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum. The podium was completed by FK Ghalyah by Fayyad Al Fayyad out of Polish dam Panonia, bred and owned by Fahed Al Hameli.
In the yearling males all the medals went to Dubai Stud bred horses. Gold and silver won again by the siblings sired by FA El Rasheem as follows: D Mezyan and D Nayel – this time the silver went to the colt currently owned by Sh. Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum. On the bronze place there was D Shakhat by D Khattaf. In junior fillies the first chance to the Polish bred horses came with Janów Podlaski bred and owned Encarina by Ascot DD taking silver and private filly Paprotnia sired by Elgast bred and owned by Lech Błaszczyk with the bronze medal. The highest trophy in this category belonged to Priscilla OS by Poseidon OS bred by Gestuet Osterhof and currently owned by Abhaa Arabians. In junior colts on the first position the son of Gazal Al Shaqab and beautiful Ale by Magnifique appeared – Magic Al Gazal bred by Sweden Arabian Stud and owned in UAE by Sh. Arahmah Saoud Bin Khalid Alqasse. Silver medal was again the successful connection – of Dubai Stud bred and sired by FA El Rasheem – D Kaheel, another medal on Abhaa Arabians account. When it came to bronze – this colour went once more to Poland and Janów Podlaski bred and owned offspring of Ascot DD – Erantis. While the junior championship belonged to the foreign guests the seniors, especially females section was undoubtedly the domination of beautiful Polish-bred mares who had to go through a big battle in the classes to qualify to the finals, with some incredible high and tightly close to each other scores!
It was Ekspulsja, Michałów Stud bred Gazal Al Shaqab daughter, owned by Halsdon Arabians, feminine, great moving representative of unique Polish type who happened to be the most successful horse of this year’s edition of Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival.
She was not only the gold medal winner but also the highest scored horse of the show (93,75) and Best in Show in strong competition. As a trophy she received the painting by Polish artist Sławomir Szereda picturing another great Polish mare – Wieża Mocy just named Polish National Champion mare a week before. Wieża Mocy was competing at Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival too, placed top five in senior mares championship. Silver medal in this category went to her stable mate – Pustynia Kahila and bronze – to Janów Podlaski bred but owned by Suweco Stud mare – Prunella by Abyad AA.
In senior stallions finals the biggest name confirmed by unanimous gold medal decision from the judges was Equator by QR Marc – multiple champion bred by Michałów Stud and on lease to Ghazi Basheer Alotaibi in Saudi Arabia. In this battle he won against another show veteran – Shadi Al Khalediah bred by Al Khalediah Stables and owned by Reza Allahdadi named silver and for the bronze the judges selected the moving machine – Calateon by Vitorio TO, bred by Mr Marek Kondrasiuk in Poland and in Halsdon Arabians ownership.
Just before the championship another important and moving ceremony took place. 200 years ago the greatest hand written and hand illustrated manuscript about Arabic tradition and Arabian horse breeding was written by Polish Count, poet, traveller and horse breeder, Wacław Rzewuski, by Arabian tribes called with the title of „Emir”. Thanks to the Manuscriptum Publishing House it has been printed for the public in limited edition. The copy of the manuscript has been displayed in the VIP sector during the show days and the ceremonial handing over of it for HRH Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on hands of his son – HRH Prince Fahad Bin Khaled Bin Sultan Al Saud took place as the expression of gratitude for choosing Poland as the venue for the organization of Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival. The transfer was made in the presence of Minister Consellor Africa & Middle East Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Mr Andrzej Łysiak and Mr Sami Saad Alfageih – Charge d’Affaire of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Embassy in Poland.
Gold Medal Senior Female Championship and Best in Show European Arabian Horse Festival, Poland 2019
Traditionally, Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival ended up at Warsaw Racetrack with international racing day for pure bred Arabian horses mostly, containing few important stakes with good prize money pool.
This year it was especially lucky for the host of the event – Al Khalediah racing stable that won 5 races – including the most important one: Al Khalediah Poland Cup International Listed Race for 4 years and older Arabian horses on the distance 1600m with the total prize money of 16000 euro. It was won by one of the favourites –Anood Al Khalediah by Nayef Al Khalidiah trained by tr. Michal Borkowski and ridden by jockey Szczepan Mazur in front of her half sibling, another Al Khalediah representative – Basalah Al Khalediah, trained by Maciej Kacprzyk and ridden by the brother of the winning rider – jockey Konrad Mazur.
Al Khalediah bred and owned horses won also HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR international race for ladies jockeys only on 1600m distance. Here the first in front came Monther Al Khalediah, another Nayef al Khalediah offspring trained by Bartosz Głowacki and ridden by Sasha Stappaerts from Belgium.
One more very important stake for Arabian horses in the racing season is Europa Prize – international race category A for 4 years and older horses on 2600m distance with big favourite Dragon (by Dahess) – the 2019 Derby winner entered. But as the good luck for Al Khalediah Stables continued it was chestnut stallion Salam Al Khalediah by Nashwan Al Khalidiah trained by Maciej Kacprzyk and under Szczepan Mazur who reached the highest podium level after the exciting battle! Later on, the horses carrying Al Khalediah brand followed with winning also Bogdan Ziemianski Memorial Trophy (Lazom Al Khalediah by Munjiz) and Emael Stakes (Shamhoot Al Khalediah by Nayef Al Khalediah).
Another edition of the event, that brought us over 100 international participants of the highest level and some exciting, unexpected twist up in the results at both the show and the races is behind us and there should be no words needed to describe the value of this prestigious show that takes place in Poland since 6 years already.
Saying big thank you to all the precious Exhibitors and Guests for coming to 2019 Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival we really do hope that you will join us in sharing emotions and the excitement of another three days event also in 2020 edition!
Source: Tutto Arabi
