ALL ROADS LEAD TO … KRAKÓW? I KRAKÓW ARABIAN HORSE FESTIVAL

Atria

The sunny, even hot weekend (09.09 – 11.09) spent at the Kraków Race Course in Buczków is now behind us. The occasion was the I Kraków Arabian Horse Festival, which comprised two events. On Friday and Saturday pure-bred Arabians competed for the title of most beautiful horse of the show ring. On Sunday the competition moved to the race track. The organizer of the event was Ms Anna Stojanowska and the directors, until recently, of the Janów Stud, Mr Marek Trela, and Michałów Stud, Mr Jerzy Białobok. One of the main attractions consisted of three new classes: foals, geldings and amateur presenters. The list of sponsors included the AL Thumama Stud from Qatar, Halsdon Arabians of Ms Shirley Watts, Al Zobair Stud of the United Arab Emirates, Lutetia Arabians from France, Suweco Stud from the Czech Republic and Polish studs, Silvatica Black Arabians and M Arabians.  Invitations to judge were accepted by Christine Jamar-Demeerseeman from Belgium, Claudia Darius from Germany, Gianmarco Aragno from Italy and Jaroslav Lacina from the Czech Republic. This year’s show did not have a ECAHO affiliation but was held in accordance with ECAHO regulations. The smiling audience, efficient organization, ultra-hospitable course designers, and most of all, beautiful Arabian horses, made the debut of the show a great success. Let us now have a look at what happened in the show ring.

A Cracovian had… 90 horses?!

Nearly 90 horses were entered for the show from Poland and abroad. Attendance was therefore high, particularly since only privately owned horses were entered. Sadly, no horses from the state participated.

On Friday apart from three classes of stallions also geldings competed in the ring (Class A), and amateur presenters (Class C1 and C2). In class I of yearling colts the first on the podium was the grey Psyche Kreon (Echo Adonis – Psyche Kreuza /Ekstern) bred and owned by SK Chrcynno- Pałac, with a score of 90.50 points, including high notes for movement, 2 x 19.5 and a „20”. The runner up was Nil NA (Equator – Nasira/Al Maraam) bred and owned by Alicja Najmowicz.

In Class 2 of two-year-old colts the highest score was awared to Petrarca (Kahil Al Shaqab– Poezja/ Enzo) bred and owned by PPH Parys Sp. z o.o. (91.67 including a „20” for movement). He was immediately followed by Marvel Psyche (Magnum Psyche – Marjjana VA  / Marwan Al Shaqab)  bred by Silvatica Black Arabians, owned by Reza Al Hadadi. In the junior colts championship the distribution was similar: gold – Petrarca, silver – Marvel Psyche, who were joined by the winner of Class 3 of three-year-old stallions, Nayef Al Khalediah (WH Justice– Athenaa / Ashhal Al Rayyan) bred by Al Khalediah Stables and owned by Polska AKF Sp. z o.o, who won the bronze medal.

Sunday morning belonged to the juniors, as Class B was a contest between foals over 3 months of age. The one who drew most attention was the bay colt Panteras (Vitorio TO– Perkilla/Al Maraam) bred and owned by Czesław J. Gołaszewski and the filly Pema PS (Elmaran– Pegala PS /Gazal Al Shaqab) bred by Przemysław Sawicki and owned by Marek Rzepka.

Gallileah

The yearling fillies class was won by the grey Platyna NA (Shanghai E.A. – Pantera/Ekstern), bred and owned by Ms Alicja Najmowicz, with a score of 91.50 points. In the championship the same filly also climbed right up to the top and won the title of junior mares champion. The second in the class and third in the championship (bronze) was Mirjjana Al Kanz (Kanz Al Bidayer – Marjjana VA/ Marwan Al Shaqab) bred and owned by Silvatica Black Arabians. Between these two fillies the title of Vice Champion went to Emla K.A. (QR Marc  – Elerina/ Ekstern) bred by Knocke Arabians and owned by Piotr Podgórny. In her class, 3-year-old mares, she came second with a score of 91.17. She had to step down to Mirabella Tersk (Banderos– Mariel/Ansambl) bred and owned by Tiersk, who won 91.33 points.

Gioia

In the two year old fillies class the first place was guaranteed by a score of 91.33 points which belonged to the filly Lili PS (Ekstern – Lenka/Piaff) bred by Przemysław Sawicki and owned by Mareka Rzepka. The runner up was kahilka Piwonia (Kahil Al Shaqab – Palatina/QR Marc) bred and owned by. PPH Parys Sp. z o.o, to whom the judges gave 91.00 pkt. The grey Gallileah (Espekt – Grace Bint Pacha / AS Sinans Pacha) bred by Nordlys Araber and owned by Adam Ochmann, is also worth attention, as she obtained very high stores for movement, two „20s” and a 19.5!

More horses entered the ring and the public welcomed them with loud applause. Then the time came for the most beautiful, ripe and mature contestants, in the classes for 4-6 year old and 7 year old and older horses.

The chestnut mare Kalahari (Ajman Moniscione – Kashira/Magnum Psyche) certainly caught the eye in its class (4-6 year old mares) and right away set the stakes very high winning as many as five „20s”, including 3 x 20 for type and 2 x 20 for movement. She also got high scores for head and neck, 3 x 19.5. The final score of 92.67 points guaranteed her the first place in the class. Kalahari belongs to PPH Parys Sp. z o.o. and its breeder is Andrzej Wójtowicz. The second in the class, with a score of 90.83, was Demetra Grottarossa (WH Justice – Messuha/DP Black Smoke) bred by Vincenzo Scattareggia and owned by Magda Podgórna.

Lili PS

In the class for 7 year old and older mares the grey Unic All JP (Laddin BA – Sherazade JP/ Naadir) bred by JP Martins Aviacao Ltda and owned by Lutetia Arabians, presented by Paweł Kozikowski, made a great impression indeed.  With a score of 92.67 points (including 2 x 20 for type) she took the first position in the class. In the championship she went for the highest trophy, gold. The silver went to Kalahari and bronze to Paema (Ekstern – Pasyma / Piaff) bred and owned by Lech Błaszczyk, who was second in her class with a score of 91.33 pkt.

The class of 4-6 year old stallions saw the uncontested victory of Gotico (WH Justice – Ginga/ Galba) bred and owned by M Arabians, with a score of 91.33 pkt. This was certainly his day because in the championship he firmly went straight to the top and took gold. The second in the class and in the championship was Wiron (Kabsztad – Wirka/ Emigrant) bred by Brygida and Jerzegyo Chrapkowski and owned by Janusz Lech. The bronze medal went to the black Al Khalediah (ZT Maghossny – Nada Al Khalidiah /Abha Ifni) bred and owned by Polska AKF Sp. z o.o., who came second in the 7 year old and older stallions class (89.83 points).

Never too much of a good thing

The Kraków Race Course in Dąbrówka – Buczków is the first private race course opened after World War II. The excellent location and commitment of its owners makes this a very promising venue from the point of view of promoting equestrian sports and Arabian horse breeding.

The Sunday afternoon also saw 3 races. In the race for 4 year old and older Arabians from Group IV for the Prize of Totalizator Sportowy the winner was Admet (Eton – Ascot/Eldon) ridden by Roksana Kułaga. In the race for 3 year old and older Group IV horses the winning horse was Karim (Belenus – Kahira/ Saphir) and Aleksandra Kaleta. In the third race, for the Prize of the Polish Jockey Club, for 4 year old and older pure bred Arabians of Group III, a beautiful victory went to Dirhem (Wiek – Drabora/ Borek) ridden by Patrycja Kłóś.

Piwonia

In addition from Sunday to Monday nearly 30 persons participated in a first level ECAHO course for national judges. The participants had an opportunity to increase their knowledge during the lectures and check their eye during practical classes.

Everything seems to indicate that next year Arabian horse breeders and enthusiasts will have another opportunity to meet in Buczków. We look forward to it, as there is never too much of a good thing.

Jolanta Gębka