This coming Sunday the Warsaw Służewiec Racetrack will host the Criterium Stakes, this year eligible only to Polish-bred horses registered in the PASB. The line up for the race includes 8 horses. Two colts have been entered by trainer Andrzej Wójtowicz. The number one position in the race program will belong to the grey New Man (Major – Njuschaah). This season the colt placed second in the Ofir and Arabian Produce – Janów Podlaski St., as well as in his last start – Michałów St. In his only won race this year (Skowronek Prize) he set the track’s record over a distance of 2000m in 2’16,4”. His stablemate from Bełżyce Stud – Elpas (Arzgir – Elema) is a solid, reliable horse. He ran three times this season – winning twice (a second and third group race) and placing third in the first group Druid Prize. Trainer Małgorzata Łojek also put up two contenders. Michałów’s Wadi Nur (Gazal Al Shaqab – Wenessa) belongs to the elite of this year’s three-year-olds. He scored four wins, including Koheilan I and Sambor St., and placed a closed third in Białka St. The trainer’s second participant is Białka’s Natea (Gazal Al Shaqab – Nutella). The filly raced only twice this year, placing fourth in the Sabellina St. and the Oaks. An interesting individual is definitely Engamoon (Avangard – Engabara). This pupil of trainer Jan Głowacki has already noted two wins and in his last start – Sambor St. – placed a solid second, besting the best three year old filly, Elsana. The Juliopol Stable colors will be proudly represented by the four year old Chazala (Wiliam – Champania). The filly has two wins under her belt and a second place behind Orgia Fata in the Oaks this year. Trainer Adam Wyrzyk is rolling out the heavy artillery with Ghazallah (Ganges – Ghaza). The colt returned to the track this year after a season’s break due to injury and is doing rather well. He won two races, the Druid Prize (a first group race), establishing a new track record over 1800m (in 2’02,7”) and Michałów St. (his last start) over a distance of 2800m.

Of course all eyes will be fixed mostly on Orgia Fata (Chndaka – HF Olympia), who stands before a chance of repeating her win in the Criterium St. from last year. The filly, bred by Longin Błachut, can very well copy the success of her great-granddam Orla, who also won the Criterium St. both in 1965 and 1966. Orgia Fata’s granddam, Orgia, also noted a win in this prestigious race in 1975. In the history of this race only two fillies won it twice: Dywersja (in 1928 and 1929) and the already mentioned Orla.

And how does the filly’s trainer assess her pupil’s chances?

“She’s a very good, typical autumn filly”, says trainer Dorota Kałuba. “For her the later the race, the better. She looked and ran worse in the spring. Now she appears much better and is in superb form. She has a good character, she seems almost made for racing. She doesn’t seem to be too concerned about training and the race itself and let’s herself be easily led.”

“You seem to be counting on Orgia Fata’s win”.

“Last year she won very easily, I hope she will repeat that success”.

“And the rivals?”

“Dangerous may prove to be Ghazallah of trainer Wyrzyk and New Man, who is now catching a second wind and had a successful last start” states trainer Kałuba. “Hard to assess is Wadi Nur, who raced with three year olds only up to now, but Orgia Fata had her win in the Criterium only just as a thee year old”.

Orgia Fata, who will have a chance of grabbing the third leg of the Triple Crown this season, already wields the title of Triple-Crowned, having won the Criterium St. last year as a three year old. In the history of Polish racing this feat was accomplished by the following fillies: Prowarda (1962), Orla (1966), Sasanka (1972) and Orgia (1975).

The horses will enter the paddock at 12:30, while the race itself starts at 13:00. See you there!

 

13.10.2007 – As we have been informed, Ghazallah is not taking part in the race due to an injure. 

Orgia Fata winning the Derby:

http://video.interia.pl/obejrzyj,film,66146

and the Oaks:

http://video.interia.pl/obejrzyj,film,70982

Record times at the track set by Arabian horses after World War II:

distance	time	year	horse	breeder
1400	1’34,7”	2007	VON (DE) (Tidjani – Verduronette)	J.-F. Marsot
1600	1’49“	2007	HN RANA (DE) (Bengali D’Albret – Ainhoa Jalna)	J. Hietzscholdt
1700m	2’02”	1979	MONOGRAM (Melon – Moskwa)	SK Kurozwęki
1800m	2’02,7”	2007	GHAZALLAH (Ganges – Ghaza)	P. Frejlich
2000m	2’16,4“	2007	NEW MAN (Major – Njuschaah)	A. Wójtowicz
2200m	2’31”	1951	ALABASTER (Bad Afas – Rozeta)	SK Nowy Dwór
2400m	2’46”	2007	SABAT (Wojsław – Sarmacja)	SK Janów Podlaski
2600m	2’58,7”	2000	NEDJAM LOTOIS (FR) (Octavius – Urrem)	G. Barry
2800m	3’22” (*)	1963	ESCAMILLO (Rozmaryn – Estokada)	SK Michałów
3000m	3’31,5”	1995	GEPARD (Pamir – Giza)	SK Michałów
3200m	3’59”	1949	GRAND (Kuhailan Abu Urkub – Sagar)	ks. Roman Sanguszko
3600m	4’21”	1948	GRAND (Kuhailan Abu Urkub – Sagar)	ks. Roman Sanguszko

(*) – in 2003 the colt GOREC (Druid – Gordaia) set a record time of 3’19,5”, but was disqualified after failing the drug test