The selection of European Champions began with the presentation of the fillies, who won their classes the day before (1st and 2nd place), which meant there were six pretenders to the title of European Champion and nine competitors, which on Saturday placed in the class’ Top Fives and today battled it out for the Championship Top Five. The same situation took place during the colts’ championship. The European Champion Filly title went to Michałów’s Pistoria (Gazal Al Shaqab – Palmira), superbly presented by Mariusz Liśkiewicz. Her movement stirred a huge commotion from the massively gathered public. The Reserve Champion garland was awarded to the filly Psynata (Psytadel – Natalia), owned by Dubai Arabians Stud.

The titles of Top Five went to: Abha Opalina (WH Justice – Om El Amira Estopa), Espinezja (Psytadel – Entaga), bred and owned by Leszek Jarmuż and Zawah De Lam (As Kayro – Wilaya De Lam). Espinezja perfectly presented by Wojciech Kowalik was certainly awarded for her great movement.

This year’s European Colt Championship went to Memphis 27 (El Amin – Sa Misha Apal), the Reserve – to Hypnotic Ibn Eternity (Eternity Ibn Navarro – WH Marissa Rose). The Top Five titles were grabbed by: Altis (WH Justice – Albia) from Falborek Arabians, Im Bayard Cathare (Padrons Immage – Shamilah Bagheera) and Bolero E.M. (Shaklan Ibn Bengali – Bawos). Altis displayed his moving abilities flawlessly, but perhaps was not so well evaluated in full stop.

The European Champion Mare trophy belonged to the dreamlike Athenaa (Ashhal Al Rayyan – Ass Windi), property of Al Khalediah Stables. Surely she was a very well promoted mare, very titled and finely presented, but her rivals were also the “cream of the crop”. Perhaps the reason that she was awarded the title was the fact that Zagrobla (Monogramm – Zguba) presented herself a bit worse in the finals than the previous day during the class competition. Thus Zagrobla was awarded with “just” Reserve Champion Mare, though without a doubt she is close to perfection in terms of conformation and movement, which always wins over the public. The Top Fives were taken by: Michałów’s Palmira (Monogramm – Palestra) and Estoria (Laheeb – Ekspozycja) and also by Col Cora (Wagner – Catika).

„The quality of the European Championships was very high”, Sheikh Mutlaq Bin Mushriff, the manager of Al Khalediah Stables, the owner of the freshly awarded champion Athenaa, told polskiearaby.pl. “It was attended by the best horses from many countries. I visited Poland several times and bought Wieża Wiatrów there. She achieved the highest price of the auction (220,000 USD – editor’s note). I like Polish horses very much, they represent an excellent type and superb movement. I don’t have specific preferences when it comes to stallions or favorite damlines. If I consider a horse to be exceptional – I buy him, regardless whether he is Pure Polish or Straight Egyptian. And here, in Verona, many horses are exceptional, especially those from Poland.”

BS Specific (Sandstorm JC – Basara Saiyana) was chosen European Champion Stallion, while Grafik (Eukaliptus – Gaskonia) settled for the title of Reserve. After a fantastic performance in the class competition by Michałów’s pupil one could’ve expected that he would reach for the top distinction. The titles of Top Five went to Poganin (Laheeb – Pohulanka) from Janów and Esparto (Ekstern – Ekspozycja) from Michałów.

Poland returns from Verona with one European Champion title (Pistoria), two titles of Reserve (Zagrobla and Grafik) and six Top Five titles (Espinezja, Altis, Palmira, Estoria, Poganin and Esparto). We can definitely say that Polish horses succeeded in Italy.

You can find the coverage of Saturday’s class competition here
You can find the coverage of Sunday’s class competition here

See also the Italian National Champions here

Be sure to check the photo gallery in the „Show” section for more photos!