Today Paris witnessed the evaluation of four numerously entered female classes – junior and senior, both divided into series A and B. The first Polish contestant to appear in the Parisian ring was Psyche Victoria, trained and presented by Johanna Ullström. Victoria participated in a class of 15 fillies, which did not excel in terms of movement, so the Polish filly gained a lot in that department. The winner of this class was the clearly favored Layan Al Khalediah of Al Khalediah Farm (Saudi Arabia), who achieved a score of 93,1 points – however there were disputes as to whether she truly deserved them or not. A good performance was given by Zawah de Lam, who also didn’t go unnoticed at the All Nations Cup and European Championships (Top Five), handled by Scott Allman. The top three was closed off by the French daughter of Magnum Psyche – Harmattan Reyhanna of Harmattan Arabians. The chestnut filly, presented near the end of the class, was a sort of outsider – with a bit of a straight head profile, but with a beautiful eye and harmonious conformation, she placed right behind the class’ winner. Psyche Victoria, coming in fourth, bested (among others) Badawieh AA by Laheeb (bred by Ariela Arabians, owned by R. Heckenbucher) and a Psytadel daughter – Psynata, Reserve Junior Champion Filly from Verona, owned by Dubai Stud (UAE).
The B series of the junior fillies was referred to by some as “the class of death”. Five Polish fillies were listed among the participants of this class: Eksterna (Falborek Arabians), Sefora and Pinta from Janów Podlaski, as well as Ejrene and Pistoria from Michałów – together with
the big favorites: PS Rose of Marwan, trained by Michael Byatt; Shownell of Dubai Stud; US-bred, but Saudi Arabia-owned Pandoraah; European Championship Top Five Abha Opalina and the loudly applauded by the representative of the owners – Sheikh Hamad bin Ali al Thani (Al Shaqab Stud) – the chestnut Venetzia. This class promised some serious combat, but contestant number 10 – Venetzia – after receiving five “20s” and a total score of 92,8 set a standard that was well beyond reach for the others. The filly, though beautiful in halt, did not present herself well in movement – even so she received 4×19 for that feature. Unfortunately this can be regarded as a bias among some of the judges. The domination of breeders and owners form the Arabic countries and their eagerness to win can be seen everywhere in Paris this year. The catalogue has been dominated with advertisements of studs, horses and shows from the Middle East, represented this year by a large number of guests in the VIP sector, who are used to meaningfully cheer on their horses, clearly letting everyone which country the given horse is from. Even in the ring the horses are mostly accompanied by Arabic music, while the announcers speak in Arabic beside the English and French languages. Even so the Polish fillies stood strong against the tough rivals. Michałów’s Ejrene gave a good movement performance, placing third right behind Venetzia (whose score was higher by one point) and with the same total as Pandoraah. The top six, which will battle it out for the Top Tens and the Championship, also included the Polish Pistoria, bested by Abha Opalina.
As for the senior mares, Paris welcomed the world’s „cream of the crop”. Among the 12 mares from series A only two were evaluated below the 90 point mark. Huge favorites in this class were the fantastically moving, half-Polish Col Cora (by Wagner) and Athenaa – predicted by many to wield this year’s coveted title. As expected, it was those two mares that shared between them the top spots, however the supremacy of the phenomenally moving Col Cora was indisputable – beautiful in halt, but the totally lacking movement today Athenaa had to settle for second place and a mark of 91,8 points. A place in the top six was this time out of reach for Primadonna, who seemed to have some problems cooperating with her new handler, Johanna Ullström, and did everything to not show her splendid movement.
„Series B of the senior mares belonged to Poland”, commented Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka, present at the show. The Polish mares proved that in terms of quality and conditioning they remain among the world’s top league. The way in which Mariusz Liśkiewicz presented El Dorada and Kwestura made a phenomenal impression on all those gathered. He is without a doubt one of the best handlers in the world. El Dorada stood during the evaluation as a statute, receiving 5×20 from the judges and a total score of 94,1 (one of three such high marks awarded today). Stepping off the ring El Dorada received a loud ovation from the VIP sector. A moment later, also with Mariusz Liśkiewicz, Kwestura made her appearance in the ring – also receiving a score of 94,1 points and six “20s”! The other mares presented in this class did not stand a chance. Third, but losing by almost 3 points, came the Michałów-bred Eberia, owned by Jadem Arabians. The top six was also achieved by Palmira (5th place).
So the World Senior Mare Championships promise to be very fruitful for Poland. According to Izabella Zawadzka it should be decided between Col Cora and Polish El Dorada, who (albeit the same number of points as Kwestura) had a “larger support of the audience”. “This mare is clearly backed up by positive forces here in Paris”, stated Mrs. Zawadzka. May she be right! The Polish team is currently resting after the first day and mustering their strength for tomorrow’s stallion face offs. Among them, besides the Polish Altis, Esparto, Poganin, Grafik and Polish-bred / South African-owned Emiliusz, such fames will be presented as: Aja Santana, Memphis 27, Mardigras, Al Milan, Bolero EM, Marquis CAHR and Marajj. The last seven stallions will battle it out in one class – so tomorrow promises to be another exciting day in Paris!
Results:
Class 1A – junior mares
1. Layan Al Khalediah (Dakharo – Padrons Amour/Padron), br/o Al Khalediah Stables, SA – 465.5
2. Harmattan Reyhanna (Magnum Psyche – Hamy de Gargassan/Vladimir de Falgas), br/o S.C.E.A. Harmattan Arabians, FR – 457.0
3. Zawah de Lam (AS Kayro – Wilaya de Lam/Ekla de Gargassan), br/o Lam’s Arabians, FR – 455.5
4. Psyche Victoria (Ekstern – Pallas-Atena/Ecaho), br/o Alicja Poszepczyńska, PL – 454.5
5. Badawiyah (Laheeb – Bahiha/Baahir), br. Ariela Arabians, o. R. Heckenbucher, DE – 453.5
6. Psynata (Psytadel – Natalia/Narym), br. Gestüt Osterhof, o. Dubai Arabians Stud, AE – 450.0
Class 1B – junior mares
1. Venetzia (Versace – Giavanna/NV Beau Bey), br. Rojo Arabians, US, o. Al Shaqab Stud, QA – 464.0
2. Pandoraah (Padrons Psyche – Bint Bey Shah/Bey Shah), br. Robert Boggs & Fran Ramacher, US, o. SA – 459.0
3. Ejrene (Gazal Al Shaqab – Emocja/Monogramm), br/o SK Michałów, PL – 459.0
4. Abha Opalina (WH Justice – Om El Amira Stopa/Sanadik El Shaklan), br/o Yeguada Ses Planes, ES – 458.0
5. Pistoria (Gazal Al Shaqab – Palmira/Monogramm), br/o SK Michałów, PL – 458.0
6. Jalicia de Nautiac (WH Justice – Shafali de Nautiac/Abakan), br/o Haras de Nautiac, FR – 455.0
Class 2A – senior mares
1. Col Cora (Wagner – Calika/Mentik), br. Silvi Evaristo, Il Colle, o. Dubai Arabian Stud, AE – 470.5
2. Athenaa (Ashhal Al Rayyan – Ass Windi/Gonchar), br. Delyth Gamlin, o. Al Khalediah Stables, SA – 459.0
3. IM Byzance Cathare (Padrons Immage – Shamilah Bagheera/Nadir I), br/o Richard Roques, FR – 457.0
4. Tamina Bint Taman (Taman II – Prestynia/Present), br. Reinhard Sax, o. Equus Arabians, ES – 454.5
5. Tehama Ballalina (Tehama NA Sidaqa – JJ Shai Majestic Queen/Laddinn), br. Linda Ferguson, o. Helen Cawley, GB – 454.0
6. Lamira (Alezane – Miriam II/Mirok Monpelou), br. Reinhard Sax, o. Equus Arabians, ES – 453.0
Class 2B – senior mares
1. Kwestura (Monogramm – Kwesta/Pesennik), br/o SK Michałów, PL – 470.5
2. El Dorada (Sanadik El Shaklan – Emigrantka/Eukaliptus), br/o SK Michałów, PL – 470.5
3. Eberia (Ecaho – Ebola/Eldon), br. SK Michałów, o. Jadem Arabians, BE – 457.5
4. Riki’s Scharischma (G Silkustat – Volnistaia/Nimroz), br. Riki Hoeve, o. De Rom-Duve, BE – 455.5
5. Palmira (Monogramm – Palestra/Penitent), br/o SK Michałów, PL – 455.0
6. Dejedda El Makouf (Grise – Pitchouna El Masan/Masan), br. Sultana Andre, o. Haras de la Chataigniere, FR – 449.5
