Today’s face offs at the World Championships in Paris were extremely exciting – and not just because they included the world’s best group of stallions…
In series A of the junior stallions Poland was first represented by Altis of Falborek Arabians, who found himself in the easier of the two series, having only one strong rival – Hypnotic Ibn Eternity, who remained a leader for a long time with a total score of 91,6 points. Altis (90,8) was not able to beat him – the colt from Falborek did not want to present himself in movement as he did in Janów or Aachen. However the last class contestant – MM Fabrizio from Italy, bred by the Austrian skier Mario Matt – proved to be a big surprise. The colt presented himself splendidly in halt and in movement, handled by Paolo Capecci, and awarded with 92,1 points bested both Hypnotic and Altis. In Altis’ class a good performance was carried out by the phenomenally moving Aja Sandstorm by Psytadel, however he placed just 7th.
„The expectations are always higher”, said Altis’ trainer and handler, Wojciech Kowalik, after the colt’s performance. This year in Paris the favorizing of the Egyptian type horses and those owned by studs from the Middle East is more than evident. Such a situation does nothing to help Polish horses. Nevertheless Altis, his stablemate Eksterna and Espinezja (owned by Leszek Jarmuż) will be presented by Wojciech Kowalik in the Middle East already in January, where they will participate in the first international B show at Al Kahlediah Stud (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). According to Wojciech Kowalik the Polish horses might have an easier task, because in accordance with the ECAHO rules the champions of the three title shows will not be eligible to participate in the show.
Series B of the junior stallions was commenced by Aja Santana by FS Bengali, who also presented good movement and was evaluated similar to his stablemate Aja Sandstorm, placing 6th. From the beginning the class promised to be a battle of the threesome by Marwan Al Shaqab: Marquis CAHR, Mardigras and Marajj, whose escape from the hands of presenter Scott Allman during the initial walk in the ring could’ve been a questionable incident. Half way through this exciting class the evaluation of the horses was brought to a halt by a fire alarm, which caused the show to stop and evacuate the whole audience and most of the horses. The Polish team was also ready for immediate evacuation, however before they were led out of the facility the alarm was called off and after half an hour the show was resumed. After this unexpected break, Scott Allman, set on an almost certain victory, gave a true show of his skills in handling Marajj. However, much to his astonishment, Marquis presented by Phillipe Hossay proved better – the chestnut colt definitely gave a better performance in the movement. The third place belonged to the very nicely shown Mardigras by Michael Byatt and the point differences between the three were actually quite small.
The A series of the senior stallions gathered the Polish Esparto and Poganin. The former, shown by Frank Spoenle, did not amaze, having no contact with the handler both in halt and during movement. However the latter, originating from Janów Podlaski and phenomenally presented by Piotr Dwojak, took the public by storm. It was definitely his day, perfectly posing at the halt and gliding over the ground at his handler’s bidding. A victory with a high score of 92,2 points (including a “20” for type and movement) was fully deserved by this Janów stallion. Even the great favorite Dakharo, presented in series B – albeit three “20s” – did not beat Poganin in terms of overall score, gaining a total mark of 92,8 points. In
Dakharo’s group all horses were perfectly prepared and as much as 6 of them were awarded Twith a score surpassing the 90 point mark. The battle for the top spot was played out among the loudly applauded from the VIP sector Dakharo and totally differing in type Escape Ibn Navaronne-D, wielder of five “20s”. A very good third place in this class belonged to Grafik, who although not moving as well as in Janów or Aachen, bested the show veteran Sandhiran, as well as Piligrim and Davidoff by ancestors famed for their movement. Grafik owes his success to the reliable Mariusz Liśkiewicz, who like no one else was able to muster all of the stallion’s superlatives this day.
Some spectators from Poland also played an additional role: from passive observers they turned into active participants of the show and helpers of the not-so-numerous teams from Poland. Certainly they are a very visible group during this year’s struggles in Paris. Today they had one more reason to be happy: a special award for best movement was awarded to Michałów’s Kwestura.
The Polish team, waiting for tomorrow’s championships, is counting mainly on the performances of the senior mares – especially El Dorada. Objectivally speaking, there should be a rather large chance also for Poganin, however the Polish team feels that due to this year’s politics and judge favorites even the Reserve Champion title for Poganin would be a huge success.
Results:
Class 3A – junior stallions
1. M.M. Fabrizio (CH El Brillo – MFA Forgetmenot/Fame VF), br. Mario Matt, o. Francesco Tripodi, IT – 460.5
2. Hypnotic Ibn Eternity-D (Eternity Ibn Navarrone-D – WH Marissa Rose/Magnum Psyche), br. Dion Arabians, o. P&M Despeghel – Van Hee, BE – 458.0
3. Altis (WH Justice – Albia/Pers), br/o Falborek Arabians, PL – 454.0
4. ASH Antares (Ekstern – La Diva/Warandes Plakat), br. Arabians Sun Horses, o. Al Khalediah Farm, SA – 453.0
5. Preemium (WH Justice – Priscilla/Andrus), br. Axel Komers, o. Dubai Arabian Stud – 452.5
6. Orion OS (Om El Bahreyn – Vetla/Aromat), br. Exhib, o. J. Fraser Brown, GB – 449.0
Class 3B – junior stallions
1. Marquis (Marwan Al Shaqab – Rohara Magnifica /Echo Magnifficoo), br. R. Graham & Sandra C. Powell, o. Al Khalediah Farm, SA – 466.0
2. Marajj (Marwan Al Shaqab – RGA Kouress/Kouvay Bey), br. Joel Desmarteau, o. Al. Bidayer Stud, UE – 465
3. Mardigras JMF (Marwan Al Shaqab – JMF Daretodream/Magic Dream), br. Margaret A. Friesz, o. Al Shaqab Stud, QA – 461.5
4. Bolero EM (Shaklan Ibn Bengali – Bawda/Balaton), br. Eva Mössl, o. Ruth Wenzel-Meies, CH – 458
5. IM Bayard Cathare (Padrons Immage – Shamilah Bagheera/Nadir I), br. Richard Roques, o. Michel Gouzy, FR – 454.5
6. Aja Santana (FS Bengali – Bey Santeyna/Simeon Sanegor), br/o Aja Arabians, GB – 452
Class 4A – senior stallions
1. Poganin (Laheeb – Pohulanka/Pepton), br/o SK Janów Podlaski, PL – 464.5
2. BS Specific (Sandstorm JC – Basara Saiyana M/Mel Nebli), br. Edeltraud Blutbacher, o. Claude Dhombre, FR – 463.0
3. Esparto (Ekstern – Ekspozycja/Eukaliptus), br. SK Michałów, o. Ajman Stud/ SK Michałów, UE/PL – 460.0
4. Master Design GA (Versace – Bea Society Belle/Bask El Amigo), br. Warren & Margit E. Bentley, o. Rhodri Jones, GB – 455.5
5. Perfect de Lafon (Padrons Immage – Papouchka/Monitor), br/o GAEC Mas de Lafon, FR – 455.0
6. Gamil Sakr (Talladhman – Andata Helwa/Salsa El Dine), br. Omar Sakr, o. El Grabry Stud, EG – 448.5
Class 4B – senior stallions
1. Escape Ibn Navarrone-D (AS Sinans Pacha – Navarrone P/El Khadir P), br. Dion Arabians, o. Szejk Ammar bin Hummaid Al Nuaimi, UE – 468.0
2. Dakharo (Dakar El Jamaal – FOF Kharolina/Padrons Psyche), br. Joy C. Gildersleeve, o. Al Khalediah Farm, SA – 464.0
3. Grafik (Eukaliptus – Gaskonia/Probat), br/o SK Michałów, PL – 463.5
4. Sandhiran (Sanadik El Shaklan – China Moon/El Hilal), br. Doug Dahmen, o. Aja Arabians, GB – 461.0
5. Piligrim (Balaton – Popowa/Podsnejnik), br. Kossack Stud, o. Janet Hurrey, GB – 458.5
6. Davidoff (Kubinec – Nikita/Narav Ibn Aswan), br. Gestüt Osterhof, o. Schimd Araber, DE – 454.5
