The Casino Cup Championship (in Baden, near Vienna), though C-ranked, enjoys huge interest due to its splendid location, easy access and friendly atmosphere with excellent infrastructure. Last weekend 77 horses were entered for the show, including 13 Polish-owned (out of which 12 arrived) plus 4 bearing Polish pedigrees, but representing foreign banners. The catalogue contained 10 Polish breeders against 15 Austrian ones, among others.
What’s more, the show gathered a strong group of horses – battling it out for the top spots were the offspring of the most fashionable sires – f.e. Marajj, WH Justice, Ekstern, Khidar, Psytadel, Kubinec and Eternity Ibn Navarrone-D. These pedigrees would bring no shame to an A-ranked championship, which was strongly emphasized by the organizers. Among this lot our horses displayed their quality not only placing high in their classes, but winning the title of Junior Champion Stallion, as well as the highest score of the show’s first day.
In the charming surroundings of stylish stables, for tens of years used by trotters, before the public gathered on the 115 year old wooden stands of the racetrack, first to enter the arena were the foals. During when the weekend holidayers in the health resort and next to the famous casino were listening to the brass orchestra and enjoyed a festive atmosphere, the Arabian horse enthusiasts had no doubt that among the foals stood out an 8 month old son of Marajj and Pustynna Droga/Laheeb, sold to the United Arab Emirates. The colt, with a homely name of Marjan Albidayer, here in Baden began his unquestionably promising show career, receiving 41,33 points and – at the end of the day – the title of Champion Foal. This score, after converting to “our” scoring system, equals to 91,33 points.
The junior classes, according to tradition, began with the yearling fillies. Among the 9 participants were two Polish representatives: American bred, imported by Tomasz Tarczyński and leased by Andrzej Wójtowicz – Daisy FF (Da Vinci – AP Sheez Sassy/Bey Shah) and Lady Amarisa (Poganin – Lady Aphrodite/Padrons Psyche) bred by Małgorzata and Józef Pietrzak. More successful out of the two was Daisy FF, placing second with a high score of 41 points, behind the German Amurath Mofeedah (El Sid – Amurath Morgana/Monrad), who had the same total score, but higher notes for type, and ahead of the Danish bred daughter of Marajj – HG Sweet Dream (out of Zawaleen/Wan Kahli). Lady Amarisa made the Top Five with a score of 36,67 behind Eternal Rouge, an Austrian daughter of Eternity Ibn Navarrone-D (out of Galinka de la Rouge/CH El Brillo).
The yearling colts’ class turned out to be extremely interesting. As much as 4 out of 9 competitors received scores over 40 points! Victorious was the grey, subtle son of WH Justice (out of DA Naruschka/Narym), Naphis Ibn Justice, who scored 41 points. Right behind him (40 points, including one “10” for movement) placed the Polish Poster (Ekstern – Parella/Arbil), bred and owned by Kielnarowa Stud. Poster won the hearts of judges with an impressive trot and earned the first “10” of the show. Third place also belonged to a Polish horse – Fascyt, bred by priest Stanisław Sławiński, owned by Magdalena and Robert Rudziński – Reserve Champion from the recent show in Balatonlelle, Hungary. The son of
Ekstern and Firosetta/Eldon also received a “10” for movement and a total score of 40 points, but a point less than Poster. The Polish colts proved that movement is definitely their strong side! The fourth and fifth place went to: the also evaluated at 40 points Crown Laman (Laman HVP – Crown Nadira/Nadir I) bred and owned by Reinhard Sax from Germany and TM Aragorn (TM Aikor – Lady Annie/Padron), owned by Ta Merij Arabians (Austria). This class also featured Elmaran (Al Maraam – Ekstera/Ekstern) bred an owned by Wojciech Parczewski, but unfortunately he did not make it into the Top Five.
Among the two year old fillies very much distinguishing herself with an unusual in Europe Brasilian pedigree was Norah El Perseus (Perseus El Jamaal – Niharra El Jamaal/Ali Jamaal), bred by Lenita Perroy and owned by Maia Schlapfer from Switzerland, however she placed just fourth. Third was the Slovak Baredat El Nafs (Semiramis B – Bafra B/El Nabila B). The class was won, after an additional choosing of the reserve judge, Miss Marenga (Psytadel – Marenga/Menes), bred and owned by Reinhard Sax. Her rival, the Swiss granddaughter of FS Bengali MZ Djamira (Shaklan Ibn Bengali – W.A. Djambala/Kapitol) also had 41 points, including identical scores for type and movement. And it was those two mares that counted in the finals. Miss Marenga received the highest honors, while MZ Djamira became the reserve.
The next class – two year old colts’ – consisted of 7 participants. Among them were two horses from Poland: bred at Silvatica Black Arabians Rascal (BS Black Fable – Ravenwood Nejma/Ravenwood Sihr) and the recent champion from Hungary Panicz (Gaspar – Pelisa/Europejczyk), bred and owned by Monika Luft. And it was him who triumphed at the end of the day, gaining the highest marks: as much as three “10s”, including one for type and
two for movement. The final score of 43 points was unbeatable and Panicz repeated his success from Balatonlelle, achieved also with trainer Marek Demczuk, becoming Casino Cup Junior Champion Stallion. Rascal made it into the Top Five of the class, behind the Reinhard Sax bred Khidar son – Al Khidar (out of Farad’s Mandolin/Anaza El Farid) who was second, LTF Eminence C (G Tamin – Daian Shaklan/El Shaklan) from the UK and the Austrian Diskan (Psynergy – Asas Tiffany/Kais).
The not numerous class of three year old fillies was won by the daughter of CH El Brillo – Al Shareefha (out of Scarlett/Estrem) with a score of 40,33, bred and owned by Maia Schlapfer from Switzerland before Al Fatima (Mahadin – Al Barissa/Al Harimbas Shai) of Al Hambra Arabians (Austria).
In the last Saturday class, three year old colts’, performed another Polish horse: Enalej (Emigrant – Enona/Fawor) bred by Jerzy Nejman, owned by Beata Dzikowska. He placed third behind Al Farid (Simeon Shai – Moheba/El Shawan), bred and owned by Al Hambra Arabians and the winner of this class – Taymar, bred by Reinhard Sax son of Kyro KA (out of Tamara IV/Ibn Narev). Taymar presented himself fantastically in movement, receiving as much as three “10s”! This gave him the second score of the day: 42,33 and resulted in the title of Reserve Champion.
Sunday also promised to be a very interesting day. In the 4-6 years old mares’ class performed the winner from Norway from last year, Primadonna (Padrons Psyche – Pelargonia/Alegro) and faced off with Elwinga (HS Pirandelo – Elekcja/Etogram), bred by Janów Podlaski and owned (since the Pride of Poland Sale) by Lutetia Arabians from Austria. The Austrian stud also presented another auction purchase: Wróżka (Ganges – Wipera/Fawor) bred by Michałów and Elfina (Pamir – Elektroda/Engano) bred by Janów Podlaski. Wróżka and Elfina in turn battled it out with another Janów Podlaski pupil – Pilina (Eternit – Pilarka/Palas) owned by Tomasz Tarczyński.
Also among the stallions the rivalry was worth seeing. The son of Pilina – Pilin Psyche (by Padrons Psyche) bred and owned by Kielnarowa Stud competed against Milton (Ecaho – Mina/Monogramm) bred by Minnesota Arabians, owned by Hanna Landau and the Austrian star and their National Champion Galinka El Sheikh (CH El Brillo – Galinka Rougelais/Pintor) bred and owned by Selimah Arabians. This class also featured the Austrian stallion Zair bearing a pure Polish pedigree: Pilot – Zagora/Monogramm.
Judges:
Verena Egli, CH
Peter Gamlin, GB
Dr. Manfred Neubacher, A
You can find the photo gallery from Baden here (by Wiesława Bałut)
