The clock timer placed on European Championships official website measures every second to the opening of the second autumn title show. Just few days and several ours left to the battle of some best horses competing for European Champion titles. Some, because the show is open for the horses registered at-birth in the stud book of European countries only. This eliminates some of big favorites from the previous shows of the season, especially those bred in the US that do very well on European and Middle Eastern showgrounds.
This year the list of competitors and winners of EC should be especially interesting. Usually the All Nations Cup held in September shows the favorites of two other European title shows (European and World Championships) who may only replace each other eventually till the end of the season. But this year was very special and lucky for non-European bred horses – half out of eight champions and reserves (including 3 champions!) were born outside Europe. This time they will not compete as well as many class winners and high placed horses of All Nations Cup. Looking for more favorable competition breeders are more confident in entering their horses to EC – also Polish ones. Besides the similar team from the State Stud as before a big group of Polish private owned horses is going to compete. Will the new, foreign trainer bring more luck to Melody and Lord Bey Shah (2008 Polish National Jr. Champion Stallion) from Minnesota Arabians and WH Justice’s progeny bred by Falborek Arabians (Wasa, Sotika)? The proven couple will be sent from the stud of Paweł and Stanisław Redestowicz, the highest scored Polish private bred and owned horse at 2008 All Nations Cup – Etnodrons Psyche with Piotr Stańczuk on the lead. There are also the following horses to appear in Moorsele this time: Espinezja (Top Five Jr. Mares Verona) and Eksterna (2008 Polish National Jr. Champion Mare) from Falborek Arabians, Jr. Champion Mare of the Autumn C-show at Janów Podlaski – Pasterna by Lech Błaszczyk, Bresilia by Wojciech Parczewski, Egzyna and Echo Ofira (Jr. Champion Stallion at Int. C-show in St. Petersburg) by Janusz Ryżkowski and Panicz (Jr. Champion Stallion at: Balatonlelle/Hungary, Baden/Austria and Autumn C-show at Janów Podlaski) by Monika Luft. Despite some hopes the young Ekstern daughter Psyche Victoria, in training at Johanna Ullström, will not compete. Will Polish horses have more luck while such horses as: FS Magnum’s Madonna, Venetzia, Om El Bernadette, PS Rose of Marwan, Baanderos, Marajj, Marwan Al Shaqab or Imperial Baarez will not come to the show? It seems to be quite difficult at junior classes as most of best young horses of the season were European-bred and they will most probably appear in Moorsele again. The attendance of All Nat. Cup Reserve Champion Filly – Abha Palma was officially confirmed; probably the owner of Junior Champion Stallion Ali Moniscione – Giancarlo Buzzi, would like to repeat the success. The good scores can be expected for Polish elder mares – there is probably no one having doubts who is the biggest favorite to the European Sr. Champion Mare trophy… The scores as high or even better should be given to Michałów-bred and owned Ejrene, Pistoria, Norma and Emesa if they all will come to Moorsele. Without their strongest rivals from Aachen also Białka-bred mares: Herlina and Emika could be very promising as well as Polish National Champion Poganin, whose result seemed to be under the expectations at All Nations Cup this year.
The show starts on Saturday. Besides halter classes the horses will compete for the titles of International Champion Riding Class in the categories of mares, stallions and geldings and liberty. Also Top Fives will be elected. Halter classes to be judged by: Ann Norden (Sweden), Christiane Chazel (France), Francesco Santoro (Italy), Titti Gagliani (Italy), Jaroslav Lacina (Czech Republic), Joanne Lowe (Great Britain) and Koenraad Detailleur (Belgium), and ridden classes by: Joanne Lowe (Great Britain), C.J.W. Modderman (the Netherlands) and Francis Atkinson (Great Britain).
