The competition in the classes at the international A-show in Austrian town of Wels raised great excitement of the exhibitors. Above all, the participants and guests were surprised by very low notes given this time by the judges – comparing to the last season. There wasn’t a single horse that would receive the highest note in any category, without even mentioning the whole row of ‘twenties’, that the audience is so keen on. The exceptional frugality of the judges was broadly commented. As the president of the Polish Arabian Horses Breeders’ Society, Ms. Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka told us, it means ‘back to normalcy’, as the highest notes – that maybe were given too frequently during the last years – caused that in the whole scale of grades only three highest notes were used. Now the spread of notes is bigger, and there are not so many higher grades. According to the

President, many „tens” that were given during the yesterday’s national show were unjustified, and only the today judging gave back the correct rates. However, many breeders and owners were disappointed as we got used to the fact that the first places were flirting to 90 points. Unfortunately, this time the situation was slightly different.

Without any doubt the Janów Podlaski breeders can be the most satisfied ones. Sefora (by Ekstern, out of Sawantka/Pepton) and Etnologia (by Gazal Al Shaqab, out of Etalanta/Europejczyk) beat their rivals without any effort, receiving respectively 91,67 and 91 points in the 4-6-year old mares class. Sefora received the “19-19-18,5” notes for type, for head and neck “18,5-19-18,5” and “19,5-19,5-19” for movements; we should emphasize as well that the horses in the low hall in Wels in the main didn’t show the best movements. Etnologia was given “18,5-19-18,5” notes for type, for head and neck “18,5-19-18”, and “19-19,5-19” for movements. Biruta, who was enrolled to this class, didn’t arrive, and the third

Polish representative, American bred Marjjana VA, owned by Silvatica Black Arabians, arrived sixth. Among nine participants the Michałów-bred Faustyna, owned by Lutetia Arabians, was third. As we see this class definitely belonged to the Polish-bred horses. On fourth place arrived Al Dafina by Mahadin, on fifth – Brazilian-bred, owned by Nina Suskewicowa from Czech Republic Al Waleska El Shael by Shael Dream Desert. Moreover, Faustyna and Al Dafina won the national Austrian championship, before they were presented in the international show.

In the other classes the Polish breeders had changing luck. The yearling fillies class was won, as expected, by Al Princess Aliha by WH Justice (the later junior fillies champion of Austrian National Championship). As one of fewer horses she beat the „magic” barrier of 90 points, reaching the result 90,33 (type and head with neck: 19-19-19, movements: 18,5-19-

18,5). The second one was Amyra Bint Khidar, owned/bred by Reinhard Sax (90,00). The third place went to Sax Arabians as well, thanks to Laminka (by Laman HVP, out of Taminka); the fourth place was won by Italians from Arabian Stars SRL, who exhibited the Jadore Star filly (by Hannibal By Gioia, out of Lucky s Majarra). The Poles reached only the fifth place, precisely SK Podlesie Arabians with El Piatzolla (by WH Justice, out of Enya/Ekstern) bred by the Błaszkiewicz family. Nevertheless, it was one of the most popular classes (12 participants), so the fifth place was quite a success and it was not easy to make it big in Wels. Europesa (by Psytadel, out of Ekstera/Ekstern), also representing the Polish breeding (Nazaret Arabians), and Zlota Prima exported from Michałów in utero didn’t reach the first ten.

In the next class, the yearling colts, there was just one absolute favorite and he won the first place: Kahil Al Shaqab (by Marwan Al Shaqab, out of OFW Mishaahl), owned/bred by Al Shaqab Stud from Qatar. He was presented by Giacomo Capacci (under Michael Byatt’s supervision) and he was given an astonishing for the Wels conditions, note: 91,33 points (type: 19,5-19-19,5, head and neck: 19-19-19, movements: 18,5-18-18). Half-Polish Marjan Albidayer, out of Pustynna Droga, by Marajj jumped on the second place (he got the 89,67 note). The third one was Italian Jaffa By Ashiraf (by Amir Ashiraf, out of Naija El Mut) – 88,17 points. Zularam, exported from Michałów in utero, found himself out of the first five (nine horses participated), and national junior Austrian champion, El Trocadero (by Psyrasic, out of Kashida) from Selimah Arabians came fifth, with the note 87,5. We shall mention that the colt who won the Austrian national championship, Lawrence El Gazal, didn’t take part in the international show.

We had three representatives in the two year old fillies’ class. To the first five entered just (on the fourth position) American-bred Daisy FF (from DA Vinci FM, out of AP Sheez Sassy/Bey Shah), owned by Tomasz Tarczyński, with the final score of 88,83. The winner was, as expected, shown by Michael Byatt himself, Sara Al Mohamadia (by Marwan Al Shaqab, out of ZT Maghan), bred by Michael Byatt and H&D Orr, owned by HH Prince Abdullah Bin Fahd Abdullah Al Saud. But even her performance didn’t knock the judges down. With high notes for type (19-19-19), head and neck (19-19-19,5) and three „18” for movements (the

final note 90,5) she is an absolute favorite for winning in tomorrow’s championship. The second place was won by the German daughter of Psytadel Maharani CF (89,67), the third – by Aaliyana Psy by Psytadel (88,83), junior Austrian Reserve Champion. There were 10 participants, and Polish fillies – Janów-bred Perespa (by Enzo, out of Polenta/Ecaho) and shown by Member of Polish Senate Przemysław Błaszczyk Pasterna (by Ekstern, out of Pasywa/Wachlarz) were out of the final five.

The two and three year old colts’ class was joint and there was 9 participants. There was no

rival for LC Prince Magnum by Magnum Psyche, Argentinean-bred, though owned by Australians (Mystica Arabians). Very spectacular, chestnut with a bright crest, very similar to his sire, he didn’t though come through the barrier of 90 points, so desired by the breeders. He was given 3×19 for type, for head and neck 19-18-18,5, but weak notes for movements caused that he received ‘only’ 89,83 points. It was enough though to win the competition. To the Polish supporters’ joy, the second one was Elmaran (by Al Maraam, out

of Ekstera/Ekstern) from Nazaret Arabians, who got the final score of 87,83 points. The third one was well known and widely advertised Jumanci OS by Ajman Moniscione (87,83 points), and the fourth place was won by another representative of Polish breeding – Echo Adonis (by Al Maraam, out of Echo Kallisto/Pamir) from Chrcynno-Palace Stud (87,5 points). M.M. Samuel, the winner of the national championship, was fifth (87,33 points).

The class of three year old mares was also given low grades by the judges (there were 9 participants). Generally, when Doug Dahmen from the US was joining the judges, the notes

were clearly lower. This judge is probably not the biggest fan of European type of Arabian horses. We had three representatives in this class, including last year’s Reserve Champion from Wels, Psyche Victoria (by Ekstern, out of Pallas Atena/Ecaho) from Chrcynno-Palace Stud. However, even this mare didn’t receive the upper 90 points note. With 88,5 points she was finally second after Kan Kan MAF (by Elart out of Katun) from Mallorca, who got 89,5 points. In many observer’s feelings, Psyche Victoria deserved more than just “18,5-19-18,5” for type and “18-18,5-17,5” for head and neck. But unfortunately, these were this years’ grades in Wels. In the final five also appeared Ermina (by Galba, out of Echidna/Ararat), which debuted at the fifth position as the show horse because she has

never been presented before, while Espiria (by Psytadel, out of Ekspiacja/Emigrant) who did excellent in Janów as a yearling, was sixth. Baredat El Nafs by Semiramis B from Slovakia came third, and Mandalai Blu by Marwan Al Shaqab, bred in the US, Swedish-owned, was fourth.

Five stallions, that started in the 4-6-year old class, appeared in Wels. It wasn’t a surprise for nobody that the national Austrian senior stallion champion Lorenzo El Bri by CH El Brillo won the first place with 91,5 points (19-19-19 for type and 18,5-18,5-18 for head and neck). The second one was Taymar by Kyro K owned by Reinhard Sax (90,5 points) and the Italian WH Justice son Amir Ashiraf came third, while the rate was closed by two Polish stallions: Emberk (by Gazal Al Shaqab, out of Emantka/Eukaliptus) – 87,67 points – and Fireball (by Magnum Psyche, out of Flotylka/Emigrant), being leased by Ta Merij-Arabians (86,83 points). The Austrian Reserve Champion, Al Fakhir, was not appointed to the international show.

Among the 7-year old and senior mares only Zulejka (by Ganges, out of Zuzanna/Wojsław, owned by Lutetia Arabians) represented the Polish breeding. However she was beyond the first five (7 participants). Mahity El Jamaal (by Dakar El Jamaal, out of Mackenzie) from Belgium with 90,33 points was first and the second one was Ansata Mouna (by Farres, out of Talmona), bred in the USA, owned by Al Naif Stud from Qatar (with 89,5 points).

Two Polish-bred stallions appeared in the final class, 7-years old and senior stallions: Janów-bred Salar (by Ecaho, out of Saba/Etat) and Michałów-bred Emrod (by Emigrant, out of Empressa/Probat, owned by Turban Stud). There were five rivals – the best one was the son of Classic Shadwan, a meritorious stallion, who passed away just a few days ago. The winning of GR Amaretto, owned and bred by Annette and Erwin Escher (with 90 points) was, without any doubt, a great joy after a terrible and painful loss, as both were very devoted to the stallion who spent 13 years in their stable. This time Erwin Escher, instead of taking pictures of the winners, posed for the pictures himself. The second one was Emrod (89,83 points), Salar was third (89,33 points), while SC Dyonn by Davidoff and Gospodin by Vatican were fourth and fifth, respectively.

So, in the championship we will see four Polish horses: Psyche Victoria, Elmaran, Sefora and Etnologia plus one Polish-bred, but Austrian owned: Faustyna. From this group Sefora and Etnologia have the biggest chance for a trophy. However, the championships are sometimes unpredictable, everything (or almost everything) can still occur…

 

Results of the Austrian National Championship

Senior Champion Stallion
Lorenzo El Bri (CH El Brillo – Lara El Ludjin/Ludjin El Jamaal), br. La Movida Arabians, o. Mario Matt
Reserve Senior Champion Stallion
Al Fakhir (Mahadin – Al Estrella/Essteem), br/o. Al Hambra Arabians

Senior Champion Mare
Faustyna (Emigrant – Felicjana/Ekstern), br. SK Michałów, Poland, o. Lutetia Arabians
Reserve Senior Champion Mare
Al Dafina (Mahadin – Al Estrella/ Essteem), br/o. Al Hambra Arabians

Junior Champion Stallion
Lawrence El Gazal (Gazal Al Shaqab – Lara El Ludjin/Ludjin El Jamaal), br/o. La Movida Arabians
Reserve Junior Champion Stallion
El Trocadero (Psyrasic – Kashida/Psytadel), br/o. Selimah Arabians

Junior Champion Mare
Al Princess Aliha (WH Justice – Al Aliha/ DWD Tabasco), br/o. Al Hambra Arabians
Reserve Junior Champion Mare
Aaliyana Psy (Psytadel – Aaliyah Bey/Selimah), br/o. Selimah Arabians

 

Read more: Faustyna wins her class in the National Austria Show