On her way home from the United States to Janów Podlaski Pianissima (Gazal Al Shaqab – Pianosa/Eukaliptus) made a “stop” in Dubai where the 9th edition of the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship (DIAHC) recently (March 15–17th) took place, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Duabi and the Minister of Finance of the United Arab Emirates. Pianissima, a rock solid candidate to win, had a worthy opponent in the form of the Brazilian-bred FT Shaella (Shael Dream Desert – Soul Pretty Tos/Shallenger), owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, who also won her class (4-6 year old mares) in great style, with a full set of “20s” for type and four for head and neck, which gave her a total of 93,25 points. However Pianissima was assessed even higher – competing in the 7-9 year old mares class she received a score of 93,63, including almost sole “20s” for type (one “19,5”) and an entire row of “20s” – six – for head and neck. In the finals FT Shaella gained the silver.
Once again Pianissima proved to be our genuine national treasure, which – like the “Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo exhibited in Cracow – is an ambassador of Polish culture wherever she appears. It’s a pity that so little is known about her successes in our country – beside a circle of Arabian horse enthusiasts few know about she exists. This may result from the belief that Arabian shows are hermetic and addressed to a small group of fans. The situation is completely different in Dubai. A professional in every sense broadcast of the show on Dubai Sports 3, a thematic channel, was equal to those from the most prestigious sport events in our country. Such a thing in Poland is unthinkable.
The most famous graduate of Janów Podlaski was the only Polish-owned horse that competed in Dubai. But there were several other representatives of Polish breeding under the banners of new owners. The most successful among them was the Białka-bred Peron (Esparto – Perolia/Gazal Al Shaqab), owned by Faysal Ghazi Al-Urfal and trained by Gerald Kurtz. He placed within the top five of the 2 year old colts class with a score of 91,25.
