The Michałów-bred Galerida (Shanghai EA – Galilea/Laheeb), leased by Al Baydaa Stud (Egypt), won a bronze medal in the senior mare category during the Mediterranean and Arab Countries Arabian Horse Championship in Menton this past weekend (July 1st-2nd).
On Saturday she was second in her class of 4-6 year old mares with a score of 92,75 including 2×20 (for type and head and neck). She was bested by the Saudi Delight’s Divah RB (Ajman Moniscione – Honey’s Delight/JJ Senor Magnum, 93,13, incl. 6×20), owned by Al Sayed Stud and bred by Reynaldo Barbosa & Adriana Espindola B. de Moura from Brasil.
In the finals Galerida faced off against very strong rivals. The silver went to the charming chestnut Delight’s Divah RB and the gold was awarded to the later Best in Show, also a Saudi representative, Shirin By Aisha (WH Justice – Aisha by Missouri/Missouri), owned by Athbah Stud, bred by Andrea Gurioli from Italy. The judges chose the champion, who was also the show’s highest scorer (94 pts, including 3 full sets of top marks for type, head & neck and movement), unanimously. There was no doubt that the excellently moving, flea-bitten grey mare had her day. Galerida turned heads with her charm, femininity and beautiful head. She was also very lucky, because her score in the finals was identical to that of Anood Al Nasser (Ashhal Al Rayyan – Aleysha Al Nasser/Gazal Al Shaqab) from the Qatari Al Nasser Stud. Galerida’s victory was determined by her higher result in class.
A superb performance was also delivered by the Polish-bred (Jan Dobrzyński) and Saudi owned (Sami Ben Saad) stallion Fuerte – similarly to Galerida a son of Shangai EA – and out of Frymuszka by Ekstern. Fuerte won his class (3 year old colts) with an impressive result of 92,75, incl. 3×20 for type and one more for head and neck. Breathing down his neck was Naseem Al Rashediah (Al Adeed Al Shaqab – Nabaweyyah Ezzain/Ansata Almurtajiz), bred and owned by Al Rashediah Stud (Bahrain), who achieved the same score thanks to a full set of top marks for movement, two 20s for type and one more for head and neck. However Fuerte beat him with type. In the finals Fuerte won the gold (almost unanimously, with one exception) becoming the first Polish horse of private breeding to reach for such high title in Menton. It must be said that his type, conformation and charisma cannot be omitted! Fuerte’s rival took the podium with a silver medal.
A “killer battle” was witnessed in the senior stallion category, where two stars met – the intensively promoted dark bay Wadee Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab – OFW Mishaahl/Mishaah), bred and owned by Al Shaqab Stud (Qatar), and the sold this year to Kuwait (Al Saqran Stud) grey Excalibur EA, another get of Shanghaia EA in this championship (out of Essence of Marwan/Marwan Al Shaqab), bred in Spain by Equus Arabians. Both stallions have their followers in Poland and the breeding fees to Wadee sold at a promotional price enjoyed great popularity among the private breeders. Wadee received 93,63 in class (including a whole set of 20s for type and 3×20 for head and neck), Excalibur EA 93,5 (incl. 3×20 for type, 20 for head and neck and 2×2 for movement). In the finals it was Wadee who became the winner and Excalibur EA had to settle for the silver. The judges announced their verdict in full agreement. Fuerte faced against Wadee for Best Stallion of the Show, but could not beat the favorite.
Bred by Albert Sorroca Shanghai EA (currently owned by Ajman Stud), as the sire of Fuerte, Excalibur EA and Galerida, was named Best Sire of the show. The championships closed off with the song “Méditerranée” by Tino Rossi, which has become the leading theme for this spectacular show in the Mediterranean capital of lemons.
