Arabian racehorses bred in France took a huge toll on the Arabian Racing Day by winning as many as
eight times out of nine races. In the race of the day, the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan – Europa Cup – G3 PA (CAT. A) victorious in great style and time was the six-year-old Amwaj Al Khalediah (Nashwan Al Khalidiah – Assma Al Khalediah by Amer), owned by AKF Polska, overtaking Samonlau ‘OA’ (Al Mamun Monlau – Sadjella by Djebbel) and this year’s Derby winner Alsahr (Mared Al Sahra – Almina by Furiat) by 9 lengths. It was the third consecutive victory for this company’s horse in the run for the Europa Cup, as well as for trainer Maciej Kacprzyk and jockey Szczepan Mazur. Previously the winners were Salam Al Khalediah and Shadwan Al Khalediah.

AKF Polska, Szczepan Mazur and Maciej Kacprzyk are the kings of the hunt

As many as three victories in stakes races (Europa Cup, Sabellina and Emael St.) were secured by Polska AKF horses, trained by Maciej Kacprzyk.

„I was expecting Amwaj to run very well, but I did not think she would be so unrivaled. Meanwhile, she was literally winning as she pleased and would probably have improved the tough track record of 2600 m: 3’56.3, which was set by the Saudi Muqatil Al Khalidiah in the first Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan race in 2010, if she felt any pressure from the competition. She was only 0.4 seconds away, however the goal was not to break the record, but to win this race. I have already agreed with Polska AKF that if the mare wins the Europa Cup, she will perform on the first Sunday of October in Paris in the same Qatar Arabian World Cup (G1), in which Fazza Al Khalediah sensationally won three years ago. I was also counting on a certain victory for Wasma Al Khalediah (Jalnar Al Khalidiah – Chinook de Ghazal by Dormane) in the race for the Sabellina St., but my three-year-olds also did very well. Al Faisal (AF Albahar – Sakina de Faust by Al Sakbe), owned by Sheikh Faisals Hamad Jassim Al Thani, after his winning debut from start to finish, this time proved himself in fight, beating in the race for the Emael St. – Wathba Stallions (1st group) Han Rastaban (Assy – HN Rana by Bengali d’Albret) by a neck, while Athal Bint Gifara (No Risk Al Maury – Giafra by Amer), bested Induriana de Faust (No Risk Maury – Nireiss by Akin de Ducor), also in fight. Also, thrown into deep water, Saden Al Khalediah (Haddag Al Khalediah – Sabbat Al Khalidiah by Tiwaiq), bred by Polska AKF, did very well, taking second place in the race for the Białka St. – Al Khalediah Colts & Fillies (cat. B, 2000 m ). He defeated the higher-ranked horses Al Jassim (Assy – Spiningirl by Dormane) and Suny du Loupa (AF Albahar – Sirene du Loup by Al Sakbe), succumbing only to the very talented Love Awam (Al Mamoun Nolau – Love Abudhabi by Jaafer ASF). Perhaps Nrgizing (Mister Ginoux – Serouda du Breuil by Dormane) would have competed for the win, but he suffered a minor injury on Sunday before noon and I had to withdraw him in additional time,” summarizes the performances of his horses Maciej Kacprzyk.

Szczepan Mazur achieved two victories on the horses of trainer Kacprzyk (Amwaj and Athal Bint Gifara). He was the king of the hunt on Sunday, because he scored a third victory atop Polska AKF’s 4-year-old Rasmy Al Khalediah (Naef Al Kahlidiah – Rajwa Al Khalediah by Tiwaiq). This dark bay stallion trained by Janusz Kozłowski won the Al Khalediah Poland Cup (cat. A, 1600 m) in record time – 1’45.9 “(7.7-32.3-31.7-34.2), which is faster by 0.7 s from the Cakouet de Bozouls record set seven years ago, owned by Krzysztof Goździalski, trained by Maciej Jodłowski.

A breathtaking race

It was to be expected that the strong pace in the Al Khalediah Poland Cup would be dictated by another ace in the AKF Polska deck, Mayar Al Khalediah (Nashwan Al Khalidiah – Assma Al Khalediah by Amer), who was unexpectedly far behind the victorious Rasmy in the race in Sweden on the sand track . And that’s what happened. The pace of the first quarter was very strong (32.3), and it increased even more during the second (31.7). However, Mayar did not manage to escape on the finishing straight (34.2). The focused Szczepan Mazur distributed Rasmy’s strength well and rode him out in the last 100 m, winning by 1.75 lengths. Sanzhar Sabaev had to make a lot of effort to finish second, because Mayar was pushed by Frehel de Bozouls (Divamer – Djellade de Bozouls by Dormane) in the end.

Successful day of trainer Cornelia Fraisl

Trainer Cornelia Fraisl, who had a very good season (only the second in her career), competed with Maciej Kacprzyk in terms of the number of wins. Already in the first large and well-entered race of the Al Khalediah Poland Racing Festival series (3rd group, 2000 m), she scored an unexpected double. After an impressive finish (traditionally from the back of the field), the 11-year-old grey gelding Ouzbeks du Panjshir (Darweesh – Farah du Panjshir by Dormane) won, and second was the strongly favored Purhib (Murhib – Polina by Balaton), who turned out to be slightly better than the highly appreciated by the public Got de Lagarde (Kerbella – Moubaraka by Djouras Tu). The victory of the slightly underrated veteran immediately caused the bets on the consecutive 7 race wins to crash. The payment for this bet finally reached 7 thousand for 1 PLN, although later there were no major surprises, and Rasmy, Wasma and Amwaj were dead-certs. Moreover, other winners for Cornelia Fraisl included: the aforementioned Love Awam in the race for the Białka St. and Honney de Bozouls (Maquet de Pascade – Cherie des Agachiols by Akbar) in the last race for horses of group IV only.

Glimmers of Polish breeding

Only the 5-year-old Musab (Asrra Min Albarq – Muna by Nougatin), bred and owned by Zbigniew Górski, trained by Małgorzata Łojek, stood up to the French horses. He triumphed from start to finish in the Memorial of Bogdan Ziemiański (1st group 1800 m) in an excellent time of 2’01.08, only 0.2 seconds worse than the record set in 2015 on a soft track (2.9) by 2013 Vice-Derby winner Wierzbin. At the end only bearing the highest weight (64 kg) Gatsby de Bozouls (Maguet de Pascade – Bab Al Shams by Barour de Cardonne) tried to come close to him.

Noteworthy Polish bred horses also included the above-mentioned Saden Al Kahlediah and Han Rastaban, the latter bred and owned by Nessa Arabians, trained by Andrzej Laskowski.

Detailed results of non-group races (stakes):

SHEIKH ZAYED BIN SULTAN AL NAHYAN – Europa Cup – G3 PA (CAT. A)

1. Amwaj Al Khalediah (FR) j. S.Mazur (60.0) nr 2
2. Samonlau ‘OA’ (NL) j. V.Popov (59.0) 7
3. Alsahr j. S.Abaev (59.0) 4
4. Hosco de Bozouls (FR) j. D.Sabatbekov (59.0) 5
5. Apollo Del Sol (FR) j. W.Szymczuk (59.0) 1
6. Seiful Muliuk (RU) j. M.Srnec (62.0) 3
7. Dragon j. S.Vasyutov (62.0) 8
8. Wielki Dakris j. B.Kalysbek Uulu (62.0) 6
Withdrawn: Dary Al Khalediah (FR) j. A.Turgaev (59.0) 9

2600 m: 2’56,7” (8,2-34,3-33,3-34,0-32,6-34,3).
Temperature: 20°C, sunny.
Style: freely.
Lengths: 9-¾-head-1-5-4-far (74).
Going: soft (3,3).

AL KHALEDIAH POLAND CUP – LISTED PA (CAT. A)

1. Rasmy Al Khalediah (FR) j. S.Mazur (59.0) 3
2. Mayar Al Khalediah (FR) j. S.Abaev (59.0) 1
3. Frehel de Bozouls (FR) j. D.Sabatbekov (62.0)4
4. Heredia (FR) j. K.Mazur (57.0) 6
5. Najem du Soleil (FR) j. E.Turganaaly Uulu (62.0)
Withdrawn: Hakeemat Muscat (OM) j. A.Turgaev (60.0) 5

1600 m; 1’45,9″ (7,7-32,3-31,7-34,2)
Style: ridden out.
Lengths: 1¾-¾-7-7.

BIAŁKA STAKES – AL KHALEDIAH COLTS & FILLIES TROPHY – (CAT. A)

1. Love Awam (FR) j. V.Popov (56.0) 2
2. Saden Al Khalediah j. K.Mazur (58.0) 5
3. Al Jassim (FR) j. D.Sabatbekov (58.0) 1
4. Suny du Loup (FR) j. S.Abaev (58.0) 3
Withdrawn: Wirgilion j. S.Vasyutov (58.0) 4

Time: 2’24,3″ (40,4-37,8-34,5-31,6).
Style: surely.
Lengths: 2-¾-2½.

SABELLINA STAKES – (CAT. B)

1. Wasma Al Khalediah (FR) j. K.Mazur (59.0) 6
2. General Lady (FR) j. S.Mazur (59.0) 4
3. Djenah (FR) j. V.Popov (56.0) 1
4. Hadjar (SI) j. S.Abaev (56.0) 2
5. Summer ‘OA’ (NL) j. D.Sabatbekov (59.0) 5
6. Wafa Al Khalediah (FR) j. K.Grzybowski (59.0) 3

2000: 2’16,5” (35,6-32,7-32,8-35,4).
Style: easily.
Lengths: 4½-3-1½-7-18.
Going: soft (3,3).