Last weekend, on 8-9 June, the 34th Białka Spring Show took place at Białka Stud in Poland. A total of 92 horses were entered, including 28 colts and 64 fillies. A panel of judges judged their beauty: Bérengère Fayt from Belgium, Bruce McRea from the USA, Jonas Salzman from Germany, and Łukasz Goździalski from Poland. A Disciplinary Committee of Bart Beckers from Belgium, Farhang Fazeli from Iran, and Anna Winiecka, Monika Szpura and Anna Mikuła, all from Poland, accompanied them. The ringmaster was Joanna Krawczyk, who was making her debut in this role, and the show was hosted by Paweł Grzechnik, who was making his debut as an announcer.
On a sunny Saturday morning, the classes began with two sections of yearling colts, I should mention that the competition was not very big – of 15 horses entered, only 10 were forward.
Partes
The first section was won by a bay colt from Michałów Stud – Partes (Dominic M x Protekcja by Ekstern) scoring 91.5 points, the highest score among yearling colts. Right behind him was Poker Move (RFI Unique x Plivia by Kahil al Shaqab), bred by Klikowa Arabians. Poker Move is a full brother of last year’s Polish Champion Yearling Colt, Poker Face KL, and it seems it will be difficult for him to catch up with his brother’s achievements. But, never say never, and we keep our fingers crossed for him.
Poker Move KL
Comoros
The second section of yearling colts was won by the eye-catching grey, who was delicate in type, Comoros (HL el Ganador x Cedora by Kahil al Shaqab), bred at Janów Podlaski Stud. He immediately attracted attention when he appeared in the ring on Saturday morning. With that, it was no wonder that on Sunday, he was almost unanimously chosen as Gold Champion Yearling Colt. Partes, despite his high score, took the Silver, with Poker Move in Bronze. The Top Five was completed with colts bred by Michałów Stud – Egner (Promoteusz x Emdrona by Medalion), who was second in the second section, and the third place from the first class, Palafit (AJ Azzam x Palanga by Ekstern).
Egner
Palafit
SQ Helal
There followed two colt classes, one of 10 two-year-old colts and one of three three-year-old colts. One colt stood out in each class. In the first class, everyone’s attention was drawn to the typical Rasheem style SQ Helal (FA El Rasheem x SQ Miss Enzo by ES Harir). Bred and owned by Alsaqran Arabian Horse Stud, this bay scored 92.63 points, one of the highest marks in the show, including two 20s for type. He was unanimously chosen as Gold Junior Male Champion and the Best In Show Colt on Sunday.
Elon KL
The Silver medal went to the winner of the second class, the phenomenal grey Elon KL (QR Marc x Erigone by Ekstern), bred and owned by Klikowa Arabians. Elon KL is a full brother of Efora KL, the European Junior Champion from 2020, and Elon KL was named Polish Reserve Champion Yarling Colt in 2022, and he seems to be on the right track to equalling his sister in winning titles. Klikowa Arabians has chosen an interesting path, as successful breedings are repeated, and, as you can see, it brings the expected results.
Gladius SA
Bronze went to the colt who placed third in the first class, Gladius SA (Dominic M x Ginessa by Shanghai EA), bred and owned by Waldemar Bąk, who always seemed to be the bridesmaid last year. Completing the Top Five were Palissander SW (Raoud Albidayer x Pilarosa by Al Adeed al Shaqab), bred by Suweco Stud and owned by Adam Ochman of Polia Arabians, and Will KL (Dominic M x Wieża Czarów by Vitorio TO), also from Klikowa Arabians. They both placed second place in their classes.
Palissander SW
Will KL
The yearling classes in Białka, whether colts or fillies, are always interesting as these are the first public performances of the youngest generation of Arabian horses bred in Poland. Of course, it is the fillies that attract the most attention because in the future, they will be the basis of the Polish breeding. This year we saw fewer fillies than last year, but their level was, as usual, quite high.
El Lyrica
The winners of the three yearling filly classes were all on the podium in Sunday’s championships. The first section was won by another horse from Klikowa Arabians, the delicate grey, breathtakingly beautiful El Lyrica (Lyric EA x Erskina by Kahil al Shaqab). She narrowly beat the second-place filly, a daughter of the phenomenal Pustynia Kahila (Kahil al Shaqab x Pustynna Malwa by Ekstern), the bay Perlita (by Erantis), bred in Michałów Stud. Both fillies scored the same number of points, 91.38, but El Lyrica received higher marks for type and ultimately took first place in the class. In the Championship, El Lyrica was unanimously chosen as Silver Yearling Filly Champion. However, Perlita, who had already stood out among the foals presented during the breeding parade for the 75th anniversary of Michałów Stud last September, looks phenomenal, although she showed better movement as a foal, and we hope that will come back. Unfortunately, Perlita lost in the championship, but that’s usually what happens when there are too many beautiful horses and too few places on the podium!
Perlita
Elzoya
In the second section, the winner and Bronze Champion was Elzoya, bred at Janów Podlaski Stud, an extremely delicate, eye-catching grey daughter of the legendary Prometeusz (FA el Shawan x Pianissima by Gazal al Shaqab) and Euzona (Om el Bellissimo x Euzetia by Etogram). Taking second in the class, with 90.88, was another daughter of Prometeusz, this time from Michałów Stud. This was El Mahmala (ex El Medonia by Shanghai EA), who unfortunately did not find favour with the judges in the championship.
Anagramma
From the third yearling filly section emerged the undisputed favourite for the title. Taking first place with a score of 92, including a 20 each for type and head/neck, and then the unanimous Gold Yearling Filly Championship, was Anagramma (Picasso di Mar x Aminata by Abyad AA), bred by Janów Podlaski Stud. Anagramma is definitely a horse who will be talked about for a long time to come, and she was also awarded the Best In Show Filly title. We can all look forward to her next performances. Right behind her in the class was the fourth place winner in the championship, the beautiful bay El Alihandra (EKS Alihandro x Enrida by Ekstern), bred and owned by Paweł Dobrzyński. The Top Five of the championship was completed by the bay Doris Star (D Zeidan x Doris Fame by Enzo) bred and owned by Tomasz Tarczyński, who placed third in this class.
El Alihandra
Doris Star
The two-and three-year-old filly classes probably brought the most emotions, mainly because the judges awarded the most 20s in these classes. There was just one three-year-old class, and three two-year-old classes, with all of Sunday’s champions coming from the junior sections.
Wildonara
The first section was won easily by the almost white Wildonara (Paris x Wildona by Shanghai EA), bred by Michałów Stud. She scored 91.63 points, including two 20s for head and neck. Unfortunately, she only placed fourth in the championship, although two judges nominated her for the silver medal.
Katarina AO
The second section belonged to Polia Arabian’s homebred Katarina AO (Raoud Albidayer x Kadira of Sinus by Fadi al Shaqab) who, after a spectacular escape, presented herself to the judges as though ‘nothing had happened, what are you talking about?’. She received 91.63 points, including a 20 for movement, meaning she overtook Janów Podlaski’s Ebonita (Haash OSB x Etruzja by Pogrom) in the class. Despite this, Katarina AO completed the Top Five while Ebonita took the Junior Female Bronze title.
Ebonita
Wencedora – and cover photograph
The winner of the third section, and Gold Junior Female Champion, was Wencedora (Haash OSB x Wiga by Om el Bellissimo), bred and owned by the Janów Podlaski Stud. She tied with SQ Helal for the Highest Score of the Show. Wencedora is maturing nicely; she catches your eye, and you want to see more of her. She also received the award for the Best Legs. Second in the class, and Silver Champion, was the delicate, elegant Elegantia (AJ Azzam x Ellissima by Albedo) from Michałów Stud. She scored 92 points, including two 20s for movement, to take the award for Best Movement.
Elegantia
Unfortunately, none of the three-year-old fillies were among the Top Five, but it should be mentioned that this class was won by Espajlita M (AJ Elaf x Espaja by Aja Justified), known from previous seasons. She scored 91 points for her breeder/owner Piotr Podgórny M Arabians. Right behind her was the bay Belluci (Star Farid x Bella la Fuerte by Fuerte), bred and owned by Wojciech Parczewski of Best Arabians. Third place went to the pitch black Nezha Blacklady (Wadee al Shaqab x Namirah KA by Tajj) from the Black Lady Arabians of Anna Janas Naze.
Espajlita M
The award for Best Head went to the two-year-old filly Paelia (EKS Farajj x Pawita by WH Justice), bred by Lech Błaszczyk and owned by Marek Łukaszewski.
Big congratulations are due, among others, to Janów Podlaski Stud Farm for the successes of the Janów horses in championships – three of the four gold and bronze medals went to the stud. Nevertheless, I congratulate all participants and wish them good luck in the next shows. And we will see each other only twice more in Poland this year – soon in Tarnów, and in August, traditionally in Janów Podlaski. See you there!
