The 2024 Janów Podlaski breeding parade took place just after the Summer Sale had finished. They held the parade in the indoor arena rather than outside, which felt like a slightly odd decision. However, previous Director Marek Trela was there to talk about the horses alongside Janów’s new Breeding Manager, Weronika Sosnowska. As such, there was a continuity for those who had not been to Poland since 2015, something that many of us appreciated.
Of the two parades, the Janów one was much smaller, with 20 listed, although there was a surprise late addition at the very end! Marek began by saying that they were going to “present the future of the stud, with a surprise at the end!”
Opening the parade were the stallions, offering a dynamic start to the parade. First out was one of Janów’s most famous exports, Pogrom (QR Marc x Petla by Visbaden), a multiple champion on two continents. Marek says: “This horse is really special for us, representing Polish breeding on a global level. He has type, charisma, perfect conformation, and a strong body. He was the US Nationals, Scottsdale and the Arabian Breeders’ World Cup Champion, all in the same year – the only stallion to do so. This horse is all that is missing in the modern show horse.” Watching Pogrom shine burnished gold on his deep brown coat, he looks fantastic. He is clearly in great condition, and, at just fifteen-years of age, there is still more to come from this stunning superstar.
Palatino (Pesal x Palmeta by Ecaho) was next, now eighteen-years-old. This stallion has a beautiful pedigree and a huge eye, and I could just picture Palatino being ridden through the desert with Lawrence of Arabia on his back! Alert (Piaff x Andaluzja by Sanadik El Shaklan) followed, one year older than Palatino, which is hard to believe! Marek let us into a little secret, saying that Alert had been a favourite of his since the beginning – and to read his name backwards..! Erantis (ex Eugara by Om El Bellissimo) was next, a seven-year-old chestnut stallion sired by Ascot DD (Glorius Apal x Lady Nina DD by Psytadel). Erantis is starting to prove himself as a sire, and Marek tells us that the Ascot DD daughters at Janów are currently the best group of broodmares at the stud.
The final two stallions offered a slice of history, the first being twenty-four-year-old Salar (Ecaho x Saba by Etat). Eight Janów mares are in foal to this grand old gentleman for 2025 in a bid to breed a perfect son to keep this line, which was once lost to Janów, alive. This section closed with Kuheilaan Aafas Maidaan (Shawaf al Betaar x Kuheila’t Aafas Nood by Jellaby Nejib), who was gifted to Janów Podlaski from the Royal Arabian Stud of Bahrain in 2014. Again, Janów hopes to breed a son to preserve this treasured line at the stud.
The mares were shown with foals at foot, divided into sections according to sire. The first group all had foals by Mutabahi al Hawajer (FA el Rasheem x ZT Magrumi by ZT Magnanimus), a stallion who has been used extensively at both State Studs this past year. The first three mares were all by Ascot DD, with the very pretty chestnut El Fariha (ex El Fada by Ekstern out of El Fatha) and her filly foal opening the group. Next was Pascuala (ex Palmeta by Ecaho out of Pilica), a grey Ascot DD daughter whom Marek described as being one of the best mares at the stud movement-wise. Shown with her colt foal, Pascuala is a lovely mare, and she oozed that Polish look that so many of us love, being elegant and very feminine. Encarina (ex Eneria by QR Marc out of Eula) was next, a beautiful mare who was the star of a news story a few years ago when she had not returned from lease to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Now back at Janów, she is an important broodmare and will also be shown next year, as will her lovely filly foal. Next was Etruzja (Pogrom x Eteryka by Poganin) and her colt foal. Etruzja underlined Marek’s comments about Pogrom and his amazing qualities. Completing this group was Paterna (Eden C x Pinga by Gazal al Shaqab), a gorgeous chestnut mare whose filly foal was perhaps the best of this group – and all were pretty, classy foals.
The next group were mares, all with filly foals by KA Nabras (Shanghai EA x AJ Nazwa by Al Ayal AA), again, a good group of foals. Paradnica (Pomian x Paterna) was first, the daughter of the last mare we saw in the previous group, with the sire being a full brother to Pinga (Gazal al Shaqab x Pilar by Fawor). She is a lovely mare, and her foal stuck close to her! El Fada then followed, who had a very smart filly at foot. Amaranta (Empire x Atma by Ekstern) was next, a lovely chestnut mare who passed a lot onto her showy foal. Pasława (Empire x Passionaria by Gazal al Shaqab) is a lovely six-year-old bay mare, with her foal confident and showy. Entega (Eksten x Etnologia by Gazal al Shaqab) concluded this group – a lovely grey mare with truly valuable bloodlines through both sire and dam.
Two small groups concluded the parade, the first mares with foals by Alert (ex Andaluzja), a valuable son of Piaff (Eldon x Pipi by Banat). The foals were both lovely, a colt out of Polonica (EKS Alihandro x Pianova by Eden C) and a filly out of Eunuria (Pogrom x Eunera by Ganges). Janów is working hard to get a future sire from this line with Piaff an important line for the stud.
The final group were two mares with filly foals by Ptolemeusz (Zloty Medal x Parmana by Al Maraam), the Michałow stallion. The State Studs have a long history of sharing stallions, and these were lovely foals. Tacjana (Ascot DD x Tartina by Perseusz) had a very fancy filly, underlining Marek’s comments about the Ascot DD daughters being great producers. Meanwhile, Cedora (Kahil al Shaqab x Cenoza by Ekstern) had a gorgeous filly at foot, and it is hoped that she will be the next in this family for the future Janów breeding programme.
All of these horses were shown naturally, straight from the stable, and we saw the best foals of the 2024 Janów foal crop. All will be tested at the Białka Spring Show next year, as will the Michałow foals and those from private breeders, and it will be interesting to see how the new generation develop.
“We started with something special, so we will end with something special,” smiled Marek, as he welcomed in the newly crowned Polish National Senior Female Champion and Best in Show, Adelita (Kahil al Shaqab x Altamira by Ekstern). It was a perfect way to end the Janów Podlaski parade, with Adelita under the spotlights and wearing her roses. Like many, I will look forward to next year with great anticipation!
Lead image – Pogrom
First published in The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Special Edition September 2024
All photography by Anette Mattsson
For more reports from TheArabianMagazine.Com, click here.
