The Junior Arabian Horse Show organised at the Białka Stud is undoubtedly a much-anticipated event. This is the first championship of the show season held in Poland, and its purpose is to assess the quality of young horses registered in the Polish Arabian Studbook – just to start before the full show season. On 3/4 June, for the 33rd time, we enjoyed watching the most promising Polish Arabian youngstock.
A total of 93 horses were entered, with 86 of them were forward, 28 colts and 58 fillies – of which 33 were yearling fillies!
The horses were judged by Irina Stigler, Scott Benjamin, Klaus Beste, and Lukas Goździalski. The ringmaster was none other than Gerard Oben.
Colts
On Saturday’s sunny, though not very warm morning, the colt classes started the show, with 16 yearling colts shown across two sections. The quality of the presented horses was not great, as evidenced by the judges’ notes, but several of them clearly stood out positively.
Pravo KL
Section A was won by a horse that deserves distinction because of his pedigree, being a son of Prometeusz (FA el Shawan x Pianissima by Gazal al Shaqab) – the bay Pravo KL (ex Porta KL by QR Marc), bred and owned by Klikowa Arabians. Pravo KL is an elegant and correct colt, and he deservedly won his class, earning the highest score among the yearling colts of 90.5. 0) and on Sunday he was awarded Gold Champion Yearling Colt. The dark bay Phenix al Miro (D Zeidan x Psyche Lejla by Pogrom) also stood out in this class, and it seems accurate to say that Pogrom daughters are very good dams. Unfortunately, in the championships, this colt had to settle for fourth place, but I think he will fight for higher placing at other shows. He is bred and owned by Miroslaw Rogowski. Third in class and taking fifth in the championship was Janów Podlaski-bred, bay son of Haash OSB (Dominc M x Partyssima OSB by Sir Fames HBV) and Tacjana (by Ascot DD by Psytadel out of Gloria Apal) – Tebiano.
Phenix Al Miro
Tebiano
Etyl
In Section B, there was a pleasant surprise as horses from Białka Stud took the first two places. For several years, the horses from Białka have been missing at shows and many people have written off this stud, but as you can see, Białka is slowly starting to return to the game. The first place in class and the Silver Medal in the championship went to the bay son of Haash OSB and Elzamira (by Glorius Apal by Justify), Etyl, scoring 90.17 points. It is worth mentioning that this is the second distinguished horse sired by this stallion. Second in this class was Petent (Morion x Perforia by Enzo), who was the first to earn 20 for movement from one of the judges, but he did not find the judges’ appreciation in the championship and did not qualify for the Top Five. Third place in class and the Bronze Medal in Sunday’s Championships went to the grey Pereltino GA (El Tino x Perdżia by Kabsztad), bred and owned by Artur Gibała’s new Polish stud of Arabian horses, GA Rancho.
Pereltino GA
El Medar
In the two- and three-year-old colt classes, we knew more or less what to expect as these horses are well known from the previous two show seasons. And so, without much surprise, the fantastically moving Michałów-bred, bay colt with a wonderful golden sheen, El Medar (Morion x El Medonia by Shanghai EA), won with a score of 91.67. Right behind him, and shown for the first time, was the very typical, although in a completely different type than El Medar, bay Nisser Babel. Bred at the Babel Arabian Stud and owned by Hekmat Al Shareif, Nisser Babel scored 91 points. He is by the grey stallion Sinharib Babel (AJ Barzan x E.S. Sa’aeda by Marajj) and out of the mare AJ Nasheeda (AJ Portofino x Nastya OS by Marajj). Those who do not know his sire should know that although this horse does not have a phenomenal show career, he is a very correct, compact horse with a long, beautifully carried neck and fantastic movement. It would be nice to see more of his offspring in the future, because Nisser Babel is eye-catching, and one would like to see more ‘little Sinharibs’. As is often the case, the boys switched places in the championships and Nisser Babel went home with the Gold Junior Male title and that of Best In Show Colts, while El Medar left with the Silver. The third place in the class took the Bronze Medal, Al Narciso (Erantis x Amorena by Pogrom) from Janów Podlaski, who also received his own 20 for movement in the class.
Nisser Babel (and cover horse)
Al Narciso
Książę
There were just three entries in the three-year-old colt class. The winner was the spectacular Książę (RFI Farid x California by Ekstern), who was enthusiastically received by the audience. Bred by Krzysztof Falba, owned by Ewelina Kania-Boć, this bay colt scored 90.17. There was a tie for second with both colts scoring 87.83. Taking second place by type was the grey Agadez (Magic Magnifique x Adelia by Kahil al Shaqab) owned by Karol Makowski, although unfortunately this is not the same horse known from previous years. Third went to Perun KL (Excalibur EA x Pegala PS by Gazal al Shaqab) owned by Oliwia Kowal. In the Championship, Książę placed fourth and Agadez fifth.
Agadez
Fillies
After the colt classes, it was time for the yearling filly classes. This year, there were 38 entries, divided into four sections, of which 33 were forward.
Plantea
Winning Section A, with a score of 90.83, was Cararra (D Zeidan x Calatina by Emerald J), a bay filly with a beautifully shaped head. Bred and owned by Marek Kondrasiuk, Cararra unfortunately did not find the judges’ recognition at the championship and went home with nothing, which was a pity. Second place was taken by the delicate, female Plantea (Morion x Prasada PA by Empire) from Dąbrówka Arabians, who took fourth place in the championship. Third was another daughter of Haash OSB, the chestnut Antyfona (ex Anima by Ekstern), bred in Janów Podlaski.
Ebonita
Section B belonged to the filly Ebonita (Haash OSB x Etruzja by Pogrom), bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud. Ebonita is a typical Polish filly, with a beautiful head and neck and great movement, for which she received a total of 91.83 points. She was chosen as Gold Champion Yearling Filly on Sunday. Right behind her in the class, with a score of 91.77, was the bay Pustynia Wiktorii (Dominic M x Pustynia Kahila by Kahil al Shaqab). She had very good movement and a tiny head set on a very long neck. It is a pity that she was only fifth in the championship, but among such a strong field of yearling fillies it was necessary to, somehow, choose the best of the best. Another filly bred and owned by Marek Kondrasiuk, Cezarina (Dominic M x Cezaria by Ekstern), took third.
Pustynia Wiktorii
In Section C, we saw very pretty fillies, but unfortunately none of them were rewarded in Sunday’s championships. The class was won confidently with 91.67 points by Dama Dworu (Morion x Dama Róż by Vitorio TO) from Michałów Stud, who was the only one among the yearling fillies to win three 20s movement. Right behind her was the grey Katarina AO (Raoud Albidayer x Kadira of Sinus by Fadi Al Shaqab), bred and owned by Adam Ochman from Polia Arabians. Third was Eforina KL (EKS Farajj x Efora KL by QR Marc), who is very similar to her mother; she is bred and owned by Klikowa Arabians.
Eleganza
Section D contained two more medallists for the Championships, both being daughters of Haash OSB. The first was the chestnut Eleganza (ex Eduarda by Pogrom), who received 91.5 points, including a 20 for head and neck. Tying for first, but settled with second with a lower type score, despite two 20s for head and neck, was Wencedora (ex Wiga by Om el Bellissimo). In the championship, the fillies reversed their order, with Wencedora taking the Silver and Eleganza the Bronze. The third place in the class, but without distinction in the Top Five, went to Protesta from Michałów (AJ Azzam x Parmania by Kahil al Shaqab).
Wencedora
It could be said that it was only during the yearling filly classes that the judges warmed up with their scores, and the next filly classes were therefore even more exciting.
Bianca of Sinus
The phenomenal bay, Bianca of Sinus (Fadi al Shaqab x Ballena by Kahil al Shaqab) won Section A for two-year-old fillies. Bred by Sinus Arabian Stud and proudly owned by Adam Ochman from Polia Arabians, Bianca of Sinus would be named Gold Champion Junior Female, as well as Best in Show Filly plus the Most Beautiful Head of the Show. She scored 92.83 points in the class, the second highest score of the show, including two 20s for type and two for head and neck. Second in class and then third in the championships was the spectacular grey, very feminine Calgary EA (Shanghai EA x Cleopatra EA by Excalibur EA), bred and owned by Klikowa Arabians. Third place in the class was taken by Janów Podlaski’s El Flora (Morion x El Fada by Ekstern), who was not awarded anything in the championship.
Calgary EA
Labonita
Section B brought more emotions. First place went to Bellaria (Wortex Kalliste x Bokasa by Ekstern) from Janów Podlaski, who received a total of 91.5 points, including two 20s for movement. She was followed by her grey stablemate, the elegant Abelia (Magic Magnifique x Axara by Kahil al Shaqab) scoring 91.33 points, but taking second place with a higher type score ahead of Labonita (Dominic M x Lakonia by Chimeryk). Labonita is from Michałów Stud and last year, she was named Polish Yearling Champion Filly in Janów Podlaski. Perhaps this was not her show, and we have to wait a while and see what she can do in future shows. Meanwhile, in the championship, she had to settle for fifth place, giving way to Janów-bred Abelia in fourth.
Abelia
Bogini Róż PA
The last class, for three-year-old fillies, saw the final medallist for Sunday’s championship and the highest rated horse of the show, This was Bogini Róż PA (Kahil al Shaqab x Black Rose by Abyad AA), bred and owned by Dąbrówka Arabians. This beautiful mare, who is maturing so wonderfully, scored 93 points, including one 20 for type and three for movement. She was also honoured with the award for the Best Movement of the Show and the Best Legs – 15.5, 16, 16. Yet unfortunately, despite such very promising results, Bogini Róż PA received the Silver Medal in Białka for the third time in a row. It is a pity that she did not manage to take Gold medal from Białka at least once, but after all, the world for Polish horses begins in Białka, not ends. Second in the class was the grey daughter of Wadee al Shaqab (Marwan al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl by Mishaah), known from last year – El Soraya (ex Evictoria by Vitorio TO), bred and owned by Leszek Jarmuż, who returns to breeding with a bang after years of absence. Third place went to a filly bred at Klikowa Arabians, the beautiful chestnut Pianissa KL (Ajman Moniscione x Pianova by Eden C). This filly gains self-confidence every year, and this was probably her biggest opponent in the show-ring. At the moment, she is maturing, both physically and emotionally, and it looks as though this could be the beginning of a fun show career. Good luck!
And so, after two, or rather three days – more on that in the next part – spent at the Białka Stud, it was time to return home, evaluate what we had seen, and to draw conclusions… Time to share our impressions with those who that weren’t there. And to get ready for the next show! Next stop: Tarnow! See you!
For more show reports, click here.
All words and photography by Patrycja Makowska.
