THE GRASS IS GREENER...

... on the other side - as the saying goes. This perfectly fits the situation of Polish thoroughbred breeding and racing. But the XXI century began extremely well for our horses on European tracks, confirming their class and fame, for which they are renown in the central part of the Old Continent, as well as Scandinavia, Italy and even the cradle of the breed - England - including flat, hurdle and steeplechase races.

Starting since the year 2000 the main international race meeting of the season is the Central European Breeders' Cup, which takes place in three categories - the Sprint, Mile and Classic - all being considered Group 1 races. So far Polish bred horses took part in 4 out of the 5 editions of this race, with achievement worth noting. The brown colt ZAGON 1998 (Kastet - Zitta/Club House), bred by Moszna Stud, bested his rivals twice on the classic distance of 2400m (in Bratislava and Budapest). Two other notable wins, this time in mile races, belonged to our domestic thoroughbreds - the Widzów bred bay colt SODERANO 1998 (Dixieland - Sodoma/Euro Star) won in Slovakia's capital, while the Kozienice bred black filly LAWSONIA 2001 (Who Knows - L'Etat C'est Moi/Danzig Connection) on the Ebreisdorf track in Austria. Close to victory in the sprint were the dark bay colt GOTYK 1997 (Saphir - Galarda/Parysów) from Iwno Stud and Jaroszówka Stud's dark bay colt TIM 1999 (Saphir - Tess/Dameto), both of which took home second place, only slightly giving in to their rivals. To this success on Most Racecourse Gotyk added a third position in Budapest (right behind Tim). Other notable achievements in the CE Breeders' Cup are the placed positions of horses such as GALILEO, DANCER LIFE, DANDOLO (twice), TANTRA and KRÓLOWA ŚNIEGU. It is worth to mention that both Zagon and Soderano are by Polish bred sires.

The main races of the CE Breeders' Cup take place each year in a different country of one of the members (Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and soon Switzerland), but the only place where the most prestigious hurdle-steeplechase meeting in this part of Europe can be held is the Czech Pardubice racecourse . Its last three editions were ruled strictly by Polish thoroughbreds, which won 6 out of 8 races during these racing Sundays.

The opening hurdle race of the meeting for 3yo (Cena CANABA) since 2001 has been won by Golejewko's DORIAN GREY (Don Corleone - Dione/Pyjama Hunt), Widzów's MASINI (Dixieland - Mansarda/Miami Prince), Golejewko's KOLORADO (Enjoy Plan - Kalifornia/Lord Hippo) and Widzów's DATIS (In Camera - Dantina/Dixieland). These statistics are completed by SARMATA's (Jape - Sabra/Unoaprile) win in 1998, bred by the Stallion Depot Łąck.

An even better result for our thoroughbreds is the Listed steeplechase - Cena PARAMO, because the list of winners from the years 1994-2004 consists of almost only Polish bred horses - with one Irish bred exception in 1996. These winners include BARBAKAN (Czubaryk - Bandera/Mehari) from Stubno Stud, also the winner of the last Derby in Prague to take place in Czechoslovakia in 1992, Kozienice -bred SCATER 1990 (Dixieland - Scatola/Skunks), Krasne's KREATOR 1992 (Babant - Kodina/Five Star Camp) and Widzów's DIATELOT 1994 (Who Knows - Diateza/Beauvallon) and Krasne's EKLERER 1993 (Wolver Heights - Espada/Skunks), both of the latter won twice accordingly in 1999 and 2001 while the other in 1998 and 2000. In 2002 the triumphant was SZERYF 1998 (In Camera - Szuana/Five Star Camp) bred by Beata Kowalska, a year later the title belonged to Stubno's DUCE (Enjoy Plan - Dunava/Dixieland) and last year - TYCJAN (Jape - Tempera/Athenagoras) bred by Jaroszówka Stud.

The second hardest race of the day, affectionately known as „the small Pardubicka" is Cena Radio LIFE (Cena Labe), where the lucky winners were in 2002 Moszna's NAPOLI (Jape - Norcja/Chiavari) and lately Stubno's CIESZYMIR (Enjoy Plan - Cieniawa/Beauvallon).

Three victories in the steeplechase of Capt. Robert Popler Memorial belong to Moszna's IRAKLION (Jape - Ibrala/Beauvallon) - in 2001, 2003 and 2004, while the year 2002 belonged to JUBIL (Special Power - Jowitana/Meautry) bred by Robert Tylicki.

Twice in the winners' circle of the hurdle race Kristalovy Pohar we have seen Moszna'a ALMANZOR (Jape - Amandina/Dixieland) - in 2001 and 2003. Others to be witnessed were KREATOR (in 1996), DIATELOT (in 1998), KOLORADO (in 1996) and Polish-trained FANTI DANCER in 1999.

The steeplechase Cena Vlatvy was won by Moszna's NOSTALGIA (Jape - Norcja/Chiavari) in 2002 and a year later - by Strzegom's BAŁAMUT (Juror - Bałamutka/ Dixieland), who in 2002 gained yet another chase victory - Cena CASCH. His success was repeated lately by Krasne's BAGDAD (Neman - Bogdanka/Jaguar).

The only thing missing is a victory in Wielka Pardubicka - in 2000 this feat was almost accomplished by Kozienice's CZANKA (Graf - Czalanda/Meautry). This filly came third, but hopefully soon this world-renown race will belong to our horses.

Jumping talent, health and exceptional stamina are the traits of Polish horses that guarantee their good results in hurdle sand steeplechase races on tracks in the UK, Italy, Scandinavia, as well as Germany, France and Slovakia.

A specially spectacular achievement of polish breeding was the victory of GALILEO (Jape - Goldika/Dakota) during the prestigious festival at Cheltenham in the UK. Moszna's crack bested his competition in the hurdle Group 1 battle - Royal Sun & Alliance Novices' Hurdle, which is an extraordinary feat. In his tracks are following fillies bred in Jaroszówka: KOMBINACJA (Jape - Komańcza/Dakota) - twice first in chases of lower rank and second in a Listed race, as well as TULIPA (Jape - Truly Best/Omen) - four times first on tracks in chases in the United Kingdom.

Polish horses are also taking by storm Italian tracks. The legacy of the talented OCEAN and steel DOBROMIERZ has passed down to Stubno's DALFORS (Enjoy Plan - Daxi/Dixieland) and JANOSZ (Sorbie Tower - Judaica/Wolver Heights) bred by Zenon Duplicki, who triumphed numerous times in chase races. The first of these was placed in Pattern races, while the other won Premio Ettore Tagliabulio Group 3 and Premio Prime Siepi Maschi Listed Race. Their undoubtfuly fantastic successes together with ALMANZOR's achievements (twice second in Premio Corsa Siepi di Merano - Group 1) and NER (twice first in hurdles) was shunned in 2004 by Widzów's MASINI, who gained two Group 1 trophies - Grande Steeple Chase di Milano and Gran Premio di Merano. Valuable successes belonged also to Golejewko's KOLORADO - Premio Staffe d'Oro Group 3 - steeplechase and Stubno's DELLAN (Jape - Delonta/Juror) - Corsa siepi dei 4 anni Group 3 - hurdles.

Polish thoroughbreds exported to Scandinavia have written a truly magnificent page in the history of racing, winning in the most serious trials demanding stamina, bravery, jumping skills, strength and health. The lists of Svenskt Grand National winners and Champion Hurdle include many names of horses bred in our country - CHYSZÓW, KETGUT, AKSUM, DOLMEN, JASTRZĘBIEC, SERAFIN, OVIEDO - these are just a few of the Polish pearls. Not so long ago new track records of these highly regarded races were set by Stubno's CICERONE (Miami Prince - Cisza/Mehari) in 2000 and Moszna's INFORMACJA (Jape - Indukcja/Who Knows) in 2002.

Hurdle and steeplechase tracks in Germany saw the shining stars of OVIEDO, SERAFIN, TRAJAN, TOPAZ and ABSALON. The inheritors of these successes in the XXI century became horses specializing in hurdles - Łąck's NER (In Camera - Nawarona/Dixieland) - winner of Preis des Murgtals LR and Moszna's double - ALMANZOR (winner of Bäder-Preis LR) and MAGNUS (Jape - Maracana/Conor Pass) - first in Badener Roulette Preis LR. A victory of a lower rank belonged to TYCJAN -  Preis der Schneider Weissbier - Brauerei Hürdenrennen in Bad Harzburg.

Only a few Polish horses made their way to French training, so the more valuable is the victory in the hurdle race on the famous track Auteuil in Paris accomplished by Golejewko's KIEJSTUT (Who Knows - Karina/Pyjama Hunt), who won by 20 lengths in 1999 the handicap for 3yo - Prix Fifrelet (with a purse of 350.000 FF).

Valuable titles of Hurdle Horse of the Year in the Czech Republic belong to Krasne's pupils - KREATOR and JAZŁOWIEC (Demon Club - Jacynta/Dakota) and Golejewko's ASSUR (Don Corleone - Asyria/Krezus).

Summarizing the achievements of Polish horses in European hurdle and chase trials it is impossible not to mention horses trained in Austria - NEGRO (Don Corleone - Nemezia/Dakota) or CYKUNG (Special Power - Cygrafia/Graf) bred by Roman Rutkowski, whose successful starts were witnessed by racelovers from Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy and Germany.

It would be wrong though to limit the talents of our horses to just jumping abilities, because the amount of trophies and titles gained in flat races is no smaller and is not limited to the Central European Breeders' Cup series.

The presentation of stars should commence with Golejewko's colt TANKRED (Who Knows - Tabaka/Pyjama Hunt), who became the first Triplecrown horse in the history of  Slovakian races. His fabulous result is furthermore enriched by valuable wins on Czech and Italian tracks and Horse of the Year title. Among the many placed positions the important ones seem to be Prague's classics - Derby and the St. Leger. It is also notable that in 5 of last year's starts he remained undefeated.

            A representative of the same year's crop - Krasne's CZENEKA (Winds of Light -     Cz-wa/Dakota) completed a classic double for fillies, winning Jarna Cena Kobyl and - like previously TANTRA (Winds of Light - Tabakierka/Pyjama Hunt) and Moszna's JESSIE-JANE (Juror - Jessica/Dakota) and NESSIE (Who Knows - Neska/Mehari) - Oaks in Bratislava. Classic titles also went to the Kozienice-bred colt CZAS (Graf - Czalanda/Meautry) - Velka Jarna Cena and the St. Leger and the owner of the Horse of the Year title NAGAR (Five Star Camp - Nirwana/Dargin) bred by Krasne Stud. If to this we add three wins by ZAGON and the successes of Widzów's DŻAMAJKA (Juror - Dżamira/Rutilio Rufo) and the already mentioned TANKRED in the Velka Cena Slovenska for older horses it will be clear that the track in Bratislava, which often guests the best of the best form Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany, serves Polish horses very well, just as Czech and Slovakian training.

The Czech Republic is a tougher country to gain success in, but even here Polish thoroughbreds are among the best in all year categories and distances. Just to name a few - again ZAGON - three times first in St. Leger in Pardubice, Widzów's star sprinter of 2004 SCYRIS (In Camera - Scytia/Euro Star), Moszna's JAGMIN (Freedom's Choice - Jessica/Dakota) - winner of Velka Cena Ceskeho Turfu - Krasne's stayer NAZIR (Eternity's Breath - Nietrzyca/Fordon) - St. Leger in Pardubice and the brave Treviso, Nolan, Sara and Kadra.

With each season the number of countries in which Polish horses prove their quality grows. And so in 2003 in Hungary and Austria shone the star of Strzegom's DONATESSO (Tioman Island - Donatella/All Hands On Deck) - first Nemzeti Dij Group 2 (equivalent of 2000 Guineas), Alagi Dij Group 2, second in Magyar Derby Group 1 and mile classic in Vienna (Trial Stakes), while a year later the Jaroszówka-bred ELMER (Royal Court - Elstera/Long Meadows) - won in Switzerland in their equivalent of 2000 Guineas. While Kazachstan's Derby was won by Strzegom's ACCES OF SILVER (Silver Patriarch - Accesa/Mtoto).

In the UK all weather tracks witnessed wins from Kozienice's LANOS (Special Power - Lubeka/Milione) and Golejewko's TEORBAN (Don Corleone - Tabaka/Pyjam Hunt) - both twice, Jaroszówka bred ENNA (Don Corleone - Elba/Freedom's Choice), Widzów's SECAM (Alywar - Scytia/Euro Star) and HUSKY (Special Power - Hallo Bambina/Neman) bred by Ryszrad Połeć. With this they proved that flat races are within reach for our horses if the standard of the race meet with the class of the steed.

The above examples show that the domestic breeding of thoroughbreds has great potential, which is appreciated greatly by owners and trainers from abroad. Taking into account that our number of broodmares remains small (about 900 mares), and the lack of finances forbid us to use the top-class stallions, the more respect we should have for the people who are responsible for the purchase of stallions (e.g. Who Knows, Jape, Don Corleone, Enjoy Plan, Llandaff) and breeders - for the correct pairing of mares and natural rearing of foals. It is worth appreciating this and visiting Poland in order to find the right horse.