Do you know this feeling of an overwhelming sense of familiarity with something that shouldn't be familiar at all, the feeling that you have lived through the present situation before? In such a situation, we use the term déjà-vu which means, literally, "already seen." The Senior Championships of the competitive and prestigious 2019 Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival caused such a feeling. Just like in 2018, a QR Marc son and a Gazal Al Shaqab daughter garnered Gold Champion Senior Stallion and Mare.

With Equator the reigning World Gold Champion Senior Stallion won the class for stallions 7 years + with 93,25 points and was awarded Unanimous Gold Champion Senior Stallion. The QR Marc son out of Ekliptyka is probably one of the busiest show horses in recent years, shown and shown again for various owners and lessees. Bred by Michalow Stud, Equator is now waving the flag for Ghazi Bashher Alotaibi. Equator is a close relative to 2018 Gold Champion, Emerald J (QR Marc x Emandoria). Both are stunning bay stallions which are tracing back in the tail female line to Estokada (Amurath Sahib x Saga).

The very same dam line is represented by the 2019 Gold Champion Senior Mare, Ekspulsja. This fleabitten wowed the spectators and judges likewise and received 93,75 points – the high score of the show and therefore Ekspulsja also received the award for Best in Show! Her marks included 3x 20 for Type, 2x 20 for Head + Neck, and another 2x 20 for Movement. Bred by Michalow Stud, this Gazal Al Shaqab daughter is out of famed Elandra (by Monogramm) is owned by Halsdon Arabians, UK. Shirley Watts bought this beauty that can make one's head spin for 400.000 € in 2013. Last year, another mare owned by Shirley Watts accomplished Gold Champion Senior Mare and Best in Show – the lovely Etnologia (Gazal Al Shaqab x Etalanta).

Let's change to the Junior titles. Gold Champion Junior Colt was given to Magic Al Gazal, winner of Colts 2 years old. Magic Al Gazal is by Gazal Al Shaqab out of Ale By Magnifique, a daughter by black stallion Magic Magnifique. Bred by Sweden Arabian Stud, the colt is owned by Shaikh Arahmah Saoud Bin Khalid Al Qassemi, Kuwait.

The Gold Champion Yearling Colt came from the second row, so to say. D Mezyan (FA El Rasheem x D Mazaja) ended up second in his class, bested only by his stablemate D Nayel. In the championship, the judges saw D Mezyan ahead the competition with D Nayel winning Silver and another Dubai Arabian Horse Stud' bred colt winning Bronze, D Shakhat.

Dubai Arabian Horse Stud celebrated another double success in the Yearling Filly Championship with D Shu'alah and D Shamkah winning Gold and Silver. Again, in their class, the ranking was reversed. Both fillies are full sister, sired by FA El Rasheem and out of multiple show FT Shaella (Shael Dream Desert x Soul Pretty TGS) who is such a good producer for Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. FT Shaella also brought – among others - D Shahla (who won Gold in Dubai, Menton, Paris, and Aachen a few years ago) and D Mshary, 2014 ANC Gold Champion Yearling Colt and World Bronze Champion Yearling Colt.

Last but not least, the Poseidon OS daughter Priscilla OS garnered Gold Champion Junior Filly. The bay three years old came 2nd in her age class with 91,25 points, just bested by reigning Scandinavian Gold Champion Junior Filly, Maymoona Babel. Bred by Osterhof Stud and owned by Abhaa Arabians, Priscilla OS (x El Lucina OS) already is an accomplished show filly winning Milan Gold Champion Junior Filly earlier this year. Through her dam El Lucina OS, Priscilla OS is tracing back to Naharra, an El Shaklan daughter who founded a wonderful family in South America.

Heartfelt thanks go to the breeders, owners, trainers, handlers, and fans of Arabian horses and all the generous sponsors.

To see all the results of the show, please visit www.arabianhorseresults.com and figure out beautiful photos taken by Lore Beckers @ www.arabianhorseresults.com