The Arabian Derby. The force was with Alsahr!

Alsahr ridden by Sanzhar Abaev. Tor Wyścigów Konnych Służewiec

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After the race for the Janów St., I wrote that in this year’s Derby Alsahr (Mared Al Sahra – Almina by Furiat) and Kenjiy (No Risk Al Maury – King-Ute by The Wiking) will again fight for victory. Indeed, these two horses again, although not with as much advantage as before, crossed the wire in that order, but this time there was no fight between them.

From the start there was a solid pace and on the final straight the force was with Alsahr. He won under Kirghiz Sanzhar Abaev (he replaced the suspended Aleksander Reznikov), unchallenged by two lengths, while Kenjiy defeated Echaron by just as much, who made a small surprise under his trainer Małgorzata Kryszyłowicz, beating the fourth Celebryk at the finish by 5 lengths (previously he lost to him by 2 lengths).

Compared to the race for the Janów St., held at the end (the last 500 m was hellishly fast for Arabians – 32.3 s), the Derby had quite a strong, fairly even pace dictated by Hazim Al Khalediah (Kasir Al Khalediah – WFA Harmony by Djebbel), so this time the final result was determined by stamina, not speed (last 500 m – 35.4 s). This suited Alsahr best, as Kenjiy, tired of the fast pace, was unable to get close to him. Also the more “strong” than fast Echaron could spread his wings and even for a moment it seemed that he would participate in the fight for second place.

Holding cups from the left: trainer Maciej Janikowski, jockey Sanzhar Abaev, breeder & owner of Alsahr Zbigniew Górski, by Tor Wyścigów Konnych Służewiec

The race time of 3’31.7 on a slightly soft track (3.1) should be considered good, only 3.8 seconds worse than Wares’ sensational record, which was 3’27.9 in 2013 under Aleksander Reznikov.

It was the second victory in the Derby in the last three seasons of a horse bred and owned by Zbigniew Górski (Dragon won in 2019). Maciej Janikowski triumphed in the Arabian Derby for the fifth time. Apart from Alsahr and Dragon, the winners were: Sarenka (1978), Europejczyk (1986) and Wilczur (1987).

“Each Derby is a big event. I expected that in such a small group the race would be calm and that nothing unexpected would happen. I did not give Abaev any strict guidelines. I only told him that he had to keep his head open and to ride with full confidence toward the horse, which has already shown that he is both strong and fast”, emphasized Janikowski.

Let us add that Alsahr has already been entered for the Europa Cup, which will be held during the Arabian Day on August 22nd. Only 13 horses in Polish training were entered: tr Justyna Domańska: Apollo Del Sol (FR); tr Cornelia Fraisl: Hosco De Bozouls (FR), Samonlau ‘OA’ (NL); tr Bartosz Głowacki: Dary Al Khalediah (FR); tr Maciej Janikowski: Alsahr, Dragon; tr Maciej Kacprzyk: Amwaj Al. Khalediah (FR), Nrgizing (FR), Wasma Al Khalediah (FR); tr Małgorzata Kryszyłowicz: Echaron; tr Wojciech Olkowski; General Lady (FR), tr Natalia Szelągowska: Seiful Muliuk (RU): tr Adam Wyrzyk: Grand Dakris.

Source: Jan Zabieglik