ENGLISH TEXTS
ing at about 13. This passion never left him, and during his Master’ s studies, specializing in animal production, he looked for a way to make horses his profession. He met a steward who advised him to become a trainer. Maciej then did internships, trained, and gradually climbed the ranks. These various experiences took him to France at Écuries du Roc’ h( endurance), to Germany, and to the Emirates at Shaagran Stables. He then worked as an assistant trainer for Andrzej Walicki for two years before becoming a public trainer in 2017 in Poland. He started mainly with thoroughbreds but always kept in mind the desire to train only Arabian. He began with a few Arabian for the Al Khalediah stable and made a name for himself. He managed to convince Middle Eastern owners to have their horses trained by him. Indeed, Arabian are an integral part of Polish culture. Races dedicated to Arabian are just as numerous as those for thoroughbreds. Gradually, the stable grew, and victories followed. But his dream was to train in the Emirates. The level is higher, there are more races, and also more prize money! He left Poland after the Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe, at the top of the podium with the title of Best Arabian Thoroughbred Trainer 2024. A great achievement! Maciej trains in the public area of the Al Wathba training center, where sever- al trainers are located. The pace of life is completely different. The days start at 3:30 AM. There are four lots. Currently, there are nineteen horses, including seven three-year-olds in the stable. Seven people take care of the horses daily.“ It is a real comfort to work with so much staff. In Poland, we had up to six lots.” The evening stable lasts a little longer than in Poland. Indeed, the horses are handwalked, there is no walker on site. The time spent on each horse is also more significant. Some spend the night outside in the paddock, and in the evening at 9 PM, a final check is done to ensure everything is fine. In 2024, Maciej won the Al Ain Derby for four-yearold Arabian thoroughbreds raised in the Emirates for Al Ain Stud, an entity of Sheikh Hamed bin Khadin bin Butti Al Hamed. After a first season of adaptation, Maciej has all the cards in hand to succeed.
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By Jacob Pritchard-Webb
PRIX CAMBACERES
The grass no longer grows, the leaves go from the green to orange and the tempera- ture is starting to drop. The horses are back in from their summer break and the anticipation starts to build as the autumn season is upon us meaning one thing. Auteuil is back. With the return of the premier racetrack upon us, every trainer in the country will be looking out on the gallops at their three years old’ s hoping they have the next star.
The autumn holds a prize that shines brighter than all the rest. A stallion making race. Where champions are crowned, and loser are left waiting for Christmas to come and go in order to get a chance at redemption in the spring. I am of course talking about the group one Prix Cambaceres. The standout race for three years old’ s across Europe, this championship races and a honor roll to rival any great race. Held at Auteuil in November over 3600m this great contest has seen stars such as long run win the race, commencing his journey to legendary status as an eventual winner of the Cheltenham gold cup. Champion filly De bon Coeur who decimated anyone who got in her way during her racing years was a prolific winner of this race back in 2016 under James Reveley. Reveley then swung his leg over next year’ s winner with the dashing grey Master Dino who beat current exciting stallion Tunis in to second. De Bon Coeur and Master Dino dominated their ages group in the following years they raced and
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