This sireline came to Poland in 1931. Prince Roman Sanguszko of the Gumniska stud sent Bogdan Zientarski, accompanied by Carl Raswan, to buy horses from the desert. Near Jauf, they are shown the bay Kuhailan Haifi. Zientarski describes the feeling when he sees him:
"Finally I hear a neigh, they guide the stallions... they lead the bay Kuhailan Haifi. My legs buckled under me, it is just the horse I am looking for. Not large, dry, on splendid legs without any trace of cow hocks. A long neck, a noble head, although not very small, with distended, thin and moveable nostrils; a splendid high carried tail. I feel, the first time in my life, that during the purchase of a horse I am fainting..." (quoted from E. Skorkowski, "Arab breeding in Poland" a facsimile from an article series in "My Pony").
Zientarski's romantic description was perhaps not unjustified, considering the impact this stallion would have on arabian horse breeding around the world.
Kuhailan Haifi was born in 1923, the sire was a Kuhailan Kharas and the dam a Kuhaila Haifi. Kuhailan Haifi died in 1935 after siring 14 foals. The line was carried on mainly by his son Ofir (whose dam Dziwa had been sent to Gumniska from Janow to be covered) but there were two other branches as well. That of El Haifi 1935 out of Pomponia II (the last foal by Kuhailan Haifi) still exist. Even though El Haifi did not leave any sons in Poland there were two sons used in breeding, Ben Haifi, exported to Babolna and *Ar Haifi. *Ar Haifi was discovered at a circus by Erik Erlandsson and imported to Sweden and then to America where he has left at least one son, Le Haifi. The third branch was through Tajar (renamed Kuhailan Haifi I) who was exported to Babolna. He was described by Ekkehard Frelinghaus: "... a charming stallion of middle size of distinct arabian type with a very good topline, broad and deep in his build, with a correct limb conformation and movements full of impetus". He did not survive WWII.
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The daughters of note by Kuhailan Haifi were Donia, Oaza and Oda. Breniow stud bred several of their mares to Kuhailan Haifi (among them Sahiba, dam of Amurath Sahib) but them and their offspring was lost in World War II. Oaza was taken to Tersk and both Donia and Oda were lost in the confusion of the war.
The real star, however, was Ofir. Born in 1933 at Janow Podlaski, he would be the source of so many show and performance champions. His mother Dziwa was a broodmare supreme from the family of Sahara OA. In 1938 his first foals was born. This first foal crop proved that the addition of desert blood had been justified because in this group the sires Wielki Szlem, Witraz, Wind (Wyrwidab in Poland) and *Witez II were born, along with the mares Wilga, *Wierna and Wlodarka. Then World War II began and breeding in Poland was shattered. Ofir was taken by the Russians along with many of his offspring. What is a surprise is that even though he was used at Tersk, very few of his Tersk-bred offspring was used for breeding. His daughters that had the greatest impact on russian breeding were Wlodarka and Mammona, both polish-bred. Mammona was true to her name since it means "treasure" in polish. Other of his get (among them *Wierna and *Witez II) were taken to America by General Patton. After the war the Poles proposed that these horses should be returned but that was not to be.
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The daughters of Ofir that were left for polish breeding were Zalotna, Wilga and Ofirka. Zalotna did not have any impact in Poland but her son *Pilot by Trypolis was taken to USA (in the Patton group). Wilga and Ofirka have both left large and prosperous families.
The Ofir son Wind (Wyrwidab in Poland) was left in Germany were many of the polish horses had been evacuated along with their caretakers. He was first used in warmblood breeding but then moved to Marbach were he sired three daughters used for breeding. He did not leave any son.
*Witez II left a son in Europe, Wisznu, born in transit in 1943. Wisznu was used in Germany at Achental, Lütetsburg and Ströhen. He left several sons and daughters to carry on.
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Wielki Szlem sired more foals than Witraz and more broodmares. He was somewhat lighter in build than his brother Witraz (they were ¾ brothers by blood) and with a more quiet temperament. He did sire some stallions of which five were used in Poland. Roman Pankiewicz used both stallions at Albigowa and observed that mares who left excellent offspring with one of the stallions did not produce as well with the other.
Two Wielki Szlem sons were exported to America, *El Mudir (out of Munira) and *Kasztel (out of Kaszma). The only other son of note in Europe was Algier, first sold to a circus and then imported to Sweden by Erik Erlandsson (along with several Witraz sons).
Wielki Szlem sons used in Poland:
Anarchista (out of Bomba) left no sons but the mares Czatanoga, Fatma and *Fuksja (imp Sweden).
Czardasz (out of Baza) sired one son used in Poland, Gazon, and *Doman (imp Sweden), *Ben-Comet, *Finisz and Faun (exp Germany). He also sired the mares Meluzyna (imp Sweden), *Melhafa-ed-Areg (imp Sweden), Zamiec and Platyna.
Duch (out of Bojazn) was brother to Bojkena (by Gabor) who was the dam of *Bibars by Witraz (imp Sweden) and Borys by Wielki Szlem. Duch sired one son, Litaur, who was the sire of Cantata, the in utero import to Sweden (out of Canaria). He also sired the mares Wataha and *Ostroga.
Mlech Pelkinski (out of Hilla) is the sire of three mares: Manilla (dam of Meluzyna imp Sweden), Mufta and Medyna.
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The fifth son that was used was Czort. Unlike most of the sons of Wielki Szlem he left several stallions. He was out of the racing mare Forta. He sired four stallions used in Poland: *Krezus, Sabbat, *Banzaj and *El Paso. Of those, two continued the line and one in a truly grand style, *El Paso. Czort himself was a good racehorse, 4/19(13-5-1) and all his sons used in breeding had decent to good track records.
Sons
of Czort used in Poland:
*Krezus 3/17(8-3-1) winner of the Derby and the Criterium, was imported
to Sweden and then reexported to America. Among his offspring are*Ellorus
out of Ellora (and ¾ brother to *El Paso). *Ellorus sired Cereus and
Etamina, both imp Sweden, and the mares *Algebra and *Algerina.
Sabbat (out of *Sabellina) was a great racehorse, 11(5-3-2), but a failure as a sire. His full brother *Sambor, was successful on the track but also as a sire.
*Banzaj (out of Bandola) was at stud for two seasons before he was exported. He left four mares of which two were imported to Sweden, Parada out of Podwika and Sekta out of *Sabrina.
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*El
Paso was the real star of Czort's offspring. A good racehose, 2/19(3-3-3),
he was also US Nat'l Ch stallion when on lease to USA and a very good
sire. His full brother Elfur (racing record: 23 starts, 13 wins, 8
times placed and Derby winner) was used at Tersk but very few of his
get were used at stud.
Among *El Paso's get are:
*Wizja, US Nat'l Ch mare
*Europejczyk, undefeated racehorse and good sire
*Cadyk, Swedish Nat'l Ch stallion
*Czaprak, Swedish Nat'l Ch stallion
Etogram, a show champion and chief sire
*Gildia, the dam of *Goliat and Gil
*Wilkolak, used at stud for two seasons
*Alkazar, used at stud for two seasons, Polish Nat'l Ch
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Sons of Czort used outside Poland:
*Etan (out of Etna), US Top Ten English Pleasure and Canadian Reserve National Chapion stallion.
*Komis (out of *Wielka Kometa), exp USA were he has sired racehorses.
*Sambor (racing record in Poland 1/8(3-2-1), US Nat'l Ch Racehorse) was never used in Poland but his son Samsheik has been used via frozen semen. He has left many successful racehorses.
*Czortan (out of *Mortissa), successful sire in USA. Founder of the "Ivanhoe Tsultan dynasty" as he was his paternal grandsire.
*Pentagon 1966 (out of Penza), 3/21(5-6-3). Park Champion.
*Ruszt (out of Rusznica), 3/17(4-2-2)1.
*Pierrot (out of *Pierzga), 24(10-5-5)D+Cx2, exp Germany. Sire of good racehorses, for example the stallion Santhos.
*Allahabad 1967 (out of Algonkina) US National champion racehorse, polish record 1/5(2-1-2). He was also a regional champion in English Pleasure and halter.
*Pentagon 1966 (out of Penza), 3/21(5-6-3). Park Champion.
*Ruszt (out of Rusznica), 3/17(4-2-2)1.
*Pierrot (out of *Pierzga), 24(10-5-5)D+Cx2, exp Germany. Sire of good racehorses, for example the stallion Santhos.
Sons of Wielki Szlem used outside Poland:
*El Mudir (out of Munira), 2/9(4-0-0), was a full brother of the excellent mare Bint Munira. He was an accomplished horse himself and passed on great performance ability to his offspring. He was US National champion park and was also schooled in dressage.
*Kasztel (out of Kaszma) was a good racehorse, 3/21(5-2-4).
Algier (out of Alga), 3/29(7-5-6), sired seven sons: Atlas, *Rusazcie, *Maligg, *RD Misha, Bogardt, *Algier (Mirage in Sweden) and *Nabytek. He also left good mares, among them Minerva, Nostalgia, Salamalaika, Czajka and Lewa. Many of his offspring have had good performance abilities.
Text ©2006 Helena Karlsson