The sea sparkled in the sun. From the car window it looked like a shimmering blue blanket. Next to the crystal waters there appeared beautiful landscapes with a mesmerizing vision of what Goethe called ‘the perfect union of the sky with the sea and the sea with the land’. This beautiful setting felt like a loving hug before we arrived in the city of Palermo. Once we finally got to the ‘Parco della Favorita’ we were warmly welcomed by Antonio Culcasi as official organizer of the 9th edition of the Palermo Arabian Horses Cup. We also met surveyor Michele Trapani, creator of the event and the incredible New Monte Erice Equestrian team. We were showed around this huge property that stretches for almost 400 hectares of land on the slopes of the ‘Monte Pellegrino’. Inside the park, we visited the Palazzina Cinese, an exotic-style house of hunting of King Ferdinando IV of Borbons, and the eighteenth-century Villa Valguarnera di Niscemi, headquarters of current Mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando who was there as the official sponsor of the event together with Salvatore Orlando, President of the Palermo Municipal Council. Saturday 7th April, the show began in the steeplechase field named ‘Giuseppe Di Matteo’ inside the Park. Key partner of this year’s edition was Al Shaqab, Equestrian Center of the Qatar Foundation (QF), in the State of Qatar, which is globally committed to preserve the legacy of Qatar by promoting Arabian horses and setting the highest standards concerning welfare, breeding education and equine research. During the two days, it was celebrated also the ‘IV Egyptian Event’, devoted to the sole Egyptian breed and the ‘IV Sicily Cup’, reserved for Sicily-born and bred horses. An international five-judge panel was composed by: Mrs. Darius Claudia (GER); Mrs. Fayt Bérengére (BEL); Dr. Aragno Gianmarco (ITA); Mr. Rombauer Tamas (HUN) and Mr. Al Marazeeq Abdelaziz. Disciplinary commissioners were: Mrs. Raso Barbara; Mr. Ceccaroni Roberto; Mr. Capelli Marco and Dr. Vet. Fantauzzo Giuseppe, all from Italy. Excellent the work done by: Mr. Bonomi Mario Alessandro as ringmaster; by Mrs. Boschini Mirjam as official show speaker and Mrs. Alinovi Marzia as general secretary. Over two sunny days, we watched the competition together with breeders and friends. From the VIP tables, screams and words of encouragement were being launched to the horses performing in the arena. The Final Championships were showed on April 8th and gave the following results: As for the Yearling Fillies Championship, Gold medal winner the bay SHAHAMA AL SHAQAB (AL RAHEB AA x GAZALA AL SHAQAB) bred and owned by Al Shaqab Stud - Member of the Qatar Foundation. Silver medal winner the gray MG VANITY (AVALON LBA x PS SHADY EL SHAMS) bred and owned by MG Arabians. Bronze medal winner, the sparkling black SHIRHAI (AAS THE PANIC x LADY ELISIR) bred and owned by Gallina Salvatore. The Yearling Colts Championship was earned by the chestnut MG EL RASHEER (FA EL RASHEEM x GW THE PREMIERE) bred and owned by MG Arabians. Silver medal winner the bay TAMMAM ATHBAH (FADI AL SHAQAB x STAR OF MARWAN) bred and owned by Athbah Stud. Bronze medal winner, the bay BVL JAMIL (AG NOBEL MARCUS x BVL HASADDEH) bred and owned by Bevilacqua Mattia from BVL Arabians. As for the Junior Fillies Championship, Gold medal winner the chestnut MC CHANEL BY DAVIDE (AG NOBEL DAVIDE for DANUBIA EL AZIZ) bred and owned by Cerveglione Mario. Silver medal winner the bay SATIN K.A. (QR MARC x SAYONARAH EL BRI) bred and owned by Knocke Arabians. Bronze medal winner the gray JOURAIT AL JASSIMYA (WH JUSTICE x OM EL SORAYA) bred by Al Jassimya Farm and owned by Sheikh Jassim Khalifa Al Thani. As for the Junior Colts Championship, Gold medal winner the gray TF ANDRUS (FADI AL SHAQAB x TF LADY ROYAL) bred and owned by Tripodi Francesco. Silver medal winner the bay MABEL STAR K.A. (PSYTADEL x MARC’S STAR K.A.) bred by Knocke Arabians and owned by A.A. Dei Goti. Bronze medal winner the gray MY STAR K.A. (SMA MAGIC ONE for MARC’S STAR K.A.) bred by Knocke Arabians and owned by MG Arabians. As for the Senior Mares Championship, Gold medal winner the gray ALTONA (EUKALIPTUS x ALBIGOWA) bred by Janov Podlaski and owned by Altona Partnership of Manzi Emilio & Martino Gianluca. For years away from the public eye, the nineteen year old Altona put up a great show and her strength, elegance and physical attributes impressed the judges. Completely unexpected, the victory of Altona was welcomed with joy and amazement by the new owners, certainly there had been some controversy…but the old Queen had only come back to win and so it happened. Silver medal winner, the gray TF LADY ROYAL (ROYAL COLORS x BALEENA EB) bred and owned by Tripodi Francesco. Bronze medal win-ner the gray WAFIA AL SHAQAB (HARIRY AL SHAQAB x ALLISON MO) bred and owned by Al Shaqab Member of Q.F. The entrance in the ring of the chestnut VESUVIUS DPA burst into a general excitement among the spectators. His performance left everyone in suspense and it earned him the title of Gold Champion Senior Stallion. VESUVIUS DPA is bred by Jane and Kristi Hopp and owned by Del Vacchio Giuseppe. Silver medal for the bay MAHARAJA HDM (MARAJJ x YASMINAH ELAMAAL) bred by Mertens Danielle and owned by McGlinn Jeffery William. Bronze medal for the bay AL ANEED LDA (ALIXIR x ILLA MAGIDAA) bred by LD Arabians and owned by Fontanella Magic Arabians. Sunday, April 8th there were exhibited the Futurity Cateta gories along with the IV Egyptian Event devoted to the sole Egyptian breed and the IV Sicily Cup reserved for Sicily-born and bred horses. Futurity Champion Filly, the chestnut RAYE MAA (FA EL RASHEEM x AG SARONA PSYCHE) owned by Tenuta Poggio Binaia. Futurity Champion Colt, the gray LJON PC (ALEXANDER PC x LEYLA PC) owned by Capizzi Francesco Paolo. The IV Egyptian Event was won by the gray HANAYA ENOUD EL EZZ (EZZ EZZAIN x HANAYA ELISSAR) bred and owned by Hanaya Stud in the Fillies Category, and by the chestnut AWWAL AL FARAH (MU AYYAD AL FARAH x MRD PRINCESS NEJDA) owned by Bonin Mascia in the Colts Category; by the gray HANAYA JAZEEBAH (KENZ AL BAYDAA x IMHAJAA) bred by Hanaya Stud and owned by Fontanella Magic Arabians in the Mares Category; and, in the Stallions Category, by the gray HANAYA KARAM (KENZ AL BAYDAA x HANAYA ELISSAR) bred by Nayla Hayek and owned by Fontanella Magic Arabians. The Fourth Sicily Cup was earned by the chestnut MC CHANEL BY DAVIDE (AG NOBEL DAVIDE x DANUBIA EL AZIZ) bred and owned by Cerveglione Mario in the Female Category; whilst, in the Male Category, the trophy was assigned to the chestnut MG EL RASHEER (FA EL RASHEEM x GW LA PREMIERE) bred and owned by MG Arabians. A wonderful spring weekend thoroughly devoted to the immortality of the Arabian horse. The beauty, elegance, stamina and irresistible charisma of this creature so close to our hearts were celebrated in Palermo, at the ‘Parco Della Favorita’, in a breathtaking landscape which only could be worth a show like this. And that, it could only be born - and made possible - thanks to the joint effort and extensive mobilization of institutions and people. Heartfelt thank you to the Organizer of the event Antonio Culcasi, its creator Michele Trapani, the Town Hall of Palermo and its officials, the New Monte Erice Equestrian team, the members of the Italian National Association of the Arabian Horse (A.n.i.c.a.); the official photographers Azzali Alessio and Caracciolo Antonio as well as handlers and breeders, their families and the many sponsors which intervened!