Organisers expect buyers from countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, the United States, Britain, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Slovenia.
The auction is the highlight of the Polish Arabian Horse Days, which have been taking place in Janów Podlaski since Friday.
The sale will feature 15 mares and one stallion from Poland's three state-run stud farms in Janów Podlaski, Michałów and Białka.
An embryo by stallion Fajer and mare Protekcja will also be offered under lot No. 0, together with its surrogate mare, Fortunatka, from the Michałów stud, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The National Support Centre for Agriculture (KOWR) said the horses offered for sale are selected each year based on market analysis, spring inspections and weeks of discussions among breeders.
Anna Stojanowska, an adviser to KOWR's director-general on Arabian horse breeding, said the selection process primarily takes into account the need to protect the studs' breeding programmes.
"On the other hand, we have market expectations, so we have to adapt somewhat to customer demand," Stojanowska said. She added that show potential has been a key factor driving prices for at least two decades.
Janów Podlaski also attracts breeders looking for "solid mares" to build their own breeding programmes, while some buyers are interested in horses for riding, she said.
Stojanowska said she did not expect new price records at this year's auction, saying that the number of horses sold at prices satisfactory to the state studs would be a better measure of success.
"This year's offering is solid, with very good mares in the middle range," she said. "There may not be any major stars that would attract buyers willing to pay millions, but that's not the point."
The expected star of the auction is Poganinka, an 11-year-old chestnut mare from the Michałów stud.
Poganinka is the daughter of stallion El Omari and mare Pentra.
Michałów is also offering El Bella, a 2-year-old chestnut mare by the popular Emirati sire Mutabahi Al Hawajer and El Bellisima, a daughter of Belgian-bred stallion Ascot DD, according to an announcement.
Other favourites include Pila, a 9-year-old dark chestnut mare, and Erantis, a 9-year-old stallion, both from the Janów Podlaski stud. The Białka stud is offering a mare named Ejna.
Sunday also featured the final of the National Arabian Horse Show. The best mares and stallions in their respective classes competed for championship titles.
Epiforana, a 2-year-old grey mare from Poland's Michałów stud farm, was named Best in Show in Janów Podlaski on Sunday. Photos: PAP/Wojtek Jargiło
More than 120 horses had been entered in this year's show, which was judged by an international panel. Horses were scored on five characteristics: type, head and neck, body, legs and movement.
Special awards were also presented, including prizes for the most beautiful mare and the best racehorse.
Stojanowska said the national championship provides a test of whether Poland's breeding programme is heading in the right direction.
On Monday, buyers will have another opportunity to bid for Arabian horses at the Summer Sale. The auction will feature 22 mares and three stallions from state studs and private breeders.
The Summer Sale typically features younger breeding horses at lower prices than those offered at the Pride of Poland auction.
Last year, 13 horses were sold at the Pride of Poland auction for a combined EUR 1.33 million. The highest price, EUR 430,000, was paid by a Swiss buyer for Adelita, an 11-year-old grey mare from the Janów Podlaski stud.
A buyer from the United Arab Emirates paid EUR 350,000 for El Medida, a 6-year-old grey mare from Michałów.
Nineteen horses were sold at last year's Summer Sale for about EUR 215,000 in total.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP