THE Arabian Classic, in its glory days at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds was wall-to-wall horses.

Then, the senior stallion class was filled with more than 30 dancing beauties of the world's most ancient and beautiful breed.

Times have changed, and the same classes now, while not having the same vast numbers, still show the popularity and appreciation of the Arabian horse and its "derivatives" to Australian horse owners.

At Werribee Park last week, the line-up for the supreme pure-bred Arabian geldings included the purebred champion junior Arabian gelding, Dream Fever, owned by Michael and Kahlie Sciberras and Heath Rowbottom, and the champion senior Arabian gelding, Bullion, owned by Emma Adams, and Future Farms, which was announced as the supreme Arabian gelding, Bullion.

Two beautiful females presented for the supreme mare - the filly Krishla Arabians' A'Diva and the brood mare Avondale Grace - with the senior mare taking the award for Pam Morris, long-time breeder of some exceptional horses.

The champion Arabian stallion was the American import Rahjah KA, owned by Rhodium Arabians New Zealand, and shown for them by Future Farms.

As well as being known for their beauty, and for being the basis on which every racing Thoroughbred stands, the Arabians are also supreme when it comes to endurance races, with hundreds of thousands of dollars paid for world class competitors, but the Arabian, when crossed with other pure breeds, provides lovely and very useful horses and ponies.

At the Classic the supreme champion Arabian Pony was the gelding Jayay Khasino shown by Oakley Manor and Future Farms and the supreme Arabian Riding Pony went to the stallion, Shiranna Valentino, owned by Shiranna Stud.

The supreme partbred Arabian was Amaki's De Ja'Vu.

The champion Quarab - a cross between an Arabian and a Quarterhorse - was the spectacularly coloured Diamond T Cheveyo, owned by Dianne Miller.

The champion Arabian Stockhorse sash went to Renrut Park Blade.

Arabian blood has been used to produce some really exciting and successful performance horses, and the cross has given some of the heavier performance types some much needed quality. Some very nice Arabian Warmbloods were presented, with the supreme award going to mare Warrawee Beyoncee, shown by Richard and Coral Ryan.

The Anglo Arabian, a cross between purebred Arabians and Thoroughbreds, has been a long-time favourite with Australian horse riders.

Supreme champion Anglo Arabian was Naaman Truly Magnum, shown by Naaman Stud farm.

As expected from a breed that has performed for thousands of years as a saddle horse, there were some lovely saddle performances with the supreme ridden horse of the show going to Electric Dreams, ridden by Clint Bilson.