Tony Jablonski Returns To Anz Stadium For Ben Hur

Jablonski Returns to Scene of Olympic Triumph

Ten years after his Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremony triumph, renowned Australian horse trainer Tony Jablonski returns to ANZ Stadium for another spectacular this October.

Jablonski has agreed to select and train 35 Australian horses, many for the famous chariot race, for BEN HUR The Stadium Spectacular at ANZ Stadium.

The horses will be trained at Jablonski's Queensland facility before extensive rehearsals in Sydney.

"I've been involved in some amazing productions, but BEN HUR at ANZ Stadium is a whole different challenge," Jablonski said.

"I'm thrilled to be part of such an action-packed show and we'll be working non-stop for the next five months to ensure these horses are ready to blow audiences away."

The world watched in awe as Jablonski's masterpiece led the spectacular Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremony at ANZ Stadium.

Jablonski, who trained both horses and horsemen for the unforgettable opening ceremony, now takes on a live recreation of one of Hollywood's most thrilling action sequences the chariot race of the 1959 classic BEN HUR.

The 35 Arabian, Thoroughbred and Throughbred Cross horses carefully selected to perform in the $15 million production will arrive at a property in Belmont, Queensland next month.

Together with his 24-strong team, Jablonski will work with the horses through the training and fitness program to ensure they are in peak condition for the October performances.

Jablonski's rich history working with horses began at age five when he was a rider at Smokey Dawson's ranch. He now boasts over 35 years' experience working with horses in the entertainment industry, after working as a wrangler on the ABC TV series Ben Hall at just 16.

Since then, Jablonski has made a name for himself in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, as well as in the USA and the Middle East.

He has also worked closely with many famous actors, singers and entertainers including Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Thompson, Sam Neill, Heath Ledger, Guy Pearce, David Gulpilil, Lee Kernigan and Dolly Parton.

Jablonski is currently consultant and Horse Master at Australia's only world-class equine facility and live dinner show The Australian Outback Spectacular on the Gold Coast.

Direct from Europe, the stadium spectacular of BEN HUR, will perform exclusively in Sydney at ANZ Stadium for two nights only on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October.

BEN HUR brings to life the classic tale made famous by the eleven-time Academy Award winning 1959 Hollywood movie "Ben Hur" starring Charlton Heston. BEN HUR combines the scale of the Sydney Olympic Games Opening Ceremony with the drama of the galley slave who dared defy the powerful Roman Empire.

"An epic spectacular, extraordinary" Le Monde

"BEN HUR fired up the Stade de France and for one evening Paris became Hollywood!" TVEnvie

Find out more at: www.benhur.com.au

For media enquiries only:-
Bruce Pollack, Pollack Consulting (02) 9331 5276 or [email protected] Steven Godbee, Steven Godbee Publicity, 0408 706 099 or [email protected]

SOURCE: Ben Hur - The Stadium Spectacular