The Dazzle Of
Dubai by Jeff Wallace
The Arabian horse has long been the catalyst for creating communities of
enthusiasts who quite literally come together for their mutual benefit and for
the love of the breed. It happened nearly 40 years ago, when so many of the prominent breeders began to congregate around Scottsdale, Ariz. Arabian horse lovers could attend the All Arabian Horse Show and take advantage of
the opportunity to visit many different breeding and training farms. It was possible then to visit Lasma, Karho, Chauncey’s and so many others, all in a
single day. The breeders surrounding Dubai have replicated that model at a higher level half way around the world. And once again, it is the power of the
Arabian horse that has made this desert oasis a new destination for enthusiasts. 76 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES
The Dazzle Of Dubai
Gold Champion Senior Stallion EMERALD J and his son, Gold Champion Junior Colt GALLARDO J.
H
ome to the tallest man-made structure in the world, the Burj Khalifa, Dubai is a sparkling city that offers comfort and luxury in a most accommodating and welcoming way. The 12th annual Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship, held in the city center, allows visitors from all over the world the opportunity to explore the urban delights, while being able to strike out in any direction to visit the prominent stud farms. The Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, Ajman Stud, Albidayer Stud, Al Zobair Stud, Al Hawajer, and so many others, circle the city like precious jewels, home to some of the most magnificent breeding programs and bloodstock collections in the world today. Seeing the fabulous producing Marajj at Albidayer Stud and then the glorious, gorgeous twosome, Najdah Al Zobair and Star of Al Zobair hanging their breathtaking heads over their stall doors vying for the carrot in my hand, put a lump in my throat and left me weak in the knee. The homebred stock at Ajman Stud was nothing less than spectacular and too numerous to mention. The quality level is that of Santa Ynez Valley, Calif., in the 1970’s and 80’s— simply spectacular.
The achievements of the Middle Eastern breeders have changed the breed profoundly in a very short period of time. With heartfelt intent, intelligent choices and the means to support their dreams, these breeders have set a new standard that continues to rise with each passing year. The deep passion that drives their success is their cultural connection to the horses, which represent the history of their families and their countries. The quality of the horses on each of the farms is quite amazing, almost breathtaking to behold and uniformly excellent. To see the finest equine representatives from each of the programs gathered together in the heart of the city to vie for the six championship titles was truly a sight to behold. The Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship offers Yearling, Two & Three Year Olds, and Over Three Years Old titles for Colts/Stallions and Fillies/ Mares. The show enjoys the sponsorship and patronage of many significant individuals, most notably Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al
Volume 45, No. 12 | 77
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The Dazzle Of Dubai
Gold Champion Senior Stallion EMERALD J (QR Marc x *Emandoria), owned by Al Muawd Stud.
Silver Champion Senior Stallion AJA JUSTIFIED (WH Justice x Aja Beneja), owned by Ajman Stud.
Gold Champion Junior Colt GALLARDO J (Emerald J x Gomera J), owned by Al Muawd Stud.
Gold Champion Yearling Colt D AASEF (Marajj x Lumiar Bint Balzac), owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud.
Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance. Everything about the setting and the amenities of the venue ref lects the prominence placed on the event by the people of Dubai. This year, the winning horses received an array of beautiful ribbons, trophies, and awards along with prize money totaling a whopping $4 million USD.
years ago and was perfectly presented in Dubai by Frank Spöenle in what was only her second show ring appearance. In the meantime, she has produced notable offspring for Ajman Stud, which has earned her the love and respect of people of all cultures.
Among the most captivating horses to appear this year was Badawieh AA (Laheeb x Bahiha), the ethereal straight-Egyptian beauty who brought home the gold championship for older mares. She is the beautifullybred jewel of the broodmare band of the Crown Prince of Ajman, HH Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi’s Ajman Stud. She debuted for her former owners as a Junior Champion Yearling Filly over ten
A tall, elegant creature, Badawieh AA is intensely linebred to Nazeer (Mansour x Bint Samiha) with multiple crosses to *Morafic (Nazeer x Mabrouka) and *Ansata Ibn Halima++ (Nazeer x Halima), with a powerful tail female line to Ansata Nile Mist (Ansata Ibn Sudan x Falima). It is clear that the potency and value of these bloodlines, with their shared Babson heritage on the tail-female line, have been handled very carefully over the intervening years. The result is an attar of the finest elements of foundational Egyptian breeding, Volume 45, No. 12 | 79
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The Dazzle Of Dubai
Gold Champion Senior Mare BADAWIEH AA (Laheeb x Bahiha), owned by Ajman Stud.
Gold Champion Junior Filly D SHAHLA (Marajj x FT Shaella), owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud.
Gold Champion Yearling Filly MOZN ALBIDAYER (S.M.A. Magic One x Mattaharii), owned by Sheikh Mohammed Saoud Sultan S Alqassimi.
Ajman Stud’s AJ SAYEDA (Vervaldee x Sweet Caroline LL).
condensed into a spectacular package that carries those qualities forward for future generations.
breeding stock from America years ago and has never turned back. Her fortuitous lease of the then-unknown Ekstern (Monogramm x Ernestyna) from the Polish State Stud elevated her program to the top of the list of those to be reckoned with. *Emandoria, with Frank Spöenle, as well, was last year’s Gold Champion Mare in Dubai, under the ownership of Ajman Stud.
In an amazing coup, the Al Muawd Stud, owned by the Sons of Abdullah bin Muhammed Al Sybaiee, captured the gold championships for both the Stallions and the Junior Colts with Emerald J (QR Marc x *Emandoria) and his gorgeous son Gallardo J (x Gomera J, by Ekstern). While primarily Polish in lineage, the intentional infusion of Egyptian blood into Emerald J’s pedigree has resulted in a magnificent stallion that is capable of passing on his best qualities, while complementing those of the mare. The “J” in both of their names represents the breeder, Christine Jamar of Jadem Arabians in Belgium. A canny and courageous breeder, Christine imported a handful of
The experience of visiting Dubai and soaking up its essence far exceeds expectations. The intent and commitment by the breeders and owners to perpetuate the Arabian horse is nothing short of inspiring. For those who experienced all Dubai has to offer, it is a guarantee that they will eagerly await their next opportunity to return to the cradle of the Arabian horse. ■ Volume 45, No. 12 | 81