Peregrine Bloodstock
“There is nothing to compare to the thrill of first seeing an animal which is so beautiful and charismatic that it commands your attention, from which you dare not look away because you might miss something. An experience so intoxicating that you forget where you are and what you are doing.�
Peregrine Bloodstock Peregrine is the result of a 40-year collaboration between Australian breeders and judges Mark Wharton and Quentin Naylor. A fantasy story which began as a chance meeting at an Australian horse show, and has grown into an international consultancy and full service management service spread over more than 600 acres of some of the finest horse country in the world outside Lexington, Kentucky. We handle selection, management, breeding, nursery, young stock, and mares and stallions. We are well placed to provide or coordinate a wide range of both general and specialist care. Our clients range from people with just one or two horses, to large herds. Our backgrounds are complementary and our devotion to our equine charges, absolute. We do nothing else as simultaneously we conduct our own breeding program with over 100 carefully selected purebred Arabians. With National Champions in Australia, Brazil and the United States we aim to excel. It is our life’s work.
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In the Beginning “Horses have been part of my family for as long as I can remember,” Mark recalls. “However, my interest in Arabians began as I finished school in Australia, when I accompanied my father to the National Stud Horse and Pony show in Sydney in 1977. This show was my first exposure to purebred Arabians. I met Quentin Naylor there when she won her class with her part Arabian gelding. Quentin had just returned from a month long tour around the U.S., visiting the major breeding farms of the time, and had seen most of the great breeding stallions alive in the U.S. at that time. Her photos from that trip sparked my interest in the history and international reach of the Arabian.” For Quentin, the year 1977 brought a similar epiphany. “It was in 1977 that I first saw Ralvon Pilgrim (Rikham x Trix Silver),” she said. “He had just returned from his supreme international championship (later world championship) win at Ascot. This dramatic red horse trotted across his paddock with his signature airy, suspended gait, arched neck, and flowing mane and tail, and I was sold — not specifically on Pilgrim, but on the essence of the Arabian horse. I knew immediately that Arabian horses would be part of my life. I began to study and travel extensively and quite quickly qualified as a judge in Australia and later Brazil.” Mark continues: I began to read everything I could find, including all the outdated Arabian Horse World magazines available from a tack store in Sydney, until the pages began to fall out. I went to every agricultural show possible to see the Arabian classes, and I went on weekend tours of the Arabian farms within driving distance of my home. A decade later, Quentin became my partner in what has today become Peregrine Bloodstock.
“Breeding is dynamic and it must be progressive and move forward.”
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Through Quentin I became aware of a groom position becoming available at Simeon Stud in Australia. Secretly, I interviewed and got the job. I was immersed full time in the world of the Arabian horse, and at an exciting time for Simeon Stud. The foundation of the great straight Egyptian program was in place, the first Australian National Champion mare was crowned, *27 Ibn Gazal 5, and Simeon Safanad, dam of U.S. and World Champion *Simeon Shai and World Champion Simeon Sadik, was born. I spent 18 months at Simeon and during that time, although my belief in working with Arabians as a lifetime pursuit was challenged, it never really wavered. I wanted more. In one of the tattered Arabian Horse World magazines I was still reading, I saw an article on the Nichols-Delongpre Apprentice Program in the U.S. I applied and was accepted, and within a month I was in Santa Barbara, California, without a clue as to who Mike Nichols, Don Delongpre, or Richard Petty were, or their place in the breed at that time. It was a crash course in the best of Polish breeding, how a large farm functions, and dramatic auction sales and training. There, I was fortunate to develop a technique which has formed the basis of my halter training method, and had the privilege of halter training beautiful daughters of *Bask, Comet, Negatiw, and *Bandos. During this time at NDL I married, and my wife and I came to the attention of Sheila
Varian. We accepted training positions at Varian Arabians, and as halter trainer I developed the first foal crops of Huckleberry Bey. I showed Huckleberry Bey and Keepsake V in halter at Scottsdale that year, and Sweet Inspiration V was U.S. National Reserve Champion Futurity Filly with Sheila. The true value of working with Sheila came from seeing the generations of mare lines, each making a contribution to the next generation, and the progression of the stallions from Bay Abi to Bay El Bey to Huckleberry Bey,
and then to *Sanadik El Shaklan, each different in their contribution but nonetheless important and progressive. Equally impressive was Sheila’s ability to market each one as an individual and as a contributing part of the breeding program.
Mark Wharton started training at Varian Arabians in 1983, pictured here showing Huckleberry Bey (Bay El Bey x Taffona), right, and Keepsake V (Huckleberry Bey x Khemadera by Khemosabi), above.
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“With Mark in the U.S., I continued with my day job, which could not have been further from Arabian horses or the life he had chosen,” says Quentin. “I was, at that time, company secretary to the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island, and an Australian Public Servant. Later, I became chief of a mystery section of my Canberra-based department called, ‘Ministerial Liaison,’ vested with riveting things like the Minster’s Question Book (updated daily to fend off questions from representatives during the open Parliamentary ‘Question Time’) and vetting policy documents for Cabinet, a paycheck to support my beloved Arabians. I never stopped studying bloodlines and, guided by the Arabian Type and Standard, gradually developed an understanding of the complexities of genetic predispositions and prepotencies. I studied for my Judge’s Card and obtained the highest score ever attained by a theoretical candidate. I also clarified what I liked best; my own personal style. I traveled throughout Australia and overseas as often as I could, visiting studs throughout the U.S. and Europe. I even visited Mark and got to experience the thrill of a Nichols-DeLongpre sale first-hand.”
South America and Brazil Mark continues: A divorce, and another step, led me to Brazil. My initial introduction to South America was to prepare and train the herd of 53 horses for the dispersal of Haras Esperança for the Archilla family. This became a world record grossing auction sale in 1986, and those records still stand today. The next year, as the American market collapsed due to changes in the tax code, I formed a training center in Brazil in partnership with Antonio Affonso Archilla Filho, and then later Estancia Lago do Sol and Hafati. “We needed a skillful professional who would meet the challenge of getting almost 60 horses conditioned and trained for our dispersal sale in three month’s time,” says Affonso Achilla Filho. “Some of these horses had never been in stalls before and needless to say, had not had any training. “The stud farm used photographer Jenny Ligon at that time, and she recommended Mark to us. Some weeks later Mark was at our farm, with lots of attitude and showmanship, and no knowledge of Portuguese at all, only horse talk. His willingness to be understood by the Brazilian staff was something that no language barrier could sustain. “Mark was paramount to the success of the event. After that sale we opened a training center together and Mark gave a lot of seminars for the avid public. He also helped the clients of Haras Esperança garner many championships with the horses that were sold on our dispersal sale. “Mark’s professionalism became a standard to be measured by in the thriving Brazilian Arabian horse scene and he even worked 4 b PEREGRINE b WORLD
with the Brazilian Arabian Horse Association (ABCCA) to develop a judges’ course and junior handler classes. He became an official Brazilian Arabian horse judge and has been invited many times to judge our Nationals since then.” In 1987 Quentin joined me in Brazil, and we have worked together ever since. Showing in halter expanded exponentially in Brazil, and I began giving training courses and seminars to develop rising talent. Also I worked closely with the Brazilian association (ABCCA) and developed the judges’ course for the education of Brazilian show judges, and introduced junior and amateur handler classes at the shows to encourage owner participation. From my training center I showed horses with links to today’s great show horses. *Lovin’ Spoonful VF (Fame VF x ET Gamaara by Gamaar) was a National Top Ten mare in Brazil, and is the grandam of Aja Afrodite, World Bronze Champion Junior Filly. Also I showed PGN Flirtation (Aristo Kossak x *Familia) to Brazilian Top Ten mare, and she is the grandam of the great two times World Champion EKS Alihandro (*Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Psylhouette).
Left: Mark Wharton with ZT Sunset (Count Electra [by Gai Parada] x Sahar by Saher), Grand National Champion of Paraguay 1992-1994. Below: Mark receiving the award for Best Handler at the Brazilian Nationals for Anglo-Arabians, which he won every year he showed for a total of six awards.
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“We will not breed to a horse we have not seen. We will make the effort to find the individual and inspect him closely and in fine detail, and then make a decision. Clever marketing or photographs and video do not always paint the true picture.�
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To date I have judged National shows in three countries Above: *Fairview Klassique (Amir El and have shown throughout South America. Shaklan x Kreoluka), 1993 Australian I was the first international trainer to travel throughout National Champion Stallion and 1997 South America and show horses or give educational U.S. National Champion Stallion. seminars. At the time I was traveling, the markets were still developing and horses were in a resurgence, but the economies were fragile and the future unknown. Although Arabian horses were bred for a long time, in most South American countries it is important to remember that the economies and the social order were in a period of transition after the end of many years of military rule and dictatorship. I was fortunate to be able to make a contribution to the breeding programs in several South American countries, as breeders I had met looked to develop their programs. By what only could be described as fate, Jaime Valdes Correa passed by my farm in Brazil and decided to stop. He did not have horses, but was curious about Arabian horses. Over the years Jaime 6 b PEREGRINE b WORLD
purchased several horses that he exported to his home country of Chile. I showed these horses at the only show that started out as the important national agricultural show, and has now become the National Championships of Chile. Through Jaime’s introduction to other breeders in Chile, our business expanded. Jaime Valdes Correa developed a great eye for a quality horse, and is the breeder of the wonderful San Jose Javiera (Hafati Express x Sterling Princess by Sterling Bey), Scottsdale Champion and U.S. National winning mare, and San Jose Afonsina in the UAE. “It is definitely a pleasure and honor to write these words
on the professionalism and friendship of Mark Wharton,” says Jaime Valdes. “I have known him for more than 25 years and I recognize him as my mentor and friend for all these years. Always a true gentleman and a true horseman. “Mark has been so important in my life, as well as in the lives of many others, as a breeder giving professional advice and guidance to many breeders around the world.” We selected and purchased the lovely Touch A Dream (Negatraz x Touch A Spice by DWD Tabasco) for the new breeding program of Alfredo Hasbun Hirmas, and she has produced a dynasty in Chile, including Champion mare at the first show in Las Vegas, LL Beauty Dream (Bey Shadow TGS x Touch A Dream by Negatraz), and U.S. National winning LL Albufera (Bey Shadow TGS x LL Alia by Esfahan), dam of Bandit SRA, reigning Brazilian National Reserve Champion Stallion. In my travels I showed at the El Prado show in Asuncion, Paraguay, where I met Count Federico Zichy-Thyssen while showing against him. Count Federico asked me to find him a beautiful, world-class colt that could help revamp his breeding program in Argentina. After much searching all over the world, I had rejected everything that I seen, but a colt appeared
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Top: Mark Wharton with *Fairview Klassique. Bottom: Quentin Naylor with Klassique. “I cannot claim Australian and U.S. National Champion *Fairview Klassique, as I did not breed him,” says Quentin. “When Peter Hall (Fairview Stud) acquired his dam Kreoluka, I strongly encouraged him to breed her to his *El Shaklan son, Amir El Shaklan, and Klassique was the result. I saw him first at seven days old and felt so strongly that he was exceptional that I committed to purchase him immediately. Klassique continues to be my personal gold standard and the closest thing to the ideal so far. I compare every horse I look at to him.”
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on the market in Brazil about eight months later, which I felt satisfied Count Federico’s desire for something truly extraordinary. He flew to Brazil to look, and we purchased Ludjin El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Lydira el Shaklan by *El Shaklan) as a two-year-old. Some weeks later he asked that I find him a great straight Egyptian breeding stallion. He did not want a show horse, but truly a great breeding stallion. After considerable research and study, considering the high quality of straight Egyptian mares he already had, we were able to purchase one of the best straight Egyptian breeding stallions at that time, *Imperial Madheen (Messaoud x Madinah by Ibn Galal). While in the U.S. to see *Imperial Madheen, we traveled to the Egyptian Event in Lexington, Kentucky. This is where we saw Anaza El Farid (Ruminaja Ali x Bint Deenaa by *Ansata Ibn Halima). Count Federico immediately fell in love, and Anaza El Farid was purchased to join *Imperial Madheen. Brazil is a fascinating place. I went with the determination to learn the language and to assimilate the culture. It is very difficult to understand Brazil when you grow up in a stable country with a stable economy, because Brazil has neither. The economic changes are fast, and what would occur with highs and lows over a five year period in countries like the U.S. or Australia would be fluctuations on a six-month cycle in Brazil. This is accepted as normal, and this has an effect on every aspect of business, including breeding horses. Except for the most dedicated of breeders, there is a constant flow of owners entering and leaving the industry. There were great influxes of high quality horses imported, only to be sold at auction a year or two later, as the owner adapted to one of the famous economic cycles. It provided an opportunity to be able to acquire some truly great bloodstock, particularly in the form of older horses, as these were unpopular with purchasers at these auctions. This was the case with one of the world’s great stallions that I purchased at auction for Count Federico Zichy-Thyssen. Fazenda Santa Gertrudes was a truly significant force in Brazil. They had imported hundreds of horses, including some great stallions, many
“At last, to much fanfare, he entered the ring and the bidding started. It went on after stalling several times, the hammer fell, and I had purchased *El Shaklan for Count Federico.”
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mares, and had major foal crops each year, but the family made a decision to disperse. Hundreds of horses were sold at auctions each month over the course of a year, and horses for one sale were announced only after a previous group was sold. During one of the downturns in the economy it was announced that *El Shaklan (Shaker el Masri x *Estopa by Tabal) would be sold. He was already a significant sire and famous throughout the world, but the situation for his sale could not have been worse. He was the main attraction in the hope of drawing international buyers to the sale. Count Federico called me to talk about the sale and this particular horse. We talked value, the possibilities of *El Shaklan on his mares, and the health of the stallion (as that was also in question). We settled on a price, and I went to the auction to purchase one of the world’s great breeding stallions. At last, to much fanfare, he entered the ring and the bidding started. It went on after stalling several times, the hammer fell, and I had purchased *El Shaklan for Count Federico. I was asked to go on stage and symbolically receive the horse, but while I was there the auctioneer made an announcement that in fact the horse was not sold. Apparently they had a silent bid in an envelope that they now decided to open and read. The auction company also announced that there were several groups around the arena wanting to form partnerships to buy the stallion, and so they
*El Shaklan (Shaker El Masri x *Estopa), 1975 stallion, pictured with Count Federico ZichyThyssen, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
PIERCE PHOTO
Top right: A Kiss At Dusk (*Fairview Klassique x RS Kis Lany), 2000 mare. Top left: Kayla Rose (*Fairview Klassique x KJ Kayla by *Karadjordje), 1998 mare. Bottom left: Paciencja (*Fairview Klassique x Parla by Zambizy), 2008 mare. Bottom right: Sanctity (*Fairview Klassique x Sarasota Summer by Solstice), 2001 mare.
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would give one minute to let these groups organize to bid against the silent bid. At the same time my friends around me realized how dishonest all this had became, and they started clapping and shouting a 60-second countdown. More and more people joined in until the noise was so great that any discussion about forming a partnership was impossible. The bid spotters came to me to try to have me bid again, but I was at the limit that was set with Count Federico. As per the auction regulations, my cash bid was higher in value than the silent bid for terms. When the auction restarted I made one final bid over my limit and *El Shaklan belonged to Count Federico Zichy-Thyssen, again. I would have paid the difference myself if necessary just to secure this horse. 9 b PEREGRINE b WORLD
It was a nervous month until *El Shaklan arrived in Argentina, but it proved to be a wonderful chapter in his life. He sired excellent foals for the years that he lived, and they fulfilled Count Federico’s desire for extreme type beyond anything we could have imagined. He always recounted that his breeding program had two phases ‌ before Shaklan and after Shaklan. This amazing horse made that much difference. I am forever
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indebted to Count Federico Zichy-Thyssen for the trust and confidence he had in our business together, and despite world record prices paid over several years, for the significance of the purchases we made as contributing to the improvement of the gene pool forever.
Facing page: Arktik (*Fairview Klassique x CA Allure by *AN Malik), 2000 stallion. Top left: Angelikah (Arktik x Angelina De Jamaal by *Soho Carol). Top right: Promezia, a 2016 filly by Arktik out of Persimonn by *Marwan Al Shaqab.
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Of great importance to us in Brazil was the development and production of Anglo-Arabians. Through the dedication and desire of breeders Cid Barros and his daughter Andrea Barros, we developed a most important breeding program of Anglo-Arabians. The results were six consecutive Grand National Championships in halter, and then the horses going on to win in dressage and endurance on the world stage. Andrea also became partners with us in the young purebred stallion Ninjah El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x *Naharra by *El Shaklan), who went on to be unanimous 1997 Brazilian National Champion Stallion. “When I reflect back, I see the immense importance that Mark and Quentin have had in my life,” says Andrea Barros. “Together we won 11 National Championships with Anglo-Arabians. Not only that, we won National Champion with the Arabian stallion Ninjah el Jamaal, who we owned in partnership. “Today, a lot of what I know about horses I owe to Mark’s lessons. After so many years though, the greatest treasure is that we maintain a precious friendship. It is rare to find people like Mark and Quentin, with expertise, capability, and integrity. Thank you for being my friends.”
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Back to the United States We had shown 120 National Champions in five countries, but we needed a change. My trip to the U.S., and in particular to Kentucky, with Count Federico in 1994 and 1995, renewed a thought that had been in my mind for some time, and that was moving back to the U.S. Quentin had her breeding program in Australia, and at that time I had already shown *Fairview Klassique to 1993 Australian National Champion Stallion. We had some wonderful mares of significance in Brazil, the young stallion Ninjah El Jamaal, and I had a lovely Polish mare Fantera (*Bandos x *Felluka by Comet) who lived in U.S. We made a decision to concentrate everything in the U.S. in 1996, and so the plans began to move from two continents, and to concentrate on breeding. The agreed location was Kentucky.
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Kentucky has many advantages, some we knew about before the move, and some that revealed themselves afterward. Firstly, as the center of Thoroughbred breeding in the U.S., and a major worldwide force, we knew the land and particularly the soil was the best available for the outstanding growth of young horses. The farms were of large acreage, where the horses can be raised outside. The access to world-class veterinary care was significant, and ability to find
knowledgeable employees are all contributing factors in deciding to be here. There are several of the world’s preeminent veterinary clinics in the immediate area, with specialists in every major field related to the care, breeding, and evaluation of the horses. The Lexington area in particular has its own advantages. Lexington lies in a prehistoric seabed that results in the limestonebased soils famous for raising Thoroughbreds. We are protected on all sides by mountains or significant rivers, which alter the path of the brutal northern and western weather as it moves across the U.S. The bluegrass region of Kentucky gets a tempered version of it all. There is a horse tradition in this region dating back several hundred years. It affects the economy, the architecture, and the tradition of respect for the land and the horses, and the perception of horse people in the community. Horse breeding in Kentucky is a lifestyle. We consider that we are stewards of the land, and so it is cared for in the extreme. The soils are analyzed and corrected for any deficiencies by fertilizers and lime. The pastures are cleaned of weeds, seeded in pasture blends adequate for both summer and winter growth. Hay Facing page: Persuasjion (Stival x Parlai by Arktik), 2010 stallion. F This page, top: Ekuador is of the same grass mix that is planted in (*Soho Carol x Emmilique by *Fairview Klassique), 2008 stallion. F Bottom: Pilani (*Jaipur El Perseus x Parlai by Arktik), 2015 colt. the fields, and it is available as free choice to the stalled horses, and to the outside 13 b PEREGRINE b WORLD
horses in the winter. Grain is fed at a minimum and then balanced to conform to the analysis of the hay and pasture. Our business is breeding. We take great pride in breeding Arabian horses for our clients and ourselves. But we have also developed a Client Services program with many options including full time mare and stallion care, foaling, intensive foal care, surgery lay up and aftercare, and embryo transfer. Thanks to our proximity to the
major vet clinics, we can deal with the most difficult of breeding problems. We can also offer quarantine and isolation facilities for export and import. Among the clients who have entrusted precious mares to Mark and Quentin, is Joel Desmarteau of Markelle Arabians LLC, Atlanta, Georgia. “A few years ago I had to send Allamara MA (dam of Elle Flamenca) to Rood and Riddle in Lexington for some stem cell work,” he says. “While she was being seen by doctors there, a good friend and wonderful veterinarian, Nathaniel Newton, cared for her at his farm, Hillsbrook Arabians until he took off for a work assignment in Australia. From there, the obvious place to send her was Peregrine. There, she is wonderfully managed and supervised by Mark, Quentin, and the staff. Last fall, she was joined by our 21-year-old RGA Kouress. Peregrine is the perfect place to live out the rest of her life. Mark and Quentin treat her like one of their own, and hope to include a bit of her blood in the future of their program. Stay tuned for more on that! “If you haven’t paid a visit to Peregrine, you need to make sure you add a trip to Lexington to your schedule. The farm itself is just breathtaking and full of equine history. I never worry about anything while she is there. “Mark and Quentin are absolute experts with everything involved in the excellent care and management of these precious animals. I’m looking forward to an exciting 2017 with these mares of Markelle and their continued impact on the breed at Peregrine.” One of Mark’s and Quentin’s friends of over 30 years, Martha Rattner of Rattner Bloodstock/Train Robbery Farm, Georgetown, Kentucky, speaks glowingly about their horsemanship skills. “I am in awe of what they have done,” says Martha. “They have been relentless, and that’s what you have to be to succeed in breeding horses. You have to take the ups and downs, and the middle of the night. I swear that neither of them sleeps.
Facing page, top: *Hester El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Hilah El Shaklan by *El Shaklan), 1993 mare. Facing page bottom: *QHF Johara Shaklan (Eastwinds Ovation x Quartz Hill Farm Ruby Shaklan), Australian Reserve National Champion Mare, with her 2016 filly Jumaanah (by Arktik).
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“Mark is an excellent horseman and trainer. His ability to school halter horses was evident early on and did not slip by the eyes of Sheila Varian. But Mark had a different path to travel and left the U.S. for Brazil where he was soon joined by Quentin. Together they built a following as respected breeders and bloodstock agents. “Mark and Quentin had a vision for breeding their Australian Champion Stallion *Fairview Klassique. They have never been influenced by the market or fads in our show rings. They are both guided by a strict idea of breed standard and the proof is in the second and third generations that they have today. What they have done with the *Fairview Klassique daughters is heartwarming. “I not only trust and admire them, they are the kind of people who you just want to spend the day with, talking about pedigrees and horses.” As our business has grown, so has the need to expand … more land and more facilities, and all that goes with that. We presently operate three farms of 600 acres of manicured balanced fields, and with 120 stalls, and have in our care about 220 horses of our own and from clients and friends around the world. The key to everything is horsemanship.
Why Peregrine? Visitors often ask about the genesis of our farm name. Our name comes from several sources. For almost 40 years we had traveled the world searching for Arabian horses, evaluating breeding programs, selecting horses and matings for our clients and ourselves, judging horse shows in some wild and amazing places. The name Peregrine (a traveler) seemed to fit how we felt. Also as a second but very significant meaning, a Peregrine is a hunting bird used by falconers from the Middle East and around the world. We liked this sense of desert history, and so the farm became Peregrine.
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The Peregrine Horses
*Fairview Klassique daughters A Kiss at Dusk 2000, (x RS Kis Lany by RS Roshi) Akklandestine 2000, (x HK Amber by *Muscat) Aquitain 2009, (x Arktyka by *Fairview Klassique) Arktyka 2000, (x *Arylla NA by *El Shaklan) Arykka 2004, (x PFA Aryah by Solstice) Cortage Klassique 1999, (x Sylk Stockings by *Arbil) Daarra 2007, (x Dalena by Cognac) Darienne 2008, (x Dalena by Cognac) Emmilique 1999, (x Al Shaklana by *El Shaklan) Fai 2006, (x Fantera by *Bandos) Glorye 2000, (x *Goya MJW by Nami MV) Kayla Rose 1998, (x KJ Kayla by *Karadjorge) Killara 1999, (x JE Ali Selene by Ali Jamaal) Malikah Klassique 2001, (x Sylk Stockings by *Arbil) Naadi 2004, (x DW Namenette by *Namen) Nurya 2009, (x DW Namenette by *Namen) Paciencja 2008, (x Parla by Zambizy) Pacifique 1998, (x SFF Persia by *Errlis) Precieux 2009, (x Parlai by Arktik) Rose Klassique 1998, (x BruBet Rose High) Sanctity 2001, (x Sarasota Summer by Solstice) Skarlatti 1998, (x NDL Scarlett by *Eter)
The importance of *Fairview Klassique One year after his arrival from Australia, and our move to Lexington, Quentin’s *Fairview Klassique (Amir El Shaklan x Kreoluka by Silver Scenario), already Australian National Champion Stallion, was shown by Keith Krichke to 1997 U.S. National Champion Stallion. One month following *Klassique’s win in Albuquerque our junior stallion Ninjah El Jamaal was named unanimous Brazilian National Champion. *Klassique, Ninjah El Jamaal, and a third stallion Nami MV (Ghadames x Nama MV by Abbas Pasha), were all part of our overall breeding plan. They complemented each other in pedigree and phenotype, and each had a contribution to us to produce the type of horse we wanted to breed, at the level of quality we demanded. When*Klassique arrived in the U.S. in October 1996 as a nine-year-old stallion, and we needed to test him on enough mares to see how he would cross on the bloodlines popular and available in the U.S., we leased and purchased many mares of American bloodlines, Polish and Polish/domestic American blood. We sought
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solid, conformationally correct mares by acknowledged sires and from strong female families that were known to produce quality offspring. This was an experiment and a test. *Klassique had been able to consistently give us correctness of conformation and consequently movement. He has always been able to give extraordinary lay of shoulder, very high withers, extremely vertical carriage of
Perez (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Parla by Zambizy), 2013 stallion.
neck, with great arch through the top of the neck. The backs had been short and strong and the croups long and well muscled. Short triangular head with a tiny muzzle, and huge eyes, he was the epitome of a Kuhailan-style stallion. *Fairview Klassique died in 2009, but we have kept many daughters. They are proving to be extraordinary broodmares crossed on a variety of stallions. Ninjah El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x *Naharra by *El Shaklan) was foaled in 1992, and as a five-year-old was unanimous Brazilian National Champion Stallion. He was very tall, 16 hands, and a true representative of both sides of his pedigree, Ali Jamaal and *El Shaklan, on Spanish blood. A square bodied, elegant horse, he was very well conformed, with great balance on a long-legged frame, long flat croup and very free elastic movement. Ninjah was not able
to come to the U.S., and in Brazil his only purebred representative is his daughter Geisha MJW (Ninjah El Jamaal x Gongola by Peleng). Her daughter Geikyi by *Gazal al Shaqab will soon be at Peregrine in the U.S. The third Brazilian stallion, Nami MV (Ghadames x Nama MV by Abbas Pasha), was a combination of Spanish blood on Egyptian and English/Courthouse breeding. Nami MV died leaving us with only two daughters. Both imported to the U.S., they went unregistered for many years, but due to advancements in DNA technology and with the help of the U.S. Registry, after 15 years of negotiation, Goya MJW (Nami MV x Gongola by Peleng) was registered in 2015 and forms part of our program.
*Gazal Al Shaqab daughters Geikyi 2016, (x Geisha MJW) Kibukki 2016, (x Killara) Kimmono 2015, (x Killara) Patagoniia 2015, (x Persimonn) Potencya 2015, (x Parla) Sameya 2011, (x Sanctity)
*Marwan Al Shaqab daughters Cayeli 2013, (x Cortage Klassique) Enduring 2013, (x Emmilique) Kahtja 2015, (x A Kiss at Dusk) Persimonn 2011, (x Pacifique) Polinesia 2016, (x Pacifique)
Top right: Kahtja (*Marwan Al Shaqab x A Kiss At Dusk), 2013 mare. Above Kataana (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Killara by *Fairview Klassique), 2013 stallion.
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A Pothole in the Road Hariry Al Shaqab daughters Daabii 2015, (x Daarra) Dubaii 2016, (x Daarra) Embracing 2015, (x Emmilique) Korea 2016, (x Kayla Rose) Sassania 2015, (x Skarlatti)
OFW Magic Wan daughters Khodja 2015, (x Kirrah) Pirzola 2012, (x Pacifique) Sumaatra 2015, (x Simonetti)
*Amir Al Shaqab daughters Enthralling 2014, (x Emmilique) Keyenne 2014, (x Kirrah) Naarada 2014, (x Naadi) Reveillon 2014, (x Rose Klassique)
I do not wish to discuss this much, and only as an explanation as to why we placed all breeding on hold for many years, and we disappeared from view. Not long after *Klassique’s U.S. National Champion Stallion title, and our first foal crops on the ground, I suffered an injury that altered our lives. All breeding was placed on hold, and for ten years of surgeries, recoveries, relapses, and years in a wheelchair, the farm was in a maintenance mode only. The herd was kept together with only enormous effort on Quentin’s part, but no forward progression was made. Quentin recollects, “It was very tough. The horses were not all in one place. I only bred those mares I could breed without help and everything had to be done in the most efficient possible fashion. But out of adversity comes new strength and I found myself focusing more and more on the medical and subfertility side of horse breeding. Quite quickly, with the solid support and guidance of our principal veterinarian, Dr. Woodrow Friend, and friend and veterinarian Dr. Nathaniel Newton, I found myself accepting nursing and other special needs cases on a commercial basis. This has evolved into a well-regarded speciality of Peregrine’s Client Services with care and foaling of high risk and other mares and intensive nursing services being offered for those horses not really sick enough for the hospital, but 18 b PEREGRINE b WORLD
too sick to be properly cared for in a standard farm format. Dr. Woodrow M. Friend, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, has been the primary veterinarian for Peregrine Bloodstock since 2002, and notes, “I have always been impressed with Mark and Quentin’s ability to handle veterinary situations that I would not entrust to some clinics, much less barn managers. Mark and Quentin have dedicated their lives to the study and appreciation of horses, as evidenced in the impeccable care, medical or otherwise, that every animal in their charge receives. Their boarding facility at Peregrine Bloodstock is beyond picturesque, as it is in the hands of true professionals.” Our hands-on approach in the operation of Client Services combined with our international contacts, have allowed us to offer both export and import recovery services, and these are in much demand. As a direct consequence of this setback we now offer an exceptionally diverse range of services, well beyond those of even the largest breeding operations. With this physical, emotional, and financial burden during those years, Mark found himself needing to become an employee again and get a job! He recalls “I became the Yearling Manager for Overbrook Farm, an important and progressive Thoroughbred nursery farm, who had bred and stood at stud the world’s leading sire Storm Cat. I worked for Overbrook Farm for seven years, and in 2009, when they decided to disperse, I again prepared the broodmares, yearlings, and weanlings for the second major dispersal sale of my career. In 2009, six of the top ten prices in the world for Thoroughbred broodmares came from the dispersal, along with the top priced weanling in the world.
BASILLIAT PHOTO
After the dispersal Overbrook Farm became available and Peregrine Bloodstock restarted operations at one of the world’s most beautiful farms in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky.
Breeding Philosophies and Goals
Facing page: Paraguaii (*Hariry Al Shaqab x Paciencja by *Fairview Klassique), 2015 colt. Above: Daabii (*Hariry Al Shaqab x Daarra by *Fairview Klassique), 2015 filly.
F
Breeding is dynamic and it must be progressive and move forward. We have spent a great deal of time and energy researching the old horses, reading and studying photographs, and talking with breeders who knew of them. Peregrine, in one form or another, has existed for 40 years. We have seen many of the horses that are now five and six generations back. We do this research not to recreate these old horses in our breeding program, but to be aware and use the positive characteristics from those horses to form part of what we breed today. With that in mind we try to select individuals with
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EDWARD AZUAR PHOTO
Ali Jamaal line mares Angelina De Jamaal 2005, (*Soho Carol x Palomara) Anguilla 2015, (Fadi Al Shaqab x Akklandestine) Emmocia 2015, (*Jaipur El Perseus x Engaging) Geisha MJW (Brazil) 1997, (Ninjah El Jamaal x Gongola by Peleng) Kabaala 2015, (Fadi Al Shaqab x Karibe) Maara El Jamaal MH 2003, (Dakar El Jamaal x Binte Aziza MH) *Hester El Jamaal 1993, (Ali Jamaal x Hilah el Shaklan) Simonetti 2011, (*Besson Carol x Skarlatti) Siparia 2015, (*Jaipur El Perseus x Sameya)
Arktik daughters Angelikah 2012, (x Angelina De Jamaal) Annjou 2014, (x Angelina De Jamaal) Guatemaala 2016, (x Glorye) Nairys 2014, (x Naadi) Parlai 2005, (x SFF Persia) Promezia 2016, (x Persimonn)
Additional Foundation Mares Ames Charmette 2004, (Magnum Psyche x A Brass Charm by Brass) Cappuchina 2001, (*Hafati Express x *Pasquinell Shakhala by Amir el Shaklan) Karibe 2011, (Antilles x Killara by *Fairview Klassique) Lotus Milagra 2010, (Matrifik x Macarena DWF by Hucklebey Berry) Malaawi 2016, (IXL Noble Express x Lotus Milagra by Matrifik) Parla 1997, (Zambizy x SFF Persia by *Errlis) PGN Cameo 1999, (*Sanadik el Shaklan x Kaikalajka by Kaiyoum) Piety 2012, (*Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Parlai by Arktik) *QHF Johara Shaklan 2006, (Eastwinds Ovation x QHF Ruby Shaklan by Eastwinds Axplosion) Rohara Shah Song 1993, (Bey Shah x Angophora by *Eukaliptus) Straight Egyptian Mares FA Shaba 1992, (WH Abu Shaba x Glendale Zelda by Ansata El Naseri) MB Satin 1995, (Imperial Saturn x Bint El Neal by Al Mawardy) WF Eternal Flame 2003, (El Halimaar x WF Sapphyre by Anaza El Nisr) Stallions Arktik 2000, (*Fairview Klassique x CA Allure by *AN Malik Ekuador 2008, (*Soho Carol x Emmilique by *Fairview Klassique) *Elektryk MJW 1993, (Etat x Ellaina by Relax) Enamorado 2014, (*Amir Al Shaqab x Engaging by Faktion) Faktion 1998, (*Fairview Klassique x Fantera by *Bandos)
solid families that are Above: Korea (*Hariry Al Shaqab x Kayla Rose by *Fairview Klassique), known to produce 2016 filly. F Facing page: Sassania (*Hariry Al Shaqab x Skarlatti by the characteristics we *Fairview Klassique), 2015 mare. require, and preferably have done so over several generations. We then select the complementary mating, movement of Russian horses, trying to reinforce the positive characteristics and dilute the defects, especially Priboj and Arax. When genetically speaking. acquiring my first Arabian mares We are not beholden to any one pedigree or line. In the end a in 1980, I looked for balanced, pedigree is more than a set of names on a page, but a representation feminine, harmonious mares of characteristics embodied in those horses, and that is positive and which described the Arabian negative. We will use the best animals that we can find, and afford, standard and which actually that satisfy our desire to move forward from one generation to the looked like their pedigrees. I was next, and that have demonstrated to us, with their production, that (and am) much less concerned they are genetically dominant where we need them to be. with genotype than I was Quentin describes the evolution of her breeding philosophy: consistency in phenotype and “As I studied Arabian horses in the late 1970s, I concluded that chose (and choose) mares from the horses to which I might aspire would be far beyond my reach, multiple generational stable but was strongly influenced by a newly named two-year-old British programs.” National Champion called El Shaklan, and by the blend of Russian “I continue to be less over Egyptian, especially the combination of the typey Egyptian influenced by individual horses Nazeer son, Awsan, and the strength and structure and powerful (except as it affects commercial 20 b PEREGRINE b WORLD
desirability through name recognition), and showring achievements than I am with consistency and prepotency of specific characteristics which might be required by each individual female produced by the program and yes, I feel the program is driven by the mares”. Bringing that back to present-day horses, we will not breed to a horse we have not seen. We will make the effort to find the individual and inspect him closely and in fine detail, and then make a decision. Clever marketing or photographs and video do not always paint the true picture. “As an illustration of this necessity to see the horses and their progeny I have a little story about *Gazal al Shaqab,” reflects Mark. We like what *Gazal brings from his own pedigree, and how he combines with certain families. We were unable to use him early in his life but there came a time when it was possible, and his reputation and fame were already well established. We purchased a modest number of breedings. We had our foals and were pleased
with the results, but at the World Championships in Paris 2013, I was invited back to the Janow Podlaski stalls. Quietly, and in their stalls, I got to see the great daughters of *Gazal, such as *Emandoria and *Pianissima, but in addition I saw four or five others of extraordinary quality and type. At that moment I realized that we were not done with *Gazal, and despite the cost, we needed to use him more. Apart from his time in Poland, and his use at Al Shaqab, I believe with 17 purchased breedings we have utilized *Gazal al Shaqab more than any private breeding farm in the world.
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Kaadesh 2014, (*Marwan Al Shaqab x A Kiss At Dusk by *Fairview Klassique) Kataana 2013, (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Killara by *Fairview Klassique) Paraguaii 2015, (*Hariry Al Shaqab x Paciencja by *Fairview Klassique) Perez 2013, (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Parla by Zambizy) Persuasjion 2010, (Stival x Parlai by Arktik) Pilani 2015, (*Jaipur El Perseus x Parlai by Arktik) Pizzaro 2011, (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Parla by Zambizy) Straight Egyptian Stallions Amaal El Nefous 2014, (*Hadban Al Shaqab x Monieta Jazira by Ansata Hejazi) Fayed al Adeed 2014, (*Al Adeed Al Shaqab x FA Shaba by WH Abu Shaba)
Peregrine now breeds a relatively large number of mares, but each mare is bred as an individual, and the female families are of utmost importance. Even full sisters do not always breed the same, and matings are selected based on the individual qualities of each mare. We love our mare families as they have been selected over years to provide us with the stepping-stones we need to breed superior animals. We are now breeding replacements for the present broodmares. As this younger generation comes of age we will breed them as early as sensibly possible so that we can progress with our next generation. We diligently try to breed to the ideal ‌ The Breed Standard. Our horses are conformationally correct with good balance, structure and muscling, and movement. We work very hard to produce a complete horse that has function and type, (type being more than just a pretty face) because these are the characteristics that make an Arabian beautiful, and we believe that one without the other is not enough. In the past we truly appreciated and utilized sires like *El Shaklan, *Fairview Klassique, Ali Jamaal, and Ninjah El Jamaal. The next step has been using *Gazal al Shaqab, *Marwan Al Shaqab, OFW Magic Wan, and Hariry Al Shaqab with very exciting results. Mostly we try to use proven stallions, but we are able to take some risks from time to time and use young stallions that could represent a step forward. There are young credentialed stallions we are using such as Truest, QR Marc, Soul Of Marwan AS, *Amir Al Shaqab, and *Jaipur El Perseus, as well as some unknown young horses that we are trying to prove, such as our own Kataana (*Gazal al Shaqab x Killara by *Fairview Klassique), a very beautiful stallion for the future. From the *Fairview Klassique daughters we have some great foals. They have provided us with daughters of note, by the best stallions in the world. Persimonn (*Marwan Al Shaqab x Pacifique by *Fairview Klassique) was our first cross using this sire line, and she is 22 b PEREGRINE b WORLD
extraordinary. Immensely tall and refined, she is elegant, feminine, long legged, and with motion and attitude. She has three foals now by embryo transfer, and her *Gazal al Shaqab daughter is truly special. Persimonn will begin her show career this year. Also from this sire line is Kahtja (*Marwan Al Shaqab x A Kiss at Dusk by *Fairview Klassique), a very good liver chestnut young mare, who will grow up first in the manicured fields of Peregrine before having a show career. Several years ago we felt we needed to make some more commercial decisions with our breeding program that would allow us to maintain the daughters of *Gazal Al Shaqab and *Marwan Al Shaqab as our future broodmares. We needed a commercial stallion to breed to. Hariry Al Shaqab (*Marwan Al Shaqab x White Silkk
by *Dakar El Jamaal) had been U.S. Junior National Champion Stallion, was to continue his show career, later to be named World Champion Stallion, and so would be visible for the following years. His pedigree represented the blend that appealed to our desire for completeness, while adding some extreme qualities. All things we needed for commercial foals. An added bonus was that Al Shaqab Breeding and Show had leased one of our mares to breed to him, so we were able to see some results before we bred ourselves. We bred to Hariry Al Shaqab five times, and the resulting fillies are very, very good. This places us in a position where we must make a decision. As breeders we want to keep our best and maintain the forward momentum of the breeding program. In order to maintain and develop a business of the size that Peregrine has become we should be at least a little commercial. We will have five more Hariry Al Shaqab foals (fillies!) before we decide which one to sell. Our search for the next step, either a stallion or a mare, never stops. We strive to use the best horses available. There are several great stallions that we have not been able to find a place for in our program at this time, that perhaps in the future we will use. We are very passionate about Arabians and we appreciate all of the exceptional horses and programs out there that are doing all of the many and versatile things that Arabians can do. Our focus is breeding to the standard of excellence and that contribution to the future generations we hope will, in five or six generations have a breeder of that era find that a Peregrine horse has made an enduring contribution to the breed. Quentin speaks for both of us when she says, “There is nothing to compare to the thrill I still feel of first seeing an animal which is so beautiful and charismatic that it commands your attention, from
which you dare not look away because you might miss something. An experience so intoxicating that you forget where you are and what you are doing. An experience I had again just recently when, with pro-camera in my hand, I did not take a single shot of one of our mares at liberty, as she defined Arabian type in motion. These beautiful horses have dominated my life for the past 40 years. Wherever they are is home.� That is what the Arabian horse means to us both.
Mark Wharton and Peter Pond of Forest Hill Arabian Stud, Australia, who is the President of the World Arabian Horse Organization (WAHO).
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Naarada (*Amir Al Shaqab x Naadi by *Fairview Klassique), 2014 filly.
“Mark and Quentin of Peregrine Arabians are two of the most knowledgeable, dedicated, and honest people in the Arabian horse industry,” says Dr. Jody Cruz, M.D., Rancho Bulakenyo, California. “We first met 20 years ago when my colt Richter MH and their stallion *Fairview Klassique, were training with Keith and Maureen Krichke. I immediately booked two mares to Klassique and Mark came to evaluate my herd and helped me to pick out the mares for him. They were instrumental in Rancho Bulakenyo’s lease of *Hadban Al Shaqab and were great supporters of his show career. Mark and Quentin’s horsemanship and integrity are unsurpassed.”
Peregrine Bloodstock LLC Quality males and females occasionally available. Client service inquiries invited.
Farm scenic photos by Quentin Naylor
Mark Wharton · +1.859.221.5094 Quentin Naylor · +1.859.983.5329 info@peregrinearabians.com
P.O. Box 12212 Lexington, KY 40581 www.PeregrineArabians.com
Pilani
Peregrine Bloodstock LLC Mark Wharton 路 +1.859.221.5094 Quentin Naylor 路 +1.859.983.5329 info@peregrinearabians.com P.O. Box 12212 路 Lexington, KY 40581
www.PeregrineArabians.com
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