WH
Justice The
Champion
Maker
by Emma Maxwell
I
t has been a year to remember for WH Justice in his first year back in the U.S. on lease to Aljassimya Farm. Although he only drove down the hill to Om El Arab International on March 25, 2012 (after one month in quarantine), he is expecting his largest crop of foals yet, many of them on American soil. Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Al Thani still remembers the first time he saw WH Justice in Germany in 2010. At that moment he was unaware of who the horse looking over the door at him was, but he immediately realized he could not make any further steps with Arabian horses without making some plans to include this horse. He would not be the only person to have recognized the value of including WH Justice in their program, but Justice’s lease to Aljassimya Farm has also been of great consequence for the horse himself. At Om El Arab International, WH Justice lives in the spacious famous corner stable formerly occupied by his great-grandsire *El Shaklan and other great notables of Om El Arab. His first public appearance was at the inaugural Stallion Showcase at the Arabian Breeders World Cup (ABWC) in Las Vegas just a month later, when he was presented to a new audience by Andy Sellman, under the watchful eyes of his lifetime owners Thierry, Catherine, and Thomas Kerjean. Catherine remarks, “It was very moving to see the warm welcome that the breeders made for him there.” He was also presented a week later at the Estopa Legacy Party, where it unkindly 46 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ APRIL 2013
decided to, quite literally, rain on his parade, but nothing could dampen the goodwill and anticipation of the visitors. In fact WH Justice received an incredible number of visitors during the whole year, and Sigi Siller reports that “Everybody who comes to see him is captured by WH Justice’s spirit and incredible charisma. He has this uncanny ability to stir up deep feelings and hidden emotions in breeders they did not know they had. He so reminds me of his great-grandsire *El Shaklan, who had the same effect on people. It happened more than once that people started to cry when he was presented to them.”
WH
Justice The
Champion
Maker
by Emma Maxwell
I
t has been a year to remember for WH Justice in his first year back in the U.S. on lease to Aljassimya Farm. Although he only drove down the hill to Om El Arab International on March 25, 2012 (after one month in quarantine), he is expecting his largest crop of foals yet, many of them on American soil. Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Al Thani still remembers the first time he saw WH Justice in Germany in 2010. At that moment he was unaware of who the horse looking over the door at him was, but he immediately realized he could not make any further steps with Arabian horses without making some plans to include this horse. He would not be the only person to have recognized the value of including WH Justice in their program, but Justice’s lease to Aljassimya Farm has also been of great consequence for the horse himself. At Om El Arab International, WH Justice lives in the spacious famous corner stable formerly occupied by his great-grandsire *El Shaklan and other great notables of Om El Arab. His first public appearance was at the inaugural Stallion Showcase at the Arabian Breeders World Cup (ABWC) in Las Vegas just a month later, when he was presented to a new audience by Andy Sellman, under the watchful eyes of his lifetime owners Thierry, Catherine, and Thomas Kerjean. Catherine remarks, “It was very moving to see the warm welcome that the breeders made for him there.” He was also presented a week later at the Estopa Legacy Party, where it unkindly 46 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ APRIL 2013
decided to, quite literally, rain on his parade, but nothing could dampen the goodwill and anticipation of the visitors. In fact WH Justice received an incredible number of visitors during the whole year, and Sigi Siller reports that “Everybody who comes to see him is captured by WH Justice’s spirit and incredible charisma. He has this uncanny ability to stir up deep feelings and hidden emotions in breeders they did not know they had. He so reminds me of his great-grandsire *El Shaklan, who had the same effect on people. It happened more than once that people started to cry when he was presented to them.”
One of the WH Justice yearlings to be debuting in 2013 — the filly Kas Katara (x Atheena by Kubinec), owned by Aljassimya Farm.
Both Aljassimya Farm, who leased him for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, and Om El Arab International, where he is currently standing, have elected to breed thirty-plus mares with him. The responsibility for the breeding has been in the hands of Janina Merz, who says, “WH Justice and I have bonded this past year because I’m the person who handles him for breeding. He has a special look reserved for me when I come for him on breeding days. He’s always very happy to see me! The best part is walking him out of the barn as he roars like a lion yet is as gentle as a lamb. Justice believes with every ounce of his being that he is the king. I think that his incredible charisma
and his self-importance are some of the attributes that make him so special. We are certain that he will stamp our breeding program with those characteristics.” Five Om El Arab mares have foaled so far — five fillies — and Janina comments that “They are very ‘Justice’! The eyes, ears, and shape of head, the spirited personality and attitude are all things you can see in his babies.” No foals are on the ground yet for Aljassimya Farm, but they have bred an illustrious collection selected for complementary pedigrees. The group was augmented by the lease of the remaining Wayne Newton herd, known in its 1980s heyday
for the extreme type that conquered the American show scene, even at a time when judges were perhaps not looking for that stamp of horse. Other Aljassimya Farm mares to foal are Psierra (by Padrons Psyche), Sanegors Lady D (by Simeon Sanegor), RL Saffiqua (by RL Artique), Billy Jean (by AS Sinans Pasha), Annaiss (by Ansata Nile Echo) and MG Saffire (by Ffatal Attraction). A who’s who of other American breeders also have mares in foal for this year. Michael Byatt, Rhoda Coleal, DST Arabians, Greg Knowles, Markelle Arabians, Midwest Arabians, North Arabians, Oak Ridge Arabians, Stonewall Arabians, Michael Weinstein, and many more of the leading lights in the business have chosen one, or in some cases five mares, to breed to the “Champion Maker.” Breeders old and new are curious to add him to their programs. Ruth Husband has a Khemosabi granddaughter in foal to him, while other illustrious mares expecting include the first Las Vegas Champion Mare, Lumiars Love Song, owned by Bill Bensyl of Blue Star Farms. Another person looking forward very much to her foal is Tammy Corning whose Gloria Apal is already dam of two stallions who made their mark, Apalo in the U.S. and Glorious Apal in Europe. U.S. National Champion RD Fabreanna is another lady in waiting for owner Nelson de Oliveira Prata Pinto Moreira. The results of the previous breeding barn efforts from the Champion Maker were also busy in 2012 maintaining his reputation. I doubt there are many halter breeders unaware that his daughter CR Jasmeenah (x Fforget-Me-Not by Ffatal Attraction) was made U.S. National 48 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ APRIL 2013
WH Justice under one of the oaks at 100 Oaks Farm, California.
Champion Mare last year with the joint highest score recorded since the scoring system began. Shown by Michael Byatt, she scored eight full 20s in five of the categories. CR Jasmeenah was purchased by Aljassimya Farm from her British breeders in 2010 and her incomparable type was part of the initial inspiration for the lease of WH Justice. CR Jasmeenah was also the 2011 World Senior Champion Mare and is now one of five mares to achieve this historic double. Yet she was not the only WH Justice offspring to triumph nationally in the Americas, with the Canadian National Champion Yearling title awarded to royally bred Star Of Justice ORA (x Star Of Gaishea by WN Ultimate Star), bred and owned by Oak Ridge Arabians. The Middle East show season is still running, but every show over this winter season has recorded a victory for WH Justice blood. Most recently it was the Gold championship for Junior Males for the beautiful golden yearling colt Kanz Al Nasser (x Ftoon Al Shaqab ) at the Qatar International A show, from the eponymous Al Nasser Stud. Perennial favorite Panarea By Palawan (x Palawan), owned by Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, won Gold Medal Mare in Sharjah, followed by another glorious WH Justice daughter, FM Gloriaa (x Psity Of Angels), who won the Silver medal. FM Gloriaa is currently competing for Alzobair Stud in Qatar and she also won the Silver Championship in Abu Dhabi in another spectacular mare section. Silver Champion Stallion was awarded to Azeem Ibn Justice (x Bint Sanadiva), owned by the Ajman Stud, at the Ajman show and Bronze to the same stallion in Abu Dhabi. Winning the first colt class of the show at the Prince Sultan Al Khalediah Title show was Bahar Al Muawd (x Arabella PA) from Al Muawd Stud of Saudi Arabia, who has bred successfully to WH Justice many times. Earlier in the season at the Middle East Championships in Jordan, Hadaw (x Hadia by Om El Extreem) won the Gold Stallion title for Nofal Kahook of NK Arabians in Jordan. At the major European shows last season, the Gold Champion Yearling Filly in
WH Justice 2012-2013 National and International Champions Note: Reserve Championships are only listed for Title and A International Shows. See listing of earlier champions in his story in AHW’s April 2012 issue.
Al Princess Aliha (x Al Aliha by DWD Tabasco)
Aachen and Menton was AJ Asyad (by Marwan Al Shaqab x Aja Angelica by WH Justice). Owned and bred by Ajman Stud, she was one of several Marwan Al Shaqab plus WH Justice combinations in either direction that really seemed to work and may be the sign of a new breeding ‘nick’ in action. A second of these triumphed at the European Championships with Aja Europa winning the Gold title; she is by the World Champion WH Justice son CR Jasmeenah (x Fforget-Me-Not by Ffatal Aja Justified out of a Marwan Al Shaqab Attraction) daughter. Pedigree fans might note that a third of this cross was awarded the win in Arabian Breeding Yearling Colts at the U.S. Nationals, with Excalibur EA (Shanghai EA x Essence Of Marwan) winning U.S. National Champion title for his owner-breeder Albert Sorroca. Bronze Champion in Aachen 2012 was Athbah Stud’s Shirin By Aisha (x Aisha Bint Missouri by Missouri). Already heavily decorated, she also added Silver Champion at the Mediterranean Championships in Menton earlier in the year. Second prize winner in the first mares section at Salon du Cheval, but always turning heads, was charming Aja Aphrodite (x Lovin Psyche SSA by Padrons Psyche) from Australia’s Mystica Arabians. Four other National Champion titles were awarded to WH Justice offspring in 2012. At the Spanish Nationals his daughter Kaliope EA (x Kudola Kossack) was National Champion Filly for her breeder Albert Sorroca of Equus Arabians, while the deceased WH Justice son Alfabia Damascus (x April Carol) was responsible for both National Champion Mare and Stallion, Abha Quraysi and Abha Riyadh, both bred by Marieta Salas of Ses Planes in Mallorca. In Holland, Dutch National Champion Filly was A Dream Of Kossack (x Abakana Kossack by Balaton), with her full sister A Lady Of Kossack bringing home the Silver title in the mares for Robbie Den Hartog’s Kossack Stud. In the U.K. brilliant moving SG Imagine (x SG Hessta Shaklana by Essteem) won the Stallion title for his delighted owner/breeder Susan George. Reserve in the colt section went to another son, the yearling Ammar El Mabrouka (x Wateefa Mabrouka) owned by Julie Kennedy. In France, his daughters claimed French National AB Jamil La Piana (x Rosetta By Azja by Moroc)
AB Jamil La Piana (x Rosetta By Azja by Moroc), 2006 grey stallion Bred by Az. Agr. A. B. La Piana, Italy Owned by Az. Agr. G. Morelli, Italy 2012 Gold Medal Stallion, Verona International “B” Show, Italy 2012 Silver Medal Stallion, Pietrasanta International “B” Show, Italy A Dream Of Kossack (x Abakana Kossack by Balaton), 2007 bay mare Bred and owned by Kossack Stud, the Netherlands 2012 Gold Medal Mare, Dutch Nationals, Raalte, Netherlands Aja Aphrodite (Lovin Psyche SSA by Padrons Psyche), 2007 chestnut mare Bred by Aja Arabians, U.K. Owned by Mystica Arabians, Australia 2012 Salon du Cheval World Championships Top Ten Mare (2nd in class), Paris, France Al Princess Aliha (x Al Aliha by DWD Tabasco), 2008 grey mare Bred by Al Hambra Arabians, Austria Owned by the Royal Cavalry of Oman 2012 Gold Medal Mare Bordeaux Masters “B” Show, France 2012 Gold Medal Mare Vichy International, France Azeem Ibn Justice (x Bint Sanadiva by Kubinec), 2007 grey stallion Bred by Ralf Heckenbücker, Germany Owned by Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Ajman Stud, UAE 2013 Silver Champion Stallion, Ajman, UAE CR Jasmeenah (x Fforget-Me-Not by Ffatal Attraction), 2004 grey mare Bred by Carole Anne and Roy Ratcliffe, U.K. Owned by Aljassimya Farm Qatar 2012 U.S. National Champion Senior Mare Fedora RG (x Psyches Angel by Hadidi), 2007 chestnut mare Bred by G. Reina, Italy Owned by HRH Prince Abdul Aziz bin Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia 49 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ APRIL 2013
2012 Gold Champion Mare Emerald Trophy “B” Show, Belgium 2012 West Coast Cup International B Show, Belgium FM Gloriaa (x Psity Of Angels by Psytadel), 2007 grey mare Bred by Mieke Sans, Belgium Owned by Alzobair Stud, UAE 2013 Silver Champion Mare, Abu Dhabi, UAE 2013 Silver Champion Mare, Sharjah International Festival, UAE Hadaw (x Hadia by Om El Extreem), 2008 grey stallion Bred by A. Toikkanen, Belgium Owned by NK Arabians, Jordan 2012 Middle East Championships Gold Medal Stallion, Amman, Jordan Harmattan Thalya (x Hamy de Gargassan by Vladimir de Falgas), 2007 grey mare Bred by Harmattan Arabians, France Owned by Jean Michel Franceries, France 2012 Gold Medal Mare, French Nationals, Pompadour, France Juwanda OS (x Shak Lavanda by ZT Shakfantasy), 2007 grey mare Bred by Osterhof Stud, Germany Owned by Dubai Stud, UAE 2012 Gold Medal Mare, Gran Premio dell’ Adriatico, Italy Kaliope EA (x Kudola Kossack by Pobeditel), 2009 grey mare Bred by Equus Arabians, Spain Owned by Yeguada Garcia Ferrero, Spain 2012 Gold Medal Filly, Spanish Nationals, Segovia, Spain Kanz Al Nasser (x Ftoon Al Shaqab by Al Adeed Al Shaqab), 2012 chestnut colt Bred and owned by Al Nasser Stud, Qatar 2013 Gold Champion Colt Qatar International, Doha, Qatar Panarea By Palawan (x Palawan by Padrons Ghibli), 2003 grey mare Bred by Michele Boscarino, Italy Owned by Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Ajman Stud, UAE 2013 Gold Medal Mare, Sharjah International Festival, UAE SG Imagine (x SG Hessta Shaklana by Essteem), 2007 grey stallion Bred and owned by Georgian Arabians, U.K. 50 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ APRIL 2013
FM Gloriaa (x Psity Of Angels by Psytadel)
Hadaw (x Hadia by Om El Extreem)
Champion Mare and Reserve, Harmattan Thalya (x Hamy de Gargassan) winning for Jean-Michel Franceries and Almyra de Nautiac (x Alcyona de Nautiac) completing reserve for Haras de Nautiac. At other international shows in 2012, many familiar faces by WH Justice won Gold titles, especially in the senior mares department. Fedora RG won Gold at the Emerald Trophy for Athbah Stud; Juwanda OS won for the Dubai Stud at the Gran Juwanda OS (x Shak Lavanda by ZT Shakfantasy), Premio dell Adriatico in Italy; and Al Princess Aliha won for the Royal Cavalry of Oman at the Bordeaux Masters and in Vichy, both in France. AB Jamil La Piana (x Rosetta By Azja) won three titles in Italy for his owner the Allevamento Morelli in Calabria. It might be thought that WH Justice has enough feathers in his cap to stand out at a carnival already, but one more adventure was planned at the beginning of the year. Sheikh Jassim asked Michael Byatt to come and see him in February, to give an opinion on presenting him in competition at the Las Vegas ABWC. This would fulfill the dream of his owners Catherine and Thierry to see him presented in his prime to the public once more. For whereas some horses pass their peak fairly early in life, WH Justice has followed the classic Arabian pattern of only getting more magnificent as he has matured. Michael admits that he was not fully sold on the plan until the moment Justice came around the corner at Om El Arab, and, he says, “Justice affected me on so many levels that day … an artistic level, a joy level, and an inspirational level, he was so many superlatives.” And whatever his results at any show, these emotional effects are at the center of the story of WH Justice — he is not only the Champion Maker but also the “King of Hearts.”
Kanz Al Nasser (x Ftoon Al Shaqab by Al Adeed Al Shaqab)
Shirin By Aisha (x Aisha Bint Missouri by Missouri)
2012 Gold Medal Stallion, British Nationals, Malvern, U.K. Shirin By Aisha (x Aisha Bint Missouri by Missouri), 2009 grey mare Bred by La Lezziola, Italy Owned by Athbah Stud, Saudi Arabia 2012 Bronze Medal Filly All Nations Cup, Aachen, Germany 2012 Silver Champion Filly Mediterranean Championships, Menton, France Star Of Justice ORA (x Star of Gaishea by WN Ultimate Star), 2011 chestnut filly Bred and owned by Oak Ridge Arabians, U.S. Owned by Saud Abdulaziz Al Tajel, Saudi Arabia 2012 Canadian National Champion Yearling Filly
Sons of WH Justice Who Sired International or National Champions from March 2012-March 2013
SG Imagine (x SG Hessta Shaklana by Essteem)
Aja Europa (Aja Justified [by WH Justice] x HB Marais)
Star Of Justice ORA (x Star of Gaishea by WN Ultimate Star),
Excalibur EA (Shanghai EA [by WH Justice] x Essence Of Marwan EA)
Aja Justified (x Aja Beneja by FS Bengali), 2007 grey stallion Bred and owned by Aja Arabians, U.K. Champions: Aja Europa, Gzavi Ajman Moniscione (x Anthea Moniscione by Padrons Ghibli), 2003 chestnut stallion Bred and owned by Az. Agr. Giancarlo Buzzi, Italy Champions: AV Dalia, Inspired Najla, LB Gucci, Anette Moniscione, Calypso OS, Subhi, Hasman Gyo, Aslaan El Shams Alfabia Damascus (× April Carol by Parys El Jamaal), 2004 grey stallion Bred by Alfabia Stud, Italy Owned by Alfabia Stud, Italy and Ses Planes Stud, Spain Champions: Abha Quraysi, Abha Riyadh Rough Justice (× Nadjana Bint Nadir by Nadir I), 2007 grey stallion Bred by Affinity Arabians, U.K. Owned by Al Jandal Stud, Saudi Arabia Champion: Fayyad Al Fayyad Shanghai EA (× Salymah EA by Khidar), 2008 grey stallion Bred and owned by Equus Arabians, Spain Champions: Excalibur EA, Nesj Al Jude 51 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ APRIL 2013