AthbahStud
AthbahStud
Disputa FA & Nebraska Disputa FA (Lethyf El Jamaal x Utah FA by RSD Dar k Victor y), 2002 mare, and Nebraska (Delmar x AF Nevada by Serenity Mashalla), 2001 mare. Preceding page: The 2009 mare Ghanyah Athbah (Eden C x JJ Ali Baska by Ali Jamaal).
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I
n recent years Athbah Stud has become a familiar name in the very highest echelons of Arabian show and racehorses. Owned by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al Saud of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Athbah stud has expanded beyond Riyadh in its homeland in the desert and has a select group of horses competing across Europe and the Middle East. In keeping with the powerful traditions that have maintained the purity of the breed on the Arabian peninsula the stud is named Athbah, meaning water as pure and good as when it leaves the spring. Starting in just 2008 the stud has made incredible progress in just over five years and is starting to produce champions of their own breeding from their top-class acquisitions. While the stud retains a group of indigenous desertbred Arabians at the farm in Riyadh, the show breeding horses are a combination of elite American and European lines.
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In 2009 Athbah made an innovative move leasing the glorious copper chestnut stallion Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable by Genesis C). Already a U.S. National Champion Yearling Colt and Futurity Colt, Eden C introduced himself to Europe in style as a four-year-old and added the All Nations Cup Silver Champion Stallion title to his roster. On his return to the States for his owner Eden C has continued his all-conquering form with the 2010 U.S. National Junior Stallion Championship and was named this year’s Supreme Champion Senior Stallion at the Las Vegas Arabian Breeders World Cup. For Athbah he sired a new generation of foundation stock including Ghanyah Athbah (x JJ Ali Baska by Ali Jamaal), Gold Champion at the El Zahraa International in Egypt, and Bronze Champion at the Al Khalediah Festival in Saudi Arabia in 2011, and the beautiful filly Hussa Athbah (x Ellisara). The following year saw another inspired choice, when the promising three-year-old colt Aja Justified (WH Justice x Aja Beneja by FS Bengali) proudly sported the green of the Saudi Arabian flag for that show season. Shown by Tom Schoukens he brought to Athbah Stud the coveted trio of titles that earned him the European Triple Crown as a colt, All Nations Cup, and European and World Champion. Exquisite of face, Aja Justified is one of the most beautiful of the WH Justice sons and he has also left his mark on the breeding program with both promising colts and fillies before returning to his breeders Jane and Malcolm Hickford in the
Aja Justified
Above: His Royal Highness Pr ince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Ara bia, owner of Athbah Stud.
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Aja Justified European Tr iple Crown winner Aja Justified (WH Justice x Aja Beneja by FS Bengali), 2007 stallion.
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LVA Maximus LVA Maximus (Espano Estopa x Challon Salana by Car margue), 2003 stallion, has multiple championships in Europe and the Middle East.
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U.K. Remaining with Athbah Stud is the Aja-bred filly Aja Rosada (Aja Justified x Psyches Sancerre by Padrons Psyche), Gold Champion Filly at the Frankfurt Show. A third U.K.-bred stallion is the floating mover LVA Maximus (Espano Estopa x Challon Salana by Carmargue), Champion Stallion at the Al Khalediah Festival in 2011, a win noted as one of the most valued by Athbah because it was on home soil.
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The rising star among the males is the bay South African import Marwan Al Shaqab son EKS Alihandro (x OFW Psylhouette by Padrons Psyche), All Nations Cup Champion colt in Aachen 2012 shown by Giacomo Capacci. Completing the show string is chestnut yearling colt Ascot DD (Glorious Apal x Lady Aymona), who has already started his career with a Silver Championship in 2012 at the Menton Show, champion at the European Futurity in Belgium, and Silver Champion Yearling Colt Aachen 2012. Athbah is still using outside stallions in an attempt to produce the perfect match for each mare and in 2012 such stallions as Marwan Al Shaqab, Fadi Al Shaqab, ZT Marwteyn, and Glorious Apal were used.
Ascot DD
Left: The yearling colt Ascot DD (Glorious Apal x Lady Aymona), already a 2012 Silver Champion Yearling Colt at the Mediterranean Championships in Menton and at the All Nations Cup in Aachen.
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EKS Alihandro
The 2010 stallion EKS Alihandro (Marwan Al Shaqa b x OFW Psylhouette by Padrons Psyche), 2012 All Nations Cup Champion Colt.
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El Dorada The 1998 mare El Dorada (Sanadik El Shaklan x Emigrantka by Eukaliptus), has multiple championships , including Polish National Champion Mare, All Nations Cup Champion Mare, and U.S. National Champion Senior Mare. She is on lease to Athbah Stud.
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For the broodmare band Athbah has interests that range across
is still one of the most glorious mares in the
modern Arabian breeding from Polish through El Shaklan to Egyptian
world and is on a show and breeding lease. El
lines. Their high-profile lease for 2012 has been one of the queens
Dorada was crowned Silver Champion mare
of both the El Shaklan and Polish heritage — El Dorada (Sanadik El
in Aachen 2012, shown by Glenn Schoukens,
Shaklan x Emigrantka by Eukaliptus). El Dorada has spent ten years
ending an extraordinary day of four titles for
at the top of her game, winning both Polish National Champion Mare
the stud. Athbah already owns her beautiful
and All Nations Cup Champion Mare in 2002 and was U.S. National
aunt Etenta, a Monogramm daughter from
Champion Senior Mare in 2006. Although she is now in her teens she
broodmatron extraordinaire Emigracja, who
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produced a promising filly already by Aja Justified. One other member of the unique Emigracja family, the most successful producer of champions for the Michalow Stud, is part of the herd: Ermina (Galba x Echidna by Ararat). Over the last few years Athbah have been committed attendees of the annual Pride of Poland sale and have added classic breeding mares to their herd, concentrating on the premium families. As their manager Ward Bemong explains, their selection criteria depend not only upon good conformation, as this leaves less to correct for future generations, but also upon strong female families. Amongst the first to join was the Laheeb daughter Ellissara (x Ekscella by Monogramm) from the famous Eskapada family that also includes Emigracja. Parmana by Al Maraam and a daughter of one of the world’s most decorated
The 2006 mare Er mina (Galba x Echidna by Ararat), was purchased at the 2010 Pr ide of Poland Sale.
Ermina 12 ▪ ATHBAH STUD ▪ WORLD
Panika The 1996 mare Panika (Eukaliptus x Plisa by Probat), was purchased at the 2011 Pride of Poland Sale.
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Andaluzja The 1998 mare Andaluzja (Sanadik El Shaklan x Antwer pia by Eter nit), was purchased at the 2011 Pr ide of Poland Sale.
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Monogramm daughters, Palmira was leased to breed to Aja Justified producing a daughter. In 2011 the lovely flea-bitten Panika (Eukaliptus x Plisa by Probat), already dam of multichampion Palanga, joined the team as did one more exclusive Sanadik El Shaklan daughter, Andaluzja (x Antwerpia by Eternit). This year the last daughter of Pipi, Pomerania (by Gazal Al Shaqab) became the first member of the elite Pilarka/Pianissima family to join.
The 2010 filly Aja Rosada (Aja Justified x Psyches Sancerre by Padrons Psyche), Gold Champion at the 2011 Frankfurt Show.
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More Sanadik El Shaklan blood appears through his granddaughter, International Champion Mare MA Bint Azadik (Om El Azadik x Oml Sabiya Estopa by Carmargue). She is dam of a filly that Athbah hold to be the finest they have yet bred, Sadeem Athbah, an elegant silver grey by Marwan Al Shaqab. Born in 2010, Sadeem Athbah was crowned Middle Eastern Champion Filly as a yearling in 2011 as well as winning her class at the Al Khalediah Festival. Ellissara (Laheeb x Ekscella by Monogramm), from the famous Eska pada family that also includes Emigracja.
Ellissara 16 â–Ş ATHBAH STUD â–Ş WORLD
Pomerania Pomerania (by Gazal Al Shaqa b), one of the last daughters of Pipi, became the fir st member of the elite Pilar ka/Pianissima family to join the Athbah mare band.
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Shirin By Aisha Shir in By Aisha (WH Justice x Aisha Bint Missour i), Bronze Wor ld Champion Filly at the Salon du Cheval in 2011 and 2012 Gold Champion at Cattolica in Italy.
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The highly competitive group of horses includes two very successful WH Justice daughters: chestnut Fedora RG (Psyches Angel by Hadidi), an International Champion mare at the Emerald Trophy in 2012; and grey Shirin By Aisha (x Aisha Bint Missouri), Bronze World Champion Filly at the Salon du Cheval in 2011 and continuing her winning ways in 2012 with Bronze All Nations Cup Champion. Also from the Padrons Psyche sire line are Lola Dona (Magnum Psyche x Lumiars Lovesong by Lumiar Amadeus), a bay two-year-old who has also been collecting trophies in Europe this year and the Psytadel daughter Noora Apal, from one of Europes premier mare lines, that of Saskia RJ.
Shir in By Aisha winning the Gold Champion Title at Cattolica.
The success of South American connections has not been ignored in the quest for an elite broodmare band, starting with one of Athbah’s most prolific winners, Disputa FA (Lethyf El Jamaal x Utah FA by RSD Dark Victory), Silver Champion Mare at the 2012 Al Khalediah Festival and a Supreme International Champion Mare in Europe and dam of a promising filly by Aja Justified. This year, royally bred ZT Ludjteyna by Ludjin El Jamaal was acquired; she is a daughter of the U.S. National Champion Mare Shahteyna and is already dam of ZT Marwteyn, the impressive new Marwan Al Shaqab son at Michael Byatt Arabians. Both mares are flea-bitten grey beauties of great refinement. One Brazilian daughter of the highly regarded Marsianin son Delmar completes the group, Nebraska (x AF Nevada by Serenity Mashallah).
ZT Ludjteyna (Ludjin El Jamaal x Shahteyna), acquired by Athbah Stud this year, is the dam of the exotic bay stallion ZT Marwteyn (by Marwan Al Shaqab), pictured above.
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ZT Ludjteyna
Hanoua Athbah The 2008 mare Hanoua Athbah (Enzo x Walsa El Ludjin by Ludjin El Jamaal).
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Sadeem Athbah The 2009 filly Sadeem Athbah (Marwan Al Shaqa b x MA Bint Azadik), Champion Filly at the Middle East Championships and winner of her class in 2011 at the Al Khalediah Arabian Hor se Festival A-Show.
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Last but dramatically not least we come to the straight Egyptians of Athbah Stud, led by the fabulous El Sayyeda (Imperial Baarez x Helala by Ashruf ), bred in Egypt by the Al Kaherah Stud, and recently champion at the Egyptian Event Europe. The large number of bloodlines in the stud is part of its strategy. (Continued on page 27)
El Sayyeda The straight Egyptian mare El Sayyeda (Imper ial Baarez x Helala by Ashr uf), 2012 Egyptian Event Europe Champion Mare.
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Rohara Cashmere The 2007 mare Rohara Cashmere (Sir Fames HBV x Pskyla by Padrons Psyche). Champion Year ling filly in the U.S. and multiple champion mare in Europe.
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Fedora RG The 2007 mare Fedora RG (WH Justice x Psyches Angel by Hadidi), 2012 Inter national Champion Mare at the Emerald Trophy in Belgium.
Meqbilat Athbah The 2009 filly Meqbilat Athbah (QR Marc x Mar tinique J by Ekster n), class winner at the 2011 Middle East Championships and at the 2010 Qatar Inter national Show and Al Khalediah Inter national A-Show.
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Athbah Stud also has a small group of horses in race training with winners in Europe and the Middle East. Most decorated is the 2006 grey mare Burning Fancy (Burning Sand x Sayquins And Lace by Sayhi MC), 15(8-2-1-1) $97,170 in Europe and the Middle East for Athbah including the IFAHR listed race, the French Arabian Breeders Sprint Challenge in 2011. A son of Saudi Arabian super sire Amer also wears the black, blue, and white colors. Nokomys (x KTP Mystic Flight by Wiking) 2002 16(5-7-2-1) $117,477 has won on Dubai Day, the U.K.’s premier day of racing and during the Al Khalediah Festival. Also winning on home soil and further afield is Theoretically (Doran x First Ladie by Monarch AH) 20(2-4-2-1) $126,440 winner of the Al Khalediah Festival Cup in 2010 and the President of the UAE Cup Stakes in Newmarket 2011.
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HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al Saud dates the spark that grew into Athbah Stud back to 1978 when he became involved with his father’s herd of eleven Saudi Arabian horses. His family has continued to breed these horses as part of their cultural heritage and when shows were started in the 1990s, they won several championships for Saudi-bred horses. The Saudi horses have different strengths and type as compared with modern show Arabians and are still bred with pride at the stud in Riyadh. However, in those early days of shows in the country, the show calendar was not entirely consistent and only when Al Khalediah stepped into the breach in 2008, organizing the annual Al Khalediah Festival to the highest of standards did Athbah Stud evolve their plan to focus on breeding the modern type of purebred. Their target is not merely to win prizes and walk away but to develop a program of excellence built with passion for the breed. Continually comparing themselves with others, HRH Prince Abdulaziz acknowledges that it is always necessary to learn from others, but his philosophy in both horse breeding and business is to observe successful paths and then to carry on from where those paths end, developing a new route. This goal will take time and as always with breeding, great results are never guaranteed, but he is satisfied that progress has been extremely rapid for Athbah Stud, whose first Triple Crown came just two years after the initial decision to breed modern Arabian show horses was taken. However, he also notes that for the moment to breed a bronze champion is a greater satisfaction than to have bought a gold champion. HRH Prince Abdulaziz also believes in investing in human resources and in the power of creating a good team that work together to achieve their goals in combination with the best of technology. While horses are not machines and none can be programmed to produce perfection all the time, he believes that no Athbah Stud horse can enter the arena without completing every facet of his training and conditioning.
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Nebraska The 2001 mare Nebraska (Delmar x AF Nevada by Serenity Mashalla),
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Manager Ward Bemong and trainers Tom and Glenn Schoukens and Giacomo Capacci have all played their part in the success of the stud. HRH Prince Abdulaziz also has the long-term vision of creating the fullest platform for promotion of Arabian horse breeding in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. For the future he is sure that encouraging more owners and breeders, thereby increasing the national competition, will spur breeders to produce an ever higher quality of young stock. Also in a quest to encourage good breeding he has sponsored money prizes for the Top Ten Saudi-bred horses competing at the Championships. A demographic of owners in the country shows that between 60 and 70 percent of them are under 30 years old. To ensure that these younger breeders, who are developing their enthusiasm, have a platform on which to realize some success, Athbah Stud does not show horses at all eight of the shows available in the country, just at Al Khalediah and the National championships. However, HRH Prince Abdulaziz understands that, as it has been throughout history, every man with a horse will at some point like to prove that his horse is the best at something. To provide another competition which he believes is suited to the constitution and traditional strengths of the purebred he has created a winter season of 5 km races, to be run off the racetrack endurance style with whips prohibited. The first meeting of three races has already been run with 18 horses taking part in the five years old and over race, and Athbah Stud horses won two of the races.
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The passion for the Arabian horse that was at the foundation of the stud has not diminished as it approaches the end of its first decade. Mistakes have been made and learned from, but the joy of seeing a beautiful filly like Sadeem Athbah take her first proud few steps has not diminished. The happiness deepens as the years pass and home-bred fillies mature to join the broodmare band in the onward quest for perfection. HRH King Abdul Aziz bin Abd Al Rahman Al Saud unified the Kingdom on the backs of these horses and it is the duty of future generations to preserve the dam lines of the horses they inherited in complete purity. Athbah Stud has now created the foundation to become a fount of excellence itself.
Namar The stallion Namar (Nader x Jumaa by Eidan), one of the indigenous deser t-bred Arabians retained at Athbah’s far m in Riyadh.
w w w. A t h b a h S t u d . c o m HRH Pr ince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud · Riyadh · Kingdom of Saudi Ara bia
w w w. A t h b a h S t u d . c o m HRH Pr ince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 路 Riyadh 路 Kingdom of Saudi Ara bia
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