2018 All Nations Cup Festival by Arabian Horse World

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ALL NATIONS CUP FESTIVAL

AACHEN, GERMANY SEPTEMBER 27-30, 2018 Story by Betty Finke Photos by Alessio Azzali and Betty Finke

or those who were there at the start, the evolution of the international Arabian show at Aachen – of which this year’s ANC Festival was the 40th – is incredible. What began as a big gathering of German breeders and exhibitors, with a few added foreign starters, grew rapidly, becoming European Championships in 1983 and, one year later, including the All Nations Cup, which returned again in 1987 to stay for good. Since then, the ANC itself also evolved, expanding into a four-day extravaganza including not only the German Nationals, but also the European Futurity, stallion presentations, dressage and jumping competitions, and an auction.

You need some stamina to get through it all, whether you have two legs or four. THE EUROPEAN FUTURITY

The qualifying classes of the European Futurity again kicked off proceedings in the main ring on Thursday, though the actual championships were held on Sunday along with the ANC finals. In the past, there used to be just one overall championship for foals and one for yearlings; then two separate ones for colts and fillies and one for yearlings. This year for the first time, there were separate championships for yearling fillies and yearling colts as well. The judges this year were Ali

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All Nations Cup Gold Champion Senior Stallion and All Nations Cup High Point Male E.S. HARIR (AJ Dinar x TF Magnums Magic), owned by Al Saqran Stud, Kuwait.

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Darawshi (Israel), Ali Ghanem Al Mazrouei (UAE), Janina Merz (USA), Gerard Paty (Canada), Diego Puentes (Uruguay), and Mieke Sans (Belgium), who frequently had different ideas about who should win; not all that surprising given the level of quality and the variety in type and development, especially among the foals. These classes, which offer attractive prize money to the top five competitors, provide a good opportunity to see foals by young and upcoming sires and included some interesting debuts. Among the established sires, the Brazilian-bred RFI Farid is very much the flavor of the day, and his get took the Gold titles in both foal championships: Al Mohamadia’s Jameela AM (out of Deem AM) among the fillies and Al Baydaa Stud’s Turki Al Baydaa (out of A H W > 83 < 1 1 . 1 8

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All Nations Cup Bronze Champion Senior Stallion E.S. SARAB (Marajj x Mahjesty), owned by Emirates Stud, UAE.

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All Nations Cup Silver Champion Senior Stallion *EQUATOR (QR Marc x Ekliptyka), owned by Michałòw Stud, Poland and on lease to Al Sheikh Stud, Israel.

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All Nations Cup Gold Champion Senior Mare RIHAB AL NASSER (Marwan Al Shaqab x Remal Al Nasser), owned by Al Nasser Stud, Qatar.

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All Nations Cup Silver Champion Senior Mare PUSTYNIA KAHILA (Kahil Al Shaqab x Pustynna Malwa), owned by Michałów Stud, Poland.

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All Nations Cup Bronze Champion Senior Mare GALERIDA (Shanghai EA x Galilea), owned by Michałów Stud, Poland.

Turkiz AA) among the colts. The latter, foaled in early January, looked as if he really belonged in the yearling class; out of a top winning straight Egyptian mare, he is very typical of his sire, as is Jameela AM. The filly foals were an especially strong group, and Silver and Gold was awarded to two foals who are among their respective sire’s first foals: Malala Apal S (ES Sarab x RA Anila Apal), bred and owned by the Lievrouw-Seynhoeve family of Belgium, and from Austria Mario Matt’s MM Allegria, who is by his homebred stallion MM Jabbari out of the American mare Aruba RTA – two excellent fillies and very promising debuts for their young sires. In the colt foals, Silver was awarded to Nazeem KA from Knocke Arabians, Belgium, a rare European son of the American stallion Montana Firenze out of Nadira KA, while Bronze went to the Shanghai EA son TF Royal Magnum (out of TF Royal Lady), owned and bred by Francesco Tripodi of Italy. In the yearling classes, it is always interesting to see how last year’s foals have developed, and two of last year’s foal champions certainly lived up to their early promise. Last year’s gold-winning filly foal, Knocke Arabians’ Pearl Eden KA (QR Marc x Prisma de Lafon), no less lovely as a yearling, again got into the Top Five, taking the Bronze title. Silver went to

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All Nations Cup Gold Champion Junior Colt AJ KAFU (Shanghai EA x AJ Kahayla), owned by Ajman Stud, UAE.

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All Nations Cup Silver Champion Junior Colt DÂ SERAJ (FA El Rasheem x Ladi Veronica), owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE.

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All Nations Cup Bronze Champion Junior Colt D SHALLAL (FA El Rasheem x D Shahla), owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE.

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All Nations Cup Gold Champion Junior Filly VENICE MI (Allegiance MI x Valentine MI), owned by Al Muawd Stud, Saudi Arabia.

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All Nations Cup Silver Champion Junior Filly RSHEDIAH ALKHASHAB (EKS Alihandro x Symphony Of Love), owned by Al Khashab Stud, Kuwait.

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All Nations Cup Bronze Champion Junior Filly SERANZA (Kanz Albidayer x Evening Serenade), owned by Al Sheikh Stud, Israel.

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All Nations Cup Gold Champion Yearling Colt ADMIRAAL (Emerald J x Haniyyah), owned by Ajman Stud, UAE.

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All Nations Cup Silver Champion Yearling Colt MAHER AL SAYED (Alexxanderr x Mera Alsayed), owned by Alsayed Stud, Saudi Arabia. He also won Arabian Horse World’s Horse of the Year.

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All Nations Cup Bronze Champion Yearling Colt D BAREQ (FA El Rasheem x Royal Emira), owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE.

the pretty grey British filly Duchess Amaiyaa DMC (Aja Angelo x Amaliaa), bred and owned by newcomer Arabians Imperial. The Gold winner was a very impressive late entry Why Not DA, unmistakably a daughter of Emerald J, and out of the Polish mare Wonder Girl. Bred and owned by Danubius Arabians of Romania, she was one of the few cases where the judges were in accord. In the yearling colts, last year’s Gold winning foal Moncino DD (Fayad Alfayyad x Lady Cassandra DD), bred and owned by Dirk Dejonckheere of Belgium, also ended up with the Bronze medal. Silver also went to Belgium, to Knocke Arabians’ Poseidon KA (Equiborn KA x Primera Marc), a double QR Marc grandson, and Gold to SQ Sager. Bred and owned by Bassam Al Saqran of Kuwait, this beautiful bay colt is a son of multiple Gold Champion ES Harir, out of CS Amay, and a very exciting beginning for that horse’s career as a sire.

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The German Nationals received a better time slot this year, enabling more people to see the classes. And they were well worth seeing! The classes for youngsters – especially the yearling fillies – and senior mares were well filled and of excellent quality, so the judges Jerzy Bialobok (Poland), Eric Gear (France), and Marianne Tengstedt (Denmark) had plenty of work. Only the senior stallions, like last year, consisted of just three entries. Fortunately, these, again, were deserving of the titles. Sax Arabians, celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, had another excellent show. It is a major achievement today to celebrate three decades of breeding at this high level, especially continuing with

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All Nations Cup Gold Champion Yearling Filly AJ SAMARA (AJ Mardan x Sama AM), owned by Ajman Stud, UAE.

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All Nations Cup Silver Champion Yearling Filly SS LA BELLA (Calypso OS x BF Bella Contessa), owned by Al Saqran Stud, Kuwait.

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All Nations Cup Bronze Champion Yearling Filly D SHIHANAH (FA El Rasheem x D Shahla), owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE.

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All Nations Cup Gold Champion Gelding EROGANT (WH Justice x Raville), owned by Monica Van Duyvenbode, the Netherlands.

All Nations Cup Silver Champion Gelding AJA ALISANDRO (EKS Alihandro x Aja Caterina), owned by Gravelbank Farm, U.K.

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All Nations Cup Bronze Champion Gelding EROMANOV T (Marhaabah x Rigona D), owned by Emmie Graafland, Belgium.

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All Nations Cup High Point Female ETNOLOGIA (Gazal Al Shaqab x Etalanta), owned by Halsdon Arabians, U.K.

Artist Katja Sauer presents a portrait of Padrons Psyche, winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award, to Knocke Arabians manager, Walter Franko.

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URSULA RAHM, recipient of the Lifetime Award, and Wolfgang Eberhard, chairman of VZAP (Association of Breeders and Friends of the Arabian Horse).

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All Nations Cup Future Award Winner WILDONA (Shanghai EA x Wilda), owned by Michaล รณw Stud, Poland.

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l e f t : The All Nations Cup presented to the UAE.

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a b o v e l e f t : While dad was busy showing champions in the show arena, Frank Spönle’s daughter Virginia won a dressage class and placed third in another, riding ADRETTE D a part Arabian pony.

BA ARAM (Amalfi x Aroussa Monpelou) winner of the Paltra Cup for Dressage, owned and ridden by Kyle Van der Heijden of the Netherlands.

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one’s original mare lines and using mostly homebred stallions. Reinhard and Monica Sax also prefer breeding the traditional way and do not use embryo transfer. Yes, they will use fashionable sires from time to time – among them WH Justice, Kahil Al Shaqab, and EKS Alihandro – but once they have bred a good son, they will use him rather than go back to the sire. The foal classes this year saw the eagerly awaited debut of the first foals by their three-year-old homebred EKS Alihandro son, Lamandro, and they did not disappoint. The two colts, Essandro (out of Espannja Al Justice) and Alejandro (out of Marshani), placed first and second in their class, and Essandro went on to be named Gold Champion Foal. Silver was awarded to the Lamandro daughter, Lamandra (out of Esskhija Bint Essteema and granddaughter of the

famous Triple Crown winning mare Essteema), who had placed second in her class behind Ismer Stud’s little beauty IS Elasca (Ascot DD x IS Elanda, of Polish breeding). In the championships, they had their placing reversed, IS Elasca taking Bronze. Ismer Stud is the oldest (as well as the largest) Arabian Stud in Germany, having been established in the mid-1960s, and IS Elasca represents five generations of Ismer breeding through her dam. Ascot DD was leased last year and has delivered some very exciting foals, of which Elasca was just one example. Both junior Silver titles also went to Sax Arabians. In the fillies, it was the charming black Marnica (Martice x Marni), a fifth generation Sax-bred filly on both sides of her pedigree. She was second in the class of two- and three-year-old fillies behind Ismer Stud’s

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German National Gold Champion Stallion BK LATIF (Nader Al Jamal x Latifah AA), owned by BK Arabians, Germany.

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German National Silver Champion Stallion COF MIRAJJ (Marajj x OFW Hahnah), owned by Kerstin Gondesen, Germany.

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German National Bronze Champion Stallion AMUN AL AQABA (Authentic Ibn Nawaal x Aisha Al Aqaba), owned by Al Aqaba Stud, Germany.

elegant and showy IS Et Tu, a daughter of the homebred European Silver Champion stallion IS Exxpu (QR Marc x IS Exelsia) and his first Gold winner. In this case, the class placing remained the same in the championships. Bronze went to CBA Maruja (EKS Alihandro x Maharani CF), bred and owned by Bouché Arabians, who had won the very strong yearling filly class. She also goes back to Sax Arabian lines through her dam. Gold Champion Junior Colt was the stunning yearling winner, Muranas Magic (Muranas Jassehr x Muranas Muhtarah), bred and owned by Michaela Weidner. His sire, Muranas Jassehr, has been producing excellent stock and was recently leased to Poland. There’s a rather wonderful mix of bloodlines here, tracing to Thee Desperado in the male line, incorporating Gazal Al Shaqab and double Ali Jamaal and El Shaklan breeding, plus old Weil-Marbach bloodlines. Sax Arabians had another Silver winner with Elshaan, a three-year-old son of their exuberant National Champion Stallion Marshan (a half-brother to Marnica) and virtually a carbon copy of his sire. He not only looks like Marshan, but he has the same spirited, showy attitude and stunning movement. The Bronze title once again went to Bouché Arabians, this time to the yearling CBA Illias

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(Lawrence El Gazal x Ilena El Aryes), who stood second to Muranas Magic in his class. He has six crosses to Ali Jamaal, and it shows. The two glorious mare classes were real highlights. The star of the lot was a newcomer, EDW Hi Catharina (AF Edil x AF Elady), exhibited by Hans Pfeiffer. This Brazilian-bred beauty stole the show, scoring a full contingent of 20s both for type and for movement and ending up with the highest score in the show as well as the Gold title. Her breeding looks unfamiliar at first glance, but if you go further back you find many familiar names like Bey Shah, *Aladdinn, *Bask, The Minstril, *Jamilll, and quite a concentration of old Russian lines as well. Silver went to the U.S. import HS Temptation Eyes (A Temptation x MMA Diamond Dawn), winner of the senior class. A lovely and very feminine mare of predominantly Polish breeding, with some old American lines thrown in through her maternal grandsire Huckleberry Bey, she is owned by Thomas Mayer and is no stranger to top honors. The Bronze Champion was yet another title for Sax Arabians, for Espannja Al

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German National Gold Champion Mare EDW HI CATHARINA (AF Edil x AF Elady), owned by Safar Araber, Germany.

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German National Silver Champion Mare HS TEMPTATION EYES (A Temptation x MMA Diamond Dawn), owned by Black Smoke Arabians, Germany.

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German National Bronze Champion Mare ESPANNJA AL JUSTICE (Al Justice x Espanna Estopa), owned by Sax Arabians, Germany.

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Justice (Al Justice x Espanna Estopa), an exquisitely refined snow-white beauty and the dam of the Gold Champion Foal, Essandro. Finally, there may only have been three senior stallions, but they were an excellent group of very different individuals who each have their advantages. The Gold winner, BK Latif (Nader Al Jamal x Latifah AA), bred and owned by Leonhard Becker, is straight Egyptian and frankly one of the most beautiful stallions I have ever seen. It is hard to understand that none of the judges saw fit to give him a 20 for type, because they don’t come any typier than this! He was followed, both in his class and in the championships, by the allAmerican COF Mirajj (Marajj x OFW Hahnah), bred by Petra Lünsmann-Delbecque and owned by Kerstin Gondesen, who is an unmistakable representative of the Marwan Al Shaqab dynasty. Finally, in Bronze position, another straight

Egyptian, Amun Al Aqaba (Authentic Ibn Nawaal x Aisha Al Aqaba), bred and owned by Waltraut Hobein. Despite being straight Egyptian, he is a totally different horse from BK Latif, with a more old-fashioned look. While he does not have an extreme head, this horse has a truly magnificent trot; unfortunately he did not show all of it on this occasion. THE ALL NATIONS CUP Entry numbers were up again at the All Nations Cup this year, with 119 entries from a total of 15 countries. That’s still less than the 132 of two years ago, but more than last year’s 104. The biggest group this year came from Poland, with no less than 24 horses, followed by the Emirates with 21 and Kuwait with 16 horses, then Belgium with 12 and Britain with 11 entries. All others were in the one digit category, including two newcomers: Romania and Mexico, though the horses were bred in Germany and the U.S., respectively. The equally international panel of judges consisted of Mark Ismer (Germany), Steve Lieblang (U.S.), Abdelouahed Maagoul (Morocco), Ann Norden (Sweden), Fausto Scanzi (Italy), Renata Schibler (Switzerland), Dr, Marek Trela (Poland), and Marc Veray (France). After a year’s absence, the gelding classes were back, and they were excellent. They were the first ANC classes to be judged right on the first day, and anyone who missed them because of this, missed a treat. As on previous occasions, the British entries were really strong, with both the reigning British National Champion geldings forward,

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German National Gold Champion Colt MURANAS MAGIC (Muranas Jassehr x Muranas Muhtarah), owned by Gestüt Murana, Germany.

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German National Silver Champion Colt ELSHAAN (Marshan x Elena Bint Europe), owned by Sax Arabians, Germany.

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Alandro and Aja Alisandro. Both of them are sons of EKS Alihandro. Alandro (x Adeeba), bred and owned by Kymberley and Kandy Pody, won the junior class and Aja Alisandro (x Aja Catarina), bred by Malcolm and Jane Hickford and owned by Alf Hallworth and Barbara Napier, was second in the senior class; but when the championships came around, Aja Alisandro got a title and Alandro did not. Nor did any of the juniors, with all the titles going to the first, second, and third-placed horses of senior class. The winner here was an entry from the Netherlands, Erogant (WH Justice x Raville), bred and owned by Monica van Duyvenbode, a most impressive and very typey horse who also

German National Bronze Champion Colt CBA ILLIAS (Lawrence El Gazal x Ilena El Ayres), owned by Bouché Arabians, Germany.

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happens to be an active Western sports horse. Aja Alisandro won silver, and Bronze went to the impressive bay Eromanov T (Marhaabah x Rigona D), owned by Emmie Graafland, again from Holland. The gelding championships were the only ones in which European exhibitors had much of a say; the remainder, with just one exception, being firmly in Middle Eastern hands. Ajman Stud can always be relied on to present some stunning youngsters that end up in the title ranks, and 2018 was no exception. AJ Samara is yet another ultra-typey daughter of the homebred AJ Mardan, out of Sama AM by Eden C, winner of the first and smaller yearling filly class and Gold Yearling Filly title. While the class may have been smaller, it had the top winners in it — besides AJ Samara, the second-placed filly, SS La Bella, took the Silver title. Bred by Mustafa Sabankaya in the U.S., she is a daughter of Calypso OS out of BF Bella Contessa by QR Excel and is owned by Bassam Al Saqran of Kuwait. Both fillies had the same overall score in their class, with AJ Samara winning on type. The second, much bigger class also had a lovely winner in the Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Gold Champion MB Vivyanna (Lawrence Al Gazal x Victorya FHP), bred (and shown) by Michael Byatt and owned by Arabian Soul Partners, Mexico. Yet in the championships, despite scoring highest of all yearling fillies, she had to stand back to the secondplaced filly in her class, Dubai Arabian Stud’s D Shihanah, who took Bronze. D Shihanah is by FA El Rasheem and out of D Shahla, who in turn is out of FT Shaella. Both her dam and grandam won Gold at Aachen as juniors, so this is quite a champion family (and Shihanah was not the last of them to win a title this year, either). The yearling colts also had one smaller and one larger class, but in this case all the champions came from the bigger class, again involving some reshuffling of the class placings. Not in case of the winner, though, which was the impressive bay Admiraal (Emerald A H W > 92 < 1 1 . 1 8

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German National Silver Champion Filly MARNICA (Martice x Marni), owned by Sax Arabians, Germany.

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German National Bronze Champion Filly CBA MARUJA (EKS Alihandro x Maharani CF), owned by Bouché Arabians, Germany.

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J x Haniyyah by Psytadel), bred Al Muawd Stud (but born in Britain) and now owned by Ajman Stud. This well-developed colt is nearly a carbon copy of his sire and looks set to go far. He won his class and was unanimous choice of all judges for the Gold title. Silver went to the Menton Gold Champion Maher Al Sayed (Alexxanderr x Mera Alsayed), another excellent, though very different, colt. Those who were at Aachen last year will remember his sire Alexxanderr winning the Gold Junior Colt title then, and grandsire Excalibur EA Gold Champion Senior Stallion. Bred and owned by Alsayed Stud of Saudi Arabia, and very distinctive with his striking roan markings on one side, Maher Al Sayed also won the AHW Arabian Horse of the Year award. Bronze was awarded to the colt placed above him in the class by a fraction of a point, Dubai Arabian Stud’s D Bareq, another fine son of FA El Rasheem. He is out of the straight Egyptian mare Royal Emira, a full sister to World Champion Royal Colours. Though the competition for the junior champion filly titles was tough, this time the horse with the highest score also won the Gold title: three-year-old winner Venice MI (Allegiance MI x Valentine MI), bred by Mulawa Arabians in Australia and owned by Al Muawd Stud of Saudi Arabia. Her bright chestnut coat with neat white markings — surely a legacy from *Padron — really makes her stand out in a predominantly bay environment, and she has loads of quality to go with it. She won a huge and very strong class of three-year-old fillies, beating no less than three RFI Farid daughters that have all A H W > 93 < 1 1 . 1 8

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l e f t : German National Gold Champion Filly IS ET TU (IS Exxpu x IS Etara), owned by Gestüt Ismer, Germany.

won Gold on other occasions, and ended up with 93.06, one of the highest scores of the show. Her breeding is mostly American, with several lines to Padrons Psyche, Bey Shah, and *Aladdinn. The Silver and Bronze champion fillies came from the two-year-old “B” class, and again had their order reversed in the championships, class winner Seranza (Kanz Al Bidayer x Evening Serenade by Marwan Al Shaqab), bred by Michael Byatt and owned by Mohammad Sheikh Suliman of Israel, taking Bronze behind Al Khashab stud’s Rshediah Alkhashab (EKS Alihandro x Symphony of Love by El Nabila B) from Kuwait. These are two very typey and elegant bay fillies who both have many wins under their belts already, and their scores were very close together as well. Class results were reshuffled once again in the junior male championships where, for once, the Gold title went a horse that had not won its class. This was Ajman Stud’s ultratypey AJ Kafu (Shanghai EA x AJ Kahayla by QR Marc), who initially placed second in the three-year-old colt class. This striking, nearwhite colt is a grandson of the wonderful World Champion mare Kwestura through his

German National Gold Champion Foal ESSANDRO (Lamandro x Espannja Al Justice), and Silver Champion Foal LAMANDRA (Lamandro x Esskhija Bint Essteema), both owned by Sax Arabians, Germany. left:

German National Bronze Champion Foal IS ELASCA (Ascot DD x IS Elanda), owned by Gestüt Ismer, Germany.

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dam. The class winner D Seraj, bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Stud, won the Silver title. Of equally royal breeding, by FA El Rasheem out of Ladi Veronica (by Versace), D Seraj was Gold Champion Yearling Colt at Aachen two years ago and is growing into a very impressive young stallion with overall smooth and balanced conformation. Dubai Arabian Stud scored a double in this championship, also winning Bronze. Two of their two-year-old colts, both sons of FA El Rasheem, had placed first and second in their class, but it was the second-placed one who got Bronze: the pretty chestnut D Shallal, a son of D Shahla by Marajj, adding yet another title to the laurels of the amazing FT Shaella dynasty. The senior mares, as always, were a delight, and it was especially wonderful to see a great class of 11-year-old and older mares again this year. This class has a long history of being won by Polish mares, and so it was again, with Shirley Watts’s Michałów-bred Etnologia (Gazal Al Shaqab x Etalanta) taking first place with the highest score of all females in the show, 93.19. In fact, this was the highest score of the entire show. Unfortunately, Etnologia went lame in the championships on the final day and had to be withdrawn. Still the older ladies prevailed this year, with the Gold title going to the second-placed mare in the senior class, Al Nasser Stud’s classic white beauty Rihab Al Nasser from Qatar. She is by Marwan Al Shaqab out of Remal Al Nasser by Ashhal Al Rayyan, and far more reminiscent of her maternal grandsire than of her sire. The Polish horses may have been a bit down on their luck during the last few years, but this year Michałów scored a double in the mare championships, winning both Silver with the bold and bay Pustynia Kahila (Kahil Al Shaqab x Pustynna Malwa) and Bronze A H W > 94 < 1 1 . 1 8

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with the ethereal and feminine grey Galerida (Shanghai EA x Galilea). Both mares had placed second in their respective classes, where, by some strange coincidence, each had been beaten by a mare sharing the same sire: Galerida by the Shanghai EA daughter Wildona, also from Michałów, who gave the better trotting display during the class, and Pustynia Kahila by Janow Podlaski’s Alsa, also by Kahil Al Shaqab and perhaps a tad more refined than her sister. Of these two, Wildona received the ANC Future Award, which is given to the best horse in both classes and championships that did not win a title. Judging this mare championship must have been extremely difficult, with such a big selection of truly top quality mares to choose from! Even if she did not win a title, special mention must go the winner of the Seven- to 10-year-old class as well, Psyche Kreuza (Ekstern x Pallas-Atena). Bred and owned Krzysztof Poszepczynski, and of classic old Polish lines, this mare got the best movement score of the show, a full set of 20s, and she deserved every one of them. While the younger senior stallion class was the bigger one and very exciting, with an excellent (and rare European) winner in the impressive shape of Knocke Arabians’ Equiborn KA (QR Marc x Espadrilla by Monogramm) from Belgium, the senior class featured the duel of the giants. It wasn’t a large class, but at the top were two great horses battling it out for the class win as well as for the Gold title: E.S.

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European Futurity Gold Champion Yearling Colt SQ SAGER (ES Harir x CS Amay), owned by Al Saqran Stud, Kuwait.

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European Futurity Silver Champion Yearling Colt POSEIDON KA (Equiborn KA x Primera Marc), owned by Paul Gheysens, Belgium.

European Futurity Bronze Champion Yearling Colt MONCINO DD (Fayad Alfayyad x Lady Cassandra DD), owned by Dejonckheere Dirk, Belgium.

Harir (AJ Dinar x TF Magnums Magic), ANC Gold Champion Stallion in 2015 as well as unanimous Gold Champion in Dubai and Menton 2018, and the Michałów’s Reserve World Champion Equator (QR Marc x Ekliptyka), currently on lease to Mohammad Sheikh Suliman of Israel. Two excellent stallions that are very different from each other in type — one might say, typical personifications of the WH Justice and Marwan Al Shaqab dynasties, respectively. Equator seems doomed to be the eternal second, because it was Silver for him once again. E.S. Harir, bred by Emirates Stud and owned by Bassam Al Saqran of Kuwait, scooped up the highest point score of all males in the show with 93.10 and his second Gold Championship at the ANC, and he is admittedly hard to beat for sheer beauty. And it wasn’t Equiborn KA who got Bronze, but the second placed horse in his class, E.S. Sarab (Marajj x Mahjesty by WH Justice), bred and owned by Emirates Stud. This is also where E.S. Harir comes from, so there’s a double win for Emirates Stud as breeders. With all this, it is hardly surprising that the United Arab Emirates once again won the All Nations Cup, and the Breeders Cup as well. Equiborn KA, though missing out on the Bronze, got one of the special awards and was honored with the title “Best European privately bred and owned horse.” His breeder and owner, Paul Gheysens, also received another special prize: the “Lifetime Achievement Award 2018” for Padrons Psyche. The late, great sire was honored with a beautiful commemorative video that surely brought tears to many eyes, and his last owner received a lovely portrait created by the German artist Katja Sauer. Katja, A H W > 95 < 1 1 . 1 8

who had already portrayed the previous recipients of this prize, Estopa and Gazal Al Shaqab, is a truly gifted artist who always manages to achieve an incredible likeness in her portraits. Two awards also went to recipients with two rather than four legs. One was the Trainer of the Year Award, sponsored by veteran handler Jan Calis and replacing the former Handler’s Cup. It went to Britain’s Rod Jones, who showed two of the Gold Champions — Admiraal and Venice MI — and deservedly so. Rod is not only an excellent trainer and handler, he also runs better than anyone else. At this time, he is

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European Futurity Gold Champion Yearling Filly WHY NOT DA (Emerald J x Wonder Girl), owned by Danubius Arabians, Belgium. t o p r i g h t : European Futurity Silver Champion Yearling Filly DUCHESS AMAIYAA DMC (Aja Angelo x Amaliaa), owned by Arabians Imperial, UK. b o t t o m l e f t : European Futurity Bronze Champion Yearling Filly PEARL EDEN KA (QR Marc x Prisma de Lafon), owned by Paul Gheysens, Belgium.

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European Futurity Gold Champion Colt Foal TURKI AL BAYDAA (RFI Farid x Turkiz AA), owned by Mr. Ahmed El Talawy, Egypt.

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European Futurity Silver Champion Colt Foal NAZEEM K.A. (Montana Firenze x Nadira K.A.), owned by Paul Gheysens, Belgium.

; e f t : European Futurity Bronze Champion Colt Foal CP DJULIANO (Shanghai EA x Djasira Princess Psytadel), owned by Claudia PolieWelber, Germany.

virtually the only handler who ever manages to trot a full round with his horse without breaking. And then there’s the “Lifetime Award,” which this year was given to Ursula Rahm of Switzerland. Ursula used to successfully breed both purebred and Shagya-Arabians, she was active in the Swiss Arabian Horse Society, as a show organiser, and later in ECAHO. Now over 90 years old, this venerable lady came into the ring not only to accept her prize, but also to give an impassioned speech reminding everyone what a horse show used to and ought to be: first and foremost about the horses, and not about the show. A H W > 96 < 1 1 . 1 8

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“Love your horses,” she finished her appeal. “And make sure that even at the shows, they are well cared for.” Her statement was greeted with thunderous applause from the audience. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if her advice was not only applauded, but actually taken to heart by those it concerns most!

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2018 ALL NATIONS CUP FESTIVAL

European Futurity Gold Champion Filly Foal JAMEELA AM (RFI Farid x Deem AM), owned by Al Mohamadia Stud, Saudi Arabia. above right: European Futurity Silver Champion Filly Foal MALALA APAL S (AS Sarab x RA Anila Apal), owned by Family Lievrouw-Seynhaeve, Belgium. bottom: European Futurity Bronze Champion Filly Foal MM ALEGRIA (MM Jabari x Arubata), owned by Mario Matt Arabians, Austria.

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2018 A L L N AT I O N S C U P F E S T I VA L R E S U LT S ALL NATIONS CUP AACHEN, GERMANY SEPTEMBER 27-30, 2018 JUDGES: Ann Norden, Sweden; Renata Schibler, Switzerland; Mark Ismer, Germany; Steve Lieblang, U.S.; Abdel Maagoul, Morocco; Fausto Scanzi, Italy; Marc Veray, France; Dr. Marek Trela, Poland CHAMPION SENIOR STALLION GOLD: E.S. Harir (AJ Dinar x TF Magnums Magic), Al Saqran Stud, Kuwait. SILVER: Equator (QR Marc x Ekliptyka), Al Sheikh Stud, Israel. BRONZE: E.S. Sarab (Marajj x Mahjesty), Emirates Stud, UAE. CHAMPION SENIOR MARE GOLD: Rihab Al Nasser (Marwan Al Shaqab x Remal Al Nasser), Al Nasser Stud, Qatar. SILVER: Pustynia Kahila (Kahil Al Shaqab x Pustynna Malwa), Michalow Stud, Poland. BRONZE: Galerida (Shanghai EA x Galilea), Michalow Stud, Poland. CHAMPION JUNIOR COLT GOLD: AJ Kafu (Shanghai EA x AJ Kahayla), Ajman Stud, UAE. SILVER: D Seraj (FA El Rasheem x Ladi Veronica), Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE. BRONZE: D Shallal (FA El Rasheem x D Shahla), Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE. CHAMPION JUNIOR FILLY GOLD: Venice MI (Allegiance MI x Valentine MI), Al Muawd Stud, Saudi Arabia. SILVER: Rshediah Alkhashab (EKS Alihandro x Symphony Of Love), Al Khashab Stud, Kuwait. BRONZE: Seranza (Kanz Albidayer x Evening Serenade), Al Sheikh Stud, Israel.

CHAMPION YEARLING COLT GOLD: Admiraal (Emerald J x Haniyyah), Ajman Stud, UAE. SILVER: Maher Al Sayed (Alexxanderr x Mera Alsayed), Alsayed Stud, Saudi Arabia. BRONZE: D Bareq (FA El Rasheem x Royal Emira), Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE. CHAMPION YEARLING FILLY GOLD: AJ Samara (AJ Mardan x Sama AM), Ajman Stud, UAE. SILVER: SS La Bella (Calypso Os x BF Bella Contessa), Al Saqran Stud, Kuwait. BRONZE: D Shihanah (FA El Rasheem x D Shahla), Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE. CHAMPION GELDING GOLD: Erogant (WH Justice x Raville), Monica Van Duyvenbode, the Netherlands. SILVER: Aja Alisandro (EKS Alihandro x Aja Caterina), Gravelbank Farm, U.K. BRONZE: Eromanov T (Marhaabah x Rigona D), Emmie Graafland, Belgium. GERMAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AACHEN, GERMANY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 JUDGES: Mrs. Marianne Tengstedt, Denmark; Mr. Jerzy Bialobok, Poland; Mr. Eric Gear, France. CHAMPION STALLIONS GOLD: BK Latif (Nader Al Jamal x Latifah AA), owned by BK Arabians, Germany. SILVER: COF Mirajj (Marajj × OFW Hahnah), owned by Kerstin Gondesen, Germany. BRONZE: Amun Al Aqaba (Authentic Ibn Nawaal x Aisha Al Aqaba), owned by Al Aqaba Stud, Germany.

See more show results online at www.arabianhorseworld.com

CHAMPION MARES: GOLD: EDW HI Catharina (AF Edil x AF Elady), owned by Safar Araber, Germany. SILVER: HS Temptation Eyes (A Temptation x MMA Diammond Dawn), owned by Black Smoke Arabians, Germany. BRONZE: Espannja Al Justice (Al Justice x Espanna Estopa), owned by Sax Arabaians Germany, Germany. CHAMPION COLTS GOLD: Muranas Magic (Muranas Jassehr x Muranas Muhtarah), owned by Gestüt Murana, Germany. SILVER: Elshaan (Marshan x Elena Bint Europe), owned by Sax Arabians German, Germany. BRONZE: CBA Illias (Lawrence El Gazal x Ilena El Ayres), owned by Bouché Arabians, Germany. CHAMPION FILLIES GOLD: IS Et Tu (IS Exxpu x IS Etara), owned by Gestüt Ismer, Germany. SILVER: Marnica (Martice x Marni), owned by Sax Arabians Germany, Germany . BRONZE: CBA Maruja (EKS Alihandro x Maharani CF), owned by Bouché Arabians, Germany. CHAMPION FOALS GOLD: Essandro (Lamandro x Espannja Al Justice), owned by Sax Arabians Germany, Germany. SILVER: Lamandra (Lamandro x Esskhija Bint Essteema), owned by Sax Arabians Germany, Germany. BRONZE: IS Elasca (Ascot DD x IS Elanda), owned by Gestüt Ismer, Germany. ARABIAN FUTURITY EUROPE SEPTEMBER 27-30, 2018 ALBERT-VAHLE-HALLE, AACHEN, GERMANY

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JUDGES: Mrs. Mieke Sans; Germany, Mrs. Janina Merz; United States of America, Mr. Diego Puentes; Greece, Mr. Gerard Paty; Canada, Mr. Ali Ghanem Bin Ali Mazrouei; Kuwait, Mr. Ali Darawshi; Israel. CHAMPION YEARLING COLTS GOLD: SQ Sager (ES Harir x CS Amay), owned by Al Saqran Stud, Kuwait. SILVER: Poseidon KA (Equiborn KA x Primera Marc), owned by Paul Gheysens, Belgium. BRONZE: Moncino DD (Fayad Alfayyad x Lady Cassandra DD), owned by Dejonckheere Dirk, Belgium. CHAMPION YEARLING FILLIES GOLD: Why Not DA (Emerald J x Wonder Girl), owned by Danubius Arabians, Belgium. SILVER: Duchess Amaiyaa DMC (Aja Angelo x Amaliaa), owned by Arabians Imperial, UK. BRONZE: Pearl Eden KA (QR Marc x Prisma de Lafon), owned by Paul Gheysens, Belgium. CHAMPION COLT FOALS GOLD: Turki Al Baydaa (RFI Farid x Turkiz AA), owned by Mr. Ahmed El Talawy, Egypt. SILVER: Nazeem K.A. (Montana Firenze x Nadira K.A.), owned by Paul Gheysens, Belgium. BRONZE: CP Djuliano (Shanghai EA x Djasira Princess Psytadel), owned by Claudia Polie-Welber, Germany. CHAMPION FILLY FOALS GOLD: Jameela AM (RFI Farid x Deem AM), owned by Al Mohamadia Stud, Saudi Arabia SILVER: Malala Apal S (AS Sarab x RA Anila Apal), owned by Family Lievrouw-Seynhaeve, Belgium. BRONZE: MM Alegria (MM Jabari x Arubata), owned by Mario Matt Arabians, Austria.

2018 ALL NATIONS CUP FESTIVAL well, also purchased the predominantly Egyptian filly Warditna MA (Mouadaar BKV x MA Wardi), initially withdrawn for not meeting her reserve price, after the sale for 55,000 Euros. But it isn’t all glitter and glamour at Aachen; there are also honest working horses and great performances. While the show stars strut their stuff in front of the VIP tables in the arena, the show jumping and dressage competitions for purebred and partbred Arabians quietly goes on right next door in the dressage stadium, largely ignored by the show people. But this year, there were some indications that the borders between the worlds may be thinning. Show-winning stallion R’adjah de Cartherey gave his debut in one of the dressage tests, and the prestigious Paltra Cup was awarded to a purebred Arabian: BA Aram, a Padrons Psyche grandson by

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AJ DINARA (AJ Dinar x HS Dancing Queen) sold for at 258,000 EU and was the highest selling lot at the European Breeders Sale.

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T H E SA L E The European Breeders Select Sale is one of the newest features of the ANC Festival, now in its second year. On Saturday night, the show ring had been transformed into a splendid auction arena, complete with gala dinner and live music. 17 lots were offered: 12 superb mares and fillies, one top class colt, as well as two unborn foals and one embryo right. Having a sale here actually makes sense — if you go to Aachen anyway (and who doesn’t?), you might as well take the opportunity to go shopping. As an added incentive, Abhaa Arabians of Kuwait had donated a free breeding to their beautiful black-bay Gazal Al Shaqab son Sultan Al Zobara to the highest selling mare or filly. Thirteen lots were sold (four not reaching their reserve prices), bringing the sale total up to 945,600 Euros; 88,000 Euros of this sum — paid by Mohammad Sheikh Suliman of Israel for the embryo right to the reigning European Champion Mare Nesj El Markhisa by Excalibur EA — was for D NAWASY (FA El Shawan x D Nawal) sold for 148,500 EU and charity, going to a local institution working with was the second highest selling lot at the European Breeders Sale. disabled children. This was the third highest selling lot in the auction. Most of the horses, not surprisingly, were purchased by Middle Eastern buyers — but not Amalfi (full brother to Enzo) who shows his the two high-sellers. The high-selling lot in fact went to the same splendid movement to best advantage in buyer as last year: Eriska Arabians of Britain, who laid down the dressage arena. And speaking of 258,000 Euros for the lovely white eight-year-old mare AJ Dinara dressage, while dad was busy showing (AJ Dinar x HS Dancing Queen). She is a half-sister to the top champions in the show arena, Frank winning stallion E.S. Harir, was Gold Champion Mare at Wels this Spönle’s daughter Virginia won a dressage year as well as Bronze Champion Mare at Las Vegas, and is in foal class and placed third in another, riding a to FA El Rasheem. Second highest seller was the yearling filly D part-Arabian pony. Yes, showing and Nawasy (FA El Rasheem x D Nawal), another Wels Gold Champion, performance seem very far apart these who sold for 148,500 Euros to Danubius Arabians of Romania. days. But if there is anywhere the two worlds Danubius Arabians, making their debut as exhibitors at Aachen as can meet, what better place than Aachen? A H W > 98 < 1 1 . 1 8

2018 ALL NATIONS CUP FESTIVAL

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Reference sire

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Reference sire

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Reference sire EDEN C (Enzo x Silken Sable).

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One of the lots who found a new home, EOS NOVA (Aja Angelo x Abha Nadira).

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WH JUSTICE (Magnum Psyche x Vona SherRenea).

For the past several years, following the All Nations Cup weekend, we have enjoyed presentations in Belgium at Jadem Arabians and Johanna Ullström’s Darby Farms. (Please see some of those images at www. arabianhorseworld.com.) And since 2016, the STC Auction has been held at Schoukens Training Center. This year’s auction on Monday evening, October 1, saw 19 horses sold to buyers from all over Europe and the Middle East. Some impressive reference sires were presented, too. As Cathy Tamsin, wife of Tom Schoukens, explains, “It all started six years ago with some clients and friends who came to see the horses on the Monday following Aachen. We are quite good in last minute things but decided to organize it a little bit more and make it into an Open Day and Presentation of Show and Sale horses. “More and more people started to come and were interested in the sales horses. That is when Tom said, ‘Let’s make an auction!’ So in 2016 we organized the first auction on a very simple scale. “That small little auction was a real success, but our grass field was way too small to host all the people. In 2017 we made it a little bit more professional, and then this year’s auction was even more special; the atmosphere was amazing and the energy overwhelming. We had some spectacular horses and a great public. “We only accept good horses and only from clients and friends – horses that we know, and that stay with us for a few months. We are blessed to be surrounded by super people in every aspect of the event, who help and support us. We never take anything for granted, and we do it all with our heart and soul. We know that we are blessed and get the energy from making people happy and giving them a good time. “A lot of people ask what is your secret? Well the secret is that there is no secret. It’s the joy we experience in giving, and getting the joy back in triple.”

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