Al Shaqab
“The question now is: Who will sire the first World Champion of the next generation — Kahil or Wadee? Stay tuned...”
Al Shaqab BY BETTY FINKE
A Year to Remember The ending of a year, which is also the beginning of a new one, is for many a time of reflection and resolutions. We think back on all the things that are now past, review the highs as well as the lows, and we consider how to continue. What worked, and what didn’t? What can we do better next year? Will we be able to achieve the goals we set for ourselves? As far as Al Shaqab is concerned, there were definitely more highs than lows in 2017, not to mention achieved goals. It was, in fact, a very good year for Al Shaqab — a year marked by outstanding achievements for the Al Shaqab stallions and their offspring; a year of emotion, of smiles, tears, goosebumps, and magic.
Starting with the straight Egyptians, Farhoud Al Shaqab, son of World Champion Al Adeed Al Shaqab and Johara Al Shaqab, took the Gold Egyptian Stallion Championship at Bergamo, Italy, in September. A little earlier on at the Egyptian Event Europe in JĂźchen, Germany, the lovely yearling filly Ambera Al Shaqab (Ansata Nile Echo x Dawlah Al Shaqab by Al Adeed Al Shaqab) placed second in her class (to an Al Adeed daughter) and took the Bronze Yearling Filly Championship.
Medan Al Shaqab (Farhoud Al Shaqab x Abha Myra), 2014 stallion, above. Ambera Al Shaqab (Ansata Nile Echo x Dawlah Al Shaqab), 2016 filly, right.
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Farhoud Al Shaqab (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Johara Al Shaqab), 2008 stallion, 2010 U.S. Egyptian Event Supreme Champion Male and Champion Junior Stallion, and 2009 Egyptian Event Europe Reserve Champion Colt. 3 b AL SHAQAB b WORLD
Speaking of Al Adeed, two of his non-straight Egyptian get also did themselves proud. His four-year-old daughter Farah Al Shaqab (out of SWF Valencia) took the Bronze Senior Mare Championship at the Qatar International Show in March, while Ghasham Al Shaqab (out of Gazala Al Shaqab), who combines Al Shaqab’s two greatest sires, swept all before him to be crowned Gold National Champion Stallion of Qatar. (continued on page 9)
Farah Al Shaqab (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x SWF Valencia), 2013 mare, right. Farah Al Shaqab: “She is a blend between Al Adeed Al Shaqab and SWF Valencia,” says Giacomo, who showed her to her Bronze Championship in Qatar. “She is a very, very special filly, and one of the best non-straights by Al Adeed.” Al Adeed Al Shaqab (Ansata Halim Shah x Sundar Alisayyah), 1995 straight Egyptian stallion, facing page. Notable wins include: 2003 World Champion Stallion; 2002 All Nations Cup Champion Stallion; five-time Qatar International Arabian Champion Stallion and Champion Colt in 1997; 2005 Egyptian Event Champion Stallion; and 1999 Middle East International Champion Stallion.
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2017 Al Shaqab Achievements Al Anood Al Shaqab (Kahil Al Shaqab x Miss El Power JQ) Silver Champion Senior Mare — Elran Cup Ambera Al Shaqab (Ansata Nile Echo x Dawlah Al Shaqab) Bronze Champion Yearling Filly — Egyptian Event Europe Ashwaq Al Shaqab (Wadee Al Shaqab x Diademah) Silver Champion Yearling Filly — Elran Cup Fadi Al Shaqab (*Besson Carol x *Abha Myra) Gold Champion Senior Stallion — Las Vegas World Cup Farah Al Shaqab (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x SWF Valencia) Bronze Champion Mare — Qatar International Farhoud Al Shaqab (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Johara Al Shaqab) Gold Champion Egyptian Stallion — Bergamo International ECAHO Show Fouz Al Shaqab (Fadi Al Shaqab x Hooria Al Shaqab) Gold Champion Junior Filly — Qatar National Purebred AH Show Hagras Al Shaqab (Fadi Al Shaqab x Wind Kamelia) Ghasham Al Shaqab (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Gazala Al Shaqab) Gold Champion Senior Stallion — Qatar National Purebred AH Show
Gold Champion Yearling Colt — Qatar International Gold Champion Yearling Colt — Kuwait International Arabian Horse Championship
Hadba Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl)
Gold Champion — El Jadida International Show
Gold Champion Yearling Filly — Qatar International Gold Champion — El Jadida International Show
Hajer Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x Lubna Al Shaqab) Bronze Champion Filly — Milan Ghasham Al Shaqab
Hariry Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x White Silkk)
(Al Adeed Al Shaqab x
Gold Champion Senior Stallion — Scottsdale
Gazala Al Shaqab), 2010
Gold Champion — U.S. Nationals
stallion, pictured top and bottom. .
Mashkora Al Shaqab (Fadi Al Shaqab x Marwa Al Shaqab) Silver Champion Junior Filly — El Jadida International Show Medan Al Shaqab (Farhoud Al Shaqab x Abha Myra) Gold Champion Colt — Qatar International
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Menwah Al Shaqab (Wadee Al Shaqab x Miss El Power JQ) Silver Champion Junior Filly — West Coast Cup Bronze Champion — El Jadida International Show Moaid Al Shaqab (Fadi Al Shaqab x Hadeel Al Shaqab) Silver Champion Colt — Qatar International Bronze Champion — Qatar National Purebred AH Show Radad Al Shaqab (Hadidy Al Shaqab x Rasha Al Shaqab) Silver Champion Junior Colt — Qatar National Purebred AH Show Safiat Al Shaqab (Kahil Al Shaqab x Shalimar Prestige) Bronze Champion Junior Filly— Wels International Bronze Champion Junior Filly — Qatar International Bronze Champion — Kuwait International Arabian Horse Championship Bronze Champion — Elran Cup Gold Champion — Prague Intercup Wadee Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl), Gold Champion Senior Stallion — World Championships, Paris Gold Champion Senior Stallion — Mediterranean Championships, Menton
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(continued from page 4)
Meanwhile, in the U.S., Fadi Al Shaqab (*Besson Carol x *Abha Myra) was the big winner at the Las Vegas World Cup in April, taking the Gold Champion Senior Stallion title. It was an excellent year for his offspring, too. His yearling son Hagras Al Shaqab (out of Wind Kamelia) had a fantastic debut season with no less than three Gold Champion Yearling Colt titles — at the Qatar International Show, the Kuwait international championships, and El Jadida International show in Morocco. Fadi’s three-year-old daughter Fouz Al Shaqab (out of Hooria Al Shaqab) was Gold Champion Junior Filly at the Qatar Nationals, while Moaid Al Shaqab (out of Hadeel Al
Fadi Al Shaqab (*Besson Carol x *Abha Myra), 2008 stallion, facing page, and pictured with Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani at the 2017 Las Vegas World Cup where he won Gold Supreme Champion Senior Stallion. Other major show wins include: 2012 Champion Stallion at the Qatar International and Al Khalediah International Arabian Horse Festival; 2010 Champion Colt at Menton and Al Khalediah.
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Shaqab), also three years old, was Bronze Champion Junior Colt at the same show as well as Silver Champion at the Qatar International show. Mashkora Al Shaqab (out of Marwa Al Shaqab), yet another threeyear-old, was Silver Champion Junior Filly at Al Jadida International. In addition, Fadi’s maternal half-brother Medan Al Shaqab (Farhoud Al Shaqab x Abha Myra) took the Gold Champion Colt title at the Qatar International Show.
Mashkora Al Shaqab (Fadi Al Shaqab x Marwa Al Shaqab), 2014 mare, left. “Mashkora is out of Marwan’s full sister,” says Giacomo. “She has extreme type and I believe that she will be a great broodmare.” Hagras Al Shaqab (Fadi Al Shaqab x Wind Kamelia), 2016 colt, top and bottom right.
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Moaid Al Shaqab (Fadi Al Shaqab x Hadeel Al Shaqab), 2014 stallion, above and left.
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“Hariry is a sweet horse, one who is built to show, so it’s easy for him. You can’t ask anything more from him; he has won it all. Now he needs to have the pleasure to breed mares and enjoy life.” — Giacomo Capacci
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But now, to the backbone of Al Shaqab: the Gazal-Marwan dynasty. World Champion Hariry Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x White Silkk) wowed spectators and judges in the United States, where he took the highest possible honors: Gold Champion Senior Stallion both at Scottsdale and at the U.S. Nationals. Meanwhile back home, his “nephew” Radad Al Shaqab — by Hariry’s three-quarter brother Hadidy Al Shaqab out of Rasha Al Shaqab — was Silver Champion Junior Colt at the Qatar Nationals.
Hariry Al Shaqab
Radad Al Shaqab
(Marwan Al Shaqab x White Silkk),
(Hadidy Al Shaqab x Rasha
2010 stallion, facing page. Notable
Al Shaqab), 2014 stallion,
wins include: 2017 U.S. National
above and left.
Champion Senior Stallion and Scottsdale International Breeders Champion Stallion; 2013 U.S. National Champion Junior Colt and Champion Three- Year-Old Colt; 2012 U.S. National Champion Colt; and 2012 Scottsdale Champion Colt.
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“Kahil is enjoying life at my farm, far from the showring where he was already two times World Champion. He will have a really big book of mares this year.” — Giacomo Capacci
Kahil Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl), 2008 stallion. Major wins include: 2014 World Gold Champion Stallion; 2011 World Gold Champion Junior Stallion; 2011 Junior Champion at Menton, Qatar International, and Al Khalediah International; 2010 Gold Champion at the All Nations Cup and Qatar International.
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World Champion Kahil Al Shaqab is currently taking a break from the showring, leaving the competition circuit to his get. Two of his daughters represented their sire in the Al Shaqab show string in 2017 and did very well indeed. Two-year-old Safiat Al Shaqab (out of Shalimar Prestige) started out by collecting four international Bronze Champion titles throughout the Spring and Summer: at Qatar International, Kuwait International, at Wels in Austria, and at the Elran Cup in Belgium; then she topped it all by being crowned Gold Champion at the Prague Intercup in September. A well-traveled young lady with a beautiful lineup of souvenirs to show for it! Her older half-sister Al Anood Al Shaqab (out of Miss El Power JQ) came along to the Elran Cup as well and was Silver Champion Senior Mare. The year 2017 was the debut season for another lovely young lady, Kahil’s yearling full sister Hadba Al Shaqab. She finished with an impressive two Gold Champion titles, one at Qatar International and one at El Jadida International. She will certainly be one to watch for in the future.
Safiat Al Shaqab
Hadba Al Shaqab
(Kahil Al Shaqab x Shalimar
(Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW
Prestige), 2015 filly, top left.
Mishaahl), 2016 filly, above.
Al Anood Al Shaqab (Kahil Al Shaqab x Miss El Power JQ), 2013 mare, left.
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But the one horse everybody’s eyes were on this season was Wadee Al Shaqab, who has long grown out of just being Kahil’s little brother. Having taken a break from the ring since his 2012 triumph at Paris, he exploded back onto the scene at Menton, all grown up and ready to take on all challengers. And so he did, emerging triumphantly as Gold Senior Champion. You might say this was a trial run, because of course the ultimate goal was Paris, to replicate what his full brother Kahil and sire Marwan had done before him: win the Senior World Champion title in addition to the junior title he already owned. This year’s World Stallion Finals were surely the most eagerly anticipated ever! It was anything but a walkover. The atmosphere was charged, the competition was tough, and victory a matter of mere half-points. But in the end, Wadee once again emerged triumphant, a historic victory that established yet another unequalled record: a sire and two sons, full brothers, who are both junior and senior world champions. Wadee Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl), 2010 stallion, pictured at right winning 2017 World Champion Senior Stallion in Paris with Giacomo Capacci. Other accolades include: 2017 Menton Gold Champion Senior Stallion and Best in Show, four-time Qatar International Gold Champion, 2012 World Gold Champion Junior Stallion and Menton Gold Champion Junior Stallion and Best in Show.
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So, what about Wadee’s offspring? There are not that many of them around yet, but they’re coming.Two-year-old Menwah Al Shaqab (out of Miss El Power JQ) was Silver Champion Junior Filly at the West Coast Cup in Belgium in July and Bronze at the El Jadida International Show in October, and Ashwaq Al Shaqab (out of Diademah) was Silver Champion Yearling Filly at the Elran Cup. Expect to see more of them in the future! Wadee Al Shaqab The third generation World Champion Stallion,Wadee Al Shaqab is pictured in the top photo with his entourage, including Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani, far left, Mohammad Al Sulaiti, Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Al Thani, and Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Wadee is pictured on the facing page, bottom, in Menton where he was also Gold Champion Senior Stallion.
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Menwah Al Shaqab (Wadee Al Shaqab x Miss El Power JQ), 2015 filly, left.
“From the Al Shaqab managers to the grooms, they do a great job all year long.” — Giacomo Capacci
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“Al Shaqab is the biggest entity that, perhaps, the Arabian show world has ever known, and it is an honor to have Gazal, Hariry, Kahil, and Wadee here.” — Giacomo Capacci
Yet the most emotional moments this year were provided by the founder of this remarkable dynasty himself. At 22 years of age, Gazal Al Shaqab came out of retirement. With a confidence and vigor belying his age, he proudly returned to the ring at the All Nations Cup in Aachen not as a competitor, but to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award and the adoration of the crowds. For many of the younger spectators, who had never seen him in the flesh before, Gazal’s appearance was the true highlight of this prestigious event. It may well have been the same in Paris, where he stepped into the limelight once more to collect another well-earned title, Platinum World Champion Stallion. Being the sire who has influenced Arabian breeding worldwide more than any other during the past decade, there is nothing left to prove. The question now is: Who will sire the first World Champion of the next generation — Kahil or Wadee? Stay tuned… Gazal Al Shaqab (Anaza El Farid x Kajora), 1995 stallion, collected a Lifetime Achievement Award in Aachen, and returned to Paris to earn the Platinum World Champion Stallion award, left, with Michael Byatt at the lead. Pictured below with Gazal are, from left to right: Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Al Thani of Aljassimya Farm, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani, and Michael Byatt. Other major show wins include: 2001 World Champion Stallion; 2005 U.S. National Reserve Champion Stallion; Qatar International Reserve Champion Stallion in 2004, 2001, and 2000; 1999 Champion Stallion at the Qatar and the Middle East International Championships; 1997 Egyptian Event Supreme Reserve Champion Male.
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Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame), 2000 stallion, top and facing page. Major wins include: Gold World Champion in 2008, 2002, and 2001; All Nations Cup Gold Champion in 2008 and 2002; U.S. National Champion in 2005 and 2003.
Hajer Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x Lubna Al Shaqab), 2014 filly, above.
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“Sheikh Hamad’s idea is that the Al Shaqab horses look a little bit different, so he has chosen a number of outcross stallions. Sheikh Hamad has had the experience, and the personal background with the horses that have come before, so now as we enter 2018, a transitional year, everyone is curious to see what the future will bring.” — Giacomo Capacci 23 b AL SHAQAB b WORLD
“It was a tough few months, getting Wadee ready, because we decided a little late in the year to show him. His condition peaked in Paris, where he looked and performed at his best. It was really the right decision. We sold a lot of
Letter to Wadee’s fans by Bianca Landolfi You heard about him. I saw you holding a magazine full of his pictures.You were curious about his provenance, about his name on the lips of so many. You heard about his previous achievements — about his stunning figure, about his finesse. I saw you cheering for him. Among a million voices, yours was broken by emotion.
breedings, and he already has a World Champion — 2017 World Champion Yearling Colt Figaro (x Shirin by Aisha) — from his first foal crop. So for sure he is one of the sires the world is watching.” — Giacomo Capacci
In looking at you I wondered if you understood the meaning of that moment, or the joy of his people. I wondered if you tried to grasp the essence of that creature. Beyond his victory, beyond the sound of cameras flashing, beyond what the media was portraying. I wondered if you noticed that unspoken and subtle bond with the person who was running at his side; or if you felt the heartbeats of the ones who share their daily life with him. I wondered if you know how it feels to be called “champion,” at home and abroad, through a microphone or in a whisper. I wondered if you knew about the difficulties that he faced. About his recovery, and his determination to make an impact, like his ancestors. I wondered if you heard the echo of his country under the dust that he was leaving behind, and to what extent his movement moved you. I wondered in which way you were celebrating him — as a winner, or a stallion, as the representation of the Arab horse, or perhaps just as the horse that made you feel part of something big. Wadee.
“… the one horse everybody’s eyes were on this season was Wadee Al Shaqab, who has long grown out of just being Kahil’s little brother.”
Celebrating Three Generations of World Champions …
GAZAL AL SHAQAB
MARWAN AL SHAQAB
FULL BROTHERS KAHIL AL SHAQAB, ABOVE, AND WADEE AL SHAQAB, RIGHT.
Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani Manager of Breeding and Show Department
www.alshaqab.com
Designed and produced by Arabian Horse World · 01/18