The Arabian Racehorse - Winter 2020

Winter Issue !"!"

T H E

A R A B I A N

RACEHORSE

Breeding Special New Stallions, Du Soleil Stud

DEBORAH BURT Hon SEA

'Power' - Bronze Edition of 9 Award Winning Sculptor in Bronze Commissions Welcome www.equinecreativemedia.com Tel: 00 44 (0) 7782349047 Email: equinecreativemedia@gmail.com THE ARABIAN RACEH

RSE

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T H E

A R A B I A N

RACEHORSE Winter Issue - 2020 4

News

25

UK Leading Sires 2019

43

New Stallions for 2020

50

The Saudi Cup Experience

62

HH The Amir Sword Festival 2020

72

Stud Focus - Du Soleil Stud

78

Stud Focus - Khalil Dababneh & Wathba Stud

84

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Stud Focus - Harry Thirlby at West Kington Stud

Front cover: Group 1 PA winner Sivit Al Maury at stud for 2020 95

The Final Furlong - Mehdaaf Athbah and Phil Collington in Saudi Arabia

Feeding the Lactating Mare and her Foal

Produced by equine creative media 2 Rose Cottage, Naunton, Cheltenham, Glos, GL54 3AF

equinecreativemedia@gmail.com 00 44 7782 349 047 www ww ww.equinecreativemedia.com

Unless otherwise stated, all features, reports and photographs are by Debbie Burt (copyright) All rights reserved. Print copies may be ordered. Photographs may be viewed and purchased at ww www ww. w.equinecr c eativemedia cr i .smug ia u mug ug u .com ug THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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RACING WELFARE READY TO RESPOND With all racing in the UK suspended until the end of April at the earliest, the British Horse Raicng Authority shared the following in formation on behalf of Racing Welfare and the Industry Covid-19 Steering Group on March 21.

As industry leaders focus on how the government’s job retention package can support racing, work is ongoing to respond to cases of immediate hardship and need.

Racing Welfare, the Jockey Club charity that supports the whole of racing’s workforce, has been preparing all week for an expected increase in demand for its services. It’s 24/7 Support Line is open to anyone needing assistance and people can also use a live chat service online if they prefer.

The charity, whose Chief Executive, Dawn Goodfellow is now part of the Industry’s COVID 19 Group, is planning to increase its capacity to channel help to those in immediate need. This is part of a wider discussion with The Racing Foundation about how a range of industry charities can respond to calls for help and assistance.

Racing Welfare’s Support Line is staffed by experienced and trained call handlers who treat requests for help in confidence and are ready to deal with issues ranging from financial hardship to mental health concerns. Dawn Goodfellow said:

experienced team.

“Whilst this is an unprecedented crisis, Racing Welfare wants to reassure everyone that we remain operational and are here to provide support for ALL of racing’s people.

We are aware that people from a whole range of different roles across the industry will be facing hardship and we are continuously monitoring the situation in order to provide up-to-date information and guidance to anyone affected. Racing’s Support Line is open 24/7 on 0800 6300 443 to anyone needing assistance or via live chat online at: www.racingwelfare.co.uk Racing Welfare teams are also contactable during weekday office hours via the numbers below: Malton: 01653 696 869 Middleham: 01969 624 123 Lambourn: 01488 670 034 Newmarket: 01638 560 763 Supporting industry people is a key part of the work of the Industry’s COVID19 group.

As well as Racing Welfare, a range of other bodies are involved. The BHA’s Industry People team, led by Will Lambe, is redirecting the efforts of its recruitment and training teams to support racing’s response and more details will be given next week.

“It’s vital for people to know that help is available to anyone in racing. Everyone is feeling the strain but we really don’t want anyone to feel they can’t ask for help.

Whilst self-isolation is necessary to combat the virus, we don ‘t want people in racing to feel isolated or with no-one to turn to.

We’re here to help so please share your immediate problems with one of our THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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AKOYA LOSES PRIX DRAGON AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR ITTP Arabian racing made history for the wrong reasons in January when Akoya returned a positive test for the synthetic blood agent ITTP following his win in the Qatar Prix Dragon (Gr1PA) on September 15th as part of the Arc Trials card at ParisLongchamp.

The six-year-old son of Muqatil Al Kahlediah loses the race and now faces a two-year ban from racing, whilst his trainer, Karin van den Bos, is also suspended for a year.

The announcement made by France Galop is a world first in racing. While claims of its effectiveness in both human and equine athletes have been disputed by some in the scientific community, it is among the serious category of doping agents which are not permitted at any stage of a horse's life cycle, as opposed to those which have

therapeutic benefit but must be absent for competition after a period of withdrawal.

The positive test was returned by the Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques (LCH) and confirmed by the Quantilab facility in Mauritius. LCH tests samples from around 30,000 horses across racing, trotting and other competitive equine disciplines in France each year, as well as from other countries. The organization is a world-leader in anti-doping research and is also the ‘central’ laboratory of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

Most of the samples are urine and/or blood samples, which are taken systematically as soon as the race reaches a certain level. Anonymous, they are collected in two separate bottles, individually sealed, one of which is kept at -20 ° C in case a second opinion is required. The technical staff are oblivious to the origin of the samples on which they work.

Akoya (FR) finishes ahead of Al Shamoos in the 2019 Qatar Prix Dragon (Gr1PA) on Arc Trials Day at ParisLongchamp THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Everything received by the laboratory is analysed, provided that the seal is intact on arrival. Each year, the LCH is audited by an independent body, the French Accreditation Committee (COFRAC) on the basis of the ISO CEI 17025 standard, to "verify that we are doing what we say we are doing", and that "traceability" is not in default.

Laboratory director Ludovic BaillyChouriberry says they have been on the lookout for ITPP for some time, reported in the Racing Post he said: "We developed the technology in 2012 and 2013 to test for ITPP, around the same time that the Hong Kong authorities were researching the subject," said BaillyChouriberry. "It has been used on all the samples we've received since.

"It's the first positive test for ITPP in France and I had the opportunity to raise the subject with my international colleagues during our meeting in Hong Kong in December. None of the other leading laboratories had reported a positive case."

Bailly-Chouriberry added: "Doping can be quite cyclical and you can have a spate of positives for a certain substance, then it goes out of fashion. With the advent of the internet you can order something from anywhere in the world and so all the laboratories are in frequent contact to alert one another as to the next potential threat, or of any seizures of banned substances that have taken place."

Van den Bos at Saint-Cloud in October presence of ITPP in Akoya's post-race sample. Owned by Van den Bos’s principal supporter Langoed Waterland, connections of Akoya report that they plan to appeal.

However, Akoya’s disqualification has led to the promotion of the Charles Gourdaintrained Al Shamoos. This is a third Group 1PA win for the daughter of No Risk Al Maury, to add to her victories in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments and Jewel Crown in 2018. Bred and initially raced by Dr Mohammed Al Nujaifi she was sold to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan following her win in the 2018 Prix Nevadour (Gr3PA).

The British Horseracing Authority also include test for ITPP as part of it’s zero tolerance to doping.

A full guide to their policy can be found through this link: www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/anti-doping-medication-control/prohibited-substances/

Van den Bos has strenuously denied any misconduct, however was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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PA racing and breeding worldwide on one platform! â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I'd asked people what they wanted, they'd have said faster horses.â&#x20AC;? That's what the American car pioneer Henry Ford (1868-1947) said. When we ask today what the interested persons expect from horse racing, they say: more information. horseracing. tools (hrt) was inspired by Henry Ford, who more than 100 years ago combined horsepower with new technologies.

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Horse racing and especially breeding are internationally oriented in the PA area. We can optimally support this focus with our method. You get the basic information on a single point of access, without wasting time by searching in various applications.

Detailed information, stewart's report or similar, can be found in the offers of the national information platforms. No matter what interests you, our method is independent of search preferences.

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results, results of races or the successes on a certain race place, you can get the desired information with just a few clicks.

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Our method is regularly reviewed with enthusiasm by stakeholders. Visitors of races, breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys, even handicappers and reporters on race tracks are interested in the services and the comprehensive unique master tool.

We have several services, all based on the comprehensive unique master tool. For the PA area hrt provides currently http://arabian.horseracing.tools free of charge.

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THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

COMING SOON

JAMES OWEN RACING DIGITAL OPEN DAY ARO Champion Trainer 2019, 2017, 2016 ARO Champion Arabian Racehorse 2019 - TIJAARY Arabian Racing Achievement Award - HWPA 2019 ARO Champion Arabian Racehorse 2017 ARO Champion Arabian Mare 2017 -DOLFINA D'IBOS in partnership with

James Owen Racing leading the way for UK Arabian Racing Syndicates For more details contact: James (07880 700559) or Jenny (07739 791545) ARWEN SATTAM T H E FORTA A R A B I A- N R A C E H -OTIJAARY RSE www.jamesowenracing.com

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EBRAZ HEADS 2019 INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS In a year when he won three of the world's top Group 1 PA races, it was no surprise to see Ebraz head the combined European and Middle Eastern International Classifications for 2019. In second was Dubai Kahayla Classic winner AF Maher, with that races' runner-up Fazza Al Khalediah, tied in third place with Qatar Gold Sword winner, Yazeed.

Top Horses Ebraz

128

AF Maher

126

Fazza Al Khalediah

125

Yazeed

125

Gazwan

124

Khataab

123

Tayf

123

Al Zahir

122

Mashhur Al Khalediah

121

Spaghetti

120

Heading the female division (and tied in eight place overall) was the three-time Group 1 PA winner Al Shamoos.

Top Fillies & Mares Al Shamoos

122

Joudh

118

Mawahib

117

Wadeeaa

112

Amwaj

111

Raahah

111

Aksinya

110

Al Ryma Monlau

110

Bayan

110

Conchita DA

110

Ebraz(GB) THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Al Shamoos (FR) With fewer races to assess during the classification period (running from November to October each year), Amyr Du Soleil's rating of 118 is all the more impressive. Heading the fillies is Lady Princess who despite her diminutive size is clearly another one to watch in 2020.

Top Juveniles Amyr Du Soleil Lady Princess Al Hazm Meethag Min'ha

118 111 110 110 110

Amyr Du Soleil (GB)

Mehdaaf Athbah heads the UK registered horses list on 113. After running in Saudi Arabia, the Phil Collington trained Athbah Stud homebred is quarrantined ready to head back to Newmarket. James Owen trains the leading filly Farhaa and the leading juvenile Alameen, both for HH Sheikh Hamdan.

Top UK Horse Mehdaaf Athbah Awzaan Mith'haf Athbah Farhaa Alameen

113 110 108 90 84

Mehdaaf Athbah (GB)

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EQUINE MEDIRECORD TRAINING SEMINAR A SUCCESS On February 2 the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) held a training day in Newbury to introduce ARO registered trainers to the new Equine Medirecord system which all domestic trainers will be required to use in order to compete in the forthcoming ARO 2020 racing season.

Hosted by Equine Medirecord's Pierce and Finlay Dargan, along with ARO Chairman, Charles Gregson and ARO Commercial and Finance Director Genny Haynes, the session introduced trainers to the system which can be accessed by pc, laptop or mobile phone in order to accurately record all a horses' full medical history. This will replace the paper medical record book that was the industry standard until this season.

Dargan allayed any fears that the records were accessible to anyone other than the horses' trainer, unless express permission had been recieved and additional access (for example by a horses' owner) had been granted.

By the end of the two hour session, all the trainers were fully conversant with the system which is equally applicable whether you have one horse in your yard or a hundred. In addition Dargan confirmed that full support would be provided, so any questions arising once the trainer was using the system would be quickly addressed. He also welcomed additional susgestions that trainers might wish to accomodate into their own record, such as a facility to record a horses' body weight.

The system was warmly received by everyone in attendance with Paul Simmons commenting:"A great session. Well done ARO, this new system will be very helpful" and Jill Irwin confirming that the session was "very informative". www.equinemedirecord.com

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WEST KINGTON STUD MANAGER TESSA CLARKE HONOURED West Kington’s Stud Manager Tessa Clarke was honoured at the British Horse Foundation Awards Dinner, held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, London City on Saturday 11th January.

The Awards ceremony, hosted by Harry Meade, included three new awards benefitting the diverse nature of the equestrian industry, however the culmination of the evening was the Stallion AI Services Meritoire Lifetime Achievement Award. This annual award recognises a lifetime’s contribution to the breeding industry and was presented to Clarke, who is an expert in her field of equine AI reproduction. She received a resounding round of applause from everyone in the room, when it was announced who was the recipient together with a rousing standing ovation when it was presented by Tullis Matson, Founder and Managing Director of Stallion AI Services.

WEST KINGTON STUD STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS A messaage to breeders, from West Kington Stud: We would like to assure all our friends and clients that WKS is very much open for business as usual.

We are taking all reasonable precautions to protect both staff and clients and continue to monitor Government guidelines daily to keep everyone safe.

We are delighted to announce that we’ve just had our first foal of the season – a lovely chestnut colt by Farleaze Lord Prenwyn.

Mother and baby are doing well.

Our new Stud Manager, Harry Thirlby, and his team are currently doing sterling work

Tessa Clarke (C) Ali Kittermaster West Kington Stud were delighted for her success posting: “Tessa gave 25 years of fantastic service as Stud Manager at West Kington, before retiring at Christmas. She will continue her involvement with the stud in a consultancy role.

"We would like to offer Tessa our huge congratulations on this thoroughly deserved award, recognising her enormous contribution to the equine breeding industry around the world. We wish her a very long and happy retirement!”

coping with numerous calls requesting frozen semen to be shipped worldwide, and taking stallions for collection – we will shortly be taking a rare Clydesdale Stallion to collect from in partnership with RBST - as well as lots of mares for foaling down. From 1st April we will also be taking mares for insemination.

To minimise contact, and keep everyone safe, we are asking that ALL stud paperwork is submitted by email in advance of arrival at stud.

We would ask that you please respect our guidelines and let’s keep everyone healthy and safe.

Jane Holderness-Roddam www.westkingtonstud.co.uk

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SHADWELL ARABIAN STAKES CONDITIONS CONFIRMED The Arabian Racing Organisation have confirmed the full conditions for their first pattern race of the 2020 UK Arabian racing season, the Shadwell Arabian Stakes (LR PA). The mile race for four-year-olds and upwards will be held on Ascot’s round course for a prize fund of £15,000, with £7,500 to the winner and prize money to sixth place.

Entries will be open at 12 noon (BST) on Monday 4th May, at a cost of £100, with final declarations (at a cost of £200) to be received by 11am (BST) on Wednesday 6th May. The race will be run from stalls with a maximum field of 20.

This is the first time Arabians have raced at Ascot’s historic racecourse since 2011 when the French filly Kiss De Ghazal won the President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby), in impressive fashion by seven lengths. Prior to that, two further editions of the President of the UAE Cup were won by Raqiyah and Nayef Al Khalediah. Those three races were run over 2000m and held Group 1 PA status attracting quality

international runners such as General, Aziz ASF, Divamer and Gharraa. All three winners were French trained, two by JeanFrancois Bernard and one by Alban de Mieulle, however the placings were filled by horses trained in the UK, Denmark and Sweden, underlining the venue’s international appeal.

Arabian horses’ previous outings at Ascot were as part of the King George weekend at the end of July.

This year the race will be held on Friday May 8th, a bank holiday, as part of Ascot’s May Racing Weekend fixture, which includes the long-established handicap for thoroughbreds, the Victoria Cup on the Saturday. Friday will be military themed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and a celebratory atmosphere is expected for all the family.

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ARO’s Commercial and Finance Director, Genny Haynes commented: “We are delighted to confirm the conditions for the Shadwell Arabian Stakes and are excited to be returning to Ascot with a race that will be open to international entrants.

“HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum is our most generous patron and his continued support of our programme, not only through race sponsorship, but his horses, trainers and stallions, is integral to our success, from the grassroots to the highest level. That he has chosen to increase his sponsorship through this new race under the banner of Shadwell Stud at one of the UK’s most prestigious racecourses can only enhance the status and reputation of UK Arabian racing.

Concluding she said: “In 2019, we saw a significant increase in runners from overseas in our pattern races, which shows that the appetite for top class Arabian racing around the world continues to expand. We look forward to building upon this achievement and to welcoming more international competitors in 2020.”

Shadwell Arabian Stakes (Listed PA) For Purebred Arabians of 4 years and upwards one mile or thereabouts Prize fund £15,000 1st £7,500 2nd £3,000 3rd £1,800 4th £1,200 5th £900 6th £600 Weights: 4yo 9st 5yo+ 9st 5lb Penalties: winner of Group 1 PA (or equivalent) since 1st January 2018, 7lb winner of Group 2 PA (or equivalent) since 1st January 2018, 5lb winner of Group 3 PA (or equivalent) since 1st January 2018, 3lb Allowances: Fillies and mares 4lb Fees: £100 to enter, 12 noon Monday 4 May £200 to declare by 11am Wednesday 6 May

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DIAR 2020 INCREASED INVESTMENT The Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) Committee are delighted to announce an increase in their investment towards international Arabian racing in 2020.

DIAR have been supporting Arabian racing in Italy for many years and were very proud to be able to sponsor the first ever IFAHR recognised international stakes race for Arabians in Italy in 2016. This year, the IFAHR Pattern committee have agreed to the improved status of two races sponsored

by DIAR: the Premio Shadwell Arabian Stallions (for 3yo, over 1500m) will be a Listed PA and the Premio DIAR 2020 (for 4yo and up, over 2000m) will be upgraded to a Group 3 PA. Mirza Al Sayegh, spokesperson for the DIAR programme commented: “We are delighted that the quality of the DIAR races held in Rome has been recognised and they have been upgraded.

"The quality of the Italian Arabian racehorses has improved remarkably in the past few years with several horses coming to compete at Newbury in our flagship event in July as well as in international races over the world.

“The Italian breeders, owners and trainers, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, ANICA and Rome Capannelle racecourse, have done a great job to help bring those races to the next level.”

In addition to these changes of status, 2020 will see an increase in prize money for a few races.

Kanaan (FR) winner of the Premio DIAR 2019 at Capanelle in Rome, this race has now been upgraded to a Group3 PA for 2020 THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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The Shadwell Critérium des Pouliches (Gr.2 PA for fillies and mares, 4yo and up, over 1900m) held at La Teste de Buch, France, on the 29th June will now offer total prize money of !30,000, a !5,000 increase from 2019. It will be run alongside the Shadwell Coupe du Sud-Ouest des Pur-sang Arabes (Gr.3 PA, 4yo and up, over 1900m) and the Shadwell Prix Bengali d’Albret (maiden race for 3yo, over 1400m).

Shadwell Stud director, Richard Lancaster, commented: “The participation of French trained horses in the DIAR races, whether in preparation races or the big day at Newbury at the end of July, is always high in number and quality. We are very grateful for the support of French owners and trainers, as well as French breeders who use our stallions. It is therefore our pleasure to support Arabian racing in France.”

Finally, the DIAR Committee have chosen to increase the total prize money on offer for DIAR day at Newbury on 26th July 2020 by more than £19,000. This boost will be split between the different races. The details of this year’s DIAR races will be published shortly by the various racing authorities.

Details and updates about the DIAR 2020 race programme can be found on the website and Facebook page. Conditions of the races will be published as soon as possible. www.diaraces.com Watch #DIAR2019 Review here: https://youtu.be/tC6RLm7V0r8

Al Ryma Monlau (FR) wins the 2019 Shadwell Criterium des Pouliches (Gr2PA), in 2020 the prize fund has been increased to !30,000 THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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DUBAI INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN RACES PRIZE MONEY INCREASE The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) warmly welcomed the announcement from the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) Committee regarding the increased investment in the DIAR programme for 2020. Five of the eight races at DIAR on July 26 at Newbury racecourse will receive an increase in prize money, which brings the total value of the card to £212,500.

The most significant increase of £10,000 is to the feature race, the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Gr1PA), which now has a prize fund of £68,000. The 1m2f contest has been won by many of the world’s most successful Arabian horses, including Bengali D’Albret, Dormane, No Risk Al Maury and more recently Gazwan and Muraaqib.

The Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes (Gr1PA) is also run over 1m2f and has been boosted by £5,000 to £40,000. Exclusively for fillies and mares, the race also has an impressive list of multiple Gr1PA past winners which includes Sylvine Al Maury and Djainka Des Forges.

The DIAR International Stakes (Gr3PA) will now be worth £26,500; run over 7f it is for three-year-olds only. The form of the race was recently enhanced by the Gr1PA victory of the 2019 winner, Methgal, who became the first horse since Manark to progress to top level success.

Gazwan (GB) winner of the 2019 Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Gr1PA), for 2020 the race receives a £10,000 increase to the prize fund THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Also in receipt of additional funds is the UAE Embassy in London International Stakes (+ £2,000) and the Emirates NBD Handicap Stakes (+£1000). The renewal of the travel allowances for international runners at DIAR on July 26 and the DIAR bonus fund has already been confirmed with further details to follow.

Genny Haynes, ARO Commercial and Finance Director, commented: “We are thrilled that the DIAR Committee has boosted the prize money for DIAR 2020 by over £19,000 and we also recognise the importance of the increased support for the DIAR races in Italy and France. The success of DIAR 2019 and the prep race series was evident in the number of entries received and in particular, the significant increase in international horses declared. It confirms the growing appetite for international Arabian racing at the highest level, which

we at ARO are delighted to encourage as it is part of our patron HH Sheikh Hamdan’s vision for the day.

“DIAR consistently produces competitive racing of the highest quality at all levels, a fact acknowledged by the prize money increase not only to our feature race, but to the grass-roots handicap as well.”

Concluding she said: “We thank HH Sheikh Hamdan and the DIAR committee for their generous and ongoing commitment to Arabian racing. We eagerly await the start of the 2020 DIAR series, with our first domestic DIAR prep race on June 11.”

Popsstar (GB) wins the 2019 Emriates NBD Handicap Stakes. The final race on the DIAR card always attracts a full field of 16 and this year has received a prize money boost taking the prize fund value to £9,000 THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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HIS MAJESTY SULTAN QABOOS BIN SAID 1940 - 2020 His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said passed away after a long battle with cancer on Friday January 10.

Sultan Qaboos was the fourteenthgeneration descendant of the founder of the House of Al Said, and was the longestserving leader in the Arab world. Born in Salalah in Dhofar on 18 November 1940 His Majesty was an only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur and Sheikha Mazoon alMashani. Educated in England, in Bury St Edmunds and later at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, he joined the British Army on graduation, and served in Germany for one year. Returning to Oman in 1966, with British support he took over from his father in 1970. He immediately set about modernising Oman, using oil revenues to fund development in a country which at that time, had only six miles of roads and three schools. Changing the country’s name from ‘Muscat and Oman’, he established the Sultanate of Oman, to better reflect its political unity.

Described as charismatic and visionary, Sultan Qaboos brought an end to Oman’s

international isolation and pursued a neutral path in foreign affairs. He was able to position himself as a trusted mediator in the region’s tensest situations and received the International Peace Award from the National Council for US-Arab relations in 1998. In his first year as Sultan, slavery was abolished in Oman; granting freedom of religion, though the country is predominantly Muslim, he financed the construction of Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as several Hindu temples.

Prince Charles and the UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined the Emirs of Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as well as the King of Bahrain and many other foreign leaders in travelling to Muscat for the condolence ceremony at al-Alam Palace.

His Majesty founded the Royal Cavalry of Oman with just 20 horses, today they far exceed that number. Commanded by Brigadier General Abdulrazak Al Shahwarzi, the Royal Cavalry oversees a whole range of equestrian activities including racing, show jumping, polo, breeding and the ceremonial duties for which they are famous worldwide.

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For over ten years, the Royal Cavalry of Oman has been one of the UK’s leading advocates of Arabian racing, through both sponsorship and competition. They have supported the Arabian Racing Organisation with racing at all levels, from the grass-roots of the sport, to their most valuable race, the Royal Cavalry of Oman Clarendon Stakes, a Group 3PA run over five furlongs. The highlight of their sponsorship has always been the Sultanate of Oman Day, to which they have frequently brought their traditional Arabic tent, offering dates and Arabic coffee to educate racegoers about Oman and its’ culture.

Thanks to the vision of His Majesty, they have developed their own racing and breeding programme which is based across three countries, Oman, France and the UK. With the assistance of Jean-Pierre Deroubaix, the Royal Cavalry and increasingly, private Omani owners, have become respected competitors in global Arabian racing. Multiple Group winning mares such as Al Mouhannad and Sylvine Al Maury have helped to publicise Oman and their culture of the Arabian horse. Now

they are breeding top level champions too, such as three-time Group 1PA winner, Nafees, who has recently joined their other Group 1 winning stallions, Josco Du Cayrou, Alsaker and Djet Taouy at the Haras de Gelos, just outside of Pau in the South of France.

The many of the Royal Cavalry’s broodmares foal in Europe, with the youngstock transferring to Oman to be broken in at two, with the best selected to return to Europe to race. Said Al Badi heads their own training establishment at Wargrave in the UK in the summer; with the remaining horses divided between trainers in France, in 2019 they included Elizabeth Bernard, Didier Guillemin, Charles Gourdain, Francopis Rohaut, Frederic Sanchez and Philip Sogorb.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’s cousin, Hathim bin Tariq al-Said was sworn in as his successor on January 11. Following the ceremony Sultan Haitham pledged via a televised speech to continue Sultan Qaboos’s policies, remaining friendly to all nations whilst further developing Oman.

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ANIMAL HEALTH TRUST UNDER THREAT FROM CLOSURE The Animal Health Trust (AHT) is likely to close at the end of this month (March) unless a financial rescue package can be secured.

Closure will threaten the jobs of its 257 members of staff, many of them world class experts, as well as the charity’s vital work and animal health research.

An AHT spokesman said: “We are devastated to announce that following a period of dire financial constraints, and now with the economic implications of Covid-19 having a direct effect on funding, our charity is facing imminent closure.

“The Animal Health Trust has been in existence for more than 75 years and makes a significant difference to the health and welfare of animals.

“Much of the work we do is unique, and without us, this work will cease, putting thousands of animals at risk from disease and injury.”

The AHT’s trustees and executive committee are seeking emergency funding, including the potential use of recently announced Government schemes, to save the unparalleled knowledge and expertise the organisation houses. They say “significant” funds are required within the next week.

The Newmarket based AHT equine referral clinic has successfully treated many horses and conducted influential studies into a wide range of topics including equine ‘flu, laminitis, poor performance and saddle fitting.

They were very accommodating and supportive of the Arabian Racing Organisation during the equine influenza outbreak and as a direct result enabled Arabian racing to continue in the UK in 2019. In addition, they have assisted many breeders with equine reproductive issues. www.aht.org.uk

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DUBAI WORLD CUP AND UAE SEASON CANCELLED Due to the ongoing global health implications of the COVID-19/coronavirus and precautionary measures being implemented by the UAE government, it was announced on Sunday 22 March that the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse was to be postponed.

It had been hoped that the 25th running of the Emirates showcase event would take place behind closed doors, with only horse connections, racing officials, accredited media and sponsors permitted entry.

The ERA extended their sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the stakeholders of the Dubai World Cup, and hoped to welcome all participants and guests next year.

Later that day it was also announced that the remaining ERA fixtures were to be cancelled: Al Ain Racecourse April 2,9 Jebel Ali Racecourse April 3 Meydan Racecourse 3,10 For more information please go to: www.emiratesracing.com/media-centre/latest-news

THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

ARO Champion Arabian Racehorse 2019 - TIJAARY

ARWEN FORTA

NEW FOR 2020 SATTAM

James Owen Racing Club leading the way for UK Arabian Racing Syndicates For more details contact: James (07880 700559) or Jenny (07739 791545) ARWEN FORTA - SATTAM - TIJAARY THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE www.jamesowenracing.com

TIJAARY

25

UK Leading Sires 2019 We look at the most influential active sires from the Arabian Racing Organisationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading sires table, based on UK races won in 2019 SIRE

1st

2nd 3rd

4th

Runs Prize Money

Munjiz (FR)

10

3

2

2

36

130,000

No Risk Al Maury (FR)

9

7

10

10

56

22,440

Al Saoudi (FR)

5

2

2

2

19

22,032

Dahess (GB)

4

4

1

2

22

26,620

Amer (SA)

3

2

3

2

11

334,260

Kaolino (FR)

2

4

3

0

20

15,680

Jaafer ASF (GB)

2

2

1

3

10

3,699

Parador (FR)

2

0

0

0

9

3,720

Madajni (FR)

1

5

4

3

30

8,175

Mahabb (AE)

1

2

1

0

9

18,036

AF Albahar (AE)

1

1

2

0

7

32,700

Nizam (GB)

1

1

0

1

7

31,640

TM Fred Texas (US)

1

0

1

0

2

15,500

A first ARO UK sires' championship title was won in 2019 by Wathba Stallions' Munjiz, who narrowly beat Shadwell Arabians No Risk Al Maury by one win. Munjiz ends the reign of Shadwell's most recent flag bearer, Madjani, who dominated the UK sires tables for the last two years and who sadly passed away last season. However with the weight of numbers of UK domestic runners by fellow Shadwell resident, No Risk Al Maury, it would be no surprise to see him claim the title in the future.

position in fifth place in the table in 2017 and 2018, however with the success of 2019 UK Champion Arabian Tijaary and his first pattern winner, Awzaan, he has lept into third place.

New sires to note are TM Fred Texas, who has had an imediate impact with juvenile winners abroad with this first crop and has now produced DIAR International Stakes winner Methgal from his second crop. Also with a notable strike rate is Jaafer ASF, who was 15th in the 2018 table and has now moved to seventh.

Another Shadwell resident, who relocated from France last year, is Al Saoudi. He held his THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Munjiz (FR) MUNJIZ Ch h 2001

(Kesberoy x Unchainedd Melody (ZT Ali Baba))

10 wins from 7 individual horses (UK) Hayyan (FR) (1 x 10f Gr1PA) 2015 Dahwa (Tidjani) Bayan (FR) (1 x 10f Gr1PA) 2015 Mowafaka (TIdjani)

Al Azeeza (FR) (2 x 7f, 1m) 2015 Ouassila Thabet (Akbar) Al Kaaser (FR) (2 x 2m, 10f) 2014 Horkidee (Tidjani) Thamaraat (FR) (2 x 10f, 12f) 2014 Aljawza (Dormane) Al Hakeem (GB) (1 x 1m) 2015 Al Marwa (Al Sakbe) Almuataz (GB) (1 x 7f) 2016 Karte D’Or (Djarni Des Forges) A first UK sires title for Munjiz, having been runner-up to Madjani in 2018.

Munjiz stands in the UAE as part of the Wathba Stallions operation and is available for 40,000 Dirhams (approx. £8,300), plus VAT and shipping for frozen semen.

In 2019 he sired two individual Group 1 PA winners through Bayan (Shadwell Arbaian Stallions Hatta International Stakes) and Hayyan (President of the UAE Cup – UK Arabian Derby), both bred like their sire by HH Sheikh Mansoor, trained by Frederic Sanchez and winners over 1m2f.

The pair are also out of Tidjani mares, as is another of his UK winners, Al Kaaser, a dual winner for James Owen and Sheikh Hamdan. Al Kaaser was also successful over 1m2f, but had the stamina to win a premier handicap over Doncaster’s testing 2 miles.

Munjiz was also leading sire at the 2019 Dubai International Arabian Races, for as well as Bayan, two more daughters, Al Azeeza and Thamaraat won both the premier handicaps.

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Al Azeeza (FR) and Jim Crowley win the Emirates Premier Handicap Stakes

Al Azeeza had originally be trained in France by Francois Rohaut, but transferred to James Owen in the spring and has since won twice in the UK. She the best produce so far of Ouassila Thabet, a Hatta International Stakes winner, who also has the speed to win over a mile in France.

The Phil Collington trained Thamaraat, is now a four-time winner from 1m2f to 1m4f, with her greatest success coming in the Dubai Developments Premier Handicap. She is out of Aljawza, a winner up to 1m5f by Dormane.

Al Hakeem is a lightly raced colt out of Al Marwa, though a maiden from two starts in France, she is a full sister to Al Moutawakila, and a half sister Al Mourtajez. He had been green and colty in his earlier runs, but looks capable of progression.

Thamaraat (FR) Munjiz's sole juvenile winner Almuataz, was bred and raced by the Royal Cavalry of Oman. He caught the eye winning the DIAR juvenile prep over 7f at Newbury, but came up short in a first-time visor at DIAR and it is too soon to write him off.

His dam Karte D'Or won two premier handicaps over a mile in the UK.

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No Risk Al Maury (FR) NO RISK AL MAURY Ch h 2002 (Kesberoy x Nectarine Al Maury (Baroud III)

application only, applications have now closed.

Rafeef (FR) (1 12f) Maizaine (Al Sakbe) 2014

Close on Munjiz’s heels was No Risk Al Maury, who had a superb season in Europe and the UAE in 2018 with the classy fouryear-old filly Al Shamoos.

Al Bustan (GB) (1x10f) 2015 Sanadji (Tidjani) Ameed (GB) (1x1m) 2015 Horkidee (Tidjani) Anfaas (GB) (1x1m ) 2014 Laqataat (Bengali D’Albret) Izenterisky( GB) (1x1m) 2016 Pinkie Tuscadero (Izentespeshal) Jaahez (FR) (1x10f) 2014 Ziva (Dormane) Jadaayil (FR) (1x9f) 2015 Zormania (Dormane) Mawarid (GB) (1x1m ) 2015 Aljawza (Dormane) Zaheen (GB) (1x1m) 2015 Edjalie (Bengali D’albret)

There were no PA Group winners for No Risk Al Maury in the UK in 2019, however his stock continued to excel in France with Al Shamoos being awarded the Prix Dragon (Gr1PA) and winning the French Arabian Breeders Challenge Sprint (Gr2PA) in Bordeaux. Al Shamoos is out of Hamiya (by Al Hasim) and is a half-sister to the Group 1 PA winner Muneera (by Dormane).

No Risk Al Maury stands in France at the Haras de Saint Faust under the Shadwell Arabian Stallions banner and is available for !3000 natural cover. *Due to his popularity stocks of frozen semen were limited for 2020 were available by

Another filly, Min’ha won the French Arabian Breeders Challenge Pouliches (Gr2PA) over 2000m. She is out of Margouia (by Tidjani), so is a half-sister to Assy, Sharesa and Mon’nia.

9 wins from 9 individual horses (UK)

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Rafeef (FR) and Ellie Mackenzie winning the DIAR Premier Handicap at Chepstow

In the UK, No Risk Al Maury sired nine individual winners, from nine runners, the best of which was DIAR Premier Handicap Stakes winner Rafeef. She is out of Maiziane, an unraced daughter of Akbar who has already produced UK Debry second Najlaa (to Al Saoudi), and is herself, a half-sister to Group 1 PA winning sprinter Radames.

Also well connected is Jaahez, like Al Azeeza, he had been in training in France and benefitted from change of scene when joining James Owen. He was seen to best effect on the Tapeta surface at Wolverhampton, winning a novice race by six lengths. He is out of Ziva (by Dormane), a Hatta International winner for HH Sheikh Hamdan, she is the dam of Handassa.

Al Shamoos (FR) over a mile, also at Wolverhampton.

Zaheen has since been sold to Bahrain, but has a full brother ready to race for 2020.

Useful maiden winners included Izenterisky and Zaheen, both successful THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Al Saoudi (FR)

AL SAOUDI Ch h 2000 (Nuits St Georges x Fatzica (Fatzour) 5 wins from 3 individual horses (UK) Awzaan (FR)(1x5f) 2011 Ester Du Paon (Cheri Bibi) Farhaa (GB) (1x1m ) 2015 Maiziane (Al Sakbe) Tijaary (FR)(3x 7f,1m ,10f) 2014 Petranuille (Al Sakbe) Al Saoudi stands in the UK at Shadwell Stud and is available for ÂŁ500 natural cover.

Relocated in 2018 from France where he stood for 10 seasons at the Haras de Saint Faust, Al Saoudi boasts an exceptional strike rate from very limited opportunities.

Not only that but his pedigree is exceptional too, being a full brother to Arwa, the dam of Al Mourtajez (by Dahess), a half-brother to Azadi (by Darike) znd Al Ryme (Kesberoy) dam of Al Mouhannad, which should help inform breeders of suitable crosses for their broodmares.

With Al Mourtajez standing at !4,000, and Azadi between !12,000 to !10,000, he also represents exceptional value as well. It is also worth noting that 8 of his 9 offpsring that were trained in the UK to date are winners.

As multiple champion trainer Doug Watson, who trained Al Saoudi in the the UAE says: "He was the best Arabian I have been around, I don't know why more people don't use him as a sire."

2019 was a breakthough season for Al Saoudi, both in the UK and Europe. His remarkable son Adi De Saint Lon won six races in Morocco, four of which were PA Listed contests. Adi De Saint Lon is out of the twice raced Aqaba, a daughter of Djel Bon. Meanwhile in the UK, Awzaan, having showed plenty of ability over further, including a close third to Sir Bani Yas over a mile in the 2016 in the HH Sheikh Zayed Cup (Gr1PA) put in a scintillating

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Awzan (FR) performance to win the UK's shortest pattern race the Royal Cavalry of Oman Clarendon Stakes (Gr3PA) over 5f. Awzaan is Al Sauodi's first PA Group winnner and is out of Ester Du Paon (by Cheri Bibi), dam of dual Group 1 PA winner and sire Jiyush.

The UK's top-rated filly Farhaa, is a halfsister to Rafeef and a full-sister to UK Derby second Najlaa. She won a 0-95 handicap on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton, going on to finish fourth to some classy colts in the 2019 UK Arabian Derby.

However, somewhat in the manner of the super tough Adi De Saint Lon was Tijaary.

Also a late developer, he joined the James Owen Racing Club, having been raced in the colours of his breeder HH Sheikh Hamdan in his debut season in 2018. His three wins which brought him the ARO

Tijaary (FR) Championship were all on the All Weather, a surface which appears to suit him well. His dam Petranuille (by Al Sakbe) was a minor winner over 7f.

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Dahess (FR)

DAHESS Gr h 1999 (Amer x Danie De Cassou (Dahr) 4 wins from 3 individual horses (UK) Kair Al Cham FR (1x10f) 2015 Al Ryma (Akbar) Callymay GB (2x 1m,10f) 2011 Raada (Vert Olive) Popsstar GB (1x7f) 2011 Popidol Kossack (Marwan) Dahess stands in France at the Haras de Thouars under the Al Shaqab Arabian Stallions banner and is available for: !5,000 frozen semen (live foal in France, at booking for export) !4,000 fresh semen (live foal) *Discounts available for multiple bookings.

Overseas, Shalaa a five-year-old colt out of Dormadora (by Dormane), was one of

Dahess’s principle winners in 2019, in the colours of Al Shaqab racing. A PA Listed winner over 2000m at three in France, he ended last year winning the Qatar Arabian Derby (Gr2PA) over the same distance in Doha. Dropped back to a mile, he was runner up in the Qatar International Cup (Gr1PA) to Methgal at this years’ HH The Amir Sword Festival.

In the same ownership and trained by Thomas Fourcy in France was Melabi (ex Quinquinna by Kesberoy), who was runnerup in the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes and the President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby), both Group 1 PA races.

Kair Al Cham out of Al Saoudi’s Akbar halfsister Al Ryma, was the winner of the UAE Embassy in London International Stakes.

Run over 1m2f it is the principal conditions race at DIAR. He followed up in a Group 3PA in Belgium over the same distance,

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Popsstar (GB)

ending his season finishing second to Khataab in the French Arabian Breeders Challenge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; HH Sheikh Zayed Cup (Gr1PA) in Toulouse over 1900m.

Of the domestic trained and bred winners

by Dahess, the consistent Callymay added to her career wins with two handicap successes. A daughter of Raada (by Vert Olive) she won over a mile and 1m2f for Delyth Thomas.

Popsstar was a welcome homebred winner for Jill Irwin's Whitely Meadows Arabians in the concluding handicap at DIAR, run over 7f. She is out of Popidol Kossack (by Marwan), a maiden though placed twice in decent handicaps over 6f, from six starts.

Kair Al Cham (FR) THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Jaafer ASF (GB)

JAAFER ASF Gr h 2003 (Amer x Madjela (Managanate) 2 wins from 1 horse (UK) Abiyah Athbah (GB) (1 x 9f,12f) 2014 Burning Fancy (Burning Sand) Jaafer ASF stands under the Al Shahania Stud banner and is available for: !4,000 frozen semen The best horse by Jaafer ASF so far has been Al Shahaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Rajeh. Unbeaten at three, he won the Qatar Trophy des Poulains (Gr1PA) over 2000m. At four he took time to find his feet but still came away with the Doha Cup (Gr1PA) in Deauville and was runner-up in the UK Arabian

Derby. Last season he won three races including the Grand Prix of His Majesty the King Mohammed in Morocco over 2100m.

Rajeh is out of Nelka, a daughter of Tidjani, the only foal of Naiada Al Maury not sired

by Dormane.

It is still early days in the career of Jaafer ASF, with only 17 registered foals on the France Galop database. In the UK he has had two runners and two winners in two seasons. In 2019 Abiyah Athbah, a wellbred daughter of US stakes winner Burning Fancy (by Burning Sand) won twice and was placed a further three times. His other runner J Force, was fourth twice in two outings, having made a promising start in his debut season in 2018, winning over 10f and placing around that trip twice. J Force is out of the top-level handicapper Jelvita, who won from 7f to a mile and is by Njewman.

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Abiyah Athbah (GB) leading daughter of Jaafer ASF (GB)

Hajres (TN) leading son of Nizam (GB) THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Mahabb (FR)

MAHABB Ch h 2001 Tahar De Candelon x Joyzell (JAF Orphatyn) 1 wins from 1 individual horse (UK) Halib Des Forges (FR) (1x10f) 2012 Djosera Des Forges (Darike) Mahabb stands in the UAE as part of the Wathba Stallions operation and is available for 30,000 Dirhams (approx. ÂŁ7,000), plus VAT and shipping for frozen semen.

Whilst scoring at the highest level with Shadwell Arabians Hatta International Stakes winner Joudh (ex Shamayl by Kesberoy) in 2018, 2019 was quieter for Mahabb in the UK, with just one winner.

Halib Des Forges (FR)

Halib Des Forges probably started last season too high in the handicap having won twice in 2018, and it was not until he had dropped to a mark of 90, that he was back in the winnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; enclosure. The Kasab Beach 0-100 handicap was a hotly contested race and the form should stand up well.

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AF Albahar (FR)

AF ALBAHAR Gr h 2004 Amer x Al Hanouf (Sabaan)

Stakes (Gr1PA) over 6f.

Conchita DA (BEL) (1x6f) 2015 Schiva DA (Amer) 1 wins from 1 individual horse (UK) AF Albahar stands in France at the Haras de Thouars and is owned by Al Jeryan Stud and is available for: !2,200 chilled semen (live foal) !1,800 fresh semen (live foal)

Please contact Haras de Thouars for export.

There were no domestic UK runners for AF Albahar in 2019, however he was represented on the track by the Belgian bred and trained Conchita DA who was a decisive winner by two and a half lengths of the Jebel Ali Zâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;abeel International.

Conchita DA This was Conchita DA â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s biggest win to date, and she returned to the UK to finish second to Awzaan in the Royal Cavalry of Oman Clarendon Stakes (Gr3PA) the following month. Her dam Schiva DA, is

by Amer, so he appears as her grandsire and damsire. Her year older full brother El Zarka DA, also finished third in both races.

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Nizam (GB)

NIZAM Gr h 1998 Amer x Nerva Du Cassou (Baroud III) Hajres (TN) (1x1m) 2014 Tohfet Ennadhirine (Vent Dredy) 1 win from 1 individual horse (UK) Nizam stands in Italy for natural cover and is available through HM3 Equine Breeding Society, owned by Umm Qarn.

Fee: !4,000 Payment: live foal in France, at export for frozen. Frozen semen available through the Haras de Grand Courgeon.

Nizam relocated to Italy in 2019 under the banner of HM3 Equine and has been confirmed there for a second season. He

continues to produce top quality horses, headlined in 2019 by Hajres winner of the HH Sheikh Zayed Cup (Gr1PA) in the UK and subsequent second in the inaugural Obaiya Cup in Saudi Arabia. The Tunisian bred Harjes is out of Tohfet Ennadhirine, a daughter of the Dormane stallion Vent Dredy.

Also placing at the top level was Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ezala (ex Cherezade by Dormane), second in the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes, and Belâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Izam (ex Djesabelle by Dormane), who was a PA Listed winner in Frane and placed second in the Sheikh Zayed Al Nayhan Jewel Crown (Gr1PA) in Abu Dhabi in November.

The sole UK domestic runner former ARO champion racehorse, the 11-year-old Man Of Dreams was unplaced in three starts in 2019.

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TM Fred Texas (US) TM FRED TEXAS Gr h 2007 Burning Sand x Queen Kong (Kong)

Methgal (FR) (1x7f) 2016 Theeba (Amer) 1 win from 1 individual horse (UK) TM Fred Texas stands in France at the Haras de Thouars under the Al Shaqab Arabian Stallions banner and is available for: !12,000 natural cover, selected mares only The youngest sire in this review, TM Fred Texas was quickly off the mark in 2018 with Marid, who was out of the exceptional racemare Al Dahma (by Amer) with two Group 1PA wins at three years in France. In 2019 Methgal (ex Theeba by Amer), from his second crop, has taken over his mantle. In February he became the first horse since Manark (by Mahabb) to win the DIAR International

Methgal (FR) Stakes (Gr3PA) and then go on to Group 1PA victory when he defeated older horses over a mile in the Qatar International Cup (Marid was third).

To date, of his six recorded winners in France, two are out of Amer mares, two the siblings Almajdah and Latam- are out of an AF Albahar (Amer) mare, and one is out of an Al Saoudi mare and one from a Calin Du Loup mare.

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LEADING SIRES - FRANCE

SIRE

Prize Money

Amer (SA)

1,039,850

Munjiz (FR)

236,450

Jalnar Al Khalediah

217,300

No Risk Al Maury (FR)

141,700

Dahess (GB)

135,200

General (GB)

126,100

TM Fred Texas (US)

105,950

Al Mamun Monlau (FR)

105,150

Azadi (FR)

94,350

Mahabb (AE)

88,000

Thanks to the exploits of Ebraz (ex Massamarie by Tidjani) in winning the Qatar Arabian World Cup, the leading sire in France (based on earnings) was Amer.

Also contributing to the total was Gr1PA winner Amyr Du Soleil (ex Balladore by Dormane).

2018 and finished 2019 in second place.

His standard bearer, there, as in the UK was the dual PA Derby winner, Hayyan (ex Dhawa by Tidjani).

Hayyan (FR)

In third place is Jalnar Al Khalidiah, sire of the two Athbah Stud PA Group winners, Mashhur Al Khalediah (ex Amerah Al Khalediah by Amer) and Jaazmah Athbah (ex Keen Game by Bengali D’Albret).

Ebraz (GB)

Muniz has been responsible for some comparatively large crops foaled in France, thanks in part to Wathba Stud having a base there. He had been leading sire in

In fourth place was leading living French based sire, No Risk Al Maury, sire of the PA Group winners, Al Shamoos and Min’ha.

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ARQANA PA SALE RESULTS 2019

2018

2017

2016

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STANDING IN ENGLAND

Sivit Al Maury

AKBAR - SAVAVIT AL MAURY

NEW IN 2020

Winner of 7 races including 4 Group PA races Out of an outstanding family that produced SYLVINE AL MAURY, DAHESS, NIZAM, MKEEFA, CHADDAD, LIGHTNING BOLT, NO RISK AL MAURY, KAOLINO…

Al Jakbar

AL SAKBE - ESSAADA

Sire of Group winners

Al Saoudi

NUITS ST GEORGES - FATZICA

Sire of Stakes winners

STANDING IN FRANCE

Af Al Buraq

AMER - AL HANOUF

A leading sire in the UAE Sire of Stakes winners including AF MAHER (Kahayla Classic, Gr.1 PA)

Handassa

MADJANI - ZIVA

By the exceptional sire MADJANI (TIDJANI) Dual Group 1 PA winner FIRST YEARLINGS IN 2020

Manark

MAHABB – MENDRA

Group winner at 3 Winner of the Dubai Kahayla Classic (Gr.1 PA) FIRST FOALS IN 2020

No Risk Al Maury

KESBEROY - NECTARINE AL MAURY

Winner of 6 Group 1 PA races Sire of Stakes winners

STANDING IN ITALY

Taajer

MADJANI - ZIVA

By the exceptional sire MADJANI (TIDJANI) FIRST YEARLINGS IN 2020

Contact us to receive the 2020 Shadwell Arabian Stallions brochure Discover more about Shadwell Arabian Stallions at: www.shadwellarabian.co.uk and Facebook.com/ShadwellArabian For all nominations with frozen semen, please contact: Marion Lachat on +44(0)1842 755913 mlachat@shadwellstud.co.uk For all natural cover nominations in France, please contact: Haras de Saint Faust, Tel: +33 (0) 5 59 83 05 16 contact@haras-saintfaust.com THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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New Stallions for 2020 Three new Group 1PA winning stallions retire to stud in Europe for 2020, Gazwan (Amer), Rijm (Azadi) and Sivit Al Maury (Akbar)

Gazwan (GB)

GAZWAN Gr h 2011 (Amer x Arc De Ciel (Djendel) !3,000 *free to Qatari breeders Al Shahania Stud Please send enquiries to breeding@alshahaniastud.com or call the office: +974 4490 3074 www.alshahaniastud.com P.O. Box 22133 - Doha - Qatar

In October 2019, just prior to the Qatar Arabian World Cup, Al Shahania Stud confirmed that their globe-trotting multimillion dollar PA Group 1 winner had been retired to stud. The news followed an initial announcement circulated on social media in September that said he would cover a limited book in his first season, for approved black type producing mares only. They have since added that he will be free to Qatari breeders.

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Trained throughout his career by Julian Smart, Gazwan increased his total of PA Group 1 wins to seven following a second win in the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes at DIAR Newbury last July. He joined the select band of dual winners of the race with an impressive performance of the highest quality.

Having made his debut at the Newbury track as a three-year-old in 2014, he won that race for the first time the following year

beating Djet Taouy - who had beaten Rathowan by a nose in the 2013 race.

After what was to be his last win, Smart was full of praise commenting: “Gazwan, he’s a superstar, what more do you want me to say. He’s a living legend. Gary Capewell asked me ‘what was the best horse I have trained’ and that was a really difficult to answer as I’ve trained some very good ones. He’s run with the best and beaten the best.”

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Winning 15 times, from a mile to a mile and a half, he never finished worse than fourth in his entire 30 race career, campaigned primarily at Group level in the UK, France and Qatar. He was also the leading Arabian racehorse in Qatar in 2015/2016 and 2017/2018 on prize money won.

By Amer, Gazwan is a full brother to useful PA Group placed performer and now sire in the USA, Rathowan and has a pedigree packed with PA Group 1 success. Their dam, Arc De Ciel is by Djendel, both are winners of the HH The Amir Sword, a race that Gazwan has also won twice. She is a half-sister to trainer Smart's first Qatar Arabian World Cup winner Areej, and to the multiple Group 1PA winner Asra Min Albarq, both are by Amer.

7 Group 1 PA wins: Dubai International Stakes 2015, 2019 HH The Amir's Sword 2016, 2018 Qatar Gold Sword 2017, 2018 Qatar Arabian World Cup 2017 2 Group 2 PA wins: Qatar Derby 2015 Qatar National Day Trophy 2016 2 Group 3 PA wins: HH The Amir Sword Trial 2019

Gazwan (GB) goes to post for the 2019 Shadwell Dubai International Stakes THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Sivit Al Maury (FR)

SIVIT AL MAURY B h 2009 (Akbar x Savavit Al Maury (Dormane) !2,000 (frozen semen) Shadwell Arabian Stallions at West Kington Stud

Please send enquiries to arabians@shadwellstud.co.uk or call the office T +44 (0) 1842 756962 www.shadwellarabian.co.uk

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Trained during his European career by Francois Rohaut, he won seven of his fourteen races, including five stakes races.

The recently retired Francois-Xavier Bertras, who rode him in all five of those pattern wins said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sivit Al Maury was a real pleasure to ride. He was very quick out of the starting stalls, so he could find the right place in the race. He is brave and has an impressive turn of foot which made him a fearsome racehorse.â&#x20AC;?

He is a half-brother to four-time Group 1 PA winner Sylvine Al Maury (by Munjiz). He has the exceptional Nevadour (by Ourour) as his third dam, a line that has produced Dahess, Kaolino, Nisaee, Nivour De Cardonne, Nizam, Mkeefa, Rajeh and Rubis de Carrere.

1 Group 1 PA win: President of UAE Cup Malagirt Trophy 2014 1 Group 2 PA win: International Ali Riza Bey Stakes 2014 2 Group 3 PA win: Prix Damas 2013, 2014

1 Listed PA win: French Arabian Breeders' Challenge Sprint 2013 * now a Gr2PA

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Rijm (FR) RIJM Ch h 2014 (Azadi x Kerjam (Dormane) !1,000 (chilled semen, live foal in France) !1,200 (export, payable at booking) Haras Du Mazet

Please direct enquiries to: T +33 6 63 65 82 71 www.harasdumazet.com

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Trained by Thomas Fourcy for Al Shaqab, Rijm was precocious enough to win on his three-year-old debut in April over 1400m.

Runner-up in two susbequent Gr1PA starts to the filly Joudh, at four he was placed in both the French and UK Arabian Derby’s. He finally gained compensation in the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Classic (Gr1PA) over 2200m.

Later that winter in Doha he won the Qatar Arabian Derby (Gr2PA) over 200m beating the Gr1PA winners, Rajeh and Easter De Faust.

Kerjam is out of Kera (by Kesberoy), a sister to Kerra, winner of 13 races including the Dubai International and two Prix Dragon’s. Kerra is the dam of Lswail (by Amer), winner of the Z’abeel International (Gr1PA) over 6f at DIAR 2017. Kera is also a half-sister to Parador (by Dormane) and to Fatouma (by Mad Ouma) dam of Kerbella (by Kesberoy).

Rijm also traces to Nevadour. His dam Kerjam won the 2003 Prix du President of the UAE – Challenge Derby. Her first foal Al Muhajaz (by Hafid Du Bac), won 10 races, including 4 Gr1PA’s in Qatar.

1 Group 2 PA win: Qatar Arabian Derby 2018

1 Group 1 PA win: French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Classic 2018

Rijm (FR) THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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The Saudi Cup Experience Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Tallaab Al Khalediah (SA) an Robeto Perez win the Obaiya Cup

The addition to the global racing calendar of the Saudi Cup, the world’s most valuable racing fixture, certainly gained plenty of attention, not least because the feature thoroughbred race was worth USD $20 million dollars. Supporters of international Arabian racing welcomed the addition of the Obaiya Cup (Arabian Classic) which had been announced as part of the undercard on Saudi Cup night. The USD $1.9 million dollar race was to be run over 2000m, though it was held a week after the HH The Amir Sword Festival (with two Group 1PA races over a 1600m and 2400m), many connections felt it offered the opportunity of a valuable preparation race for the Dubai Kahayla Classic to be run a month later over the same trip.

The Dubai World Cup format was clearly used as a model with little difference to general organisation for the horsemen and media, other than the location. The track work mornings for the world’s media quickly fell into a familiar routine of shuttle buses, swapping notes of did you catch ‘so and so’ followed by the uploading of copy and lunch in the media centre. Though Riyadh is a long way behind Dubai in the visitor entertainment stakes, there was a Mall for those who needed a shopping fix, a reasonable selection of restaurants and a limited amount of sight-seeing opportunities for those that ventured beyond their designated hotel or the ‘Club House’ at the racetrack.

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Two of HH Sheikh Mansoor's runners Above: Aoun(FR) trained by Antoine de Watrigant in France and winner of a PA Listed race in Morocco on Dirt in Novmeber Below: Ziyadd (FR) winner of Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Group 1PA) at Meydan, he is trained by Jean de Roualle in the UAE.

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Commenting on the week, Adrian Beaumont, Director of the International Racing Bureau said: “For an inaugural event, The Saudi Cup can be considered a great success. It is never easy to launch a new race meeting into an overcrowded season, but the timing seemed to work really well, and we had huge support from connections all around the world.”

He continued: “The Saudi Cup committee really made an effort to encourage international participation. They made all their races “no fees to run” and offered business class flights and accommodation to owners (+1), trainers (+1) and jockeys.

This was in addition to flying the horses and their grooms out free of charge.

horses were stabled in secure, airy, quarantine barns where they could have a pick of grass and had access to their own training track as well as being able to use the main dirt and turf tracks. The Club also provided outrider ponies for those horses which required them. Grooms were accommodated onsite in a smart, modern, villa complex and had access to the ‘Club House’ which included a restaurant and sports facilities. They all had a fabulous time in the glorious weather.”

Overseas participation was strong across all the races, however he observed that: “The Obaiya Cup was particularly competitive, and many connections of highly rated Arabians were contacting the IRB for weeks in advance hoping to secure an invitation.”

Describing the facilities he said: “The

One of the Omani runners, Shabah (GB) a full brother to Gazwan THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Above: Hajres (TN) on his toes in the pre-parade ring Below: Tallaab Al Khalediah (SA) wins from Harjes (TN) and Mashhur Al Khalediah (FR)

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Whilst the proximity of the race to Qatar’s HH Amir’s Sword Festival may have had an effect on potential runners, the 14-runner field still held some top-quality horses.

The international form was certainly upheld at the finish with the top-rated local champion, Tallaab Al Khalediah producing an exceptional comeback performance after almost a whole year off the track. The pressure to win the Obaiya Cup with a domestic horse in Saudi Arabia’s inaugural showpiece must have been extreme for connections, who had bypassed the Prince Sultan Cup a month before – a race Al Khalediah Stables’ Tallaab Al Khalediah had won three times previously.

Setting off in front, he was never headed, winning in a time of 2.16.18, which compared well to his track record breaking performance in the 2018 Kahayla Classic of 2.13.68, also on a Dirt oval under his regular partner Roberto Perez.

Perez said:" So, you know, we made a plan last night for this race. I know that horse, I

have ridden him like 10 times. I know when I worked the horse the last two times, I knew he was going to fight, that he had a great chance to win. He hasn’t run in a long time, not since Dubai. It is a long time, but he has too much class. He is a very good horse. This is a good race to win and I would like to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity to ride him, the Prince, the trainer, everyone.”

Prince Fahad, representing Al Khalediah Stables commented: "He doesn’t like to stay in the back. He always keeps going in the front. That is how he won in Dubai, that’s how he won everywhere. We were just a bit afraid because of his injury, but he has proven himself today.”

He continued: “I hope he can run again in the Dubai Kahayla Classic.

I think it is a historical day for horse racing in Saudi Arabia and a historical day in the racing world whether it is in Saudi Arabia or not. We hope for many more to come."

Tallaab Al Khalediah (SA) and Robeto Perez with Prince Fahad (right) THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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In the pre-parade ring and the paddock at King Abdualaziz Racetrack, clockwise from above: Thierry Delegue with Jean De Roualle, Eric Lemartinel and Emadadein Alhtoushi

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Hajres (TN) heading back to the international stables after light exercise on the Wednesday

From the international challengers, the standout performance had to be the Tunisian bred Hajres, who finished a game second by three lengths. Ridden for the first time by Christophe Soumillon, he obviously made a favourable impression with Soumillon saying: "He jumped out really well, I was lucky to be just behind the winner. On the turn he was really off the bridle. I thought he'd have trouble to finish the last 400 (metres) but he kept going the whole way and finished second. He was really tough today and quite lazy, but he's a really nice horse. I was really lucky to be on his back today and I'm proud to see we did a great performance."

“He was unlucky after he won the Prix Dormane (Gr3PA) on his first start in France at four years old, as he became sick and was not right for a whole year afterwards.

Last season he came good and I chose to run him in England and Italy as the level of form required to win in those two races, was not as high as they would be in France or the Gulf. At the end of 2019, I saw my horse come back to top form.”

Trainer Elizabeth Bernard was pleased to see her charge finally flourishing: “He is a globetrotter horse, he has a very good temperament, very good character. He sleeps in the truck, he sleeps on the plane.

He very quiet at the track, he is very easy to train.

The plan was to go next to Dubai, she explained: “He likes the Dirt and if the owners agree, we go to the Kahayla, but the winner today was very impressive to win easily after a year off, so maybe he goes back to Dubai too. If he does, he will be hard to beat.”

Continuing she said: “In Pau in January, Hajres was not ready. We went to Pau 80% fit so he could improve afterwards. He had a lot of weight to carry that day and I didn’t want him to work too hard.”

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Hajres was bred by Mohammed Essaied at his family’s Haras Ahmed Essaied in Tunisia. He has partnered Emadadein Alhtoushi, in whose colours’ Hajres runs, in over 100 hundred horses. They have a satellite operation in the South West of France, selected according to Alhtoushi, because a change of ground was considered necessary, though the climate

is similar to North Africa.

Essaied beamed: “10 years together and we are more successful every day. We are just starting with this horse, Arabians mature later and can race at six, seven, eight years of age at this level. It is something unbelievable, something fantastic to experience this.”

Elizabeth Bernard, Mohammed Essaied, Hajres (TN), Melody Bailleul, Mrs Essaied THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Phil Collington with Mehdaaf Athbah (GB) and Jean Bernard Eyquem with Mashhur Al Khalediah (FR) at the local training stables, adjacent to the King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh

Also with the Kahayla Classic in mind were connections of the third placed horse, Mashhur Al Khalediah, who has wintered in Saudi Arabia following his win in Abu Dhabi’s Jewel Crown (Gr1PA) in November. This was trainer Phil Collington’s third season with Athbah Stud’s horses in Saudi Arabia. Already familiar with the climate from his spells in Dubai with Gill Duffield, he feels that: “Though the facilities were limited in Riyadh when I first came out three years ago, it is improving all the time. Of course, the Saudi Cup has meant that things are progressing quickly. I know what to bring for the horses and what can be sourced locally now.”

“Initially we’d come out for the Prince Sultan Cup at Al Khalediah, in which we’ve been third twice, including last year

with Mehdaaf Athbah. This year our goal was the Obaiya Cup.” With a yard and young family to oversee in Newmarket, Collington commuted between Riyadh and his home throughout the winter. The final six weeks of preparation for his two horses were overseen by his jockey, Jean Bernard Eyquem, who Collington admits has been a ‘big help’.

Eyquem commented: “I rode both horses in the morning. For the first race here [Prince Sultan Cup], Mashhur Al Khalediah was not completely ready, I had to change his programme as he needed a bit more stamina for the extra 400m and to be 100% for this race. For Medhaaf Athbah, I just had to keep him in the same form and in good condition.”

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Reviewing his last six weeks Eyquem said: “This is my first time in Saudi. I have ridden in many countries and I think it is the most similar to the USA. The track is perfect. I do not know all the Dirt tracks, but I have ridden in Miami and Santa Anita, the surface is very good here.

good for me - for my mind and my condition. Sometimes I take the golf cart, as it is a lot of walking, but sometimes I carry the bag, so I sweat, it keeps me in good condition!” He laughs. “So with the mornings at the stable and the golf I am fit!

And without alcohol too!”

“In France, with the French pace it is a tactical race, it is not the same here, the Dirt is completely different for the jockey. I have an advantage that I have been training here on the track in the mornings, so I know it well, it is not a problem for me.

For him he feels: “It is a very good country, the transition between Europe and here has been hard, giving up your regular habits, being out with friends, going for a drink and so on, but after a month and a half here it is normal, it is my second country now. I do not miss drinking. There is a good team here with Athbah, it is like a second family, it is not difficult for me, other than to get the results, but that is the same everywhere!”

“I think it is the same as the other Gulf countries for training. I am up at 4am to go to the stable, then back to the hotel for a quiet hour and a half and then I spend the rest of the day on the golf course! That’s

Jean Bernard Eyquem and Mashhur Al Khalediah (FR) THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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King Abdulaziz racetrack

Asked about the impact the Saudi Cup has had, he concludes: “There are not big races here normally, there is just the Prince Sultan Cup. I do not think people will see beyond the big prize money with this meeting for now. I hope that it will be the same here, as it was for Dubai, as they did with the World Cup, I hope it goes in the same direction.”

Of the three runners from Oman, two had run in previous Prince Sultan Cups, Zaqur, had been third in the 2018 to Tallaab Al Khalediah, whilst Shabah had been second this year. All three were privately owned, demonstrating the success that the Royal Cavalry of Oman have had in promoting the sport to their country. With the rest of the international field including two runners from the UAE in Ziyadd and Amwaj, plus another from France, Aoun, all of whom were proven on Dirt, it is not hard to see that this may be an attractive, and lucrative, option during the Gulf season.

horse racing spectacle has got off on the right footing, it will remain to be seen if they can build upon the day in subsequent years.

The full gallery from the Saudi Cup week can be viewed here: https://equinecreativemedia.smugmug.com/2020-Racing/Saudi-Cup-2020

Certainly, the aim to follow the Dubai’s lead in promoting Saudi Arabia through a THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

DEBBIE BURT EQUINE CREATIVE MEDIA ARO Official Photographer HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award Winner International Photographer To view and purchase photos from the 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 ARO seasons please visit www.equinecreativemedia.smugmug.com THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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HH The Amir Sword Festival 2020 Doha, Qatar

Qatar's HH The Amir Sword Festival continues to grow in stature, firmly establishing it's place in the international racing calendar for Arabians and thoroughbreds. For 2020 the three day fixture had attracted no less than 105 horses from outside Qatar, from nine different countries and four different continents. The six Festival races run on the Friday and Saturday, were worth nearly US $3million, with the two feature races, the HH The Amir Sword, a Group 1 PA for Arabians and the HH The Amir Trophy (for thoroughbreds) each worth US$ 1million and run over a mile and a half.

Ebraz and French King, the respective

winners in 2019, both put up exceptional performances for repeat victories in the headline races, further cementing their domestic and international appeal.

The HH The Amir Sword had received 46 entries, including eight from Oman, a country which is making great strides into the global Arabian racing scene. The USD $250,000 Qatar International Cup also a Group 1 PA contest, recieved 58 entries for the one mile event.

Though not a pattern race, there was also great interst in the HH The Amir Silver Sword, which saw the reappearance of the exciting young filly, Lady Princess.

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HH The Amir Sword (Gr1PA) 2400m 4yo+ EBRAZ (GB) (6 h Amer x Massamarie (Tidjani) Owner: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani Breeder: Al Shahania Stud Trainer: Julian Smart Jockey: Maxime Guyon

An unprecedented third win for Ebraz in the HH The Amir Sword, combined with his Qatar International Stakes and Qatar Arabian World Cup victories have also earned him the Doha Triple Crown.

Such is the strength in depth of the of the Al Shahania team, that no sooner had one superstar bowed out in Gazwan, then another ascends to fill the void in Ebraz.

Not that his arrival was unexpected, having been precocious enough to win a race of the calibre of the HH The Amir Sword as a four-year-old, but with his decisive win in the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1PA) at ParisLongchamp in October, Ebraz

crowned himself a true champion. Last month in Doha, with a record breaking third HH The Amir Sword win, he has etched his name in the history books and becomes the first ever winner of the Doha Triple Crown, which carries a $1 million USD bonus.

Following the race, trainer Julian Smart commented: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The pace went as I wanted the pace to go and the Umm Qarn horses were everywhere - what I like about Ebraz is how he has evolved as a racehorse over the years. When he was immature he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a tough horse, but all in Europe last summer we saw a different Ebraz."

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"I said that at Goodwood, where he fought his way through and all of a sudden, he likes to get in a battle. The same thing happened here today. At the top of the straight I thought we were in trouble and he got in between those Umm Qarn horses and he was bumping around a bit and it propelled him forward.

“Maxime [Guyon] is a genius on this horse, he’s ridden him many, many times - he knows him, he’s very confident Max. He was nervous before the race, we all were, but there’s no pressure anymore, he’s written himself into the history books.

Three Amir Swords. I don’t know if people realise how hard it is to win one. He’s won three and the one he was beaten in was when he was second to Gazwan, another incredible horse. I think with this win today, he may have gone ahead of Gazwan as the winning-most Arabian racehorse.”

winner Al Naama, was better suited to the sharp mile. His length and a half second place, with regular opponent Tayf behind, was no disgrace for a horse coming back from a break and there was no doubting his fitness two weeks later with a repeat win in the 1850m conditions race on Pearl Day. Prior to the race Smart considered what a win at Qatar’s premier racing event would mean saying: “It is difficult for me to put into words, but a third Amir Sword would be phenomenal, for the horse, for me and for the team. I try and achieve longevity for these horses and for Ebraz to be in with a chance to win three Amir Sword’s, and not in consecutive years, must mean my training philosophy is right.”

Since re-joining the team in Doha following those two top-level successes in Europe, Ebraz followed a similar programme to last season. He may have been short of a race when failing to retain the HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup, but the THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Though he was able to take advantage of the weight allowance as a four-year-old, it is not something I would do unless I was confident the horse could handle such a competitive race against older horses. But he showed a good attitude and a great talent right from the start.”

Discussing his thoughts on becoming the first horse to win the Doha Triple Crown he concluded: “Everybody said it was impossible to win the Triple Crown. One mile at Goodwood in July-August, then 2000m in October at Longchamp - think of the ground - then 2400m here. Look at the tracks, the ground, the countries, the weather, think of the transportation. It takes an absolute legend to do that.”

He continued: "I’m very lucky to be able to train Arabian horses of such exceptional quality, and ones which are bred by Sheikh Mohammed. Ebraz won the The Amir Sword at four, as a general rule, I don’t tend to train horses which are that precocious.

They say three is a magic number and certainly this third win in Qatar’s most coveted Purebred Arabian race and a first Triple Crown winner at that, must surely be magical for the whole Al Shahania team.

All Photos (C) Al Shahania & QREC

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Qatar International Cup (Gr1PA) 1600m 4yo+ METHGAL (FR) (4 c TM Fred Texas x Theeba (Amer)) Owner: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani Breeder: Al Shahania Stud Trainer: Julian Smart

Following Gazwan’s retirement, Ebraz is now Al Shahania Stud’s star performer.

Ebraz is by Amer, the most successful sire of all-time and descends from one of the most influential dam lines in France, that of Magicienne, a most prolific source of black type winners. His dam Massamarie was a three-time winner from 1400m to 2400m and had already produced two Group 1PA winners prior to Ebraz in Mared Al Sahra and Mu’azzaz, both to Amer.

Smart trained them both, and a sister, Theeba. Retired to stud and covered by TM

Fred Texas, she produced a colt, Methgal, who was precocious enough to win the DIAR International Stakes (Gr3PA) at DIAR Newbury in July 2019.

Earlier in Saturday’s HH The Amir Sword card, Methgal, making the most of his fouryear-old allowance, won his first Group 1PA contest, the Qatar International Cup over a mile, also ridden by Guyon. He also becomes the first horse since Kahayla Clasic winner Manark, to go on to Group1PA success after the Newbury race.

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Smart commented: “We ran him a couple of times over 2000m on soft ground in France and he just was giving me the impression he was ok on it, but he wasn’t good on it. He’s good round here on the hard, fast ground and the mile is perfect for

him. Seven furlongs to a mile that’s what we’ll keep him to. This is a massive race, we were very fortunate to win it last year with Sharesa. He’s only four, he travelled supremely well, he’s only going to get better.”

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And if Ebraz and Methgal wasn’t enough for the Al Shahania team to look forward to for the rest of 2020, Mon’nia (below), a four-year-old sister to their 2014 HH The Amir Sword winner Assy, had won the opening race of the three day Festival by four lengths.

Smart commented: "Al Shahania has the best pedigrees. We have a quality group of broodmares. The colour is blue and they are blue bloods, it’s as simple as that."

All Photos (C) Al Shahania & QREC

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HH The Amir Silver Sword 1750m 4yo LADY PRINCESS (GB) (4 f General x Nacree Al Maury (Kesberoy)) Owner: Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari Breeder: EARL Champ Ginoux & Mme E Bellaud Trainer: Thomas Fourcy Jockey: Christophe Soumillion

Though not a PA Group race, the HH The Amir Silver Sword is the feature race for local individual owners on the HH The Amir Sword card, lying sixth in the race order and boasting a prize fund of USD $250,000.

Having lost her unbeaten record on her Qatar debut in the three-year-old Qatar Derby (Gr1PA) in December after enduring a nightmare passage, the diminutive Lady Princess, reunited with regular jockey Christophe Soumillon had plenty to prove.

In the event, they did it in some style,

Soumillon tracked stablemate Emporio thoroughout the race. After the final bend he asked the filly to go on, her response was electric, pulling away for an 11 length victory over Emporio, with the locally trained Gingkeau a further five lengths back in third and fellow French raider, the Charles Gourdain trained Goingfor Al Baraka in fourth.

Lady Princess is a three-parts sister to Group 1 PA winner and sire Mister Ginoux, also trained by Fourcy. She is out of a sister to No Risk Al Maury, so has an enviable pedigree to match her talent.

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The headline race on the Thursday, the Al Zubara Trophy for local bred Arabians over 2000m saw a close finish between two Alban de Mieulle trained runners for HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Medhi and Ronan Thomas (blinkers 5 above), won by a nose from Sealine. Medhi is by Majd Al Arab and is the second foal of

Jaljalah who is by Bengali D'Albret.

In Friday's Gulf Cup, confined to GCC bred horses and run over a mile, the same team also triumphed, this time with Aahil (below). Aahil is a six-year-old son of Munjiz, out of an Amer mare.

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Du Soleil Stud Stud Focus The partnership between Pierre Deymonaz, his wife Lisa and her parents, Jim and Jo Kippen form the successful Arabian racehorse breeding operation, Du Soleil Stud. This year has marked a turning point for the Deymonazâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as they have returned to the UK full time, just as Amyr Du Soleil has risen to prominence as the leading three-year-old colt in France.

Pierre with Balladore (FR) and Lisa with her Munjiz colt

The stud is now firmly established between Tostock in the East of England, and the Haras du Saubouas in South West France. The Kippens have been breeding Arabian horses for 38 years, initially for the show ring, however it was Lisa that persuaded them to turn to racing.

The origins of Du Soleil Stud can be traced to a thoroughbred filly bought for show-jumping.

Whilst working part-time as a waitress at Tattersalls Sales in Newmarket, Lisa purchased a two-year-old thoroughbred during her lunch break. Boarding the filly in a neighbouring village, the owner of the yard suggested she raced her before starting with show-jumping.

Though knowing nothing about racing, with his help, Lisa took out her amateur jockeysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; licence and began her career in the saddle.

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Though the pair did not achieve great success, it ignited an interest in racing which prompted the Kippens to switch their attentions from showing Arabians to racing them. Their first purchase was Derbist (by Kumir) a Russian bred colt from the Tersk Stud, who they raced and then crossed with their show horses.

Wanting to be more competitive, they purchased a mare by Bengali D’Abret to breed from. With the rise in importance of the French Arabian bloodlines in England, they also bought Merlin Al Maury (by Djou Said) from Renee Koch in 1995. He was a halfbrother to Tidjani.

Their first notable breeding success came with Vert Galante (by Dunixi) who was trained by

Sarah Kellaway. They sent her to Shadwell Arabians to be covered by Begali D’Abret and the resulting colt was Bengalant. As Pierre explains: “He won three of his four races in the UK and was second in the Za’abeel International to Al Anood in 2002. He was then sold to Sheikh Hamdan and went on to win a Group 1PA on the Turf in Abu Dhabi.”

Lisa takes up the story: “He was a sprinter and in Dubai at that time was Big Easy (by Burning Sand) who he kept finishing second to.

Bengalant’s sale allowed us to go to France, to the Arqana Sale, and invest. There we bought Dormah De Brughere (Dormane) as a twoyear-old and she turned out to be our best horse.”

Jo and Jim Kippen, with Pierre and lisa Deymonaz at Tostock Place THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Initially ridden by Pierre, she won her first twostarts at three, both Group races over 7f. The next season she was third in the UK Derby and then was beaten a short head in the Hatta International (Gr1PA) by CS Camelia. She later won a further two Group races over 6f in the UK. “She was a sister to Dormadora who was a Group winner. She was very, very small when we bought her, but such she had such a wonderful pedigree so we just took the chance on her size. In 2005 when we took her to Turkey, to the Malazgirt International (Gr1PA), people were laughing at her against all the big colts, but she finished second to Dahess (Amer). She had a huge heart.”

This led to further investment, as Jim explains: “After Dormah De Brughere was second in Turkey we then went back to France and bought her dam, Ballade Folle. She had three Dormane fillies for us and we went back to him again hoping for another and lost her to colic.”

The link with Dahess doesn’t end there as Lisa explains: “Her sister Dormadora of course produced Dahor De Brughere (Dahess) (below) who was unbeaten as a three-year-old and is now a stallion.”

Smiling, Pierre comments: “After that race, I went up to Alban de Mieulle and asked him what he would think about a cross between the two horses, Dahess and Dormah De Brughere?

‘He said you have double ‘D’s’ there, I think that will work!’ And of course it did, because that cross eventually produced our first Group 1 PA winner, Mahess Du Soleil.”

Mahess Du Soleil (GB) and Richie Mullen go to post for the UK Derby THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Musique Du Soleil (GB) (Munjiz x Iktidar) wins under Stephen Harrison at Windsor in 2015, trained by Pete Hammersley for the Kippens

They moved to Tostock Place in 2005, just half an hour from Newmarket, where they have access to around 38 hectares of pasture and barns suitable for breeding and raising horses.

Wanting a generic name for their breeding, they chose Du Soleil, ‘of the sun’ reflecting the Arabian horse’s origins from the desert.

At the time Pierre and Lisa were in Qatar, working for Al Shahania Stud, so the horses were sent to Paul Basquin at the Haras du Saubouas, as Lisa explains: “We started doing all our pre-training with him, as we got things going here, we couldn’t expect Mum and Dad to look after them all. It began with just a couple of horses and now there are eleven or twelve!”

Dormah De Brughere’s first foal, Melodie Du Soleil (by Munjiz) was their first winner in France in 2014, she was then sold to the Royal Cavalry of Oman. Mahess Du Soleil was her second produce, winning his first two starts at four years, he faced stiff competition when sixth in that season’s Derby at Chantilly. That

race was particularly string that year, won by Mister Ginoux, it also included Gazwan, Sylvine Al Maury, Prada T and Al Mouwaffak in the line-up. Mahess Du Soleil easily made amends at Newmarket, winning the UK Derby by over four lengths.

Once their education is complete the horses go into training with Thomas Fourcy who originally handled Mahess Du Soleil and Melodie Du Soleil. Currently they have four with him and they expect to have three more there next year. The intention now is to foal in France, so they qualify for the Breeders Premiums and next year’s three-year-olds will be their first ‘FR’ crop. Malik Du Soleil (by Munjiz) was the colt foal Rahab (by Amer) was carrying when they purchased her at the Arqana PA Sale in 2016, whilst Jade Du Soleil (by AF Albahar) is a filly out of Topaz Du Croate (by Dormane). They will be joined by Tarek Du Soleil (by Dahess) a colt out of Musique Du Soleil, bred and raised by the Kippens in the UK.

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Having achieved some notable success with both purchases and sales, the Demoynaz’s recognize the importance of the Arqana sale as Europe’s only showcase for Arabian racing bloodstock. Lisa comments: “For us it’s not really worth sending them to the Arqana Sale until they are two. We’ve sold a couple of foals there, only because we wanted to cut down on numbers.

of her, loved the way she walked and her pedigree obviously. They didn’t really want to sell, but we kept trying and eventually got her.

I wanted her for our broodmare band, she was never going to be sold, but since her purchase, we then ended up with two Amer mares, so felt we didn’t really need another mare with that bloodline, which is why we let her go after her win in Toulouse.”

“Last year we had Amyr in the sale and also Rahab, but ended up bringing them home.

However, I think this year has taught us that we would prefer to race our young horses before we consider selling, as people seem to prefer to buy on the back of performance.

Though I think 2018 was not a good sale, we have had pleasing results in the past, such as with Munowra (Munjiz) a two-year-old filly, that we sold very well to the UAE.”

Lisa and Pierre met when she rode in amateur races in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. They returned to Qatar, working for Al Shahania Stud, where Lisa was Breeding Manager for almost nine years. It was an experience which she has found invaluable for their own breeding programme, as she explains: “Having been in charge of so many mares with all the bloodlines and organising the breeding it definitely gives you a bigger insight than just having four mares of your own. You can see what works and decide what you like and don’t like, so being there for that long really helps.”

Continuing she says: “We bought Lady Princess (by General) privately at six months when she was still on her dam. I saw the video

Lisa with Theeba (GB), a full sister to Ebraz, Mu'azzaz and Mared Al Sahra THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Jim and Jo Kippen, Pierre and lisa Deymonaz, Richie Mullen and Thomas Fourcy with Mahess Du Soleil (GB) at Newmarket in 2015

Asked if they have further plans to expand, Lisa comments: “I think we have all the bloodlines that we want now. We bought Theeba (by Amer) as she is out of Massamarie (by Tidjani), so is a sister to Mared Al Sahra, Mu’azzaz and Ebraz, and we bought Rahab, who is a sister to General and Al Dahma, the dam of Yazeed (by Munjiz). We have Balladore and her full sister. I would still like the Nacree Al Maury (by Kesberoy) blood, I doubt they will be for sale now, though that is one bloodline I would like.

We also don’t want too many horses!”

Having been involved with both the three-yearold Group 1 PA winners at Saint-Cloud, Lisa commented: “When Lady Princess and Amyr won I was so excited, even though they were no longer carrying Du Soleil colours. Of course we are happy for the new owners, but you still wish, a little bit, that they were still yours. It would have been so nice to go, still owning the two of them, but with more horses coming along next year and the cost of breeding, it wasn’t viable. If we did well enough that we could afford to keep one we would.

“Naturally that would more likely to be a filly that we could retain, rather than a colt, though of course we did with Mahess. It was wonderful to win the UK Derby and be third in the Gold Sword to Gazwan, both Group 1 PA races and it was nice that Pierre was able to train him in Qatar. We did eventually have to sell him though, he is Oman now. We hope there will be a time when we are in a position to refuse offers for a good racehorse that we have bred.”

For 2020 Du Soleil expect three foals in France from Rahab (in foal to Mahabb), Theeba (in foal to Munjiz) and Dormella (in foal to Al Mourtajez). In the UK they have Madjic Du Soleil, she is by Majd Al Arab and therefore three-parts sister to Amyr Du Soleil, she is in foal to Al Mamun Monlau, whilst Balladore will be rested in France.

Pierre concludes: “I think our breeding is facing a big turning point, the next three-to five years will be very important to us.”

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Khalil Dababneh & Wathba Stud UAE Stud Focus

For the last three years Khalil Dababneh has been Executive Director of Al Wathba Stables, Executive Director of YAS Horse Racing Management, and is also a board member of the Sheikh Mansoor Arabian Horse Racing Festival.

He has become a familiar sight at racecourses

around the world supporting the horses of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nayhan, though he admits he was surprised at how interesting he has found the roles, as he had no previous background in horseracing at all.

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Thakif (FR) and Silvestre da Sousa in the 2016 Dubai Kahayla Classic

Dababneh explained that for such a large and diverse role, they were looking for someone primarily with experience of management, rather than horse racing. He admits that of course this has meant he has had to ‘learn as he went along’.

2019 was another good year for their horses globally - both on the track and at stud.

Dababneh observed: “The roles I have are very exciting and I feel our success is down to the great team we have in place. We are lucky that we are working for a stable that has some of the top stallions and a good broodmare band as we rely a lot on our homebred horses.”

In the UK last year, YAS Horseracing Management had two Group1PA winners, with Bayan in the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International and Hayyan in the President of the UAE Cup – UK Arabian Derby. Both are by their leading stallion Munjiz, who also had a very successful UK season, as he assumed the role of leading UK sire by winners.

Of his UK sires’ championship Dababneh says: “Munjiz is a great stallion and he is the sire of some of our best horses in the last few years; however right now in our breeding programme we are not just focussing only on Munjiz and Mahaab, we are looking to their progeny who are now stallions. So there is Raaziq, who is by Munjiz, and Thakif who is by Mahabb. These two stallions are out of Sheena, a sister to the stallion Akbar, who has been a very good broodmare for us.”

Thakif won three Group 1 PA races, the National Day Cup over a mile and the HH The President Cup over 2200m at Abu Dhabi as well as Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge over a mile at Meydan. He was also a dual winner of the Al Ruwais Gr3PA over 1000m on Turf in Abu Dhabi, so was clearly versatile as to distance. His half-brother Raaziq won Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr1PA) over 2000m, as well as a number of conditions races in France and the UAE.

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Munjiz's leading UK winners in 2019 - Bayan (FR) and Ioritz Mendizabal go to post for the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International (Gr1PA) and Hayyan (FR) after winning the President of the UAE Cup - UK Arabian Derby (Gr1PA) with Raphel Delozier. Both horses were trained by Frederic Sanchez.

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All the stallions are based in the UAE at Al Wathba. This was a new division established three years ago when they were all brought together under one umbrella called Wathba Stallions. They are promoted globally through the Sheikh Mansoor Festival by race sponsorship of the Wathba Stallions races, five of which are confirmed for the UK in 2020.

The breeding operation has expanded considerably in the last two years. Their breeding stock is divided between France and the UAE, as those countries are the main focus for their racing teams. Currently they have around 35 horses in training in France and around 80 in the UAE. Many of the broodmares have been moved to France and will stay there, whilst some will remain in the UAE. In 2019 they had 220 foals across both countries and with around 180 mares due to

foal in 2020, that is an increase of four or five times more than previous seasons.

Dababneh explains: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The aim is to average 150 foals per year. We will monitor the results as we progress and will make a few changes if it seems necessary.â&#x20AC;?

Wathba clearly have a strong team of stallions, with Munjiz the leading sire in the UK and second leading sire in France last season, having been runner-up in the UK and the leader in France in 2018.

Mahabb was the leading sire on average (!113,000) and aggregate (!339,000) at the 2019 Arqana PA sale and has sired the sale topper at the 2019, 2016 and 2015 sales. Another of their stallions, Mijadd (a Dormane half-brother to Munjiz) had the second highest priced lot in 2018 with Seabird Al Maury at !155,000.

Nahaab (FR) top lot at the 2019 Arqana PA sale is by Wathba stallion Mahabb THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Khalil Dababneh with YAS Horseracing Management's racing manager in France, Thierry Delegue on the way to the paddock at Doncaster

However, the stallion is only half the bloodline and Dababneh gives credit to the female line saying: “We also have an excellent group of broodmares and their pedigrees are diverse.

Naturally we try to focus on the ones who have been successful and keep those successful lines together, though not necessarily repeatedly breeding to the same proven cross. Many of our mares are by Akbar (by Djelfor) and Dormane (by Manganate), and we like the dam lines of Cherifa (by Cheri Bibi), CR Samborsta (by Sambor) and Nevada II (by Djanor).”

It is obvious that there has been a lot of investment which Dababneh is keen to promote commenting: “Our principal, Sheikh Mansoor is the godfather of Arabian horses. It is his passion

and mission to expand Arabian horses worldwide, so this is why we have the Festival to support the Arabian horse and why we have increased our breeding programme.”

He continued: “I would like to see Arabian racing expanding in more countries, to have more races and to be globally more interesting for other countries. We still see a gap between those who are interested in thoroughbreds and those interested in Arabians and we hope to see this gap get smaller.”

www.wathbastallions.com

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For 2020 there will be five Wathba Stallions sponsored races in the UK: 12th May, Chepstow 22 May, Bath 9th August, Royal Windsor 13th August, Lingfield Park 19th September, Wolverhampton The Wathba Stallions races support the grassroots of Arabian racing.

The finish of the Wathba Stallions (0-55) Handicap Sakes at LIngfield Park in 2019 won

by Callymay (GB) and Charlie Price for Delyth Thomas.

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Harry Thirlby at West Kington Stud UK Stud Focus Jane Holderness-Roddam’s West Kington Stud is renown throughout the Arabian racing world for the services that it offers to breeders in the UK. Until this year the main point of contact was Tessa Clarke, however following 25 years of loyal service in December she retired, passing on the mantle of Stud Manager to her assistant, Harry Thirlby.

Shadwell Arabians' Handassa (FR) with Harry Thirlby

Thirlby grew up in Leicestershire, just outside Loughborough and started riding at around eight years of age, he explained: “Mum had had horses, so was keen for us all to have horses, so she could get back into them. I rode as a child and then stopped for a while in my late teens as many boys do. It was in a roundabout way I ended up being offered a job here, through a family friend.”

Horses had certainly not been his first choice of career, after school he started an IT apprenticeship and was far enough into it to realise that he would be “bored to tears spending my life in an office staring at a computer”. Though finishing the course, he realised he was never going to pursue IT as a career.

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A family friend, who bred Caspian horses and who they used to help with her youngstock and stallions, suggested that he try stud work.

It was whilst that idea was forming in his own mind that she later rang back and said ‘I’ve just been speaking with Jane Holderness-Roddam and she might have a job for you!’ he continued: “I wasn’t directly seeking the work, but it all tied in with the end of the IT course, so I passed my driving test and began at West Kington a week later.”

That was in September 2010, starting as a general stud hand, at the time of year that they freeze the semen. He fondly recalls that the first horse he took for collection was Madjani saying: “Being as he had such an outstanding temperament, he was ideal for a novice handler to learn alongside”.

Thirlby was content to stay at West Kington until the end of 2013, when he was just beginning to feel that he had learnt all he could by that point and needed a change of

environment. He left to work at three different sports horse studs, acknowledging that “it’s good to see how other people work”.

However, there was nowhere he felt truly settled.

An opportunity arose to return to West Kington as he explains: “Eventually my girlfriend and I wanted to move back down this way and I missed the variety of working here. There’s not actually another stud in the country that does everything that we do. There are other studs with stallions offering AI services, but they only do stallions, not the range of other breeding services on offer here.”

For the stallions West Kington does the collection and freezes the semen for worldwide export - they are only one of two places in the UK that offer that service.

Through the summer they also stand stallions at stud, though essentially, they are all AI, one or two of the stallions may cover naturally by request, but in the sports horse industry AI is accepted standard practice.

Madjani (FR) THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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Mares and foals in the paddocks at West Kington

They also offer boarding facilities for mares to foal and subsequently be inseminated. Foaling around 35 to 40 mares a year, with around 100 mares put in foal. The majority will come to the stud, foal down, be put back in foal and go home. Whilst the remainder will arrive empty, either because they are maidens or have been rested, then they will get them in foal and generally send them home. They don’t like to keep horses at the stud over the winter, with the policy always to send them home if at all possible.

Holderness-Roddam breeds a couple of foals for herself for three-day-eventing every year, but that is the extent of the youngstock that is kept at the stud. She retains 20 stables and also has young riders and students competing, of which Thirlby says:“I think she enjoys the educational side of things.

“However my sole focus is the stud. The Farm is over 1000 acres, but we would probably use only 40 to 50 acres for mare turnout. We work with such a huge variety of horses, so for 11

months of the year we’ve always got something going on, though luckily things quieten down over Christmas.”

Reflecting on his change in role Thirlby says: “I think since returning in 2016, Tessa slightly indicated then, that she wasn’t going to carry on for ever and wanted someone to be more involved with the technical side of what she was doing. So from that point on there was a lot more variety in my day to day tasks. I became more involved with the lab work, in exporting the semen, which we’re doing plenty of at the moment thanks to the popularity of the Shadwell Arabian stallions around the world.”

Thirlby still works with the horses, but admits he is more often found in the office saying: “Now, I have very little time to get near a horse, though for the time being I still involved with the collecting, until we’ve got enough people who are 100% happy to take over that role.”

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On the subject of stallion and semen management Thirlby feels that this is an area where sometimes people get a bit confused with what West Kington does, saying: “They know a stallion has visited us and think it’s is us who they have to approach, but we can’t give permission to sell a stallion’s semen. So though of course someone can approach us about using a particular stallion, we will always pass them back to the stud, or stallion manager, for example Marion Lachat at Shadwell, to organise the nomination. Once a mare owner has chosen a stallion, they need to find out what method of AI is available, whether it is fresh, chilled or frozen semen.

He continues: “Fresh semen realistically, is for on-site used only, so the mare will have to come to us to be inseminated. Chilled semen we can send out overnight by courier, 90% of the collecting over the summer is for that purpose.

The mare owner gets the mare scanned by their vet, their vet has to ring us up by 10am and say we need to inseminate tomorrow. We then spring into action, collect the semen, chill it and they will receive it by 9am the next morning so

that their vet or AI technician can inseminate the mare.

“With Frozen, we freeze it and put it in a tank and then we can send it anywhere in the world.

So far we have not found any reason to suggest it has a lifespan as such, we’ve certainly been getting mare’s in foal with 25-year-old semen.

Certain stallions we would have some semen already stored here. Al Shahania Stud are quite good at that for example. Otherwise it is a case of importing semen from stallions from abroad.”

Describing the process for the mare owner he says: “Generally, if someone wants to get their mare in foal, they just send us the mare, as we have a vet here every day in the stud season, seven days a week. From the day of arrival, the mare is taken into the stocks to be examined and the vet takes a view to where they are in their reproductive cycle. If they think she’s nearly ready to come in to season, we will just let things take their course. If it looks like there is a long way to go, we may inject her to short cycle, to bring her on a bit, but we don’t tend to do walkin coverings like they do on thoroughbred studs.

Al Shahania's Mared Al Sahra (GB) who has frozen semen in stock at West Kington THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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“Probably the majority of our clients are small breeders who don’t want the hassle of organising everything themselves. If we are using external stallions with chilled semen, as long as we knew the owner has paid for the nomination we will ring up the stallion stud directly and order the semen for them. So I think we do take a lot of pressure off the breeders. If the semen is frozen and it’s already here, we just do the whole process from start to finish. We then let the owner know the mare has been inseminated and hopefully that it is in foal.

for wasting peoples’ money, we want to believe there is a chance that the mare will get in foal.

They are all specialist reproduction vets, so they do really know what they are doing.”

The stud has a comprehensive website listing all the services they offer, in addition to a fully searchable databade of available stallions at: www.westkingtonstud.co.uk

“That is the service that we aim to offer. It’s only when things aren’t going to plan, that we have to get on the phone to the client. At West Kington we have very, very experienced vets, we always advise if someone has a very difficult mare, that we would ring up and get one of our vets to speak to them before they send her here, because we’re not in the market

Handassa (FR) and Harry Thirlby at West Kington Stud THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

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(1991, chestnut stallion, 15.3hh)

Ansata Shah Zaman (USA) ZT Shahkar (USA) Ies Karamel (USA) Karmah (ARG) Tasrudi (ARG) Al Tamah (ARG) Al Seyma (ARG)

Morafic (EG) Ansata Bint Mabrouka (USA) Sugaa (USA) Dalia (USA) Tasmar (ARG) Farah - Diba (ARG) Seyal (ARG) Al-Kabir II (ARG)

Karmah (ZT Shahkar x Al Tamah (Tasrudi) – Egyptian and Argentinian bloodlines.

Winner of 12 races and placed 8 times from 28 starts from 1995-2002. (7/28=12-4-4-2).

Undefeated Champion Racehorse of Argentina 1995-96. International winner in Argentina, UK and Germany.

Dual winner of Qatar Cup (Group 2) Newmarket in 2001 & 2002. Full brother to EA Nura (Argentina Classic Winner) and Shahtamah (International Winner and now Advanced Endurance). Karmah is also the sire of winners in Argentina and UK winners Cal Karsab and Cal Karamah (Premier Handicap - Chester 2003).

A tall, athletic, rangy stallion, Karmah is Argentinian bred and owned by Gerado Serra. Karmah won over 11 races including back-to-back Qatar Cup’s at Newmarket (the latter at the grand old age of 11), he was undefeated Champion of Racehorse of Argentina 1995-96, an International Winner in Argentina, the UK and Germany.

Karmah is sire of numerous winners on the race track, both in the UK and Argentina. He has also sired several successful endurance horses, so would be a suitable sire for both disciplines.

“A fantastic and elegant Arabian racehorse who beat some top class French breds when winning the Qatar Cup aged 11 in his final race.

A superb sire whose stock inherit his fantastic temperament, willing nature and superb athletic ability, I would have no hesitation in recommending him to racing or endurance breeders.”

Paul Simmons, Zayin Arabian Stud, UK

High quality frozen semen is available for UK/EU/worldwide from West Kington Stud

STUD FEE : £300.00 (up to 3 insemination doses) Available by Frozen Semen AI only

Apply to: Tessa Clarke, Stud Manager West Kington Stud West Kington Chippenham Wiltshire SN14 7JE

!

Tel: 01249 782050 Fax: 01249 782940 Email: westkingtonstud@aol.com

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Feeding the Lactating Mare and her Foal Jane Buchan of Baileys Horse Feeds highlights the important points to consider

Laying Foundations Breeding any foal can be a costly undertaking so it makes sense to do everything you can to ensure your mare not only produces a live healthy foal but also that the foal is given every opportunity to develop to its full potential. The role that nutrition can play is frequently underestimated and yet getting it right need not be complicated or expensive and, whilst it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t guarantee the outcome, it will help avoid some of the problems associated with producing a healthy youngster.

Correct feeding should begin even before the mare visits the stallion, as a mare who is in good condition and receiving a

balanced diet is more likely to conceive than one who is either over or under weight or lacking nutritionally in some way. Once conception is confirmed, correct nutrition becomes even more important to support the correct growth of the foetus and allow the mare to build reserves on which the foal will draw once born and suckling.

Minerals like copper are vitally important in a mareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diet because they, and other essential nutrients, including quality protein, are needed to build the cells and tissues that create a foal. Choosing a specially formulated stud ration is therefore imperative to ensure these requirements are met.

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Milk Production The primary aim of feeding the lactating mare is to provide good sources of energy and protein to enable her to produce enough nutritious milk to support the foal during its first three months, when the growth rate is especially rapid. Once she has foaled and is lactating, her energy requirements will increase by as much as 44% and nutrients such as protein, calcium, phosphorous and vitamin A will be in particularly high demand.

During the first 3 months of lactation a mare will give 3% of her body weight daily in milk production so, for example, a mare of 454kg will produce in the region of 13.6kgs of milk per day. Not providing the mare with enough feed at this stage will reduce milk production and quality and compromise reproductive efficiency, which

could eventually affect the foalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health and growth rate. For mares who maintain condition during lactation on grass/forage alone, the additional source of vitamins and minerals provided by a low calorie stud balancer is ideal.

Alternatively, for breeding stock kept at grass, a specially formulated paddock lick is an ideal way to allow individuals to supplement their diets at will. This should contain a balance of vitamins, as well as minerals key to tendon and bone development and , if possible, amino acids for muscle development and repair. Mares who require additional calories however, are best suited to a stud mix or cube containing 15 -16% crude protein and fed little and often to the manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommendation.

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The composition of mare’s milk changes rapidly during the first days of lactation with further gradual changes thereafter.

Within the first 12hrs after birth the mare must pass adequate passive protection to her foal via the colostrum. At this point the foal’s small intestine is permeable to large protein molecules, such as the antibodies contained in colostrum which will help build up its own immune system. Ideally the foal needs to be suckling within the first 2 hours after birth, as the antibody content of the colostrum is at its highest during this period.

If the mare has not received a balanced and energy dense ration, her milk is likely to be of a poor quality or she may not produce

enough milk to support the foal’s growth.

Should this be the case, the foal’s diet will need to be supplemented with a milkbased creep feed to provide the extra calories and other nutrients that will be deficient. 3 - 5 weeks into lactation the mineral levels in the mare’s milk drop naturally by 40-60% and at this time a milk-based creep feed can be fed to help counteract any short falls.

Foals often begin nibbling at hay and concentrates between 10 and 21 days of age and providing a creep feed at this age, especially if the milk supply from the dam, or the amount of grass, is inadequate, should encourage a normal growth rate.

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Feeding a creep feed as soon as the foal shows an interest, will help enhance the anatomical and physiological maturation of his digestive tract in preparation for the eventual change to forage and compound feeds. It is also an ideal transition from milk to “hard feed” for orphan foals being reared on a mare’s milk replacer.

During month four of lactation, milk production decreases to approximately 2% of the mare’s body weight, therefore her nutritional requirements begin to decrease.

The milk will now be only providing about 30% of the foal’s energy requirements so

now is the time to change from a milkbased creep feed to a feed designed to complement forage. This should be selected according to body condition, growth rate and limb conformation with a stud balancer being ideal for the good doer, or more rapidly growing foal, and a stud mix or cubes more suited to those requiring a little more condition.

Introducing this now will ensure that the foal is well established on his weaning diet prior to separation from the dam, thus reducing the problems of dietary set-backs post weaning.

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Steady Growth Attention to nutrition from conception onwards will help encourage a foal to grow as evenly and correctly as possible. Careful monitoring of bodyweight, using a simple weightape and growth chart, is ideal for plotting the rate of growth and allows changes to be made to the diet as soon as any deviations from the “norm” are spotted. The “normal” rate of growth will vary according to breed, sex, body condition and gender and tools are available to help find the appropriate rate according to the foal’s anticipated mature bodyweight.

developmental problems. Steady growth supported by correct nutrition is more likely to pay off in the long term with the production of a healthy youngster able to go on to enjoy a long and useful performance career.

For information and advice If you have any

questions about feeding your breeding stock, contact a Baileys nutritionist for free, no obligation advice on 01371 850247 or visit www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

Producing foals for show or sale may increase the pressure to overfeed in order to promote rapid weight gain. This should however be avoided at all costs, as it can increase a foal’s rate of growth which, without sufficient support from micronutrients and protein, can lead to

THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE Spring Issue !"!"

COVID CRISIS

19/20 GULF SEASON REVIEW

How the racing and breeding industry is coping with developments around the world.

A look back at the main races and championship winners.

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The Final Furlong

Ready for action.

Athbah Stud's Mehdaaf Athbah shows his well being in early morning trackwork at King AbdulAziz Racecourse, ridden by trainer Phil Collington, during preparations for the Obaiya Cup (Arabian Classic) run as part of the inaugural Saudi Cup meeting on February 29 in Riyadh.

and Mashhur Al Kahlediah in November, following Mashhur Al Khalediah's win in the Jewel Crown (Gr1pA) in Abu Dhabi.

Following the Obaiya, Collington has returned to the UK, whilst his horses now enter a months' quarrantine before they can join him to prepare for their European campaign in 2020.

This has been the Newmarket-based trainers' third winter with Athbah horses in Saudi Arabia, having shipped out Mehdaaf Athbah THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE

!"#$%&'() #*')+*#&(,* Congratulations

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%-./) !0123456)#718416 !0123456)95:;<= !0123456)-1>=)95:;<= -<1>46?)(5@4:<)*4><7 BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS Tel: +44 (0)T1371 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk H E 850247 A R A B I e-mail: A N Rinfo@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk ACEHORSE