The Arabian Racehorse - UK Breeding Special 2020

from The Arabian Racehorse - Winter 2020

**Sivit Al Maury - New to UK breeders in 2020**

T H E A R A B I A N R A C E H O R S E

UK Leading Sires 2019

We look at the most influential active sires from the Arabian Racing Organisation’s leading sires table, based on UK races won in 2019.

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.

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

MUNJIZ Ch h 2001 (Kesberoy x Unchainedd Melody (ZT Ali Baba))

10 UK wins from 7 individual horses:

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.

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.

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.

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

9 UK wins from 9 individual horses:

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

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)

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

Useful maiden winners included Izenterisky and Zaheen, both successful over a mile, also at Wolverhampton. Zaheen has since been sold to Bahrain, but has a full brother ready to race for 2020.

AL SAOUDI Ch h 2000 (Nuits St Georges x Fatzica (Fatzour)

5 UK wins from 3 individual horses:

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 £500 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 Euro 4,000, and Azadi between Euro 12,000 to Euro 10,000, he also represents exceptional value as well. It is also worth noting that 8 of his 9 offspring 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 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 mould 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 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.

DAHESS Gr h 1999 (Amer x Danie De Cassou (Dahr)

4 UK wins from 3 individual horses:

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: Euro 5,000 frozen semen (live foal in France, at booking for export)

Euro 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 runner-up 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 half-sister 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, ending his season finishing second to Khataab in the French Arabian Breeders Challenge – 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.

JAAFER ASF Gr h 2003 (Amer x Madjela (Managanate)

2 UK wins from 1 horse:

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: Euro 4,000 frozen semen

The best horse by Jaafer ASF so far has been Al Shahania’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.

MAHABB Ch h 2001 Tahar De Candelon x Joyzell (JAF Orphatyn)

1 UK wins from 1 individual horse:

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. £7,000), 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 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 winners’ enclosure. The Kasab Beach 0-100 handicap was a hotly contested race and the form should stand up well.

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

1 UK wins from 1 individual horse:

Conchita DA (BEL) (1x6f) 2015 Schiva DA (Amer)

AF Albahar stands in France at the Haras de Thouars and is owned by Al Jeryan Stud and is available for: Euro 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 Z’abeel International (Gr1PA).

This was Conchita DA ‘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.

NIZAM Gr h 1998 Amer x Nerva Du Cassou (Baroud III)

1 UK win from 1 individual horse:

Hajres (TN) (1x1m) 2014 Tohfet Ennadhirine (Vent Dredy)

Nizam stands in Italy for natural cover and is available through HM3 Equine Breeding Society, owned by Umm Qarn. Fee: Euro 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 R’ezala (ex Cherezade by Dormane), second in the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes, and Bel’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.

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

1 UK win from 1 individual horse:

Methgal (FR) (1x7f) 2016 Theeba (Amer)

TM Fred Texas stands in France at the Haras de Thouars under the Al Shaqab Arabian Stallions banner and is available for: Euro 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 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.

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

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

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.

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.”

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

SIVIT AL MAURY

B h 2009 (Akbar x Savavit Al Maury (Dormane) Euro 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

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:

“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.”

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

RIJM

Ch h 2014 (Azadi x Kerjam (Dormane) Euro 1,000 (chilled semen, live foal in France) Euro1,200 (export, payable at booking) Haras Du Mazet

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

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.

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.

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 Za’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).

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

1 Group 2 PA win: Qatar Arabian Derby 2018

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.

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.

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.

**Mares and foals at West Kington Stud**

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.”

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.”

**Al Shahania Stud's Mared Al Sahra (GB)**

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.

“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.

“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 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

This article is from:

The Arabian Racehorse - Winter 2020