Pedigree Focus - Bayan Athbah

UK Season Review - Pedigree Focus BAYAN ATHBAH (GB)

2016 m AF Albahar x Keen Game (Bengali D'Albret) Athbah Stud

Bayan Athbah (GB)

Having extended her unbeaten run in Europe to three races, with a second PA Group success at Haydock, Bayan Athbah has shown herself to be the most exciting mare in training in the UK. She is also the highest rated at 100, though had she had an easier passage at Haydock, that figure would almost certainly be higher. She also recorded a very fast time of 1.17.65 when winning over 6 furlongs at Newbury, however the official timing system wasn’t functioning that day, so a hand time from the video was necessary, which cannot be fully relied upon for accuracy.

By AF Albahar, Bayan Athbah is a fiveyear-old daughter of Athbah Stud’s Keen Game, and has the potential to be the mare’s best progeny. Keen Game is by Bengali D’Albret, a dual winner of the Dubai International Stakes for HH Sheikh Hamdan, who initially seemed disappointing as a stallion, but is now coming to the fore as a broodmare sire, with the likes of Tashreefat (dam of Muraaqib).

Keen Game was bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and trained by Bill Smith to win three races in the UK, from 1m1f to two miles. He first foal was Spirited Game (by Vert Olive) and in the later dispersal sale, Keen Game was bought by Athbah Stud, whilst Spirited Game went to Steve Blackwell.

Keen Game’s first registered foal for Athbah Stud was Ramdah Athbah (a filly by Dahess) who was unraced, however her next, the colt Mehdaaf Athbah (by Amer) proved to be of Group class. Initially trained by Philip Sogorb in France, he won the Prix Warda and the Prix Djerba Oua, beating some smart individuals, before lining up in the French Arabian Derby. He finished sixth behind Alsaker, in a top class field that included the Group1PA winners, Tayf, Khataab, Aba’ath and RB Burn.

Keen Game (GB)

Mehdaaf Athbah (GB) and Tadhg O'Shea win at Newbury in 2019

He was then placed in a Group3Pa before a career best, when finishing second to Al Mourtajez in the Qatar Arabian Word Cup at Chantilly, ahead of Tayf, Gazwan, Prada T, Sylvine Al Maury and Sir Bani Yas. He was placed at Group level on four subsequent occasions before a minor injury curtailed his career. Transferred to the UK and the stable of Phil Collington, he won a further two races and was Group1PA placed three times before retiring to stud in Sardinia in Italy.

Keen Game is also the dam of Kamel Athbah (colt by Munjiz), placed three times in the UK from a mile to a mile and a quarter. She is also the dam of Jaazmah Athbah (filly by Jalnar Al Kahlediah), a winner of a Group2PA in Milan and a Group3PA at La Teste De Buch, who was second in the 2019 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments at Paris Longchamp. She also has a four-year-old gelding, Thayer Athbah (by Mahabb) and a promising three-year-old colt Mlatem Athbah, who is a full-brother to Bayan Athbah. He showed great promise on his debut at Newbury in a six furlong conditions event, staying on for fourth.

Keen Game’s dam Kenithra (by Djouras Tu), was a winner over a mile and a quarter in the UK and produced a number of winners, the best of which was Kolver (a filly by Vert Olive) a winner of a Group 2PA over a mile, she produced two winners: Khattaf Athbah (colt by Mahabb), who won over seven furlongs as a threeyear-old at Newbury trained by Pete Hammersley, and Koline, winner of a valuable handicap at Sandown for Stephen Gregory.

Above: Kamel Athbah (GB) placed three times in 2016 Below: Jaazmah Athbah (GB) finishes second in the 2019 Qatar Trophy des Juments

Kenithra was the dam of three other winners in the UK, Even Keener (a sister to Keen Game), Khadeer (filly by Vadeer) and Khenanga (colt by Maganate). Kenithra was a sister to the sire Khoutoubia, winner of Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge and the National Day Cup, both Group 1PA races in the Emirates. She is also a half-sister to Karouj (filly by Karmah), the dam of Mith’haf Athbah, a Group1PA winner in the UK and now a sire.

Mith'haf Atthbah (GB) and Gerald Mosse

[Above] Mlatem Athbah (GB) who finished fourth on his debut at Newbury in July behind Muneer. [Below] Khattaf Athbah (GB) a winner at Newbury in 2016