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Greener Pastures *Sanadik El Shaklan (April 1983- August 2008)
T
he Arabian horse community lost one of its greats on Sunday, August 24. *Sanadik El Shaklan (*El Shaklan x *Mohena) died at his home, Jay and Sigi Constanti’s Om El Arab in Santa Ynez, California, at the age of 25. Champion and sire of champions, *Sanadik El Shaklan was foaled in 1983 at Om El Arab Stud in Germany’s Black Forest. Both his dam Mohena (Hadban Enzahi x Morisca V) and sire *El Shaklan (Shaker El Masri x *Estopa) were early examples of Om El Arab’s “golden cross” of Egyptian and Spanish lines. “When little *Sanadik was foaled, I knew immediately he would be special,” said Sigi in a 1995 Arabian Horse World article. “He had such a beautiful head, fine topline, straight legs, and overall beauty.” After winnning the large foal class at the 1983 Salon du Cheval, *Sanadik was brought to the U.S. in 1984 to the new Om El Arab facility in Santa Ynez. He went on to win Supreme Champion at the Egyptian Event along with several Regional Top Fives. *Sanadik El Shaklan sired 304 American-registered foals, plus several in
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*Sanadik El Shaklan (*El Shaklan x *Mohena), 1983 grey; owned by Om El Arab International, Santa Ynez, California.
Europe. *Sanadik’s get have included countless show winners from both the U.S. and abroad. Among the most successful is his daughter *El Dorada PASB (x Emigrantka), 2000 Polish National Junior Champion Mare, 2002 Polish National Senior Champion Mare, 2002 All Nations Cup Champion Mare, 2004 Salon du Cheval Reserve Champion Mare, and 2006 U.S. National Champion Mare. His son Om El Shahmaan (x Om El Shaina), who stands at Om El Arab, was 2004 U.S. National Champion Stallion AAOTH and 2003 U.S. National Reserve Champion Stallion
AAOTH. Another son, Kameron Bey (x Katrina Bey V), was Canadian and U.S. National Champion Gelding (1993 and 1994). His daughter Om El Jimala (x Om El Jazira) was 2003 and 2004 U.S. National Reserve Champion Senior Mare, and Om El Shadina (x Om El Shaina) was 2004 U.S. National Top Ten Mare. His son Om El Extreem (x Om El Bint Shaina) was 2008 Arabica Show Frankfurt Champion Stallion and Spanish International Show Champion Stallion; and *Sanadik’s UAE-owned daughter Eagleridge Passionata (x River Oak Dimity) was 2008 Qatar International Show Reserve Champion Mare and Elran Cup Reserve Champion Mare. Other international show winners by *Sanadik include: Sandrian (x China Moon), 1999 Baden-Baden Show Junior Champion Colt; Om El Shaheen (x Om El Shaina), 2004 U.K. Gold Arabian Horse Show Champion Stallion; Ffatal Attraction (x Falling In Love), 2004 British National Championship Show Champion Stallion; Siroco (x Zizi), 2004 Finnish National Champion Stallion; DA Sandala (x The Grand Passion), 2004 Egyptian Event U.K. International Champion Mare; and Om El Tanam (x Aabacus Shacara), 2004 Swedish National Champion Stallion. *Sanadik’s grandget by his son Om El Shahmaan (x Om El Shaina) include Om El Bernadette (x Om El Benedict), 2008 Sharjah Junior Champion Mare and 2008 Menton First Place Most Classic Head, First Place ThreeYear-Old Filly, and Bronze Medal winner; and Om El Beshaan (x Om El Benedict), 2008 Las Vegas World Cup Champion Stallion Four Years Old and Older ATH. “When *Sanadik goes into the mare barn, he puffs himself up and snorts as he surveys his kingdom; but put him away in his stall, and he’s mellow and sweet — he enjoys people and is
wonderful to be with,” Sigi once said of him, adding that, “his adaptability is the essence of our breeding program.”
*Ibn Safinaz (July 1981-September 2008)
“I
t is with a very heavy heart that I let you know of the passing of the beautiful *Ibn Safinaz (Seef x Safinaz),” says Anne Louise Toner. “His last summer has been spent in a green grassy paddock, next to the mares and foals at the back of our property, and he has been a happy, charming, opinionated old gentleman who has now left a huge void in our hearts.” Bred by the Egyptian Agricultural Organization (E.A.O.) in Cairo, Egypt, the 1981 grey stallion was imported to the U.S. in 1982 by Hopeland Arabians. In 1987, Imperial Egyptian Stud acquired him; there he was widely shown and used as a breeding stallion. He became a multiple class A champion in halter and performance as well as U.S. National Top Ten Stallion, demonstrating that Egyptian Arabian horses are versatile athletes and can compete with the best. Anne Louise Toner acquired him in January of this year after the dispersal of the Imperial herd. Among his wins are 1987 U.S. National Top Ten Stallion, 1987 Region 16 Reserve Champion Stallion, 1989 Region 18 Reserve Champion Stallion, and Egyptian Event Reserve Champion English Pleasure in 1990, 1991, and 1992. *Ibn Safinaz was sired by the Egyptian stallion Seef, and is considered a major progenitor of Seef’s athletic qualities, including good length of neck and scope, and good legs and action. His dam was the beautiful Alaa El Din daughter Safinaz (x Ramza), a much admired mare at the E.A.O. *Ibn Safinaz has 137 registered progeny to date including Imperial Shehaab (x MB Mazaraa), successful sire and 2007 Egyptian Event Reserve Champion World
*Ibn Safinaz (Seef x Safinaz), 1981 grey stallion imported in 1982 from Egypt. Cappy Jackson photo. 373 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b OCTOBER 2008
Class Four- to Five Year Old Stallion; Imperial Saturn (x Imperial Mistilll), 1995 and 1996 Egyptian Event Reserve Champion Country English Pleasure horse; Safinaz Reflection (x GJ Armeta), 1992 Egyptian Event World Champion Gelding, 1993 and 1995 Egyptian Event Champion Western Pleasure horse, and 1999 Canadian National Top Ten Western Pleasure horse; Muzac (x *Mumu), 1992 U.S. National Reserve Champion Futurity Colt; MB Mistaz (x Imperial Mistilll), 1996 U.S. National Top Ten Futurity Colt and 1994 Egyptian Event Champion Futurity Straight Egyptian Colt; and PF Bentley (x Alas Canadia), 1995 Canadian National Champion Hunter Pleasure 40 and Over AAOTR, among many others. “I have always felt that Safinaz was one of the most underrated straight Egyptian stallions in the breed,” Barbara Sziraky says. “His contribution to the lmperial breeding program was immeasurable. Most of our show string, through the years, had Safinaz in their backgrounds. “*lbn Safinaz in the pedigree was, and is, a virtual guarantee of athletic ability, trainability, and action. He was so prepotent for these characteristics that we could just drop him into a pedigree and then breed for other characteristics, such as extreme type or tail carriage, without having to worry about losing these invaluable traits. “His was a strong character, forged in an environment that encouraged the survival of the fittest. Both Safinaz and his progeny need to be handled firmly but very quietly. They are willing, trainable, and smart but will fight back if abused or mishandled. On the other hand, if asked nicely, their response is a hundred percent.
AHW
“As one knew him intimately, under saddle, at the reins, and in the breeding shed, I feel privileged to have known one of the truly great stallions in our breed.” “He spent his last afternoon grazing, talking to his yearling granddaughter, and teasing a mare who was coming into heat,” Anne Louise said. “He seemed to suffer a mild heart attack or stroke, and we knew that it was time for this most dignified of souls to have a peaceful and dignified farewell. “*Ibn Safinaz is important to many for being the charismatic, athletic show horse and sire whose offspring have been influential worldwide. For those of us who have been fortunate enough to spend any time with this grand old man, he has been a good and honest friend and I cannot begin to tell you how dearly we loved him.”
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