All photography Saheel Horse
The 3rd Qatar Arabian Horse Show for Local Bred followed on from the Qatar Arabian Horse Breeders Cup, and again held at the exceptional Al Shaqab Longines Arena between 28-30 October. I eagerly anticipated this show as I had met some of the horses competing at their home environment, and I was excited to watch them in the show-ring.
The judges were Dr Abdelwahab Bin Ali Amira (United Arab Emirates), Abdel Raof Abbas (Egypt), Elyas Ebrahim Faraj (Bahrain), Fausto Scanzi (Italy), Mahmoud Mohsen Mahmoud (Egypt), Nasser al Ghaith (Kuwait), Yousuf Mubarak Alkuwari (Qatar), Anna Stojanowska (Poland), Charlotte Rowell (United Kingdom), and Irina Stigler (Russia).
Ghazala Alghania
The first class was yearling fillies, subdivided into two classes. Section A had 13 entries, and all were forward. The class saw a tie on points with the two top fillies scoring 90.6 points, Ghazala Alghania (Badeia al Nasser x Assla al Shaqab) and Chaqra al Jassim (RFI Farid x Melody J). The former was awarded higher type marks, so claimed the win for breeder and owner Alghania Stud. Ghazala Alghania is an elegant, typey filly with a good head and neck. Second placed Chaqra al Jassim was very confident with balanced movement, a smooth body and great style. Bred by Al Jassim Stud, she is owned by Afrah Hamad O G Al Marri. Third place went to Al Anood Alhere (Shaman al Zobara x Kholood al Shaqab), a very mature and deep-bodied filly bred by Aljohara Mohammed A A Almesned and owned by Alhere Stud. She scored 90.1 points.
Sabha al Khor
Section B of the yearling fillies also saw 13 fillies forward and the winner was outstanding! This was Sabha al Khor (Halul al Khor x Rayyanat al Khor), who presented a fantastic individual performance. A very typey and mature filly, with excellent head and neck, she scored 91.5 points for her owners, Al Dawasir Stud, being bred by Al Khor Stud. It was interesting to see both her sire and dam shown later at the same show. The very feminine and beautiful WD Maria (Jyar Meia Lua x Alina al Shaqab) claimed second with 91.3 points, scoring a very deserved four 20s for head and neck and one for type, bred by Abeed F M Al Ajmi and owned by Alsawaida Farm. Mona al Sraiya (Badeia al Nasser x Sefora) tied on 90.7 points with Wahdha al Karai, but secured third place with the higher type marks. A smaller, more classic filly with plenty of expression, she was bred by Sraiya Stud and owned by Simsima Stud.
Reem al Saad
The two-year-old fillies class had 10 forward, and the win went to Reem al Saad (Gazawan al Nasser x Maraam al Nasser). A very balanced and deep bodied filly who scored well with all the judges, she is bred and owned by Al Saad Stud and scored 91.2 points. Second place went to the elegant and feminine Reem al Jumail (SA Faez Simbad x Assayla al Shaqab), bred and owned by Al Jumail Stud. She tied with Kaltham al Khor on 90.8 points, but secured her placing with higher type marks. Kaltham al Khor (Qutuz al Jassimya x CS Khalida) presented a very impressive stand up to take third, bred by Al Khor Stud and owned by Al Dawasir Stud.
Somoud Beirut
The three-year-old fillies had just two forward with Somoud Beirut (Fadi al Shaqab x Shalfa al Sraiya) claiming the win. Bred by Sraiya Stud and owned by Nasser Mohamed N H Al Kaabi, she scored 90.4 points. Second place went to Uthmaaniya al Shaqab (Al Rasheed al Rayyan x Shama al Shaqab). Bred by Al Shaqab Member of Qatar Foundation, she is owned by Al Fala Stud and scored 90.1 points.
Jaleel al Khor
The yearling colts followed, divided into two sections. Section A was an incredibly strong class with seven forward and the highest score of the show so far. This went to Jaleel al Khor (Magic Magnifique x Halima al Khor), a very refined colt who moved beautifully, with an elegant head and neck. He scored two 20s for movement, another for type, and another for head and neck to win with 92.2 points for his breeder/owner Al Khor Stud. Al Sakab Mudhar (Alexxanderr x Tasneem al Zobair) possessed lots of attitude and moved well, scoring one 20, and a total score of 91 points, tying with Zahi al Sraiya but claiming second with stronger type marks. Bred by Sheikh Hamad Ali A Th Al-Thani, he is owned by Rashid al Nabet. Mature Zahi al Sraiya (Na-Mous al Shahania x Hibat al Shaqab), a very pleasing and flamboyant colt secured third, bred by Al Sraiya Stud and owned by Al Dawasir Stud.
Gazwan al Athba
The second yearling colt class had seven forward with two tying for the top on 91.3 points. The mature Gazwan al Athba (Luigi x Ghizwa al Shaqab), bred by Al Athba Stud and owned by Al Asalah Stud, secured the win with higher type marks. Tawag (Wadee al Shaqab x RH Triana) had to settle for second on this occasion, bred by Abdulla Nasser A M Al-Naimi and owned by Ofug Stud. Azzam al Sraiya (Ibn Farid x D Jazah), bred by Al Sraiya Stud and owned by Al Mushlah Stud, secured third with 89.8 points.
Sultan al Kheesa
The class for two-year-old colts did not score as highly as the yearling classes and saw six forward. Sultan al Kheesa (Badi Athbah x Shania NWA), bred by Ghanim Mubarak N A Al Kuwari and owned by Mohammed Jaber M S Al-Athba, Al Aturiyah Stud, claimed the win with 90 points. Al Wajeeh al Reem (Fadi al Shaqab x Zahira al Zobair) bred and owned by Al Reeh Stud took second with 89.90 points. Third went to Sabhan al Shaqab (Fadi al Shaqab x Sultanat al Shaqab), bred by Al Shaqab Member of Qatar Foundation and owned by Al Waqbah Stud, with 89.3 points.
The three-year-old colts, like the three-year-old fillies, had just two horses presented. Shagran al Zaeem (Wadeea al Shaqab x Al Jemailiya) took the win with 91.6 points. Bred by Jassim Ali M A Al-Attiyah, he is owned by Al Dawasir Stud. Zaher al Shahania (Exxalt x Elzunya Meia Lua), bred by Al Shahania Stud and owned by Alqasser Stud, took second with 87.4 points.
Al Ghariya Al Shaqab
The second day of the show was dedicated to the senior classes with the mares starting the day’s proceedings with an outstanding class of four-to-six year-olds with high scores throughout the class. The incredible Al Ghariya al Shaqab (Gazal al Shaqab x AP Maraya) took the win with 92.4 points and was awarded straight 20s for movement. She is an impressive mare, bred by Al Shaqab Member of Qatar Foundation and owned by Nasser Mohammed Mesfer Al Hajri. The very beautiful and feminine Waad al Aqeed (Hadidy al Shaqab x Ritali), bred by Hamad Mohammed F A Al Hajri and owned by Thamer Stud, took second with 91.9 points. She also scored four 20s for head and neck and a further three for type – a delightful mare! The deep-bodied Heboob al Shahania (FA el Rasheem x A-Malaysia) presented well. Very like her sire in the head, she scored two 20s claiming third with 91.8 points. Bred by Al Shahania Stud, she is owned by Khalid Salem M A Al Hajri.
Rayyanat al Khor
The seven years and over mare class had six forward, and a very balanced mare claimed the win with 90.8 points, Rayyanat al Khor (Fadi al Shaqab x WC Dekkadence). Her daughter had won the previous, proving her worth in the breeding barn as well as the show-ring. Bred and owned by Al Khor Stud, she scored 90.8 points. The feminine Deema al Nasser (Fares al Rayyan x Dalal al Nasser) scored 90.6 points to secure second place, bred by Sheikh Nawaf Bin Nasser Al Thani and owned by Mesfer Mohammed M A Al Hajri. Third went to Zuhour al Shahania (SMA Magic One x Khaheela al Shahania) with 90.3 points, bred by Al Shahania Stud and owned by Khalid Salem M A Al Hajri.
Hader al Shaqab
The stallions followed and the first class of four-to-six-years-old was well supported with nine forward, with some very impressive horses and it was a high-scoring class! The winner simply owned the ring. He was of incredible type and possessed immense show attitude and powerful movement. Scoring five 20s for type and a further three for movement, Hader al Shaqab (Enotri EEA x Hayam al Shaqab) scored a phenomenal 93.3 points, bred by Al Shaqab Member of Qatar Foundation and owned by Ebrahim Yusuf Alromaihi. Another strong mover took second place, a very balanced stallion with excellent front, Halul al Khor (Excalibur EA x PSL First Light), bred and owned by Al Khor Stud. He was awarded four 20s for head and neck, two for type and another for movement to earn a total of 92.8 points. Lamu al Shaqab (SMA Magic One x Rasha al Shaqab), bred by Al Shaqab Member of Qatar Foundation and owned by Al-Hajaj Stud, scored a very respectable 92 points to take third. He is a very flamboyant stallion and a strong mover, scoring four 20s for movement and two for type.
Hagras al Shaqab
The senior stallion class had four horses forward. The very impressive winner was Hagras al Shaqab (Fadi al Shaqab x Wind Kamelia), bred by Al Shaqab Member of Qatar Foundation and owned by Hamad H A Al Jehani. He produced a good presentation, scoring 92.2 points. Mansour al Khor (Wadee al Shaqab x Ramaitha al Zobrara), bred by Al Khor Stud and owned by Fahad Rashid M K Al Hajri, took second with 91.7 points. Lammah al Naif (Fadi al Shaqab x Batoul al Naif) claimed third with 91.4 points, bred by Al Naif and owned Al Athba Stud.
Rayyanat al Khor
The final day welcomed the championships with another storm brewing outside the arena, although not as intense as the storm a few days before. As the lightning flashed behind the arena, the Yearling Filly Championship began, with beautiful fillies parading around the ring with their tails flagged and impressive stand ups for the judges. The exceptional Sabh al Khor was awarded Gold, the second placed to her in the class, WD Maria, claiming Silver, with Ghazala Alghania, presented the Bronze.
WD Maria
Ghazala Alghania
Jaleel al Khor
The Yearling Colt Championship was full of quality, but the Gold Champion did seem to be very apparent when assessing the horses together. The charming and quality Jaleel al Khor was almost unanimous Gold Champion, with just one judge disagreeing, favouring the eventual Silver Champion, Gazwan al Athba. Bronze Champion went to Tawag.
Gazwan al Athba
Tawag
Reem al Saad (and cover photo)
In the Junior Female Championship, it was harder to isolate a standout winner as this was an outstanding championship full of quality. The eventual Gold and Silver both had plenty of strengths in their own right, while being very different to each other. The extremely mature Reem al Saad was very hard to fault, while Reem al Jumail was more elegant, possessing a very refined head and neck, and both gave faultless performances. However, Reem al Saad clinched Gold, with Reem al Jumail having to settle with Silver. The winner of the three-year-old class took the Bronze accolade, Somoud Beirut.
Reem al Jumail
Somoud Beirut
Shagran A Zeem
The Junior Male Championship was lively with plenty of colt posturing. The compact and impressive Shagran A Zeem was crowned Gold – not quite unanimous however, as in the Yearling Fillies, one judge differed in their opinion and gave their vote to the eventual Bronze Champion. Sultan al Kheesa was awarded Silver Champion with Al Weejah al Reeh claiming Bronze.
Sultan al Kheesa
Al Weejah al Reeh
Waad al Aqeed
The Senior Female Championship was very interesting on a comparative judging system. Some incredible mares were presented and while all with type, beauty and quality, they were quite different from each other. The comparative system in the championships can often vary the results from the class rankings and in this class, the super feminine and beautiful Waad al Aqeed was crowned Gold Champion, missing unanimous by one vote; she is a very pleasing mare indeed. Heboob al Shahania, placed third in the first mare class, was awarded Silver Champion while the winner of her class, Al Ghariya Al Shaqab took Bronze. All were outstanding mares.
Haider al Shaqab
The Senior Male Championship was super charged with plenty of snort and attitude, plus some very impressive presentations. The arresting Hader al Shaqab took the Gold Championship from Halul al Khor, who looked extremely impressive in the class and the championship but had to settle for Silver; it is noteworthy that he was sire of the Yearling Filly Champion. Finally, Hagras al Shaqab claimed the Bronze.
Halul al Khor
So, the 3rd Qatar Arabian Horse Show for Local Bred came to a close. There were some very impressive horses presented across the entire show, with some exceptional scores for the top horses. There was an interesting mix of bloodlines represented in the ring and a good variation of different types of Arabian horses. The organisers worked tirelessly across the three days to produce a seamless and interesting show, no easy task, especially with high entries and many spectators who attended.
