Om El Arab is renowned around the world for its ethereal white mares, regal and elegant, who have captivated generation after generation of Arabian horse breeders around the world. However, the farm, located in the extremely picturesque Santa Ynez Valley in California, is just as famed for its stallions. Om El Arab is unique as greatness follows from both their sire and dam lines – and this year, the next generation is now making his mark.
Om El Sinon is a five-year-old stallion who represents four generations of Om El Arab breeding. His is a look that is both current and extraordinary. “I am impressed by the consistently beautiful foals he has produced,” says Janina Merz, owner of Om El Arab. “Last year, a light bulb went on as I realised that every single foal was grey. We tested him and confirmed that he is homozygous grey.”
Sired by WH Justice (Magnum Psyche x Vona Sher-Renea by El Sher-Mann), who stood at Om El Arab for two seasons when leased by Aljassimya Farm, Om El Sinon is out of one of the most precious mares at Om El Arab, Om El Shadiva. Her dam Om El Shaina (by Carmargue by White Lightning out of Velvet Shadow), was one of the most important Estopa (Tabal x Uyaima by Barquillo) daughters bred by Janina’s mother, and founder of Om El Arab, Sigi Siller. Om El Shadiva is by Sanadik El Shaklan (ex Mohena by Hadban Enzahi out of Morisca V), a son of Om El Arab’s most famous stallion, El Shaklan. This legendary grey was foaled in 1975 after Sigi bred his sire, the straight Egyptian Shaker El Masri (Morafic x Zebeda by El Sareei), to her immortal Spanish mare, Estopa. The rest, as they say, is history – and that history is now turning full circle as Om El Sinon draws on his great pedigree to sire the next generation.
“We are happy to announce that Om El Sinon semen is now in Europe,” continues Janina. “His foals have already proved what both Sigi and I believed of this young stallion. He is from our special ‘S’ family, being a son of Shadiva out of Shaina, and he carries the hopes of all of us on his shoulders.
“With the foals that I have already seen, I know that Om El Sinon will go on to be just an important a stallion as his uncle, the great Om El Shahmaan (Sanadik El Shaklan x Om El Shaina). Om El Sinon has big shoes to fill, stepping into Shahmaan’s, but he will do so. Of that, I have no doubt.”
o find out more about Om El Sinon, please visit the Om El Arab website.
