Barzan Al Shahania exploded on to the US show scene back in 2011 when he won the Junior Champion Colt title, having won the yearling class, in Scottsdale. Since then, he has never looked back and this February will see him make a very welcome return to the show-ring that put him on the path to fame. In this special Americas edition, we celebrate the flashy chestnut stallion that is Barzan Al Shahania.
Possibly the jewel in HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Shahania Stud, home to some very beautiful horses that have risen in prominence over the past couple of years, is the iridescent stallion, Barzan Al Shahania. From the moment that this incredibly showy horse first stepped into the show-ring, he has wowed the crowds. This month, Barzan returns to the show-ring once more, in the capable hands of Michael Byatt, and this event is one that is sure to thrill his fans as well as inspire new ones.
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| © Gigi Grasso |
Bred by Ruth and Michael Doe in the US, the potential of this superstar was recognised by Sheikh Mohammed early on, when he purchased Barzan, foaled in April 2010, as a foal. The aim was to show Barzan to raise the profile of Al Shahania Stud in terms of their show horses, as well as their highly successful racing arm, and also to use him over their beautiful broodmare herd.
Barzan Al Shahania is a son of Stival (Gazal Al Shaqab x Paloma de Jamaal by Soho Carol), a brilliant stallion that swept all before him as a youngster. Stival was a huge champion in both the US and Europe, with his titles including Gold at both the Arabian Breeders’ World Cup in Las Vegas and the UK International Arabian Horse Show, as well as an impressive Silver at the All Nation’s Cup, Aachen. Stival brings in the lines of the great Ali Jamaal (Ruminaja Ali x Heritage Memory by El Magato), combining these with the proven lines of his grandsire, the multiple champion Gazal Al Shaqab (Anaza El Farid x Kajora by Kaborr).
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| © Gigi Grasso |
Looking to Barzan’s damline, he is out of the amazing mare, NW Siena Psyche. A US National Champion Yearling Futurity Filly as well as Futurity Filly, before taking both the US National and Scottsdale Champion Mare titles, NW Siena Psyche is widely recognised as one of the leading mares of her generation. Her sire is Padrons Psyche (Padron x Kilika by Tamerlan) and she is out of the Bey Shah (Bay el Bey x Star of Ofir by Bask) daughter, NV Shanteuse (ex GA Ryna by Gazi). All in all, Barzan is a blend of three of the leading sires of a generation, and he has translated this heritage into show-ring success.
Barzan Al Shahania burst on to the scene at the 2011 Scottsdale Show, going Champion Yearling Colt in the junior division before taking the Scottsdale Junior Champion Colt title. Everyone at the show was instantly captivated by Barzan, a beautiful chestnut with a flaxen mane. That same year, he was US National Junior Champion Colt as well as US National Champion Yearling Colt.
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© April Visel |
For two consecutive years – 2012 and 2013 – Barzan took the Gold title in his championship category at the Arabian Breeders’ Alliance World Cup, winning the second title unanimously and becoming one of the most talked about horses at the show. In 2013, he followed this up with the Reserve US National Champion Futurity Colt title. Not content with wins in the United States, Barzan Al Shahania headed over to Europe, taking the Gold Junior Male Championship at the Vichy International Arabian Horse Show and the coveted Trophée Espoir for most promising horse at the Paris World Championships.
Now, as a six-year old, Barzan is making an overdue return to the show-ring that made him so famous – Scottsdale. He is sure to be a star attraction at this prestigious show, and we can also hope to see some of his progeny out in the near future. Barzan has been standing at Michael Byatt Arabians in Texas and he will be there once again this year, a beautiful iridescent stallion ready to make his mark on the world.
