Al Shahania Stud in Qatar has long had a reputation for being home to superstar colts, with the multiple champion Barzan Al Shahania (Stival x NW Siena Psyche) being a case in point. Their latest star is the impressive two-year-old bay, Na’mous Al Shahania, who stole the hearts of all in the show-ring at Scottsdale in February.
Na’mous Al Shahania is sired by the great stallion FA El Shawan, who was taken from the world far too soon, passing away suddenly in 2013 when just six years of age. Purchased as a yearling and exported to Brazil, FA El Shawan was named Brazilian National Champion and would later be named US National Champion Six-to-seven Years. Back in 2011 at the Arabian Breeders’ World Cup in Las Vegas, FA El Shawan earned the highest score in the show’s history to date; the atmosphere in the arena was electric that day, and everyone who was there remembers the moment. FA El Shawan was sired by Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame by Fame VF) and out of the ZT Shakfantasy (El Shaklan x Selket Mirror by Furno Khamal) daughter, Foxbriar Shakita (ex Selket Mirror by Furno Khamal), making him a perfect blend of Egyptian, Spanish, Polish and Russian bloodlines.
Na’mous Al Shahania’s dam is the beautiful Virtuosa MLR, a daughter of the late, great Versace (Fame VF x Precious as Gold by El Shaklan), making this exceptional young colt a full brother to the famed stallion FA El Rasheem. Virtuosa MLR is out of Alishamaal, a mare of the much admired Egyptian/Polish cross. Her sire in turn was Ali Jamaal (Ruminaja Ali x Heritage Memory by El Magato) while her dam was NV Alieshah, a daughter of Bey Shah (Bey El Bay x Star of Ofir by Bask) and out of Aandraya (Mystr-Rigo x Fixaaya by Mystr Fix). As FA El Rasheem has already proved, this combination of sire and dam is a potent one, and Na’mous Al Shahania is already living up to expectation.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, owner of Al Shahania Stud, recognised that a colt of this pedigree would be the perfect cross of the stud’s Barzan Al Shahania daughters, and Na’mous Al Shahania was purchased while just a foal from his breeder, Marlene Rieder, who also bred FA El Shawan and FA El Rasheem. An enchanting bay, Na’mous Al Shahania has a huge eye and wonderful expression, great length of neck, eye-catching Arabian type, and he oozes personality.
With US trainer Ted Carson, Na’mous Al Shahania went to the ultra-competitive US Nationals in Tulsa last October. There, he was named US National Champion Yearling Colt in illustrious company. This February, he went to the Scottsdale All-Arabian Horse Show, one of the toughest show-rings in North America, and competed in the open Classic classes. He won his two-year-old colt class in style and on the final Scottsdale Sunday, he took the Gold Junior Male Championship.
Now, Al Shahania and their dynamic young colt have their sights set on the Arabian Breeders’ World Cup in Las Vegas in April. Like his sire before him, Na’mous Al Shahania is sure to set the arena alight, and it will be exciting to see the next generation take to the stage. Everyone involved with this stylish colt believes that this he has the ability to go all the way to the top, and with his proven pedigree and impressive attitude, Na’mous Al Shahania certainly has the potential needed to make him one of the world’s leading colts.
