Miles Buckley Show Training is located on the rural fringes of Lewes in Sussex, well connected to the UK road network and also enjoying easy access to the ports for Europe, making an ideal location for this international trainer.
Upon arrival in the glorious May sunshine, I enjoyed a glass of bubbles and met with the many guests who were already there, well ahead of the start time. The open house was situated outside the barn, home to some beautiful horses from MH Arabians who were soaking up the atmosphere and clearly enjoying the attention from the guests.
Duke al Soor
Well over 100 people were there, with guests from Scotland, Belgium, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. The service from Miles’ team was exceptional, and we enjoyed lunch and nibbles prior to the presentation. The atmosphere was relaxed and yet there was a buzz with talk of horses, bloodlines and shows among this eclectic gathering of Arabian horse enthusiasts.
After lunch, the presentation began with Erik Blaak on the microphone to see us through the day. The first group were all progeny by Pandorez O (Shanghai EA x Pocahontas K), with the yearling filly Gloryana by out of Psafeena (Psynergy x Maysu), first out. Bred by Christine Blyth and owned by Rob Heijmans, Gloryana was named Gold Champion at Midland Arab Group C Show in her very first show, and has since taken Gold at the Eurozone Cup. She is a very refined and elegant filly with a fabulous front, smooth body and topline, with a very beautiful and feminine head. A bright future is certain for this young filly. Next forward was the yearling filly, Zalia al Jalyla out of Zaina Bint Mia (Audemars PA x Mia Bint Adala). Bred and owned by Amy Southworth, this almost white showy filly is very like her sire, with plenty of expression and type, and interestingly, you could also see the dam line in her too. We then saw the yearling colt Duke al Soor (Pandorez O x Amailiaa by Magic Magnifique), bred by Dawn Cascoe and Malik Morrison and owned by Al Soor Stud. This is a very tall, fine colt who curled his tail over his back as he showed off for the guests. Following on was Ziva al Jalyla, a two-year-old full sister to Zalia Al Jalyla. This filly is pure white, well conformed with a good head and, of course, excellent type. Like her sister, she is very flamboyant. Pandorez O is proving himself a very noteworthy sire, stamping his offspring with his type, beauty and fabulous showmanship that was very evident in all his offspring.
Ziva al Jalyla
Next forward were the Wakil Aljassimya (Al Ayal AA x WN Johara Aljassimya) yearlings. First forward was Sheikha out of Treffe al Shaqab (Gazal al Shaqab x Padova) bred and owned by Husain al Musallam of Kuwait. Following her was Moana out of Chywoon Ocean (Kordelas x Oronka), bred by Miles himself and owned by Chloe Streeter of Calbar Arabians. Moana is a very mature, deep-bodied filly who showed well. The following filly, Walena A out of AV Bayonsay (Om el Bahreyn x ZT Shakgeyma), trotted in like she owned the place! She is very beautiful with excellent type while also being feminine and, of course, showy! Bred by Miles with Gregor Aymar, Walena A is owned by Arabesque LLC. Nova MMC is an elegant filly out of Cameg Nyvadah (Om el Bahreyn x Cameg Parisa) bred and owned by Megan McCarthur. I don’t think her tail came off this filly’s back during the whole presentation, and she will be certain to enjoy the atmosphere at shows. The last Wakil Aljassimya offspring was a striking two-year-old grey filly called S Jawaher (ex Treffe al Shaqab) bred and owned by Al Soor Stud. She has a very beautiful head with good front and topline, and it is hard to overlook with her white silver mane and steel grey body. The Wakil Aljassimya babies differed greatly from each other, and he is putting some outstanding foals on the ground.
Sheikha
S Jawaher (and cover photo)
We were then treated to two stallions of straight Egyptian breeding, starting with the ethereal Muhaned al Rayyan (Ashhal al Rayyan x Wajb al Rayyan) owned by MH Arabians. This impressive, compact stallion needs little introduction, and he has excellent type with a short, beautiful head and great expression. The next stallion was his son, MH Maarius I (Maartine by Kerim Shah), bred and owned by MH Arabians. This striking stallion entered the presentation under saddle. Tall and steel grey, he looked impressive under saddle.
Muhaned al Rayyan
The next group of youngsters were all very different and there were some exceptional horses in this group. The first three all came from Susan McCarthur’s Cameg Arabian Stud in Scotland, starting with the yearling Cameg Simoriah by Mansurat RB (SF Veraz x Delight’s Musa RB) and out of Cotswold Kapella (Balero x Kiera BFA). She is a charming filly, very pretty, with excellent eye set and fabulous expression, and she showed superbly. Next was another yearling, the Magic Magnifique (True Colours x Magic Mon Amour) son, Cameg Anthem (ex AV Enchanted One by SMA Magic One), a rich bay who put on a good show. The final horse from Cameg Arabian Stud was the rather special TSL Majeed by HL el Ganador (HP Shakir-Te x Lonco Bay Maria) out of Meliyah (AJ Mardan x ES Heliyah), bred by Lisa-Marie Heckenbuecker. Susan later told me she had been looking for a mare in Europe and happened upon TSL Majeed and she could not take her eyes off him so, instead of a mare, she bought him. This yearling colt has a presence about him which is hard to articulate; he is extremely well balanced and with a beautiful head with superb eyes and excellent movement. I think he enchanted quite a few of us there and he would go on to take Silver Yearling Male Champion at the inaugural The City of Kings Show in June.
Cameg Simoriah
Next to be presented was Gaabriella (ES Sarab x Gezaana), bred by Julie Kennedy and owned by Christine Brown. Gaabriella is a really pleasing balanced, quality filly with a deep body, excellent stride and tail carriage. She was Reserve British National Champion as a yearling and more is sure to come.
The charismatic Pampa followed by Gazal al Shaqab (Anaza el Farid x Kajora) and out of Palestyna (Monogramm x Palestra), bred by Halsdon Arabians and owned by Rob Heijmans. Pampa certainly behaved like the matriarch of the day, strutting the presentation area with her big Polish trot. She looked fabulous for her 19 years and is a really super mare with much expression and a personality that shone through.
Pampa
Following her was another Polish mare, Endrra who is by the immortal Ekstern (Monogramm x Ernestyna) and out of Endorra (Pesal x Emigrantka). Bred by Michałow State Stud in Poland, Endrra is owned by Claverdon Stud and her titles include UKIAHS Gold Senior Mare 2022. She is a very feminine mare and accomplished show horse. At foot, she had a foal by Shaheen al Bustan (FA el Rasheem x Fajer al Bustan), bred and owned by Claverdon Stud.
Phoenix al Jalyla
The final group were all breeding stallions and what a treat we were in for! The first of these was Shaheen al Bustan himself, bred by Al Bustan Stables and owned by Shaheem al Bustan Partners in Kuwait. This stallion has an exceptionally sculpted head – you truly have to see it up close – and he is a very beautiful and a compact stallion with plenty of presence. Next was arguably the most flamboyant horse of the day, the two-year-old colt Phoenix al Jalyla (Pandorez O x Alexa Magnifique) bred by Amy Southworth and owned by Al Aliya Stud of the United Arab Emirates. What a colt! He has a fabulous presence, beautiful head and is very well conformed with superb type. He just wanted to play and show off to the crowd, and I look forward to seeing his first foal crop. Following him was the Exxalt (Excalibur EA x Vesperra) son AFM Faraa (ex Marriyah by Pogrom), bred by Jeff and Sybil Collins with Brandi Carson in the US and owned by AGM Arabians in Kuwait. This three-year-old colt has an exceptional front with a striking head and plenty of presence. The last stallion to present was Rafea al Rayat, bred by Al Rayat Stud and owned by Al Ebtihaj Stud in Kuwait. By Excalibur EA (Shanhai EA x Essence of Marwan EA) and out of Alaa al Rayat (Rough Justice x Lakiara MH), this promising beautiful four-year-old stallion has type, beauty, presence, and plenty of quality.
Rafea al Rayyat
After the presentation, we walked the barns and meet the horses in person; what a treat! The atmosphere of the barns was relaxed and housed some very happy horses who were pleased to meet their guests. All credit to the Miles Buckley Show Team for not only the wonderful presentation day, but also the calm and relaxed environment they provide to the horses in their care.
All photography Gregor Aymar. For more information, visit Miles Buckley Show Training.
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