Raoud Albidayer – December Cover Star

Raoud Albidayer is one of the stars of Albidayer Stud, one who got into the stride of winning ways from a young colt – and he has never looked back. Now a successful sire in his own right, as well as a multiple champion show horse, Raoud Albidayer is set to make his mark in the show-ring once more, this time in the City of Lights.” He is our December cover star, both in print and online. 

Raoud Albidayer is an Arabian horse who has oozed class since the day he was born, and this is the third time that he has graced the cover of this magazine – as did his celebrated stablemate and paternal half-sister, Mozn Albidayer (ex Mattaharri by Magnum Chall HVP), now owned by Al Wajba Stud in Qatar.

Owned and bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi at his Albidayer Stud in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Raoud Albidayer is one of many successful homebred horses to come from this world-famed stud who have had champions on three continents around the world: no small feat, even in this modern era.

Albidayer Stud was the first to utilise the genetic might of the stallion S.M.A. Magic One and Raoud Albidayer is a result of the astute breeding decision made by Sheikh Mohammed. S.M.A. Magic one is sired by Psytadel (Padrons Psyche x Bint Bey Shah) and is out of Majidah Bint Pacha (AS Sinans Pacha x AS Mounah), thus blending Russian and Egyptian bloodlines into one powerful package.

DL Marielle. Credit Scott Trees

Raoud Albidayer’s dam was the important Albidayer Stud mare DL Marielle, full sister in turn to the farm’s chief sire Marajj and dam of multiple-champion Kanz Albidayer (by Ajman Monsicione by WH Justice). Sired by Marwan al Shaqab (Gazal al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) and out of RGA Kouress (Kouvay Bey x Angophora), DL Marielle brought Polish bloodlines to the cross – the result of which was the incredibly showy grey stallion Raoud Albidayer. This is a dynamic stallion, who effortlessly covers the ground when in motion and is eye-catching when standing still, with his typey, beautiful head and clean, smooth lines commanding attention.

From the moment he made his show-ring debut, back in 2015, Raoud Albidayer caught the eye. As a yearling, this typey, exotic colt made waves across Europe and the Middle East, firstly being named Gold Yearling Male Champion at the Ajman Arabian Horse Show, followed by Silver at both the Abu Dhabi International Arabian Horse Show and the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championships, then Bronze at the Sharjah International Arabian Horse Championships. Having come to Europe, Raoud Albidayer took Silver at the AHO Breeders’ World Cup in Chantilly.

As a two-year old, Raoud Albidayer was named Prague Intercup Gold Junior Male Champion and as a three-year old, he claimed another Gold Championship in Abu Dhabi as well as Bronze in Chantilly.

In 2020, with limited shows taking place, Raoud Albidayer was shown just once in what should have been his senior debut. Immediately, this stallion made his mark taking Gold at the Mediterranean and Arab Countries Championships in Menton. Last year, the City of Lights beckoned, but the pandemic had other plans, so this year will be the time for Raoud Albidayer to shine.

More importantly, not only is Raoud Albidayer a world-class show horse, but he is also proving himself as a sire of note. All Albidayer Stud horses are bred to be breeders’ horses and to not only produce the next generation, but to better themselves, and it was clear from Raoud Albidayer’s first foal crop that he would do just that.

Malikah Albidayer (Raoud Albidayer x Aja Athena)

His daughter Yamamah al Oyannah (ex Mayar IV by Kanz Albidayer), bred by Fahad Faisal Abdulrahman Almoammar and owned by Al-Diriya Stud, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, won her yearling class in 2020 and took the Silver Yearling Female Championship at the Asharqia Arabian Horse Classic International B Show, adding another win at this year’s Local Breeders’ Show in Saudi Arabia. Al Aryam Arabians have also had success with their Raoud Albidayer progeny; Al Aryam al Dhanna (ex Al Aryam Basma by Marajj) was Gold Champion Yearling Filly at the 1^st Sharjah Kalba Arabian Horse Festival and Silver Champion at the 2021 Abu Dhabi International Arabian Horse Championship, while Al Aryam al Yasat (ex Al Aryam al Yaba by Ruger AMW) was UAE National Champion as both a yearling and junior male.

Raoud Albidayer x Seranza

Albidayer Stud themselves have the lovely filly Mayar Albidayer out of Maha Albidayer (Kanz Albidayer x Marsina), who represents three generations of their breeding programme. Also of note is the lovely and elegant yearling filly Tharwat Al Baydaa (ex Zennyatta by Victorious LD), bred by Al Baydaa Stud and owned by Samjad Stud, who consistently makes the top five among strong competition. Raoud Albidayer’s progeny may be young, but they are certainly beginning to shine.

Raoud Albidayer x Shimmering Star

We now come to the tail end of the year and Raoud Albidayer has firmly set his sights on the glittering lights of Paris for the World Championships to compete for the greatest title in the world, that of World Champion Stallion. He already has one Gold title to his name this year, having shone supreme at the Sharjah International Arabian Horse Show, taking the Senior Male Championship. Now all eyes are on Paris and the ultimate prize.

Raoud Albidayer is a shining example of the quality of Arabian horse that Albidayer Stud strives to breed, and it is he, along with his stablemates on both sides of the Atlantic, who have put the farm firmly in the spotlight as breeders of horses that epitomise all that we love about this beloved breed.

All photography unless stated Elisa Grassi

Read more on our previous cover stars here.

First published in The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Collectors’ Edition Volume V – buy your copy online at The Arabian Magazine Shop.