The idyllic vision of a pure white Arabian stallion that we all have in our hearts and minds as children is epitomised in our February cover horse, the stunning Shams Sharav AA. Bred and owned by the famed Ariela Arabians in Israel, this straight Egyptian giant is leading the way as a sire of note.
Foaled in 2012, Shams Sharav AA the result of carefully considered new blood for Ariela Arabians, with his sire being Simeon Sharav, a sire of significance bred at Simeon Stud in Australia and owned by the late Dr Nasr Marei’s Albadeia Stud in Egypt. Simeon Sharav is by the famed stallion Asfour (Malik x Hanan by Alaa el Din) and out of Simeon Shuala (Simeon Shai x Ramses Tinah by Ramses Fayek). Shams Sharav AA is out of the American import, Saniyyah RCA, a champion in the United States as well as a multiple-Israeli champion. She is by the significant sire, Mishaal HP (Ansata Sinan x Mesoudah M by Messaoud) and out of My Shooting Star (Thee Desperado x Faliha by Alidaar), who goes through her tail female line to the mare Bint Bint Sabbah (Baiyad x Bint Sabah by Kazmeen), one of the six horses that Henry Babson imported from Egypt in 1932.
Credit Gregor Aymar
Shams Sharav AA offers all that you could want from such a pedigree – and more. He has substance, he has type, and that undeniable classical Egyptian appeal with a modern look. This is a horse with much to offer, and his quality is timeless.
From the moment he was born, Shams Sharav AA impressed. As a foal, he took the Silver Colt Foal Champion title at the Israeli Nationals, repeating that success as a yearling. That same year, 2013, Shams Sharav AA also placed Silver at the Israeli Egyptian Event, Gold at both the Galilee Arabian orsehhpojs dsHorse Show and the International Palestinian Championships in Jericho, where he also earned the highest score of the show.
More titles followed, Silver and Bronze at the Israeli Egyptian Event, and then, as a five-year old stallion, Shams Sharav AA made the journey to Europe to compete in the international Egyptian classes. He was named Gold Champion Stallion at the West Coast Cup Egyptian Event and Silver at the Bruges Egyptian Show, both in Belgium. In open competition, Shams Sharav AA was named Bronze Champion Stallion at the International B Show at Ströhen, Germany. Last year, now a seven-year old stallion, Shams Sharav AA was the highest scoring horse at the Israeli Egyptian Event, placing Silver Champion Stallion and he also took the Bronze title at the Israeli Nationals.
Show titles are one thing, but the ability to be a proven sire is another, and Shams Sharav AA has the phenotype to underline the genotype his pedigree possesses. His first foal crop was in 2015 and it was from his second foal crop that the beautiful filly Ajayeb AA (ex El Katreen Nada by Mouadaar BKV out of RK Bint Maarenheh) was born. She was named Gold Champion Weanling Filly Foal at both the Israeli Nationals and the Israeli Egyptian Event, and, recognising this filly’s potential, Ajayeb AA was sent to Europe as a yearling to be shown alongside her sire. A Gold Champion Yearling Filly title at the Bruges Egyptian Show and a Silver Champion Filly title at the West Coast Cup Egyptian Event followed.
Ajayeb AA. Credit Gregor Aymar
From that same foal crop came a colt who is the next to follow in this important sire line – Shams Al Din AA. More exotic than his sire, but with the same attributes, Shams Al Din AA is out of Raliya, sired by Ariela Arabians’ own stallion Laheeb (Imperial Imdal x AK Latifa by Ibn Moniet el Nefous) and out of Sahara PG (Botswana x Kuy Shaihnya by AK Shaikh). Named Gold Champion Yearling Colt at the Galilee Arabian Horse Show, Shams Al Din AA is now on lease to Elkasun Arabian Stud in South Africa. With them, he took the Gold Champion Stallion title at the Cape Arabian Championships and, more significantly, will be making his own mark there as a sire. Indeed, Shams Al Din AA already has progeny on the ground, and there is no doubt that he will be just as important as his sire.
Shams Al Din AA. Credit Azzali
Shams Sharav AA is a timeless stallion – and he is one who breaks down any barriers about ‘straight Egyptian’ and instead, stands tall and proud as an Arabian horse in his own right. As a horse, he is captivating. As a sire, he is exemplary. And as a show horse, he shines. Shams Sharav AA is well on the path to fulfilling his destiny, and will surely go down in the history books as one of the greats.
Cover photo and all photography unless stated Bar Hajaj
Shams Sharav AA – bred and owned by Ariela Arabians, Israel
