First published in The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Volume I Issue IV July 2017.
Celebrating the Champions – Wadad Zamani
In April I happened to be visiting Michael Byatt Arabians in Texas and there, I saw an incredibly beautiful, huge-moving mare. This was Wadad Zamani (Laheeb x Zena Al Buraq), bred by Osman Al Kasabi from Israel and now part of Nayla Hayek’s incredible group of mares at her world-renowned Hanaya Arabian Stud. As the sun shone down, Wadad Zamani was mesmerising as she effortlessly covered the ground.
Foaled in 2011, Wadad Zamani has some of the most beautiful Egyptian lines in her pedigree. She is sired by Laheeb, a son of the great Imperial Imdal, by Ansata Imperial (Ansata Ibn Sudan x Ansata Delilah) and out of Dalia (Morafic x Romanaa II), and out of AK Latifa by Ibn Moniet el Nefous (by Morafic), out of one of the most loved Egyptian mares in history. Moniet el Nefous (Shahloul x Wainisa). AK Latifa in turn is out of the Ansata Ibn Halima (Nazeer x Halima) daughter, Siralima (ex Asal Sirabba).
Wadad Zamani is out of Zena Al Buraq, a mare whose pedigree is infused with Imperial bloodlines. However, notable in her pedigree is her paternal great-grandmother, the incredible mare The Vision HG (Thee Desperado x Belle Star), one of the greatest-producing Egyptian mares of our generation. Her line comes down through Al Maraam (Imperial Imdal x The Vision HG), sire of Al Manar (ex Luiba), sire of Zena Al Buraq. In turn, Zena Al Buraq is out of KZ Ruya (KZ Alone x Ramses Devine).
Wadad Zamani. Credit Elisa Grasi.
Hanaya Arabian Stud, based in Switzerland, is home to some of the most beautiful straight Egyptians in Europe and the collection is particularly breathtaking. Both through Nayla’s homebreds and carefully considered additions to the stud, the farm houses some of the most revered bloodlines in Egyptian breeding. One name that stands out is 218 Elf Layla Walayla (Assad x 223 Ibn Galal I), now aged 26 years.
It was trainer Frank Spönle, who has worked closely with Nayla for many years, who discovered Wadad Zamani, out in the desert at her breeders. Immediately recognising her qualities, Frank spoke to Nayla and thus Wadad Zamani came to join the beautiful group of mares at Hanaya Arabian Stud. A vibrant, beautiful grey, Wadad Zamani has won countless titles across Europe, including Gold Senior Female Champion at the 2015 All Nations’ Cup in Aachen. That same year, she was also Gold Senior Female Champion at the Wels International A Show and Bronze at the AHO World Cup in Chantilly. Shown lightly in 2016, Wadad Zamani placed second in her mare class at the Mediterranean and Arab Countries Arabian Horse Championships in Menton, and would take the Silver Senior Female Championship at the same show.
The decision was made by Nayla, with trainer Frank, to send Wadad Zamani to the United States and compete her at this year’s US Egyptian Event. Run by The Pyramid Society and held in the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, the Event is the premier show for Egyptian horses to compete at. Having sent Wadad Zamani to Michael Byatt Arabians in order to prepare her for the US climate, this lovely mare made her way to Lexington in June.
While I was unable to make the show, I knew that this amazing mare was making her mark as my social media feed was full of comments about Wadad Zamani’s incredible beauty, her charisma, and her presence. Having comfortably won her class, Wadad Zamani left as unanimous US Egyptian Event Champion Mare 2017.
Wadad Zamani has certainly made a name for herself and I know that I, for one, will be following her progress in the years to come.
First printed in The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Volume I Issue IV July 2017. To enjoy further content such as this, please visit The Arabian Magazine Shop.
