Masculine, correct, classy, typey and vibrant. These are just some of the adjectives that you could use to describe the brilliant young colt, Saif Albidayer. Foaled in 2016, this charismatic colt has captivated those in the know this year, and his sights are now set on the Paris World Championships.
Saif Albidayer is bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi at his tranquil Albidayer Stud, located in Sharjah, one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. Managed by Dawn Martin, Albidayer Stud has bred some of the most notable champions in recent years – Mozn Albidayer (SMA Magic One x Mattaharii) and Raoud Albidayer (SMA Magic One x DL Marielle) in Europe and the Middle East, and Lahab Albidayer (Vervaldee x FS Madeline) in the United States to name just a few. Home of the superlative stallion Marajj (Marwan al Shaqab x RGA Kouress), their lead sire, Albidayer Stud continues to shine on three continents.
Saif Albidayer is the latest in this growing line of horses from the stud to make people take note. He is sired by Excalibur EA, himself an European Triple Crown winning colt by the multiple champion Shanghai EA (WH Justice x Salymah EA) and out of Essence of Marwan EA (Marwan al Shaqab x Elizja). Saif Albidayer is out of the beautiful European Champion Mare Nesj el Markhisa, sired by Marwan al Shaqab (Gazal al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) and out of Nesj el Khisaya (ex Om el Eshara), a daughter of the great Khidar (Ansata Sinan x Elizja) and a mare Sheikh Mohammed carefully added to enhance his breeding programme.
It is worth noting that Elizja appears three times in Saif Albidayer’s pedigree. This is a mare of old lines, being by Esta-Ghalil (ex Sadika by Saufi) and out of Aica (ex Warandes Hindia by Hindi), both sired by the legendary Om El Arab stallion Ibn Estasha (Malik x Estasha). This infusion of old blood, along with the modernity of stallions such as Shanghai EA and his son, Excalibur EA, is what helps to make Saif Albidayer so special.
Saif Albidayer is a free-moving and elegant colt, typey and beautiful, and with correct conformation as well as that strong pedigree behind him. He is full of Arabian type, that showy, look at me presence that we love so much in our horses, and he has charisma to boot. But more than that, Saif Albidayer is functionally correct. He has good limbs and an overall correctness; add in a beautiful face and it is little wonder that he has already done so well in the show-ring. Saif Albidayer is a complete horse, not just a sum of his parts, and that alone makes him stand out against the others around him. He has size and substance, but he has also retained the elegance that is so desirable in our Arabian horses. And, with his first foal on the ground, a beauty out of Kareemah Albidayer (Kanz Albidayer x Khaleifa by Kubinec), all the signs are there and more that Saif Albidayer has all the qualities needed and more to become a sire of note in the future.
At his show debut, at Deauville in France as a yearling, Saif Albidayer won his class and went on to take the Gold Yearling Colt Championship. In a world where some people take their horses to every show going, Albidayer Stud never overshow their horses and it would be two years before Saif Albidayer made a return to the show-ring at this year’s Sharjah International Show. There, he won his class and took the Gold Junior Male Championship.
From there, it was off to the beaches of Menton for the Mediterranean and Arab Countries Arabian Horse Championships in June where, looking strikingly silver against the azure skies, Saif Albidayer placed third in the notoriously strong three-year old colt class. At the All Nations’ Cup in Aachen in September, Saif Albidayer placed second, earning 20s along the way for his type and beauty. He was unlucky to just miss out on a placing in the championship.
The three-year old colt competition is notoriously tough, but as Paris approaches, there is little doubt for many that Saif Albidayer has all the qualities needed, and more, to shine.
Also competing in Paris for Albidayer Stud is the incredibly beautiful filly, A Vision MI, bred in Australia by Mulawa Arabian Stud. She is by Allegiance MI (Magnum Forty Four x Audacia) and out of Always Valentine MI (DA Valentino x Always an Angel), and she was unbeaten in Australia, with her titles including that of unanimous Australian National Gold Champion Yearling Filly.
A Vision MI’s arrival into Europe saw her debut at the Paris World Championships, still in her yearling year but being bred in Australia meant that she competed against two- and three-year olds. As an official two-year old, A Vision MI came into her stride during this spring’s Middle East show season. She claimed Gold Junior Female Champion, as well as first place in her class, at both the Sharjah International Arabian Horse Show and the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championships. In Aachen, A Vision MI added the Bronze Junior Female Championship to her name.
In a year when there are a host of chestnut beauties in the ring, A Vision MI captivates. She is feminine, correct, graceful and elegant – in fact, she has all the qualities that define an Albidayer horse, including type, energy and presence.
Saif Albidayer and A Vision MI will be flying the flag for Albidayer Stud this year in Paris, and they are sure to win a legion more fans as they do so.
The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Cover Horse – Saif Albidayer.
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