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September 27 - 29, 2002
How to start describing this years All Nations Cup Show? It’s appropriate to begin with an apology: This is my personal point of view and I’m well aware that others might see the horses I prefer in a different light. My words reflect just my thoughts – they are not etched in stone.
The
atmosphere was explosive as every year. Mr. Klaus Beste at the
microphone did his "best" to entertain us – with much
success. The stands were well filled, people from literally every
country joined to watch some of the best horses our breed has to offer.
There really were no losers at Aachen as the quality was excellent, even
with the colts and stallions. Horses at the last places still received
top scores. The horses sent in from Qatar for the first time was an
extremely impressive collection. All the more impressive as the majority
of them was already bred in Qatar. Make-up (at the stands and in the
ring) was heavy as usual. After all, this is a show – perhaps I should
say ”love it or leave it”. What I recognised is that many a horse
did not trot properly this time. Many looked frightened or nervous
others simply hadn’t the conformation to trot. Aachen always was the
place for flying horses and flying handlers and usually the house came
down when they stormed through the arena. Are the tides turning?
AL AADEED AL SHAQAB
There he was. The International Champion Stallion of Qatar entered the ring: Al Aadeed Al Shaqab (yes, the two “a” in his name are correct but don’t ask me why). Snow-white with large expressive eyes, he is one of the last sons of the legendary Ansata Halim Shah who did so much for Egyptian breeders in Europe and the Middle East. In the autumn of his life, Ansata Halim Shah was sold to the Emir of Qatar who bred him to a wide variety of mares.
At first glance Al Aadeed looked like a porcelain statute, almost unreal and a bit feminine in his expression. However, the more I saw of him the more I liked him. His beauty is par excellence and his body has a lot to offer, too: substance, good frame, a perfect topline, strong hindquarters. The substance he inherited from his dam, a big strong mare by Ruminaja Ali. Al Aadeed’s tail truly looks like the ”banner of the prophet” and his head is nothing but perfect. I know what you’ll say, ”Oh my god, the head isn’t as important as the body!” You are right but for me the head remains one of the most important hallmarks of the breed. Al Aadeed’s head is short, small, chiselled with extremely wide nostrils and small ears. To make it short – a masterpiece and a joy to behold. He was in excellent condition, moved quite well and presented himself with dignity. With a more dynamic handler I’m sure he would have done better in regards to movement. But you can’t blame the horse. Anyway, he won his class with flying colours (in fact he was the high scoring horse of the show with 94.6 points) and subsequently won the Senior Championship. A well deserved victory for an exceptional stallion.
His
beautiful daughter Amira Al Shaqab ended up third in her class. She
appeared not as fresh as the other horses, from Qatar - perhaps it was
not her day. At other events she already defeated international champion
mares. As mentioned above, Al Aadeed was bred by the Emir’s Al Shaqab
Stud which is managed by Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani, a familiar face in
Europe as he judged many shows here.
Al
Aadeed’s stablemate (and current World Champion Stallion), Gazal Al
Shaqab (by Anaza El Farid) was in second place in his class (behind Al
Aadeed). A true Arabian horse, a true Arabian stallion, he received
almost as much applause as the victor. He was on lease to Poland
and hopefully will nick well with their mares as his dam is the
Polish bred mare Kajora, a former U.S. National Champion Mare. KUBINEC
Yes,
he is a King. He is so much more than just another great Arabian
stallion. He pranced into the ring and danced in front of the judges.
The audience was spellbound. Kubinec’s charisma (oh yes, this term is
over-stretched in these days but charisma and Kubinec go together like
Pamela Anderson and, well, breast enlargement) took everyone’s breath
away and even though he begins to show his age now (this grand old man
turns fifteen this year) he blew away all other competitors in his class.
His trot still is as precise as a clockwork. The audience shouted his
name and screamed and yelled as his total score was announced: 94 points
– the second best score of the whole show! I spare myself the trouble
to dig into Kubinec’s accomplishments as a sire and show-horse,
because I’m sure you all know him and his successful get. Be it in
Brazil, North America, the Middle East or in Europe – his sons and
daughters won and still win on many occasions.
After long consideration, the judges awarded Kubinec with the title of Reserve Senior Champion Stallion. What a success for this magnetic stallion and his owner, the Stoeckle family of Germany. Many a comment was heard about Kubinec‘s condition. Well, he wasn’t in perfect shape, his body not trim enough but after all, isn’t this proof judges still see through make-up, glitter and ”body-building”? As far as I know Kubinec came right away from the pasture into the arena at Aachen. Sure, Frank Spoenle handled him masterfully but to my eyes it appeared that Kubinec didn’t need a handler at all. He showed off like a pro with attitude and self-confidence. The more applause he got the more excited he acted. A born show off. Long live the King! EL
DORADA & ZT SHARUBY
On
the other hand, Al Shaqab’s ZT Sharuby IS an extreme mare. Extreme in
type and expression, she isn’t without faults but that really
doesn’t matter when a horse excels in type and charisma. ZT Sharuby is
a fairy-tale beauty and even a
half- blind judge
will recognise the true Arabian horse in her. As old breeders said it
before, ”No type, no breed!” THE
JUNIOR CHAMPIONS
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