How many really great loves are there in one's life? Often just a single one. And all the others will be compared with it. The German breeder Carl-Heinz Doemken isn't an exception. He gave his love to the silver-grey Ghazal (Nazeer x Bukra) who had come from El Zahraa to Germany in 1955.

Photo: Dömken

Only when it was known in Germany that Ghazal's half brother Hadban Enzahi (Nazeer x Kamla) sired foals of best quality Ghazal was remembered. And discovered as a guarantee for outstanding type and nobility. His sons often resembled him exactly, while his daughters sometimes needed time to develop their full beauty.

Photo: Schiele

Ghazal (in front) and Hadban Enzahi at Marbach

Ten years after his import Ghazal finally got the "official seal of quality": Dr. Wenzler - the head of Marbach - wanted to see Ghazal next to Hadban Enzahi in Marbach. He inquired of the Prince who let Ghazal go for two breeding seasons. What a chance for Ghazal! He covered the most beautiful mares of that time. And he didn't disappoint Dr. Wenzler: With the lovely mares of Marbach, Ghazal sired some of his best foals. Just think of Saher (x Sahmet by Hadban Enzahi), the later head stallion of Marbach, or of Shagar (x Haita). This small, noble and absolutely beautiful stallion had excellent get, inspite of only minimal "employment" at the stud of the Ismer family. International champions trace back to him! He himself resembled his sire immensely. Salah (Ghazal x Seseneb), the successful head stallion of the former Ostenfelde stud, was born in Marbach as well.

Photo: Archiv Wibihal

Shagar (Ghazal x Haita) - just as beautiful as his sire

When Carl-Heinz Doemken saw Ghazal for the first time in 1960 – Ghazal was eight at this time - the journalist was fascinated by his unbelievable aura, just like many admirers before and after him. But unlike breeders as Dr. Hans Joachim Nagel, Holger Ismer or Heinz Merz of Om El Arab stud (to mention just a few), it wasn't enough for him to send some mares. And quiet admiration didn't suffice either. Immediately he sat down and wrote a letter to Prince Knyphausen, asking whether Ghazal was for sale. But the Prince didn't think about it one minute.

Years later Carl-Heinz Doemken asked again for Ghazal - this time with the explanation that he wanted to own the stallion but wouldn't insist on having him in his own stable. Finally the Prince gave in, as he couldn't resist such enthusiasm. He let Ghazal go.

Photo: Dömken

Ghazal, how we remember him

For Carl-Heinz Doemken and his wife Constanze the greatest joy! In 1967 Ghazal moved in. Into the box which had been reserved for him for a long time. "He took possession of it as a king," says Carl-Heinz Doemken. And there's still enthusiasm and admiration in his words - enthusiasm and admiration for "his" Ghazal. After all these years!

Photo: Boiselle

Shiwa (Ghazal x Shari) with her daughters Mashoura and Ma Chere (from right to left)

Ghazal sired 63 get. Almost all his daughters left their traces. It is nearly unjust to emphasize one. But the enchanting Shiwa (Ghazal x Shari by Hadban Enzahi) made herself a name with her own beauty and her champion-offspring: Her daughters Mashoura and Ma Chčre and her sons Madour and Mashour (all by Madkour I) have become a synonym for Arabian type everywhere in Europe. Literally all other Ghazal-daughters as well have immortalized themselves in German Arabian breeding - they became its foundation mares.

From the "Egyptian" point of view Ghazal's life was tragic: He had just come too early to Germany. For in his time there were only three Egyptian mares: Moheba (Sid Abouhom x Halima) and her daughter Malacha (by El Sareei) at Prince Knyphausen's and Nadja (Nazeer x Nefisa) in Marbach. That was all.

Moheba died after her third foal. Only two left. Nadja gave birth to the stallion Nadil by Ghazal - his only Egyptian son. But he was exported to Denmark (and from there to England). Just two daughters and one son, that's all Nadil left behind...

Photo: Gross

Moheba II (Ghazal x Malacha) - one of Ghazal's most influential daughters

Bred to Malacha Ghazal sired two of his most influential daughters: Moheba II and Malikah. Both were true Saklawi-beauties. Malikah was the more "austere" of both, Moheba II seemed to be more "lovely". Both had the flea-bitten spots of their great ancestress Bukra whom they resembled in many ways. The influence of these two sisters on world-wide Arabian breeding can hardly be ignored. Just this much: Without them there would be no Asfour in Australia (the sire of the World Reserve Champion Stallion Simeon Sadik), no Ansata Helwa in Egypt (National Champion Filly), no Imperial Madheen in Argentina (a sire of world-wide influence), no Ansata Majesta in Qatar (two times National Champion Mare), and finally there wouldn't have been a Jamil, who influenced the breed on four continents.

In 1971 Carl-Heinz Dömken imported the mare Afifa (Morafic x Hemmat) from Egypt. Exclusively for Ghazal. The mare really wasn't a classic beauty: Her head was big, her ears long and her eyes small. But Ghazal, this magician, made the impossible possible: In 1973 a filly was born who couldn't have been more noble. In honour of her sire she got the name Ghazala.

Photo: Sachs

A vision of Ghazal - his grandson Adnan (Salaa El Dine x Ghazala x Hanan)

Dr. Nagel sent two Egyptians, too: the chestnut mare Marah (Galal x Maysa) and his foundation mare Hanan (Alaa El Din x Mona). Marah's filly was sold to Graf Zichy-Thyssen, but Hanan's daughter Ghazala proved to be worthy daughter of her great sire - for many she even surpassed her dam as a brood-mare.

When the two "Ghazalas" were born, their sire wasn't alive any more. On the 30th May 1972 Carl-Heinz Doemken presented his stallion to enthusiastic visitors. It should become Ghazal's swan song.

Full of melancholy Carl-Heinz Doemken remembers this day. "At noon some Argentinians were there to see Ghazal: Absolutely lively and as sound as a bell he had paraded in front of them. Then the caravan of admirers arrived. Ghazal came out of the stable. A dancer, a real king. He pranced. He went head over. He fell and died. He moved into the heaven of horses. And all who had watched didn't feel ashamed of their tears."