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A N E G Y P T I A N D R E A M The title shows the Pharrah granddaughter Imperial Im Phayanah |
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| Once upon a
time in America. A time which is far in the past and won’t return. A time in
which investors drew the cheque-book and paid millions for Egyptian horses – with a
tired smile. The high time of syndicates and exclusive auctions. A time in which Arabian
horses were treated and sold as objects d’art – polished, beamed on by
spotlights, provided with expertises. It was in this time that the mare Pharrah (Farag x Tamria) appeared as well at one of the big auctions: at the "Eyptian Event Sale" of the year 1983 – then one of the most pompous events. I remember exactly her appearance, for Pharrah looked so unusually beautiful. She was eleven years old and seemed to have come directly from one of these old paintings by Adam or Vernet. Her long narrow face reminded of her grandsire Morafic, the long slender supple neck as well. The face was dominated by those big round dark eyes which seemd to reflect her Egyptian ancestors. She was full of nobility, light as a feather, her movements were playfully light. Everything at her was in balance, nothing was too long or too short. A mare whose immaculate appearance made the audience grow dumb.
Photo: Johnston Pharrah (Farag x Kamar)
But then the bidding started. Fast and vehement. The buyers literally scrambled for her. Only for seconds a bidder was allowed to be pleased with the supposed knocking down at 120,000 dollars, for it continued with a frantic rate. One approached the 200,000-dollar-line, and the hands of the bidders still went up. 200,000 dollars! The auctioneer had a short breather, then he looked around. There were only few left in the competition. Would it go on? Even I held the breath. Who would get the knocking down, who would fulfill himself this Egyptian dream? An investor who wouldn’t care a bit about the well-being of the horse later on or a "real" breeder who would be able to really "use" Pharrah? Now the bidding was at 225,000 dollars, and the auction still went on. Then there was the knocking down and Pharrah changed the owner. "Going, going, gone: 255,000 dollars, sold to Vincent Fortuna!" Applause surged, the blonde Diane Fortuna flew into her husband’s arms and everybody was content: Pharrah’s seller Barbara Griffith (Imperial Egyptian Stud) because the price was right, the Fortunas because they wanted Pharrah – and solely Pharrah! – and finally Pharrah herself as an "expectant mother" who seemed to like everything but the stress of this auction and at last was alowed to return to her stall! "Where does this Pharrah come from," some asked themselves after the auction, and especially: Why was such a beauty sold at all? Was there perhaps a blemish, a hidden fault one had missed? Let’s start with Pharrah’s origin. She was born on the 3rd January 1972 at the Hungarian state stud Babolna. Her sire was the Egyptian import and head stallion for many years, Farag (Morafic x Bint Kateefa). A dry and very noble stallion, an image of his famous sire – just without Morafic’s extreme profile. The dam originates as well from Egypt; it was the grey mare Tamria (Tuhotmos x Kamar), a sister of Ibn Morafics dam Kharamana (Anter x Kamar). |
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Photo: van Lent Imperial Phanilah |
As a five-year-old Pharrah was sold
into the USA and in 1978 she found her home at the Imperial Egyptian Stud. There she
gave birth to five foals in a row. The first was the best and (up to this day!) the most
influential: Imperial Phanadah (by Ibn Moniet El Nefous). A chestnut who was
defeated by her dam in a direct "beauty comparison" but who turned out to be a
real foundation mare. Especially when she was bred to Imperial’s pasha – the
incomparably masculine and ardent Ansata Imperial (Ansata Ibn Sudan x Ansata Delilah)
– daughters were born who surpassed each other in expression and beauty. Preceding
all the "glamour ladies" Imperial Phanilah and Imperial Im Phayanah. Wheter it be in Qatar, in Jordan, in Israel, in France or in the United States – everywhere these two mares stood on the winners’ pedestal. The more successful of both was the fleabitten grey Imperial Phanilah. In Europe she made herself immortal with her win of the World Championships in Paris. After her victory pass, when the applause surged, she neighed and pranced: a monument of Arabian beauty a sculptor couldn’t have figured more accomplished! Today Imperial Phanilah lives at the "Al Shaqab Stud" of Qatar’s Crown Prince. |
| Her full sister
Imperial Im Phayanah has taken a dwelling at Uri Ariely’s studfarm in Israel. Her
son Shahir (by the German stallion Salaa El Dine) returned to the USA and served as
an outcross stallion at Arabians Ltd. Today, he is standing at Cadron Creek
Arabians in Arkansas. Shahir as well captivates especially with expression and nobility,
though his great granddam Pharrah can hardly be recognised in him any longer.
Shahir
But even at the Imperial Egyptian Stud one doesn’t manage without any blood of Pharrah’s today. Barbara Griffith esteems the young Imperial Orrapha (Orashan x Imperial Im Pharida – full sister to Imperial Phanilah) as one of her best producing mares. Her two-year-old son Imperial Kamshah (by Imperial Al Kamar) delights every Arabian horse lover. When he romps over the green hills of Imperial and his mane and tail flutter in the wind you realise that the Arabian horse is indeed a "flyer without wings": He seems to touch the ground only because of his kindness...
Imperial Kamshah
So why did Barbara Griffith separate from Pharrah at that time? "It wasn’t an easy decision," she admits. "But I owned three of her daughters who where able to continue her line." No "hidden faults" then? "No, absolutely not! Ask Diane and Vincent Fortuna wheter they have ever regretted the buying!" A question which is superflous. Even today – eight years after Pharrah’s death – there is no other horse for Diane. "To me Pharrah was the ideal of an Egyptian mare – beautiful and gentle, noble and sublime and the best broodmare you could find!" Two Pharrah sons were born at Fortuna’s stud. The first was Royal Jalliel, an Ansata Imperial son born in 1984. A gentle stallion whose character was obviously dominated by the calmness af his dam. From birth on he was a real "beau" – perfectly balanced, perfectly graceful. Comletely his mother’s son. His head was shorter than Paharrah’s, there his sire came through. The half brother Royal Mikhiel (by Nabiel) , two years younger, resembled more his sire as well. Full of power, stronger and more masculine than his brother, more ardent and more spirited than him. Although both stallions were successful in the show ring, Royal Mikhiel surpassed his older brother with his self-confident appearance and his longer lines. |
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| At the Egyptian Event in 1991
"Mike" celebrated his greatest triumph: He was the Reserve Supreme Champion
Stallion! His name by the way isn’t Arabic, although it might sound like that for
our ears. Diane Fortuna explains, "Mikhiel is a combination of the name of my son
Michael – because he was born on the same day – and of Nabiel, the name of
Mikhiel’s famous sire!" Until a few years ago both stallions were standing in Canada (at Montebello) and covered every year a considerable number of mares. After the decline of this farm Royal Jalliel was sold to Marylin Hay in Minnesota. As always, the younger one made a bigger stir: he was exported to Jordan by the Royal Jafaar Stud. There he can prove his qualitis as a sire. This at least the older brother has done already: some of his sons and daughters were able to win in the show ring. The delicate mare Imperial Jaliisa (Royal Jalliel x Glorieta Maarqesa) for example was the 1993 Reserve Junior Champion Filly of Qatar’s National Show. And in the same year she won the junior title at the "Middle East Championships". |
Photo: Grasso Royal Mikhiel |
| In
1990, there was a heavy blow for destiny sent a cruel conflagration.
The farm of the Fortunas and some of their horses fell victims of the
flames. The stud is located in Santa Barbara, very idyllically in a
valley amidst woods. This valley became a fatal trap for
sixteen horses. Diane and Vincent Fortuna saw the fire approaching
their farm and tried to place as many horses as possible on the only
truck and to save themselves and a part of the horses. It was a race
against time. Literally in the last second they escaped
from the fire storm which destroyed large parts of Santa Barbara. Left
behind – with fifteen other horses – was Pharrah’s youngest
and last daughter Royal Farrah (by El Halimaar). What could have become
of her...
Photo: van Lent Royal Khalifa
Today the Fortunas breed only with the chestnut Pharrah daughter Royal Pharriel (by Nabiel), her daughters and one son, the grey Royal Phariel (Royal Jalliel x Royal Pharriel). He resembles Pharrah very much and one should keep him in mind. He certainly still needs time to mature but then one should have a look at him again! The mare Royal Bint Pharrah (by Ansata Imperial) was sold to Washington by the Fortunas two years ago. She as well is represented in the Arabian area by outstanding offspring. Her daughter Royal Kahlifa (by El Halimaar) is one of the favourites of Sheikh Nawaf Bin-Nasser Al Thani of Qatar. Her spirited son Harp (by Imperial Madheen) – Arabic for war – was the National Junior Champion Colt there in 1993. Pharrah died in 1991. Her beauty could and can hardly be described. She was like a dream, the vision of timeless elegance. Maybe one must have experienced her, touch her soft muzzle, heard her snort, seen her look out of expressive eyes. Only then you knew that sometimes dreams do come true... Phillip Hollerbusch Research by Martha Murdoch
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Pharrah Click pictures to enlarge! |
Farag |
Morafic |
Nazeer |
Mansour x Bint Samiha |
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Mabrouka |
Sid Abouhom x Moniet el Nefous | |||
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Bint Kateefa |
Sid Abouhom |
El Deree x Layla | ||
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Kateefa |
Shahloul x Bint Rissala | |||
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Tamria |
Tuhotmos |
El Sareei |
Shahloul x Zareefa | |
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Moniet El Nefous |
Shahloul x Wanisa | |||
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Kamar |
Nazeer |
Mansour x Bint Samiha | ||
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Komeira |
Nabras x Layla |
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Production Record: '76 AK Komeira (by Ibn Galal), chestnut mare - champion producer
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