Proud and self-confident the grey stallion bowed his neck and watched the other stallions in the ring at the 2006 Qatar National Show. Ansata Selman wasn’t the least interested in the photographers standing in front of him to make the best photo of the award ceremony. So many people with beaming faces who were proud of the Reserve National Champion title Ansata Selman has won. In fact this was the first title for his owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khaled Al-Thani, owner of the Al Waab Stud in Qatar. As the older brother of Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Thani, who owns the established Al Rayyan Farm, it goes without saying that he bought only horses of straight Egyptian lines. Two years ago he began his search for horses in Europe and the United States. His farm lies just an hour away from Qatar’s capital city of Doha. The huge farm is not only the home for Arabian horses but as well for wildlife like zebras, Oryx antelopes, and rangy gazelles.

Let us introduce you to some of the treasures of Qatar’s youngest studfarm.

Since his arrival last autumn Ansata Selman (Ansata Hejazi x G Shafaria by Prince Fa Moniet) resides as the uncrowned king of the farm. His former owner, Cornelia Tauschke of El Thayeba Stud in Germany, couldn’t resist the tempting proposal of Sheikh Abdullah and sent him to Qatar. With three close crosses to Bukra this classical Dahman Shahwan stallion wows with presence and powerful movement. He inherited his extremely upright carriage from his sire, Ansata Hejazi. All of Selman’s foals show the same self-confidence and presence.

Authentic Dahman (x Classic Dahra by Alidaar) is one of the many exceptional sons of the German „Elite“ stallion Maysoun which were bred by Rosemarie Kolster of Authentic Egyptian Arabians. His dam Classic Dahra, a most exquiste Alidaar daughter of the Dahman Shahwan strain, traces in tail female line back to the root mare Bint El Bahreyn. Elegant and typey, the compact seven years old Authentic Dahman stood at stud at Classic Egyptian Arabians in France, where five foals are expected this year. Snow-white and charming, the beautiful stallion loves to show off in front of an audience. Hopefully we will see him in the showring some day...

Helwa Al Rayyan (Ansata Selman x Agayeb by Al Helaly) carries her name in hounour of her famous ancestor Helwa (Hamran II x Bint Farida) who stems from the Farida branch of the Dahman Shahwan strain. Helwa Al Rayyan’s granddam was the beautiful and refined EAO mare Adalat (by Ameer), a daughter of Adaweya who was a result of the "golden nick" between Anter and Abla.

NK Ashmahan (Shahin x Helala by Salaa El Dine) is a lovely mare with plenty of scope and presence. Bred at the Katharinenhof Stud of Dr. Nagel, Ashmahan boasts for crosses to the Obeyan mare Hanan – two times through Sala El Dine (Ansata Halim Shah x Hanan), one time through Jamilll (by Madkour I x Hanan) and one time through Jamill’s full sister Ameera. However, her tail female line goes back to Ansata Bint Bukra, thus makes her a Dahmah Shahwaniah.

How should I describe HMT Princess Karima (PVA Kariim x Princess Fariha by The Egyptian Prince)? The US born mare is all charm and charisma. She enthralls everyone with her chiseled face and huge blak eyes. Her well-on set neck could be a little bit longer but nobody is perfect. Her pedigree boasts nine crosses to Moniet El Nefous. Willi Poth spotted her in a paddock in the USA and imported her to France but last year she followed the "call of the desert" and was incorporated into Al Waab’s broodmare band.

Ansata Nile Diva's pedigree includes all the important Ansata horses of the past. In tail female line she goes to the famous broodmatron Falima (Ansata Ibn Halima x Fa-Habby by Fadl), who founded the influential „Nile“ family. Another dash ob Babson blood comes through her paternal grandsire Prince Fa Moniet (The Egyptian Prince x Fa Moniet). However, the dominat factors in her pedigree are the blood of Ansata Ibn Halima and Ansata Bint Bukra: Ansata Sinan’s dam (Ansata Nefara) and Ansata Misty Nile’s sire (Ansata Hejazi) are full siblings by Ansata Halim Shah out of Ansata Sudarra.