It seems that everything was said about Qatar in the last ten years. By now you probably know this country better than your own neighbourhood. You’ve seen the magnificent photographs of horses in the dunes or bathed in sunlight. Photos of beautiful horses galloping towards the endless horizon or standing foot-deep in crystal-clear water. Horses that were bought by the Sheikhs to establish breeding programs second to none. Horses whose sheer beauty easily can bring tears to your eyes. You know most of those horses by name, know their pedigrees and showring accomplishments.

Ashhal Al Rayyan, head stallion at 
Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani's studfarm

Well, while photos and descriptions are nice they certainly can’t take the place of a personal journey to Qatar. Watching the mares of Al Shaqab romping through their pastures or seeing Al Rayyan’s new-born foals exploring their world is a joyful experience everyone should make. These are pictures of harmony and peace. ”Such a trip is way too expensive”, many of you might think. No, it’s not! Depending on your location it can be a very reasonable affair. Try it and plan your trip to the next show in March 2003. I promise, you will not be disappointed because the people’s hospitality is even more impressive than the beauty of the horses – not to mention the desserts! 
My waist is one inch taller now...



Ashhal Al Rayyan 
(Safir x Ansata Majesta by Ansata Halim Shah)

But now for this year’s show. As usual the event was organised by the Racing and Equestrian Club under the supervision of Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani, owner of Al Rayyan Farm. Though some of the well-known equine celebrities like Al Aadeed Al Shaqab, Gazal Al Shaqab or Johara Al Naif were in Europe to compete at the Nations Cup and the World Championship, the 
remained horses could fill the gap. As usual the filly and mare classes 
were better filled in terms of both quality and quantity.

Jamila Al Rayyan 
(Al Aadeed Al Shaqab x Ansata Selket)

The winner of the filly foal class bewitched all who saw this little lady dancing around in the ring like a ballerina. Her name: Jamila Al Rayyan. Her sire: Al Aadeed Al Shaqab. Her dam: Ansata Selket. Her destiny: Someday she will receive the title of a World Champion Mare. The word ”exquisite” describes this filly perfectly well. She is balanced, full of herself and typey as a horse can be. Her more than appropriate name means ”beauty” in Arabic and a beauty she is. Well done, Sheikh Abdulaziz. A star is born! Second to her was Dheba Al Naif, one of the few straight Egyptian daughters of Ansata Sinan, bred and 
owned by Al Naif Stud. She looked lovely, too.

Batouk Al Naif 
(Ansata Nile Echo x Sobha Al Shaqab)


Ansata Nile Echo has many fans in Qatar and Europe. His extravagant way of moving brought him the name ”King of Trot”. Everyone waited in anticipation for his first foals. Well, his first son Batouk Al Naif took the judges by storm and won the colt foal class, followed by another long-awaited youngster – 
RN Farida’s first foal Zeer Al Rayyan. Both are leggy foals with 
lots of attitude and movement.  

Al Angha Al Rayyan 
(Alidaar x Ansata Majesta)

The Junior Champion Filly was Al Angha Al Rayyan, a daughter of Alidaar and the ”Queen of Al Rayyan”, Ansata Majesta. She is known for her very good movement but this time she presented herself not in her usual dancing and prancing way. The judges showed their disappointment in low marks for movement. At the same time she received extremely high marks for ”type” (19/20/20) and ”head and neck” (19/20/20) and ended up as the high-scoring filly of the event, collecting a total score of 90 points. Bred and owned at Al Rayyan Farm, she personifies the desired combination of type and 
functional conformation.



Simeon Se'ate
(Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Sippora)

Simeon Se’ate who placed second in her class (behind Hazmia Al Shaqab who was left out in the championship) was chosen as Reserve Champion Filly. Born ”down under” at Marion Richmond’s Simeon Stud, she combines the bloodlines of Anaza bay Shahh, Imperial Madaar and Simeon Safanad (the dam of Simeon Shai). Now she graces the mare band at Al Naif Stud. She is a dark grey with a very good neck and solid conformation with four sound legs.

Mezna Al Rayyan
(Imperial Mahzeer x Al Johara)

Senior Champion Mare was the ultra-feminine Mezna Al Rayyan, a grandaughter of the late Imperial Madheen. She was bred at Al Rayyan but is owned by Al Naif Stud. Her dam Ansata Magnifica is a full-sister to Ansata Majesta (Ansata Halim Shah x Ansata Malika). Mezna‘s pedigree provides several lines to the German foundation mare Moheba (Sid Abouhom x Halima), a half-sister to Ansata Ibn Halima.  

RN Ajeeba 
(Ruminaja Ali x Bint Amal)

Reserve to her was RN Ajeeba, an especially beautiful daughter of the late Ruminaja Ali. She is bred and owned by Al Rayyan and very close to the heart of Al Rayyan’s head trainer Bart van Buggenhout.  

 
Adnan Al Shaqab
(Al Aadeed Al Shaqab x Tebrah)

It is often said that El Zahraa has sold its very best horses in the sixties and seventies to American and European breeders. This isn’t the truth – as one can clearly see in Qatar. Al Shaqab and Al Rayyan both incorporated young mares from El Zahraa into their breeding programs with very good results. One ”result” was awarded the Junior Champion Colt title of this year’s show – Adnan Al Shaqab (Al Aadeed Al Shaqab x Tebra, bred at El Zahraa), a chestnut colt with very good action and well built body.

Monzer Al Shaqab
(Al Aadeed Al Shaqab x Kajora)

Second to him in the yearling colt class and in the championship stood Monzer Al Shaqab, another son of Al Aadeed Al Shaqab and the famous producer of champions, the late Kajora, former U.S. National Champion Mare and dam of champion horses like Gazal Al Shaqab.

Ashhal Al Rayyan

Just one class was offered for older stallions but – hey folks! – this was a class to behold. Four serious competitors for the Champion title paraded in the ring. But it was very clear from the start that the stallion to beat was Ashhal Al Rayyan! This alabaster white beauty with his chiselled head and dark huge eyes who didn’t stand still for a minute, always prancing and dancing, was the obvious champion. It’s hard to resist his charm. He is royally bred, being a son of Al Rayyan’s foundation stallion Safir (Salaa El Dine x Hanan) out of the aforementioned Ansata Majesta. He received the highest marks of all colts and stallions and ended up with 92 points. Bart van Buggenhout presented him very well, it was a joy to behold the interaction between this man and ”his” horse.

Ansata Nile Echo
(Ansata Hejazi x Ansata White Nile)

Ansata Nile Echo (Ansata Hejazi x Ansata White Nile) was rightfully named Reserve Champion Stallion. He showed off very well and displayed his brilliant movements once again. Obviously he enjoyed being at home after his trip to Europe. At the Nations Cup he looked a little bit tired and was not quite by himself, but now he exploded into the ring with his usual electrifying charisma. He is owned by Al Naif Stud and was expertly shown by Glenn Jacobs.

Ansata Nile Echo

The surprise of the whole show was the class of the old mares. Just two horses competed but those two alone would have been worth the trip to Doha. Winner was the former European Champion Mare Esklawa, bred by Michalow Stud and owned by Al Rayyan Farm. She was presented by a young but very talented trainer from Belgium, Mr. Hendrik Mens who showed her to perfection. She posed perfectly and trotted brilliantly, showing off her grace and femininity. Esklawa is in foal to Ashhal Al Rayyan for 2003, this year she delivered a colt by Ekstern. Esklawa was the high-scoring horse of the show 
and received 92,6 points.

Esklawa

Second to her was Ansata Selket, an etherial beauty who won several championships in the USA before her exportation to Qatar. She certainly is the epitome of elegance and type but moved not as effortless as Esklawa. Her exquisite son Ansata Osiron now resides in Kuwait, her daughter Ansata Serqit graces the broodmare band of Claudia de Quention of Uruguay, while the victorious full sisters Jamila and Asrar Al Rayyan were already bred by Sheikh Abdulaziz in Qatar.

 
Ansata Selket
(Ansata Halim Shah x Ansata Samarra)

Lovely mares, impressive stallions, fine weather, relaxed atmosphere – we all had a very good time in Qatar. Not to mention the presentations of the different studfarms, the exquisite accomodation, the trips to the desert or to the bazar with its enticing scents. Oh - and did I mention the desserts?

  Nils Tausend

Click here to see all 
the class-winners

Above and in the title
Imperial Madanah (by Imperial Madheen)

All photos by 
Carola Toischel