Simeon Safanad as a foal

From the moment she was born Simeon Safanad was destined to change lives, she would continually prove pages full of achievements as a brood mare supreme and the history books will be filled with her progeny awaiting the signature stamp of future generations. Born on the 10th of November 1980, Simen Safanad was from the chestnut mare 27 Ibn Galal V (Ibn Galal x Hosna) imported from Bábolna and she alone could fill pages with her show and breeding accolades.

Safanad's dam, 27 Ibn Galal V

A picture frozen in my memory of 27 Ibn Galal V is a marvelous chestnut mare nose high, nostrils wide, trotting with her long lofty step around Simeon Stud's parade arena. Hooves barely touching the ground, tail aloft - heavily in foal - proud, dignified and elegant. Renowned for her correct Arabian shape with great function and enviable beauty, her daughter Safanad is the progenitor of a dynasty that has spread, with enormous success, around the world.
Memories of Simeon Safanad by Lorraine Kauffmann, Australian breeder and former owner of the now disbanded Ariba Arabian Stud: "Our first introduction to Safanad was as a yearling, I'm sorry to say we did not see her as a foal. I can remember that she was lovely, very refined but a little immature, but to be honest, we did not take a lot of notice of her! The next time we saw Safanad was at the futurities and after all this time, the image of her that day is permanently etched on my mind. She was absolutely breathtaking; ebony bronze, the epitome of femininity and type so finely chiseled and perfectly proportioned the ideal Arabian dream filly. I cannot even remember if she won that day, it was not important. She has fulfilled her promise tenfold!"

Photo: Sparagowski
Safanad's grandam, the black mare Bint El Bataa (Nazeer x El Bataa)

Safanad's sire Sankt Georg (imp USA) was by Ansata El Salim from the glorious black mare Bint El Bataa imported from Egypt by Richard Pritzlaff. Sankt Georg tragically died young leaving only three straight Egyptian progeny. Safanad's show career was virtually finished before it began due to an injury, which proves that show ring accolades don't necessarily make a breeding animal! Certainly, this rings true in Safanads case, as she consistently bred quality foals year after year.

Photo: Little
Simeon Shai, who had showring success on three different continents

To say the world is well aware of Safanad's first foal is a gross understatement. Simeon Shai paved the way for Safanad's greatness. Shai's sire is Ra'adin Royal Star (ET Crown Prince x Om Khamsa), a stallion bred and imported to Australia from the USA. Australians knew Shai well, he had gathered together an impressive group of championships at Australian shows and it was at such a show that he was seen and from all reports was irresistible to his new owners. Shai was exported to the USA in 1989 and in 1991 Shai swept all before him and was awarded Scottsdale, Canadian and U.S. National Champion Stallion, then went on to become World Champion Stallion at the Salon du Cheval.

Simeon Shai and his dam

I recall the footage of a delightful bay foal - Simeon Shai - matching stride for stride at the trot while hugging Safanad's side at the WAHO Simeon Stud Open Day Parade in 1984.

Photo: Gigi Grasso
Simeon Seren (by Simeon Shai), a successful sire in his own right

Shai, once described as "typey, bay and beautiful" is just that and his foals in Australia are extremely uniform and consistent in type. For the breeding farms that have incorporated his lines, Shai's type shows in the continuing and consistent array of championships that are collected at major Arabian shows. The influence of "that Shai style" comes trough even in his grandget, solidifying for Australia his unique hallmark of type. In the USA it is obvious that Shai has also made an indelible mark with his progeny and now grandprogeny, they have more than lived up to expectations proving that this stallion is not only an exceptional showhorse but sire as well. His destiny was indeed greatness... a great show horse... a great personality... a great sire!

The Australian Champion Mare Simeon Shuala (by Simeon Shai),
who is the dam of several very successful sons and daughters

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