Arabian Horse Source - 2008 Arabians Breeders Cup Las Vegas

The second Las Vegas show held on April 17th to the 20th, promised to be even better than last year, with a 20% increase in entries. Unfortunately, the performance classes were cancelled due to lack of entries, but this was always supposed to be just a Halter show anyway. The quality of the horses was amazing with many top Champions from around the world competing. Visitors poured in from many countries, with large contingents from Australia and the UK, proving that this is going to be a real World Event hopefully for many years to come. The atmosphere was buzzing in the arena and in the stable area. Some improvements had taken place from last year , but I gather that there are still a few wrinkles to iron out, which is natural. The numbers on the horses did not reflect those printed in the programme, which was a bit confusing.

The great news is that the Vice President of Cox Communications was sufficiently impressed with the show to promise an input of $45,000 next year for publicity starting in February, the only stipulation was that buses of children could be brought in to learn about the breed. He also stated that it was the best event they had there.

The judges too came from the four corners of the world. Majdi-Al Saleh (Jordan), Gianmarco Aragno (Italy), Eduardo Moreira Caio (Brazil), Karen Homer Brown (USA) Cathy Murphy Wright (USA) and Allan Preston (Australia). Five judges officiated at any one time with members of the audience pulling out the five names for each class.

The show started at lunchtime on Thursday with the fairly small, but good gelding classes. There were also Amateur to handle mare and stallion classes as well as the Futurity classes. Some of these amateurs did a better job than the professionals !

That evening this great event started off with a big bang as it did last year, with the Gala dinner and dance at the Wynn Hotel. The food was sumptious as usual and it certainly was a great start to the proceedings—now a tradition I hope. It was a wonderful chance to socialise and get to meet old friends and make new ones.

On Friday morning the show started at ten, with two age sections for yearling fillies, two for the two year old fillies and one class for the three year old fillies. The first section of yearlings was very high in quality and was won by EVG Tessara (Enzo x Star of Quintessa) with a score of 545.5. She's an extremely typey, elegant filly, with great movement and presence. Her sire is really proving to make his mark in the show world. Reserve in the class was the equally stunning and exotically typey Bint Bessolea (Marwan Al Shaqab x HB Bessolea) she is full sister to the very successful Baanderos winning in the Middle East.

The younger yearling filly class didn't have quite the depth in the class as the older fillies, but there were still some lovely fillies present. The winner with 546 points was Conga O (Mazkarade x Chilli Pepper V) a fabulous moving and very typey filly. Second in the class with 542 was Famess Lady (Sir Fame HBV x Fire and Lace CAHR) another pleasingly typey filly with a good body and topline.

Following the yearlings were the older two year old fillies and the winner with a score of 554 was the amazing WC Gorgeous Gazal (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Lady Bey Khelishah), who really lived up to her name in a big way. A very elegant, typey filly she deserved her win. With a score of 543, the second place went to Angelina Jullye (Psytation EA x Jullye Jones JCA) another very pleasing filly.

The younger two year old filly section was won by RD Mirella (Baywatch V x Alanna by Versace) with a score of 543.5. She was a good bodied, attractive filly who had inherited the Versace head. Reserve to her with a score of 538 was another *Gazal Al Shaqab daughter Im Dazzling, out of Im Dancing, a nice enough filly, but who could have moved better. However, sometimes it's the trainer who impedes good movement.

The fillies of 2005 was the last class in the arena on Friday morning and this was an incredible, deep and stunning class. Twenty fillies came forward with half the class receiving scores of over 540. It was deeper than any class I've seen in the US in the last twenty years. The winner with the highest, phenomenal score of 565 (the highest female score of the show) was Kharrea PGA (*Khadraj NA x Gai Portia ). She was incredible and had so much presence as well as great type, body and movement. She was sold for a large sum at the show. Coming in Reserve with a score of 554 was the Brazilian bred, very ethereal filly *HP Martina (ST Synbad x Hafati Bel Charm). The top five in this class were all very worthy of their awards.

Friday afternoon was the senior mares turn, starting with the four and five year old mares. Seven mares entered the ring and the winner of this class was JJ Polaca (Magnum Psyche x Sol Magic) who won the class with a score of 549. She is very typey and refined with a great body. She was bred in Argentina and exported to Saudi Arabia last year. Reserve in the class with a score of 542.5 was the typey mare CR La Naturel (CR Kiyev x HK Naturette). She has great substance with a good hip and shoulder.

Next in were the six to eight year old mares with eleven entries many of whom had already won Championships worldwide. The winner was the imported Israeli Champion *Dumka (Laheeb x Dabrowa) a big, typically Polish looking mare with type, good movement and legs with a score of 551. Reserve to her was the past big winner Amelia B (Magnum Psyche x Nyara JC) with a score of 544. A top quality typey mare with a good body and movement.

The nine to eleven year old mare class was the one everyone was waiting for, since the unanimous 2007 Australian National Champion mare Simeon Sehavi (Asfour x Simeon Sheba) was to show. I think to say that she blew most of us away is an understatement. I had seen her on three occasions in Australia, and loved her. She came into the ring to tumultuous applause every time she entered, and was so regal about it all—she absolutely commanded the ring. Although she was five months in foal, any good judge should be able to assess her qualities with a little extra weight. She scored a high 563.5 points. She was amazing. Reserve to her with 532 points was Classic Jade (Thee Desperado x Imdals Jade) an attractive, typey mare.

The final classes of the afternoon were the yearling futurity colt/gelding class ATH. These were quite well filled, and there were some talented amateurs out there, some showing better than the professionals at times !!

Here are the winners of the AHBA Yearling futurity classes-

Champion colt- Alibi FF with Austin Boggs, score 544.5 , Prize money awarded $12,825

Res. Champion Colt - D Caprio PA, score 537.0 (handler Scott Cocuzza) , Prize money awarded $7,125

Champion Yearling Futurity Filly - EVG Tessara with score of 550.0 , prize money awarded $12, 825

Res. Champion Futurity Filly - Z Areena Ameera with score of 539.0 , prize money awarded $7,125

Saturday morning started off with the older half of the yearling colt class, which was a fairly good class with ten colts showing. The winner here was the very exotic headed, grey Brazilian bred, *Shannan El Madan (Shael Dream Desert x Perla K), with a score of 556.5, I would like to have seen more of his movement, but he never really settled. In second place was Navarre RTA ( Enzo x S Justabella), a very attractive, flashy chestnut colt with a score of 548.

Fifteen younger yearling colts came flying in next, this was the better of the two sections. I loved the winner of this class as in my opinion, he had everything going for him—type, presence, good conformation and movement, This was NW Siensei ( *Gazal Al Shaqab x NW Siena Psyche), with a score of 559. His dam was a big winning Padrons Psyche daughter. I think he has a great future. Second place went to the very typey chestnut JJ Bellagio (Magnum Psyche x Joyeuse NY) scoring 557.5. He clocked up 5 scores of 20 and also shows great promise.

The older section of the two year old colts was a great class, with yet another win for a Marwan sired entry. This was the very typey, great bodied OFW Mariachi out of OFW Balerina with a score of 543.5. In second place was JRA Azul (Gazal Al Shaqab x Airiya) with a score of 536—an attractive colt with a show record already.

The younger section of ten colts was another promising class, the winner being Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shah's Lady) with a score of 549. He had wonderful movement with a great body and topline. In reserve was De Beers (*Marwan Al Shaqab x Karalisa) with a score of 544. Another very nice typey colt with a good body and movement.

The 3 year old class of 15 colts contained some good stallion potential. Winning this one was Ever After NA (*Sir Fames HBV x *Entaicying NA by Aicyng), with a score of 544. I had seen him in Scottsdale and really liked his extreme type, and he scored well for type, body and topline. Reserve went to the typey , great moving Hukam Maj (*Marwan son x Dinamaj), a daughter of British Supreme Champion *Rushan. He scored just .5 from the winner, so that was a very close result.

There were eight stallions forward in the four and five year old class, with some good ones. The blue went to Art Dekko TT (Audacious PS x HC Amareea ) with a score of 541. He is a very typey , dark bay stallion with excellent, type, shoulders and neck. In reserve was JP Obsession (Versace x Overlooks Jewel) with a score of 538.5 —a typey , good moving stallion.

The six to eight year old stallion class was a small, but very good class with only five entries First place went to the stunning Arbiteur (Regal Actor JP x Genevieve C), with a score of 547.5 in the class. I had a good close up look at this stallion after he was Reserve Futurity Champion stallion in 2005 and liked everything about him. Reserve went to Brandon Bey JCA(Versace x Hushahby Bey ) with a score of 542. He was a very typey and impressive mover with a great rear end.

The nine to eleven year old stallion class had four entries with the winner being Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) with a score of 543. He was the 2007 Reserve US National Champion and is a horse that I like a lot, as he has everything going for him. It's a pity that he seemed so wound up that he would not display a good trot. Reserve went to Canadian National Champion stallion Star Ghazal (*Gazal Al Shaqab x C Starlite Bey ) an attractive, typey stallion with a score of 538.5.

It's lovely to see the oldies come out in the class for 12 year olds and over. Breeders need to be reminded of these great stallions The class winner who really stood out was the amazing *Dakar El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Sonoma Lady) shown by his previous successful handler Michael Byatt, with a score of 553.5. *Dakar looked really well and seemed proud to be back in the arena. Reserve went to the recent Polish Import, *Wadim PL (Grandorr x Warszula) with a score of 540.5. He is typical of those sound Polish lines with a great body and good movement.

So on to the Liberty class and the Championships on Sunday. The Gelding Championship was the first. The Supreme Champion was indeed worthy of his title—this was Marithyme LLC (Pyro Thyme SA x Mademoiselle M). Reserve was Vargas JCA (Jake Jamaal JCA x Hushahby Bey).

The liberty class produced great excitement with some wonderful movers. Prevailing here was the great, past US National Champion Pyro Thyme SA (Pryme Thyme x Holly Onfire JW) who gave an outstanding display to win with 287 points. Reserve was another well known stallion DS Major Afire (Afire Bey V x SS Magnolia).

Pyro Thyme SA (Pryme Thyme x Holly Onfire JW) who gave an outstanding display to win with 287 points. Champion Liberty Class

The opening ceremonies began after the Liberty class with a presentation of all the flags of the countries taking part in the show—the British flag was proudly carried by our own Samantha Mattocks. Don and Judith Forbis of Ansata Arabians were presented with the The Arabian Breeders Alliance 2008 Lifetime Achievement award for 50 years of breeding, we then watched a video of the Ansata history which was very interesting.

Judith Forbis was the recipient of the AHBA 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award, joined by entertainer/actor/breeder Wayne Newton.

The Junior Filly Championships was first in, and I was thrilled that my choice of Champion was chosen. Of course this was the amazing three year old Kharrea PGA with EVG Tessara in Reserve. Looking at the line up, it was the very best I have ever seen in the US—all were very typey, great examples of the breed—not one Saddlebred look a like in sight !! Also in the top five were Bint Bessolea, Conga O, and HP Martina.

The Junior colts were next. Again my choice prevailed, which was NW Siensei with Shannan El Madan in Reserve. Placing in the top five were CJ Bellagio, Bey Ambition and Ever After NA.

Following that Championship we had an acrobatic display which was enormous fun to watch. They had a different one this time from last year.

Now , we turned to the Mare Championship and again Simeon Sehavi got a tremendous reception, I think that everyone thought that she would be Champion and there was an audible gasp from the audience when she was announced as Reserve. One of the judges had placed her fourth !! Now, maybe I can sort of understand her being placed second as she was a little heavy, but as I said before if a judge cannot see through that to the quality and extreme type, then that's pretty sad in my opinion. The Champion was JJ Polaca. The other top five were *Dumka, CR La Naturel and Amelia B.

The stallions were impressive as they flew into the ring. The popular Champion was Arbiteur with Dakar El Jamaal in Reserve. The other top five were Brandon Bey JCA, Art Dekko TT and Da Vinci FM.

The popular Champion was Arbiteur - handler Ricardo Rivero

Dakar El Jamaal in Reserve with handler Michael Byatt

The Breeders Cup was awarded to the great breeder Lucy Whittier who bred Arbiteur and Bey Ambition. She has constantly bred wonderful horses over the years—a very well deserved win.

Once again the Las Vegas Show committee pulled off an incredible show and I think that many there will surely come again next year, and even more as the word spreads. In my opinion it's going to become the very best US show with a higher prestige than even Nationals and I believe eventually Scottsdale; not in numbers, but because of having International judges and a fairer scoring system. I do think that trainers need to learn to run better to keep up with good movers and achieve those higher movement marks, and it certainly proved that shanking was very counter productive, and the 'hard standup' needs to go. I personally can't wait until next year and I will give it every ounce of my support. Viva Las Vegas !!!