At exactly 3:15 p.m. local time, the KIAHF festival officially opened at the seaside show arena in the Persian Gulf. Just fifteen minutes later, the yearling fillies began competed in the finals. This category always arouses great emotions, because future world stars who are at the beginning of the show season will appear in the following months during the most important shows in Europe: Cannes, Aachen and Paris.
The gold medal went to the grey Dubai Stud-bred D Fayes (Seraj – D Danat by SG Labib), who obtained the highest score in the classes, so her position in the championship was no surprise to anyone. However, the judges were not always so consistent, often the fight for the gold medal went on until the end and individual votes were decisive.
The second highest score and a silver medal were obtained by the daughter ofDominic M and the mare Weaam Al Jassim, bred in Qatar – Sultana Al Thamer. Teha Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab – Marbella PCF by Exxalt), who was second in her class despite having the same points as the winner, defended herself in the championship and won the bronze medal.
In the yearling stallions final the champion was the grey son of two gold medalists of the World Championships – Afreen Al Shaqab (D Mezyan – Siwar Al Shaqab by SMA Magic One), and the silver medal was won by the phenomenal son of the legendary stallion FA El Rasheem and the unbeaten mare D Ajayeb (by RFI Farid) – D Borkan. Both stallions won their sections in the yearling class and achieved the same final result. The bronze medal went to the son of the stallion Haash OSB and the mare Shaikha Al Shaqab by Kahil Al Shaqab, the colt Mushwash Al Shaqab. It was already the third medal for the Al Shaqab stud in the finals that started that day.
Among the junior mares, the beautiful bay Shahalel Al Shaqab (Na-Mous Al Shahania – Siwar Al Shaqab), unbeaten since the beginning of her career, turned out to be the best this time. She is the daughter of by far the most valuable mare currently in Al Shaqab – Siwar Al Shaqab (SMA Magic One – Abha Myra), a two-time gold medalist in Menton (as a one-year-old and a three-year-old) and in Paris (at the age of three). However, the phenomenal, well-known and titled D Najlah (D Seraj – Elle Flamenca by Ajman Moniscione), despite the highest score in all junior classes, won “only” the silver medal in this fierce fight.
It is worth noting that the competition for medals at such a large and high-quality show as this one takes place among horses with titles awarded all over the world, and often, as was the case in this championship, the medalists competing for medals are the medalists of shows in Menton, Dubai, Aachen and Paris. They changed their age category, from yearling fillies to junior mares, so they can compete again in all the most important shows with a clean slate.
The Bronze Medal went to the chestnut Brazilian-born Shahbrys HVP (Royal Asad – Rebecca HVP by Magnum Chall HVP).
In the junior stallion competition, the championship was dominated by horses bred by Aljassimya Farm. Bandar Al Jassimiya (Picasso Di Mar – Miznat Aljassimya by Monther Al Nasser) walked away with the gold medal, and Baz Aljassimya (Exxalt – MD Mirka by Aj Thee Luca) with the silver. The bronze medal was awarded to D Shakhar (D Shakhat – D Shamkhah by FA El Rasheem).
Then came the most anticipated confrontations of the day, the clash of real show titans – the Senior Mare Championship and the Senior Stallion Championship. The phenomenal AJ Kayya (AJ Kafu – AJA Caprice by EKS Alihandro) won the gold medal by the majority of the judges’ votes. It must be admitted that with age she has dried out, her femininity and delicacy are beautifully visible, she exudes charisma in the ring, which she has never lacked. The Silver Medal was won by Dubai’s D Shihanah (FA El Rasheem x D Shahla by Marajj). It is worth following her show career on the ArabianEssence platform, she is certainly one of the most successful Arabian mares in the world. Her offspring are also already winning medals in the most important shows. As you can see from her example, breeding is surprising, but in many cases it is predictable. Once again, during this show, we describe a mare, the daughter of a champion, who gives birth to wonderful horses that win all over the world. High quality will always prevail.
The bronze medal was won by the grey, maturing Emarella (Sahm El Arab – Emandorella by Eden C), bred in Michałów and owned by the Qatari stud Aljassimya Farm. It is a very nice feeling when a Polish-bred mare wins a medal in the championships at such an important and extremely difficult show. Congratulations to the breeders!
The time has come for older stallions. This is where the fight takes place not only for medals, but mainly for prestige, pride and honor. Everyone assumed that after the stallion Alexxanderr was withdrawn from the championship, the stallions ES Harir and D Seraj would compete for the gold medal! Ultimately, it was won by the dazzling, snow-white ES Harir (AJ Dinar – TF Magnums Magic by Magnum Psyche). He was selected for the gold medal by 10 of the 11 judges present in the ring. It is worth mentioning that the judges for each championship were randomly selected by computer. This method was intended to maintain independence in the finals. The silver medal went to the truly fabulous stallion D Seraj (FA El Rasheem – Ladi Veronika by Versace). The gold medalist of the World Yearling Stallion Championships in 2019, the now mature Rhan Al Shahania (Marwan Al Shaqab – Jwaaher Al Shahania by FA El Rasheem), won the bronze medal after a 5-year break from the show rings.
In addition to the honorary champion titles, there were cash prizes worth a total of QR 16,080,000 (EUR 4,180,800). Prizes were awarded to places from 1st to 6th in classes and the Top 10 of each championship.
The classification for the ranking has also begun, which includes 7 shows from the Global Champions Arabians Tour series (on the day of the final in Doha, the next city where the GCAT series show will take place was announced – London). The series will end with a show in Paris, during the World Championships (December 6-7-8).
