The Art of Photography

Al Shiraa Arabians - considered as one of the best establishments in the Arabian horse industry today; where the love and the pas- sion for the Arabian horse run deep. Owner, H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and farm manager, Antonia Bautista, have in a short space of time, put together an outstan- ding collection of horses that have taken the farm to new heights in the show rings and their very own breeding barn. While Al Shiraa’s treasured mare barn is filled with white (and the occasional bay) pearls from around the globe, their stallion barn has begun to fill up. It was in 2018 that Al Shiraa first leased a stallion and used him as chief sire for the breeding season. The stallion was the uber exotic, Ajman Stud bred and owned, AJ Portofi- no (Vervaldee x Magic Jamilla). AJ Portofino was bred to a number of their mares and the results are phenomenal. Now in 2020, Al Shiraa’s stallion barn is made up of three spectacular individuals. While each stallion stands out as an individual, together, this trifecta make up a conglomerate of superiority, ultimate quality and awe inspiring beauty like no other. The first stallion from this glorious triad is MAHDER AL JAMAL (Nader Al Jamaal x Mahi- ty El Jamaal), an alabaster beauty that was bred in Belgium. It was his unique and illustrious pedigree that combines some of the best Egyptian and Rus- sian blood and his undeniable good looks, that cau- ght the eye of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Antonia Bautista. What started as a joint lease between Al Shiraa Arabian and Bautista Vich Stud for the 2019 - 2020 season, soon became full ownership for Sheikha Fatima. Mahder Al Jamal now holds the esteemed title of chief sire at Al Shiraa Arabians. He is a phe- nomenal stallion that has so much to offer in both the phenotype and genotype departments. His au- thentic Arabian type, large dark eyes, fine muzzle, perfectly tipped ears and that long, luxurious neck, remind one of a bronze sculpture. He is a correct stallion that moves with grace and power; one that enthralls you with his presence and leaves you spe- echless. Mahder Al Jamal was bred by esteemed horseman, Jean Mattens. His dam, Mahity El Jama- al, is one of Jean’s prolific broodmares and of cour- se, a prized possession in the Arabian industry. Mahder Al Jamal is sired by the ultra-typey, strai- ght Egyptian stallion, Nader Al Jamal (Ansata Si- nan x Savannah CC). Israeli National Champion, Nader Al Jamal, was a beautiful grey stallion that blessed Mahder Al Jamal with his charisma and re- fined beauty. Nader Al Jamal’s sire, World Reserve Champion Ansata Sinan (Prince Fa Moniet x Ansa- ta Nefara), adds the blood of the great Ansata bro- odmatrons, Ansata Bint Misr, Ansata Bint Bukra and Bukra to this illustrious pedigree. Savannah CC (Thee Desperado x Miss Maggie Mae), was a prolific producer for Two Silo Farms and she adds multiple crosses to the straight Egyptian icons, The Minstril and Bint Magidaa, to Mahder Al Jamal’s pedigree. Mahder Al Jamal’s dam, Mahity Al Jamaal (Dakar El Jamaal x Mackenzie) is a beautiful bay mare that has been a star in both the breeding barn and the show ring. She was named Reserve Champion at the United Kingdom International Arabian Horse Show, Concorso International B Show and the Tulip Cup, to name a few. She is sired by the United States National Champion, Dakar Al Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Sonoma Lady). Both Dakar Al Jamaal’s sire and dam are United States National Champions and it is through Sonoma Lady, that Madher Al Jamal gets a cross to the aristocrat mare, Brandie. Mahder Al Jamal’s damline is pure Russian, which would explain his strong body and the athleticism that he exudes. He traces back to the treasured Tersk Stud broodmatrons, Panagia (dam of Balaton), Pu- stinia and Ptashka. The Russian P-line was one of the most revered after the M-line. They were strong individuals with the typical Russian high stepping trots and snort-and-blow attitudes. Together they forged a legacy that ultimately helped bring Mah- der Al Jamal to life. With a pedigree that is laced with greatness, fil- led to the brim with champions and adorned with aristocracy, it is easy to see why Mahder Al Jamal has succeeded so well in both the show ring and the breeding barn. Mahder Al Jamal was shown on numerous occasions and no matter how steep the competition, he always found himself in the winners circle. Mahder Al Jamal was named Gold Champion Senior Stallion at the Al Khalediah Eu- ropean Arabian Horse Festival, Tulip Cup, Belgian National and Austrian International Champion- ships and Silver Champion Stallion at the AHO World Cup, Prague International Championships and Abu Dhabi International Championships, just to name a few. His most recent win, under the Al Shiraa Arabians banner, was at the 2020 Sharjah International Arabian Horse Festival. It was at this prestigious A-show that Mahder Al Jamal shone bright. He won his class and was awarded six twen- ties (four of which were for Head and Neck) and in the championships, he was named SIlver Cham- pion Senior Stallion. As a sire, Mahder Al Jamal has been delivering consistency with every foal. His foals have his huge eyes and perfectly shaped ears. They are charisma- tic, correct and simply gorgeous. He effortlessly stamps his foals with his signature look and they are in turn flying his flag high in arenas and bre- eding establishments around the world. HIs dau- ghter, VA Lady Madhjra, is a beautiful chestnut filly that was named Bronze Champion at the Italian Nationals and Milan International Arabian Horse Show. Another spectacular daughter, TD Mariada, was named Gold Champion at the Midland Ara- bian Festival. Bronze Spanish National Champion, Vera BV, is a gorgeous Mahder Al Jamal daughter that is bred and owned by Bautista Vich Stud. She has been producing exceptionally well and it is her filly, that Al Shiraa Arabians leased for 2019 Euro- pean and 2020 Middle Eastern show seasons, Vil- ma BV by RFI Farid, that was named Gold Cham- pion Filly at the Chazey Sur Ain Show and Bronze Champion Filly at the AHO European Breeders maternal and paternal grand dams are Brazilian Championships. Vilma BV was also shown at the prestigious World Championships in Paris where she tied for second but ended being placed third in her class and then went on to earn Top Ten honors on championship day. The crimson beauty, AJ SANAD (AJ Mardan x AJ Sultana), is the second and youngest stallion in this amazing line up. AJ Sanad and another chestnut filly by the name of AJ Temaa were gifted to H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan by H.H. Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi from the Ajman Stud. These two horses are treasured by Sheikha Fatima and she is proud to call them her own. AJ Sanad’s pedigree represents some of the best Ajman breeding with influences from the United States and Brazil. Both AJ Sanad’s bombshells that have created superior dynasties at the Ajman Stud. AJ Sanad is sired by Ajman Stud’s super sire, AJ Mardan (Vervaldee x Felicia RLC). AJ Mardan is an exotic chestnut stallion that has produced two Triple Crown Winners in the past 5 years. Verval- dee (Versace x Giavanna) was one of Versace’s best sons and it is through him that AJ Sanad is bles- sed with two crosses to the legendary United States National Champion, Precious As Gold. The angelic Scottsdale Reserve Champion and Las Vegas Ara- bian Breeders World Cup Champion, Felicia RLC (Shael Dream Desert x Camelia K) is a stunning mare who brings the best of Brazil to AJ Sanad’s pedigree. Her sire, the Egyptian related, Shael Dre- am Desert (Ansata Shaamis x Elettra) adds another layer of type and refinement to AJ Sanad and it is through her dam, Camelia K (Donatel- lo K x Cameo Bey), that AJ Sanad gets an additional two crosses to the iconic stallion, Bey Shah. AJ Sanad’s dam, AJ Sultana (Marwan Al Shaqab x Siberia SA), is a product of Ajman Stud’s superstar cross - a cross that brought to life the likes of two time World Champion AJ Sawahi, Reserve World Champion AJ Sawari and Abu Dhabi Gold Champion AJ Saray. To be a daughter of the three time World Champion Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) already puts you a foot above the rest, but to have a dam that is a consistent producer of champions and who possesses some of the best Brazilian blood, makes you one of a kind. Just like the legends in his pedigree, AJ Sanad has been shown to success multi- ple times. At the 2018 Lyon Internatio- nal Arabian Show, which was his very first show, AJ Sanad proved to everyo- ne that winning was in his genes. Not only was he named Gold Champion Yearling Colt and awarded six twenties, but he was also awarded Best Mover,Best Head and the Best In Show Male. Later on that year, at the Barcelona International Arabian Show, AJ Sanad was named Bronze Champion Yearling Colt. In 2019, AJ Sanad returned to the Lyon International Arabian Show, this time being named Silver Cham- pion Junior Colt. While AJ Sanad does not have any foals on the ground as yet, he has been bred to a few of the precious Al Shiraa mares. And just like his forefathers we can expect AJ Sanad to bring to life a new gene- ration of greatness and beauty. The last stallion to round off this stellar thre- esome is the enchanting, BK LATIF (Na- der Al Jamal x Latifah AA). BK Latif is yet another direct son of the late Nader Al Jamal to call Al Shiraa home for the 2020 breeding season. He was bred by Leohnard Becker and is co-owned by Leohnard and Kathrin Ham- pe of Eos Arabians. When the opportunity arose to lease BK Latif, both Sheikha Fatima and Antonia grabbed it with both hands. This straight Egyptian powerhouse is admi- red around the world for his gobsmacking beauty, exotic type and superior pedigree. What makes BK Latif an even more attracti- ve stallion is the fact that he is not just a pret- ty face, but a rather complete and correct stallion that has taken home championship honors on more than one occasion and is si- ring foals of the utmost quality. The Egyptian blood that courses through BK Latif’s veins is some of the best in the indu- stry today. As mentioned before, he is a son of Nader Al Jamal (Ansata Sinan x Savannah CC). Just like he did with Mahder Al Jamal, Nader Al Jamal stamped BK Latif with his si- gnature type and refined beauty that his foals are known for. BK Latif’s dam, Latifah AA (Al Maraam x Imperial Kalatifa) is one of the premier broodmares at Ariela Arabians. This Israeli National Champion mare has been a consistent producer of champions with some of her best foals being by Nader Al Jamal. Both BK Latif’s full sisters, Labibah AA and Lutfina AA, are multiple award winning ma- res that have travelled the globe in order to make the dreams of breeders and trainers come true. Latifah AA is sired by the legendary Ariela bred stallion, multiple international cham- pion and sire extraordinaire, Al Maraam (Imperial Imdal x The Vision HG). Having won the titles of Reserve National Champion Stallion at the 1988 United States Nationals and Champion Stallion at the 1986 World Championships, Al Maraam’s sire, Imperial Imdal (Ansata Imperial x Dalia,) was one of the greatest stallions to come from the Griffith’s fa- med Imperial Stud in the United States. Al Maraam is a direct son of Ariela Arabians “black pearl” and the treasured broodmatron, The Vision HG (Thee Desperado x Belle Staar). The Vision HG was an iconic mare that will always have her name written down in the history books next to the likes of Esto- pa, Sanacht and Emigracja, as one of the greatest mares that ever lived. The individuals in Latifah AA’s female line are known for being some of the greatest producers in the industry. It is her dam, Imperial Kalatifah (Imperial Al Kamar x AK Latifa), that brought the Israeli National Champion, Luiba, and the Wor- pe, as well as being named twice Gold Champion ld Champion, Loubna, to life. And it is her grand dam, AK Latifa, that blessed the world with the su- per sire, Laheeb. Having won the Silver Champion Junior Colt title and Best Head award at the Egyptian Event Euro- as a junior and a senior at the German Nationals, BK Latif is considered a show ring star. However, BK Latif ’s stardom shines much brighter in the bre- eding barn. He effortlessly passes on his extreme type, sublime beauty and winning ways to his foals. His sons, BK Lamino and MS El Paso, have won on numerous occasions in Europe, while his daughters like Eos Reeva and Eos Dakota are ultra feminine and are ready to prove their worth as broodmares. These three stars have the privilege of calling Al Shiraa Arabians home. Together with the meticu- lous breeding decisions of Sheikha Fatima and An- tonia, Madher Al Jamal, AJ Sanad and BK Latif will add new dimensions of beauty and breathtaking layers of quality to the Al Shiraa program and in turn, change the face of the breed for the future. We look forward to a new generation of foals and a new era for Al Shiraa Arabians. It is said that when stars align, they shine brighter than ever and they pave the path for the future. The triad of Mahder Al Jamal, AJ Sanad and BK Latif have aligned for Al Shiraa and we can be certain that the path going forward is going to be brighter than ever.