“Best in Show” For Hikayet Hob AA
It was on Eid day when four-legged beauty Hikayet Hob conquered the European crown of Straight Egyptian mares at the Egyptian Event Europe in front of the most splendid castle “Löwenstein”. All championships, except one Silver and one Bronze, were accomplished by horses bred and owned in the Middle East.
Amidst old trees in the 16-hectare English park with almost one kilometer of riverbank on the Main lies in the castle Löwenstein, about 45 minutes away from Frankfurt Airport. The caste in the grassland was planned by court architect Louis Rémy de la Fosse in the style of the late French Baroque. The residential construction is characterized by the twelve-spoke wheel windows. Two pavilions facing west are flanking the main courtyard; formerly the Marstall and the Leibgarde resided there. Nowadays, castle Löwenstein is not only a winery and a conference hotel but foremost the home of the lord of the manor, Alois Konstantin Fürst zu Löwenstein, and his family. The family zu Löwenstein acquired the property as early as 1721. In the main part of the three-wing complex is the marble hall with a ceiling painting by Ambrosius Reith, which celebrates the victory of the virtues over the vice.
In the run-up to EEE, Bettina von Kameke, president of the Pyramid Society Europe, organized a lecture about the many possibilities of reproductive technology which was sponsored by Kuwait’s’ state stud farm Bait Al Arab. The lecture was held in English by Michaela Kölling, director of a semen collection center and specialist for fertility of mares. Afterward there have been intensive discussions. This discussion was also the product of latest WAHO resolutions.
The presentation of non-show horses was intended as a platform for European breeders. They were invited to present horse families or individual horses showing their horses beyond competition and to use a chance to display their breeding lines even without Noble Festival this year. This offer was used only occasionally, but was very well received by the audience.
German PSE members and longtime breeders Hain, Seidlitz-Oster, and Tabler took the opportunity to present their horses during a break for a special presentation.
After Lanaken and castle Dyck, Löwenstein was the new event venue for this year’s Egyptian Event Europe (EEE); with its magnificent, three-winged country castle Löwenstein provided a magnificent backdrop for Hikayet Hob’s amazing success.
The victory of the Al Ayal AA daughter Hikayet Hob AA should not be a surprise as she was named Kuwait All Nations Cup Straight Egyptians Gold Champion Junior Filly as a result of the unanimous vote of the judges. Back in the show ring as a senior, Hikayet Hob AA entered for European soil and wowed judges and spectators likewise. The shimmering white mare won her class easily with the highest score of the show with 132,25 points, including unanimous 20’s for Head and Type. The next step on her way to the top was the Senior Mare Champion which she again won unanimously. Thanks to the highest score, Hikayet Hob AA was also named Best in Show – Female, much to the delight of her proud owner Ahmad Abdulaziz Albabtain of Abhaa Arabians, Kuwait.
Hikayet Hob – her name reminds of the Book of Job and the prophet Job who had a good and prosperous family. The reigning Best in Show comes from another excellent, prosperous family. Being an Al Ayal AA daughter out of Hamdiyah AA, Hikayet Hob AA traces back on both sides of her pedigree to outstanding broodmare supreme, The Vision HG who died just one year ago.
Next to Hikayet Hob AA, Tibrah Al Shaqab (Farhoud Al Shaqab x Twom Hiddiyya) and Alma GB (Nader Al Jamal x Zarka) were awarded Silver and Bronze.
However, it was the foals which opened the series of championships. Lilly Franke of Al Firdous Arabians, Germany, who received the Gold award for the second year running. The fine three-month-old BK Latif daughter ZL Latifa, out of ZL Mayran Bint Maydara (tracing back to well-known Maysouna), was placed first in the class and was awarded Gold Champion Foal, too. Next to ZL Latifa was NDA Nile Shira, a Bashir Al Rayyan daughter out of NDA Shariha Bint Shanah (tracing back to UP Shari). This Silver winning, two-month-old filly is bred and owned by Nile Dawn Arabians, Germany.
The yearling championships were given in the order of the classes. Ammad Albabtain of Abhaa Arabians was successful with another Al Ayal AA daughter. AB Deem received Gold after winning Bronze at the Kuwait ANC Straight Egyptians earlier this year. Her dam is Dalal Zamani, a full sister to multi-champion Wadad Zamani who was Senior Champion Mare at the 2017 Egyptian Event in Kentucky, USA.
Al Shaqab received Silver for the Al Rasheed Al Rayyan daughter Saeeda Al Shaqab out of Nouf Al Shaqab. Dana Al Rashediah, by Jamil Al Rayyan out of Maleeha Al Rashediah, bred and owned by Al Rashediah Stud, was awarded Bronze.
The first Gold Champion for Al Shaqab secured Naaem Al Waab (Barraq El El Aliya x Nabeela Saqr), bred by Al Waab Stud but now standing in the halls of Al Shaqab. The grey colt represents an interesting pedigree, combining the lines of three globally influential broodmares in his pedigree: Ansata Majesta, Ansata Selket, and Ansata Nafisa. Silver winning DY Suhail Al Beda’a (Hadban Al Naif x DY Ghalia Rayyan) was bred in Denmark but is owned by another Qatari stud, Al Bidda. The Bronze Champion Messaoud Al Maya (Naseem Al Rashediah x Kameelia Al Kamar RB) is bred owned by Mrs. Josiane Kleiber-Gosselin of Al Maya Arabians, France.
In the Junior Fillies Championship, Abhaa Arabians were successful again as their Asinaat SA accomplished Gold. The 2017 born grey filly is by Shams Sharav AA and out of Amasi Al Ayal, by Al Ayal AA and out of Malaak Sabha. Asinaat SA offers a similar combination of bloodlines like Hikyat Hob AA. Like in the Senior Mares Championship, Silver and Bronze were given to Al Shaqab Stud and Al Rashediah Stud. Ambera Al Shaqab (x Dawlah Al Shaqab) made her contribution to Ansata Nile Echos’ “Best Sire” award for the second time in a row while Al Rashediah received Bronze for their Suhal Al Nasser daughter Salma Al Rashediah (x Sallamah Ezzain).
In the Junior Colts Championship, Sheikh Hamad Bin Ali Al Thani celebrated a double success in his function as manager of Al Shaqab Stud and Al Rayyan Farm likewise. Asfoor Al Rayyan unanimously received Gold Champion Junior Colt. The two-years-old is by Hilal Al Nakeeb, who was leased by al Rayyan Farm in 2016. Ghalia Al Zobara, Asfoor’s dam, represents lines from Al Rayyan and Al Shaqab as she is by Ashhal Al Rayyan out of Inra Al Shaqab. The Al Shaqab bred colt Sadeer Al Shaqab (by Sinan Al Rayyan) received Bronze. He is out of Kawkeb Al Shaqab, tracing back to Ansata Bint Halima, and represents the fifth generation of Al Shaqab Stud. Silver winning Hanine Al Shahania is by Al Adeed Al Shaqab out of Shomos Al Nasser who is tracing back to famed Pharrah (Farag x Tamria). As the name suggests, Hanine Al Shahania is bred by Al Shahania Stud but belongs to Marina Novotna, Czech Republic.
It was SM Bariq (Sameh Al Rayyan x Shawq Al Nasser) who was one step ahead in the Senior Stallions Championship. With the highest score of all males (131,25), the five years old stallion accomplished not only Gold Champion but also Best in Show Male. SM Bariq is no newcomer to the show ring. While standing in Italy, the stallion garnered championships at the 2017 SEWC and 2019 EE in Milan for proud breeder and owner Salman Stud, KSA. His exclusive pedigree combines some of the most stunning Straight Egyptian mares in recent years like RN Farida, Bint Saida Al Nasser, Ansata Majesta, and Ansata Samantha.
The Silver Championship was given to a bright bay stallion, Asayel Raheeb, by Naseem Al Nakeeb. His dam F Shubani Bint Al Lahab is by World Champion Al Lahab. Sired by Naseem Al Nakeeb, Asayel Raheeb combines the most influential Hanan descendants like Ghazala, Jamil, and Salaa El Dine with the famed blood of Lutfiah on the paternal side of his pedigree. F Shubani Bint Lahab is Asayel Raheeb’s dam, a daughter of World Champion Al Lahab and a granddaughter of champion producer Maysoun and tracing back in tail female line to the global influential Rodania through Nazeera – Malaka – Bint Bint Riyala. Already an accomplished Gold Champion in the Middle East, competed successfully in Europe winning not only Silver at the EEE but at the Elran Cup as well.
Bashir Al Rayyan repeated his win of the previous year and accomplished Bronze Champion. Bred by Al Rayyan Farm, the Ansata Nile Echo son is out of G Shafaria and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Mubarack Al Thani. Also, Best Breeders Worldwide award was given to Al Shaqab Stud which took home two Gold, three Silver, and one Bronze championship.
Comments from visitors received were positive regarding the classy background and the comfortable sleeping quarters directly in the castle, close to the showground. The stylish surrounding did not take away the friendly and familiar atmosphere. The EEE is not only about show and seminar, but it has also become a social meeting point. Even the princely family also took part in the dinner in the Marble Hall with a fascinating ambience and talked to many spectators during the show. The show ring was so close that all the horses showed their full potential. Stable tents and showground were separated and yet easily accessible much to the delight of the trainers, handlers and their teams.
The visitors went home with the good feeling that the EEE has found a great new venue, where everyone likes to come back. Talking to each other, meeting people who usually do not join other shows is an important reason for many international visitors to travel long distances.
Susanne Bösche
