The Auction of the third Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF-2023) Monday saw a new record price bid of QR3.6mn to make it the most expensive embryo rights in the world on an action-packed sixth day of the 11-day festival.
The KIAHF-2023 is being held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the Katara Esplanade.
Beautiful mare D Shihanah (2017-born mare; sire, or father – FA El Rasheem and dam, or mother – D Shahla)’s embryo rights of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud was sold for the record price after fierce bidding, which touched 12 stages of bids starting from QR1mn up to QR3.6mn.
The exquisite D Shihanah, royally bred carrying a bit of Egyptian blood, goes back in pedigree to Marwan Al Shaqab.
The Dubai Arabian Horse Stud superstar has been taking horse show rings by storm in recent years.
At the KIAHF-22, champion international mare FT Shaella (also of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud)’s embryo rights fetched QR3.2mn.
It was also the first time that bidders could bid for embryo rights and breeding horses at the festival.
A total of seven high-pitched winning bids were made at the KIAHF-2023 Auction.
Of these, two bids were for breeding rights, two for embryo rights, one for a champion horse with colt and in-foal, and two other horses.
Jazeera Al Nasser with her colt foal Fannan Al Nasser (sired by Fahad Al Rayyan) and in-foal to Noorredine Ezzain of Al Nasser Stud, was sold for QR300,000.
The other winning bids were for D Seraj (breeding rights), 2015-born Grey Stallion of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud (QR200,000); Toya Al Naif (embryo rights) – 2009-born Grey Mare of Al Naif Stud (QR300,000); 2016-born Grey Mare Tuque Al Naif of Al Naif Stud (QR200,000); 2020-born Grey Filly Ayoush Al Shaqab of Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation (QR80,000); and 2016-born Chestnut Stallion AJ Radman (breeding rights), owned and bred by Ajman Stud – Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid al-Nuaimi (QR180,000).
Commenting on the KIAHF’s third successful staging, Malika Mohamed al-Shuraim, general secretary of the KIAHF Organising Committee and director of the New Media Department, PR & Communication – Katara, said that equestrian sport is one of the most important sports for which Qatar provides great support.
It has worked diligently to implement international standards in the tournaments it organises, making it a global and distinctive sports destination for riders and horse lovers looking for distinguished events that contribute to preserving the authentic Arab heritage.
Qatar has always been known as a centre for horse and equestrian sports and a pioneer in its interest in purebred Arabian horses, which has strengthened its position in this field globally.
Al-Shuraim added that the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival is one of the most important equestrian events, and seeks to protect the rich equestrian heritage through the diversity of its sporting, artistic and cultural events.
She praised the large participation of horse owners in the region in this festival, which includes the best Arabian horses of the world.
Al-Shuraim stressed that the KIAHF, in a way, "wrote a certificate of success for itself thanks to the great co-operation between the constituent bodies of the Organising Committee, foremost of which is Katara – the Cultural Village Foundation, which harnessed all its expertise and capabilities to organise a distinguished festival, and wished success to all the owners participating in the festival, the Qatar Equestrian Federation and the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC)”.
She noted that the vision of the auction is based on Qatar becoming a global centre for the most authentic and highest quality Arabian horses, and promoting a culture of interest for horse owners and breeders to participate in purebred Arabian horse shows that are organised locally and internationally.
Auction Results (winning bids)
* D Shihanah (embryo rights), 2017-born mare (sire: FA El Rasheem; dam: D Shahla); owned and bred by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud – QR3.6mn
* Jazeera Al Nasser with Fannan Al Nasser (colt foal sired by Fahad Al Rayyan) and in-foal to Noorredine Ezzain, 2015-born mare (sire: Alzeer Al Rayyan; dam: Selma Al Nasser), owned and bred by Al Nasser Stud – QR300,000
* Toya Al Naif (embryo rights), sire: Al Adeed Al Shaqab; dam: Simeon Se'ate; 2009-born Grey Mare; owned and bred by Al Naif Stud – QR300,000
* D Seraj (breeding rights), sire: FA El Rasheem; dam: Ladi Veronika; 2015-born Grey Stallion; owned and bred by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud – QR200,000
* Tuque Al Naif, sire: Nadeed Al Naif; dam: Batoul Al Naif; 2016-born Grey Mare; owned and bred by Al Naif Stud – QR200,000
* Ayoush Al Shaqab, 2020-born Grey Filly, sire: Marwan Al Shaqab; dam: Balqais Al Shaqab; owned and bred by Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation – QR80,000
* AJ Radman (breeding rights), 2016-born Chestnut Stallion, sire: AJ Mardan; dam: AJ Rahifa; owned and bred by Ajman Stud – Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid al-Nuaimi – QR180,000
D Shihanah was the highlight of the KIAHF Auction, which saw plenty of action.
