TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

AL SHAQAB, a member of Qatar Foundation and a prestigious name in the equestrian world, is eagerly waiting for the six day United States Egyptian event to be held in Lexington, Kentucky from June 4
Driven by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, Al Shaqab has entered a strong foursome in the high-profile show with high hopes of maintaining its run of shining successes.

Mohammed al Sulaiti, the Manager of Breeding and Show in Al Shaqab, is optimistic about Al Shaqab’s entries doing well in the Kentucky event.

“This is a blue-ribbon event for the top Egyptian horses in the world and we’re proud to contest in this horse show.

“We’ve had a long list of achievements in this equestrian sport. In the past two years, our horses have done extremely well and it won’t be any surprise if we come out of this show with flying colours,” added Sulaiti.

Al Shaqab has entered Hooria Al Shaqab, Ghasham Al Shqab, Dawlah Al Shaqab and Layali Al Shaqab with an eye on the supreme female and male sweep. While Layali Al Shaqab is making her international debut, Hooria Al Shaqab, Ghasham Al Shaqab and Dawlah Al Shaqab, all offsprings of the famed Al Adeed Al Shaqab, have all earned international titles previously.

Ghasham Al Shaqab was named Silver Champion Colt in this same event in 2011. Hooria Al Shaqab had captured the Silver Champion Mare title in the United Kingdom International Arabian Horse Show last season, and Dawlah Al Shaqab was declared the 2010 Egyptian Event Europe Reserve Champion Filly in 2010.

Talking about the Lexington event, Sulaiti said: “This is a very significant event for us.

Keeping our past achievements in mind, we are expected to deliver good results once again.

Every year, the US Egyptian Event is getting tougher, but we are well prepared for it and aim to constantly improve our results.” “A fantastic display by our horses would give us a big advantage not only for the upcoming European season, but also for first-ever World Straight Egyptian Championship,” added Sulaiti.

Rome is slated to be the host of the maiden World Championship for Straight Egyptians in October.

Al Shaqab, which is fast developing and diversifying its business activities under Director Fahad Sadd al Qahtani, has secured many titles this year, including the coveted Champion Colt title for Hariry Al Shaqab in the renowned Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, which has the largest entries for an Arabian horse show in the world.

Al Shaqab kick-started the year with the Al Khalediah International Arabian Horse Festival in Al Khalediah, Saudi Arabia. Fadi Al Shaqab and Wadee Al Shaqab came up with strong performances.

Respectively they were declared the Champion Stallion and Silver Champion Colt title.

The second major event in the Middle East leg was the Qatar International Arabian Horse Championship and International Straight Egyptian Horse Show. Al Shaqab’s five contestants secured notable results.

Wadee Al Shaqab claimed the Champion Colt honours.

Fadi Al Shaqab clinched the Champion Stallion and Coco Shanel IA was named the Silver Champion Mare in the Qatar International Championships.

Amwaj Al Shaqab dominated the Straight Egyptian Horse Show, earning the Champion Mare crown.

Yakoutah Al Shaqab captured the Silver Champion Filly honors.

Nader Al Shaqab extended Al Shaqab’s sequence of impressive displays and won recently the Champion Stallion crown in the Tulip Cup in Holland.

“The pressure to perform is obviously there but the pleasure of excelling in such demanding scenarios is unique and very satisfying,” added Sulaiti, who has left for the US to support Al Shaqab’s horses in Lexington.