Top Egyptian Broodmares

J ewe l s i n t h e C r ow n Top Egyptian Broodmares by Arlene Magid-Williams Blessed are the broodmares... and some mares are more blessed than others with the gift of producing exceptional offspring by multiple sires, passing on their own best traits to their foals. Such mares are indeed worth a king s ransom. Both of the mares we honor here were bred by Imperial Egyptian Stud of Maryland. Imperial closed down its operation in 2007, but its influence will echo through future generations of Egyptian breeding worldwide. Mares like Imperial Mistilll and Imperial Karmah are typical of the supreme quality bred at Imperial for nearly forty years. Imperial Mistilll and Imperial Karmah have unique designations within the Egyptian community. As the dam of nine class A champions or reserves, Imperial Mistilll now holds the distinction of all-time leading Egyptian dam of champions, surpassing RDM Maar Hala, who held that honor for many years with eight champion offspring. Imperial Karmah is the only mare to be an Egyptian Event Leading Dam for five years in a row, and all of her offspring have won Egyptian Event titles. Of Mistilll, Beverly Sziraky, the longtime manager of Imperial, says, Imperial Mistilll was possibly the most influential broodmare in our program. Every one of her foals that were shown became champions and their contribution to breeding programs in the U.S. and abroad has been well documented. Imperial Mistilll was foaled on December 20, 1984, sired by U.S. Top Ten Stallion *Jamilll, who was bred by Dr. Hans Nagel of Germany, one of the most respected breeders of Egyptian Arabians in the world. Mistill s sire was an international sire of champions, whose get include; World Champion Mare and National Champion producer Tiffaha; Brazilian National Champion Mare Kapriole; U.K. International and Danish International Reserve Champion Stallion and National Champion sire Ansata Nile Pasha; and Qatari National Champion Mare Ansata Majesta, dam of multinational champion All-time Leading Egyptian Dam of Champions Imperial Mistilll (*Jamilll x Ansata Nile Mist), left, with her son Imperial Saturn by *Ibn Safinaz. and sire of national champions Ashhal Al Rayyan and American Egyptian Event Reserve Supreme Champion Mare Delta Venus. Imperial Mistilll was a maternal sister to halter champion and champion producer Imperial Mistic and to Imperial Mistry, dam of halter champion and National winner sire Imperial Imperor and of East Coast Champion Mare and National Champion producer Imperial Imtiarah. Imperial Mistilll s maternal brother, Imperial Madaar, was an Australian National Champion Stallion. Her dam Ansata Nile Mist was a halter champion and a National Champion producer. She was by U.S. National Champion Stallion Ansata Ibn Sudan and out of the champion producer Falima. Ansata Ibn Sudan was similarly bred to U.S. National Champion Mare Fa Halima, as both were by U.S. Top Ten Stallion *Ansata Ibn Halima out of Babson Egyptian mares who traced in tail female to a mare of the *Fadl/*Bint Bint Sabbah cross. Beverly Sziraky recalls how Imperial Mistilll came to 78 PYRAMID WORLD

be: I had attended a conference on reproduction at Ansata many years ago. At the time they had *Jamilll on lease and I remember being very impressed with him. Upon returning to Maryland I spoke to Barbara about *Jamilll and she decided to send Mistill s dam to be bred to him. The resultant foal, a tiny, scrawny little filly, was not exactly what we had been expecting. She did have attitude though, and we decided to wait it out, not breeding her until she was four. The rest, as they say, is history. Barbara Griffith said of Mistilll: Mistilll had all the physical attributes we look for in a mare beauty and conformation plus the personality traits (a loving nature and a keen interest in interaction with people) that we considered essential. A very refined mare, Mistilll had the typical *Jamilll eyes and beautiful symmetry. She always had symmetry. And beauty. Some Arabian horses just always look good. All their lives. No awkward stages. No periods of seesaw growth. No times of doubt in their owners minds about their worth. Just always beautiful. Imperial Mistilll was one of those horses. And she never looked better than heavy in foal. Most people were first attracted to her exotic looks. But once they got to know her, it was her personality that captivated them. Beverly Sziraky remembers Mistilll in her old age with fondness: Mistilll was a feisty little mare and the dominant individual in any group. She and BB Ora Kalilah, Imperial Baarez s dam, were lifelong companions and spent the autumn of their lives with free run of the farm. Every once in a while, though, they would come flying around the corner, snorting, tails high and infirmities forgotten, a living reminder of why we breed these wonderful horses. Imperial Mistilll was never shown and produced 13 registered foals before her death on December 11, 2005. Nine of these became champions and a number of them are producing champion Imperial Karmah (Imperial Al Kamar x Imperial Janaabah) is the only mare to be an Egyptian Event Leading Dam for five years in a row. offspring to add to the laurels of her family. Imperial Mistilll contributed a great deal to the quality of her offspring, as she was bred to five different stallions and produced at least one champion by each of them. Her first foal was Imperial Saahoura, born in 1989 and sired by Imperial head sire *Ibn Safinaz. She had an exceptional show career, with wins including Region 15 Top Five Mare, Region 12 Champion Sweepstakes Filly, and Egyptian Event Reserve Supreme Champion Mare at age two. She was an excellent producer as well, with offspring including 1991 Egyptian Event Reserve Supreme Champion Mare MB Pirouette; MB Minuet (dam of Egyptian Event winners); and Saahoura KA, dam of two Egyptian Event winners including Glorious KA, who is also a regional halter winner. Imperial Saahoura was last owned by Kehilan Bloodstock of Texas, in whose ownership she passed away in 2003. Imperial Mistilll s next daughter was Imperial Dakilah, a full sister to Imperial Saahoura foaled in 1990. She was sold to Montebello in Canada in 1993 and is now listed as owned by Nancy MacConnell of Bourque, Quebec. She is 1996 U.S. National Top Ten Futurity Colt MB Mistaz (*Ibn Safinaz x Imperial Mistilll). one of the few Mistilll offspring who do not have a show record. Mistilll s next foal was her first son and first national winner, Imperial Saturn, foaled in 1991, and sired by *Ibn Safinaz. He was named a U.S. Top Ten Futurity Colt and has also had a successful career under saddle, with wins including 2001 Region 9 Top Five Sidesaddle and championships or reserves in both hunter and western pleasure. He is also a sire of champions and is the grandsire of 2007 U.S. National Reserve Champion Sport Horse Jackpot Filly Lidy. He is now owned by Jane Simicek of Texas, who says of him: Looking back on the last ten years since Imperial Saturn came to our farm, I have been amazed at his versatility and willing attitude in the showring, showing in different disciplines often at the same show. He has shown successfully in halter, western pleasure, and hunter in the same show, and he has done it with a minimum of professional training. I am seeing the same athletic ability and personality traits in his get and grandget that have made Saturn successful in the showring. Imperial Mistilll s influence will continue to impact the Arabian horse showring. Mistilll s fourth foal was also by *Ibn Safinaz and was very successful in the showring. Imperial Safillla, foaled in 1992, won multiple reserve championships in halter, a regional Top Ten in halter, and an Egyptian Event futurity class. She has had six offspring 79 PYRAMID WORLD

2008 Egyptian International Reserve Champion Senior Stallion Imperial Baareg (Imperial Baarez x Imperial Karmah). to date, including 2006 Egyptian Event Leading Dam Imperial Kamoeh (who died at age eight). Safillla can now be bred only by embryo transfer. She was purchased from Imperial in the fall of 2005 by Anne-Louise Toner of Al Atiq Arabians in Maryland, who values her wonderful temperament as much as her beauty: Above all else, Safillla is a huge character. She has the most enormous black eyes, is elegant and dignified and graceful and looks the epitome of the beautiful Arabian mare. The reality, for those who know her, is that she is a mischievous imp who can undo any latch (and will let out only her best friend when she has managed to escape herself ), turn on the water, undo the other horses blankets, steals any unguarded cup of Starbucks chai without mercy, and does all of it with an air of entitlement and completely innocent grace. She is a kind and gentle mare, and our ambassador when school groups come to visit, standing patiently while little fingers attempt to do up a halter, or four children are positioned one at each leg, brushing enthusiastically and usually in the wrong direction. Each time I watch her wandering next to a little tot (who could walk beneath her belly) as they are learning to lead a horse, I remember that she is also a show mare who competed and won with fire and flamboyance and her huge, elevated trot, against top open competition and at the Egyptian Event, and am grateful again for the chance to know such a beautiful soul. She is the mare I sit with on stormy days, to watch the rain and discuss things over a good cup of tea, and the undisputed queen of our farm. Mistilll s fifth foal was her second National winner, and is also by *Ibn Safinaz. MB Mistaz was foaled in 1993 and his titles include U.S. Top Ten Futurity Colt, two regional sweepstakes titles, and Egyptian Event Reserve Junior Champion Colt. He has been owned by Melissa Huprich, (Lotus Bloodstock) of Georgia, since December 2006. She explains why she bought him: I was drawn to Mistaz for a variety of reasons. He s a charismatic stallion who combines excellent halter conformation with extravagant motion. Some of the things that really stood out are his long neck set high into a very laid-back shoulder, and his exceptional hock action and drive from the rear. His pedigree is very solid for generations back. I m a stickler for the dam s pedigree and the grandam s pedigrees and he combines the famous Safinaz in Egypt with Ansata Nile Mist. His sire is a long-lived reliable champion at halter and performance who was able to pass on correct conformation and athletic ability and temperament. Mistaz s dam was an excellent cross with a variety of stallions. Mistaz and his siblings are able to win not only at the Egyptian Event, but also in class A, Regional, National, and international competition. So for me, Mistaz was a stallion for many reasons, combining halter and performance potential, with a solid pedigree to back it up. His elegance and charming personality are icing on the cake. Imperial Mistill s sixth offspring, foaled in 1994, was her first by Imperial Al Kamar, and Imperial Kamilll thus has four lines to *Ansata Ibn Halima. He had a successful show career in the U.S., winning his world championship halter class at the Egyptian Event in 1999 and twice being named Region 15 Reserve Champion Stallion and once East Coast Reserve Champion Stallion. He is also a blue-ribbon winner in English pleasure. He sired 13 registered get in the U.S., 38 percent of them class A show champions, and three of them Egyptian Event halter winners. Imperial Kamilll was sold to Donald Duke in England and arrived there for the 2002 show and breeding season. He has had a good show career in Europe, where he has won the 2002 U.K. International Stallion Championship and a top ten in halter at the Salon du Cheval. Imperial Mistilll s daughter Imperial Misterin was born in 1995, and is her only foal by U.S. Top Ten Stallion AOTH Say Amen, a son of national champion sire The Minstril. She is a halter champion and has produced seven registered foals. She is currently owned by Joel Kuhens of Arkansas. Imperial Mistilll s next daughter was her first foal by Brazilian National Champion Stallion PVA Kariim, a son of World Champion Stallion and U.S. National Reserve Champion Stallion Imperial Imdal. Imperial Mistillla, foaled in 1996, was not shown but is a regional winner producer as her son Barachis Litening (by Al Baraki) is a Region 9 Top Five Stallion AOTH. She is currently owned by the Al Shaqab Stud of Qatar. Imperial Mistilll s ninth foal was a son, Imperial Mistaal, also sired by PVA Kariim and foaled in 1997. He was a halter reserve champion as a two-year-old colt, was subsequently gelded as a four-year-old, and is now owned by Lorraine Hancock of Virginia. Mistilll s tenth foal, Imperial Safari, was a colt born in 1999 and sired by *Ibn Safinaz. Beverly Sziraky recalls that he was sold as a youngster as a Pony Club prospect, 80 PYRAMID WORLD

although the new owner did not transfer his papers so official records show him as still owned by Imperial. In 2000, Imperial Mistilll foaled her daughter Imperialbaarillla, her first foal by World Reserve Champion Stallion Imperial Baarez (a son of PVA Kariim). Imperialbaarillla was a halter champion in America as a five-year-old. In 2007, as part of Imperial s dispersal, a significant part of the Imperial breeding herd was entrusted to Tarek and Ahmed Soliman s El Farida Stud in Egypt. Imperialbaarillla was among that group. In their ownership she has had a successful international show career, with wins including a second in the class for seven- to nine-year-old mares at the 2007 Egyptian Event Europe and the mare championship at the 2007 Italian Egyptian Event. Imperial Mistilll s twelfth foal was the Imperial Al Kamar son Imperial Ibnkamar, foaled in 2001. As with Imperial Safari, he was sold as a pony hunter prospect and his registration has not been transferred so official records show him as still owned by Imperial. Bev Sziraky explains: Ibnkamar was sold as a gelding and often people who bought our geldings failed to register them as they were used mainly for hunting, Pony Club, dressage, and the like. This colt, we felt, though very pretty, was too small to qualify as a breeding stallion. The buyers planned to show him in open pony classes and small hunter. As most people know, we culled rather ruthlessly and kept very few colts entire, especially in the last 14 years while I was the manager. Imperial Mistilll s final foal was the bay Imperial Mistaar, born in 2002. He is by Imperial Baarez and has had a good record as a show horse and sire. He was a class winner at the Egyptian Event and has also been a halter champion, and in 2008 he was named an Egyptian Event Leading Halter Sire. He is now owned by Imperial Mistaar LLC of Dallas, Pennsylvania. 2008 Egyptian Event leading halter sire Imperial Mistaar (Imperial Baarez x Imperial Mistilll). Imperial Karmah, who was foaled in 1995, is the only mare to be an Egyptian Event Leading Dam for five successive years, 2002-2006. All of her six offspring have Egyptian Event titles to their credit, two of them are champions there, and three of her offspring are also class A show champions or regional winners as well. Beverly Sziraky says: Though a beautiful mare in her own right, Karmah s main claim to fame was as a superior broodmare, and certainly one of the most important mares in the Imperial program. Imperial Karmah is now owned by Barry Dearle of Canada, who bought her from Imperial in the fall of 2006. Beverly Sziraky recalls Karmah fondly: Karmah was beloved by everyone who cared for and knew her. Her gentle nature and tractable disposition has been passed on to all of her foals. My own gelding, Imperial Baayan, was out of Karmah and was trained in dressage. He was one of the most willing and trainable horses I have ever ridden. Karmah s new owner Barry Dearle realizes what a treasure graces his barn and pasture: I consider myself very fortunate to be able to walk out to the barn or mare pasture and see a mare of Imperial Karmah s beauty and stature Egyptian Event top ten winner in halter, western pleasure, hunter pleasure, and dressage Imperial Baayan (Imperial Baarez x Imperial Karmah). gracing my property. Karmah, to me, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Her record as a producer of champions speaks for itself. I am currently waiting (anxiously) for her to deliver her next Imperial Baarez foal within the next week, this foal will be the seventh of this championship cross with Baarez. Unfortunately for me, the Arabian breed, and others, this foal will be the last of this cross due to the export of Baarez to Egypt. Just as important to me is Karmah s sweet demeanor, how she will call to me and gallop across the pasture as I approach her. Imperial Karmah is by Imperial Al Kamar, whose brief show career was ended by a leg injury but whose wins includes four regional sweepstakes titles, one of them a championship, and two reserve championships. He is an international sire of champions with winners including national champions in Uruguay, Israel, Qatar, and the U.K. His best known daughters are 1997 Israeli National Champion Mare and 1995 Middle East Reserve Junior Champion Filly Imperial Kalatifa (dam of three National Champions including World Champion Mare Loubna) and seventime National Champion Kamasayyah, whose titles include Middle East Supreme Champion Mare and twice Qatari 81 PYRAMID WORLD

National Champion Mare. Six Imperial Al Kamar get have won in halter on the regional level in America, and two are regional performance winners. Imperial Al Kamar has ranked as a Leading Halter Sire at the American Egyptian Event from 1994-2006 and again in 2008. Imperial Karmah s dam, Imperial Janaabah, also produced 1993 World Junior Champion Colt and National Champion sire Imperial Mashhar and halter reserve champion Sahra Jakeel (a three-quarter brother to Imperial Karmah as he is by a son of Imperial Al Kamar). She was a full sister to Region 18 Top Five Mare Imperial Janeesah. Imperial Janaabah s dam, halter champion Imperial Fanniya, produced five champions, and her grandam *Deenaa produced four champions. Thus Imperial Karmah comes from an exceptional female family. All of Imperial Karmah s offspring are by World Reserve Champion Stallion Imperial Baarez. Beverly Sziraky comments: Every one of her foals became a successful show horse with multiple championships to their credit. (This is) one of those golden crosses that happen occasionally. Imperial Karmah already has an enviable legacy and her next foal, by Imperial Baarez, is due in July. Her new owner is understandably excited about its arrival and counting the days. Karmah s first daughter, Imperial Baarakah, was foaled in 1999 and named an Egyptian Event Reserve Senior Champion Mare (2003) and was also a Region 15 Reserve Champion Sweepstakes Filly and a Region 16 Top Five Sweepstakes Filly. She is currently owned by Brooke and Candi Weeks of Texas. Her next offspring, the 2000 gelding Imperial Baayan, has three top ten titles at the Event as well as ribbons in western and hunter pleasure and two blues in dressage there; he is also a class A reserve champion in halter and has blues in sport horse gelding in hand and first level dressage. He was owned during his Imperial Baazirah (Imperial Baarez x Imperial Karmah), winner of five top tens at the Egyptian Event, and a Class A Reserve Junior Championship. show career by Beverly Sziraky but is now owned by Susan Cable of Maryland. Karmah s daughter Imperial Baazirah, a 2001 model, has five top tens at the Egyptian Event and a class A reserve junior championship to her credit. She is the dam of 2007 Egyptian Event Junior Champion Filly ESA Laila Nile (by Ansata Nile Nadir). She has been owned since she was a yearling by Eastern Star Arabians of Pennsylvania (Joseph Chollak and Polly Schaefer). Polly explains: Imperial Baazirah was purchased as a weanling off a video I saw of her at the Egyptian Event. There was something about her that made me fall head over heels as she trotted around in her pasture. Baazirah is a phenomenal producing broodmare and an absolute love to have at the farm. She is one of those mares that everyone dreams of having as part of their broodmare band. Eastern Star Arabians are also fortunate to own Imperial Karismah, born in 2005 and an Egyptian Event top ten world championship class winner whom they purchased as part of the Imperial herd dispersal in 2007 82 PYRAMID WORLD (they are also partners in the Imperial Mistilll son Imperial Madaar, already mentioned). Polly Schaefer comments: Imperial Karismah is a three-year-old mare that we are breeding for the first time this year. Before Imperial closed their doors, Karismah was going to be the replacement for her dam, Imperial Karmah. On one of my many trips to Imperial I saw this beautiful grey yearling and asked Beverly if she was for sale. Of course she said no, but as the time approached for Imperial s closing she was offered to Eastern Star Arabians and we jumped at the chance of owning another Imperial Karmah daughter. Karmah s son Imperial Baareg, foaled in 2002, is the 2004 Egyptian Event Reserve Junior Champion Colt and was named 2007 Egyptian International Reserve Senior Champion Stallion and 2008 Egyptian National Champion Stallion in the ownership of Tarek and Ahmed Soliman s El Farida Stud in Egypt, who acquired him as part of the Imperial herd dispersal. Karmah s 2006 daughter, Imperial Kismetah, was named 2008 Top Ten Two-Year-Old Futurity Filly and 2007 Yearling Futurity Champion and Top Five Egyptian Breeders Challenge Filly at the Egyptian Event. Like her dam, she is owned by Barry Dearle of Canada, who says of her: As the icing on the cake, Imperial Kismetah, Karmah s latest champion daughter, arrived here at Alli~Barr Arabians this past week, and one cannot appreciate her true beauty until you see her snorting and blowing as she shows off in her pasture. I owe a debt of gratitude to Barbara Griffiths and Beverly Sziraky for entrusting these two wonderful horses into my care Mares like Imperial Mistilll and Imperial Karmah are a tribute to the skill of Barbara Griffiths and the Imperial staff. Their contributions ensure that Imperial Egyptian Stud will be remembered worldwide, wherever beautiful Arabian horses are treasured.