In the previous article I tried to show the influence of the “mainstream” Crabbets like Raktha, Oran and others. In this article I will focus on the impact some of the imports from the USA had. A few “unknown”’ Crabbets will also be highlighted.

Al Burak: This stallion, mostly known through his son, Chez Nous Shah Rukh (out of Silsilla), and the impact he had as a broodmare sire for the Vidiko stud. He also sired Jamani Lineze (out of Jamani LIkwezi (Grantchester x Correze by Count Dorsaz) in the pedigree of Al Gamila Caliph. Furthermore, he sired Vlinkfontein Rosary (out of Rabina by Rabiyas) in the pedigree of Koringkloof Indian Star. Sharena Benjamin (out of Nazrina) is prominent in, among others, Vlinkfontein Sweet Girl, dam of Vlinkfontein Nasat (by Vlinkfontein Nasser – Rabiyas x Nazrina).

Jiddan: He sired only one purebred, namely Orange Valley Night Star (out of Nightingale). Jiddan (Sher-I-Kurschid X Baida) is a horse which some people will swear by, in spite of his limited breeding of purebred Arabian offspring. The most noted ones are: Vlinkfontein Rakale, Vlinkfontein Night Song and Vlinkfontein Noli. His daughter crossed well with a number of Crabbet stallions like Raktha, Shahim and Rabiyas.

Sahmed: Sahmed (Sahran x Maid of Medina by Mikeno (by Rissalix) is mostly known through his son, Queensway Shadow Play (out of Dawn Shadow – Radi x Pale Shadow by Rissalix), the sire of Nourmahal Mustapha. It must also be noted that he sired Nourmahal Vanessa [out of Nourmahal Khaybet by Robdon Desert Dust (by Rissalix) out of Dawn Shadow], in pedigrees such as Whitehouse Hafez and Sadat Ibn Gamil Grey, to name just a few.

Mabruk: Mabruk (Hilal x Baida) stood at stud at the Timarie stud. His two purebred Arabian progeny, Timarie Blue Pride (mare) and Timarie Major Brook (stallion), are both out of Kasala. These two names appear in pedigrees such as Aboukir Guzara, Met-Lus el Bandit, Henham Rocket and Condara Manzardt (sire of Sjhazaman Shwazal).

Rajah: Rajah (Champurado by Irex, out of Rahab) is mostly known for his daughters Vlinkfontein Rabijah (out of Rabina by Rabiyas) and Vlinkfontein Rablah (out of Rabiyadi also by Rabiyas). These two mares have an impressive progeny that performed over time, e.g. Sidi Echo, Al-Borak Nadia and Sidi Wazeer.

Shahim: Shahim (Rangoon x Somara) is known through Orange Valley Crystal (by Ghazelle by Raktha) and Wolfarab Signorita (out of Rynheat Sayonara – Indian Flyer out of Shirama by Raktha), OV Crystal, the dam of Vidiko Crystopher (by Chez Nous Shah Rukh), and W Signorita, the dam of Ahbot Sadri (by Ahbot Qualtal – by Al Burak), she being the dam of Fanmar Barzadi (by Barabaz).

Barabaz: Barabaz (Stargard x Razalana) is a relatively “young” stallion in terms of breeding for endurance. His name does, however, feature in some of these “endurance pedigrees”. Banghor Ghengiz Khan (out of Met-Lus Suzan – Vidiko Haroun x Met-Lus Suzie Wong), Gay el Nene (Jerico e Nai x Met-Lus Bandy), Rakib Sjah (Fanmar Khariba x Faras Ammajja and Chanteur Ibn Raij (Sahibi Witras x Jerico Razarah) are a few that come to mind.

Nightingale: Nightingale (Silver Thrush x Amsha) bred in India and imported via the UK to SA, also had a limited breeding career in so far as purebred Arabian offspring was concerned. She was also used in a Shagya breeding programme. Her two daughters flying the flag for her were: Orange Valley Indian Pride (by Indian Red by Raktha) and Orange Valley Night Star (by Jiddan).

OV Indian Pride is noted for her influence in the Quimran stud (with produce like Quimran Lanette, Q Nefertiti and Q Wodka). She is also celebrated for her son, Inzam el Arish (by Inzam Saklabilah), the sire of, amongst others, Aboukir Malika (out of Wadi Muna by Gordonville Ziyadan out of Vlinkfontein Nezma, by Rabiyas), and Latigo Serena (out of Slanghoek Leilah, being of out Vlinkfontein NIght Song).

Galraffa: Galraffa (Galimar x Scheraff), imported from the USA, had a huge impact on the Vlinkfontein Stud, with Vlinkfontein Galli Girl (by Rabiya s), Vlinkfontein Helen Susman (by Rabiyas) and Vlinkfontein Twiggy (by Vlinkfontein general Dufour – Gaysar x Mamdouha) being the most prominent. Offspring of these mares include, inter alia, Gulilah Scheker (Sabdan x Hulilah Ghusla), Ryhom Gamil (out of a Shareef al Wadduda daughter – being a V Helen Susman), Jozami Sharidi (by Sidi Zahir out of Shareef Subaiha – being out of V Helen Susman), Al-Borak Rambo(by Al-Borak Shalom, out of Vlinkfontein Nasette, a V Twiggy daughter by Vlinkfontein).

Yasimet: Yasimet (Grey Owl x Bint Yasim) is known through her son, Robdon Zingari (by Zahir). He is prominent in a number of endurance pedigrees, such as Henham Rocket, Ziyadi Nazeer, Sahiby Shaikh Sulman, and numerous others.

Rosina: Rosina (Saoud x Ruth II) might be known through her son, Charmante ibn Ziyadan (by Gordonville Ziyadan), the sire of El-Agdal Lami and El-Agdal Jarayah. It is the 2nd and 3rd generation where this mare has a significant impact through El-Agdal Rashsh, Franelzi Isadan and Negev Rishon. The other offspring that had a remarkable influence are Raktha Rose (by Raktha), Raktha Royal (by Royal Crystal), Raktha Ruth (by Raktha) Sahiby Muneera (by Robdon Zingari), Raktha Safarjal (by Raktha) and Sahiby Yakouta (by Gordonville Ziyadan).

Out of these horses came noted ones such as Gevonden Indian Sharon (Raktha Rose x Raktha Indian Flower) and Ziyadi Samira (Ziyadi Leil x Queensway Saharna out of Raktha Safarjal).

Nazrina: Nazrina (Star Royal x Nazziria), the dam of Sharena Benjamin (by Chez Noush Shah Rukh – see Al-Burak above), Vidiko Nazima (also by Chez Noush Shah Rukh), but also of Vlink­fontein Nasser and Nazra (both by Rabiyas). The Rabiyas-Nazrina crosses (even in 2nd and 3rd generations) proved to be an excellent product for the breeders at that time.

Horses that can be mentioned are Vlinkfontein Balthazar (V Nasser x V Twiggy out of Galraffa), Vlinkfontein Nasat (V Nasser V Sweet Girl by Sharena Benjamin and out of V Samha – by Rabiyas), Akasha Sansnasib (Rechar Mofeed x V Sanessa – by V Nasser out of V Samha she being by Rabiyas) and Whitehouse Aziza, (out of Whitehouse Alya, she being out of Wadi Muna by Gordonville Ziyadan out of V Nezma (Rabiyas V Nazra).

Rabiyas: This stallion, imported from the USA at the age of 17, also had a worldwide impact, not only here in South Africa, but in his home country with the likes of Abu Farwa (out of Risletta) and some offspring in the UK and Australia.

Rabiyas had a profound influence in the Vlinkfontein breeding programme, and through his two daughters, Rabina (out of Nawari) and Rabiyadi (out of Wafadi), he made, probably after Raktha (or at the same level), the biggest impact in breeding for riding ability and eventually endurance.

Out of Rabiyadi the names that are noted and that have already been been mentioned, are Vlinkfontein Gaseyn (by Gaiton), V Gayadi (by Gaiton) and V Rablah (by Rajah). Rabina produced Vlinkfontein Rabijah (by Rajah), V Rosary (by Al Burak) and V Sweet 74 (by V General DuFour).

Rabiyas sired 26 registered purebred Arabian foals, not all producing further offspring. To name a few horses that performed well with a high count of Rabiyas, would bring the following to mind: Akasha Sansnasib (four crosses), Jozami Michelene (three crosses), Luam Haliem (three crosses) and Faras Astarte (also three crosses). Aboukir Nasila (25%), Al-Borak Sha Benjamin (19%), Bertmarik Salebre (38%) also are examples of horses with a high percentage of Rabiyas blood!

In conclusion

In the course of this series, a number of horses were mentioned over and over. This came about without attempting to favour a specific individual breeder or rider, as we looked at pedigrees and made observations regarding the occurrence of names. It is not a guarantee that if you have a horse with all these names in the pedigree, you will have a Fauresmith winner.

Other factors such as the phenotype (conformation), feeding and training must be taken into account. These articles merely gave an ‘historic’ overview on horses that did well, mainly at Fauresmith (top 10 in the weight categories), not discounting anything else.