Katara International Arabian Horse Festival Concludes with a Blaze of Glory

Katara International Arabian Horse Festival 2022

The second edition of Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF 2022), which is held under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, concluded with a blaze of glory at the Katara Esplanade on Saturday with champion purebred horses reflecting truly as the symbols of power, grace and identity at the 11-day long glorious festival which captured the imagination of horse connoisseurs in owners, breeders, equestrian and horse-lovers alike with participation of over 500 horses from 11 countries.

The closing ceremony of the festival was attended by HH Personal Representative of HH the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, and a number of Their Excellencies Sheikhs, ambassadors accredited to the state of Qatar and representatives of diplomatic missions.

The host nation, the State of Qatar, dominated the grand finale of the prestigious Title Show Championships on Saturday with thirteen of Qatar horses winning in the six championships including all the top three Gold, Silver, and Bronze places in the Senior Stallions Championship and Senior Mares Championship.

Three of UAEs horses won podium places including the top Junior Colts Championship Gold place, while Kingdom of Saudi Arabia horse claiming Gold in the Junior Fillies Championship.

The very best of Arabian horses not only in the Arab region but in the world stood out in all their magnificence as twelve international judges voted to decide on the champions.

EKS Alihandro of Al Jassimya Farm, Qatar, was the Gold winner in the Senior Stallions Championship, followed by silver champion E.S. Harir of Al Wajba Stud, Qatar, and bronze champion EKS Mansour of Al Shahania Stud, Qatar.

Donna Molta Bella SRA of Al Jassimya Farm, Qatar, was the Gold winner in the Senior Mares Championship, along with silver champion Nada Al Shahania of Al Shahania Stud, Qatar, and bronze champion Maisa Al Nasser, owned by Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani of Al Nasser Stud, Qatar.

D Sharar of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, UAE, claimed gold in the Junior Colts Championship where RDS Armani of Al Jassimya Farm, Qatar, was the silver winner, and LR Solo Mio of Al Shahania Stud, Qatar, the bronze winner.
Saudi Arabias D Hadeyyah, owned by Ajmal Stud, KSA, won gold in the Junior Fillies Championship ahead of silver winner Falak Al Shaqab, owned by Al Shaqab, Member - Qatar Foundation, and bronze winner D Jahraa of Dubai Arabian Stud, UAE.

The gold in the Yearling Colts Championship was won by Bahi Aljassimya of Aljassimya Farm, Qatar, while the silver went to Amos SH, owned by Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani (Al Nasser Stud), Qatar. Nomaas Al Jumail of Aljumail Stud, Qatar, claimed the bronze.

D Expo of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud won gold in the Yearling Fillies Championship ahead of silver champion Rayyanah Al Nasser, owned by Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani (Al Nasser Stud), and bronze champion D Raseel of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud.

KIAHF 2022 had a total prize-money of QAR 17,083,500 besides many in-kind prizes.

Chairman of KIAHF Organizing Committee and Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti expressed pleasure with the remarkable success achieved by the second edition of the festival.

Dr. Al Sulaiti said that Katara has become a world-class destination in the field of equestrianism and purebred Arabian horses, and has achieved a brilliant reputation in preserving the Qatari cultural and sports heritage of the equestrian, which is the sport of parents and grandparents.

He noted that the second edition of the festival was distinguished by its new and different design that has been carefully developed under the direct supervision of a group of Qatari designers who are familiar with the ancient Qatari history and cultural heritage, in addition to design pioneers from Russia, Turkey and the Middle East, with the aim to embody the Arab originality and the richness of the Qatari cultural heritage, and to convey the ideal image of Qatar to the whole world.

For his part, Director of the Championship Badr Mohammad Al Darwish praised the cooperation and partnership between Katara Cultural Village, the Racing and Equestrian Club, the Equestrian Federation and Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, and the great efforts made by Katara team, stressing that the competion was strong in all categories.

Al Darwish noted that the great success of KIAHF 2022 was achieved thanks to the team spirit that prevailed among all members of the organizing committee, in addition to the great international and local participation in the two championships and in the horse auction which achieved a record by selling the most expensive egg in the world.

He hoped that Qatar's successes in hosting world championships for horses would continue, especially that next year will witness the holding of the World Championship, which will be organized outside France for the first time in its history.

He added that the coming days will see the organization of the largest and most expensive local championships and races in Qatar, which will be held on Feb. 17, 18 and 19, namely: HH the Amir's Sword in Showjumping; the HH the Amir's Sword in Horse Racing Festival; and HH the Amir's Sword in Endurance Race.

Source: QNA