Alkass Digital
The third edition of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF-2023), held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, concluded with a spectacular and gripping finale of the prestigious Title Show, which set the arena alight at the Katara Esplanade Saturday evening.
The championship competitions were attended by a number of dignitaries, including HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and a number of sheikhs, in addition to ambassadors, including Amr Kamal El-Din El-Sherbiny of Egypt and Dmitry Dugadkin of Russia.
On this occasion, Prof Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, chairman of the festival's Organising Committee and general manager of Katara – the Cultural Village Foundation, praised the success and distinction achieved in the third edition of the KIAHF, which succeeded in being one of the most prominent international festivals of purebred Arabian horses.
He said that it highlights the importance and value of equestrianism in Qatar, which is making great efforts to preserve the cultural and sports stock of equestrian as a long ancestral history of the country.
With this great festival, Prof al-Sulaiti said, Katara has become a global destination attracting top horse owners, breeders and those interested in the field of Arabian horses.
The finals of the six championship classes Saturday saw tremendous excitement among horse owners and breeders as they cheered for their competing horses, with international jury members going around to check and judge each of the horses, a press statement noted.
All horses are judged simultaneously in the championship rounds.
The class of Qatar’s Arabian horses stood out with as they took the top honours in five of the six championship classes.
Three of these are from Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), while one each is from Al Jassimya Farm and Al Wajba Stud.
The sixth championship class was won by Ajman Stud of the UAE.
Qatar’s Shahalel Al Shaqab of Al Shaqab won gold in the Yearling Fillies Championship (Class YFC), D Beisan (owned by Al Shaqab Stud – Qatar) won gold in the Junior Fillies Championship (Class JFC), Lehon (owned by Al Jassimya Farm) won gold in the Junior Colts Championship (Class JCC), and Mozn Albidayer (owned by Al Wajba Stud) won gold in the Senior Mares Championship (Class SMC), while Excalibur EA (Owned by Al Shaqab) claimed gold in the Senior Stallions Championship (Class SSC).
AJ Sayer (owned by Ajman Stud – Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid al-Nuaimi) won gold in the Yearling Colts Championship (Class YCC).
The champion mare and stallion classes winners received prizes of QR1mn, QR600,000 and QR300,000 for the top three places, respectively, besides valuable in-kind prizes from the sponsors.
Junior mares and fillies classes' first three winners received QR800,000, QR430,000 and QR250,000, respectively, besides in-kind prizes.
Yearling fillies and mares’ classes podium finishers were awarded QR250,000, QR150,000 and QR100,000, respectively, in addition to in-kind prizes.
Bader Mohamed al-Darwish – president of the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF), acting chief executive of the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) and KIAHF Title Show manager – also praised the success achieved by the festival over three consecutive editions, thanks to the co-operation and partnership between Katara, the QEF, the QREC and Al Shaqab.
He added that the KIAHF competitions were distinguished, with strong competition from the best horses in the world.
Al-Darwish noted that the great success achieved by the KIAHF was thanks to the team spirit of the Organising Committee.
He said the equestrian focus in Qatar will now shift to the most prestigious HH The Amir Sword Festival, to be staged from February 16-18 at the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club and Qatar Equestrian Federation for horseracing and showjumping events and the endurance race.
Qatar will also host the World Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses in December – a result of an agreement signed by Katara with the National Centre for Agricultural Exhibitions and Competitions in France.
Katara will host the 2023 and 2025 editions of the championship, to be held for the first time in 40 years outside France.
The KIAHF carried a total prize purse of QR17,085,500, with the Title Show prize money being QR13,900,000 besides several in-kind prizes.
The 11-day festival brought together more than 480 horses from 18 countries, including the Arab region, featuring champion Arabian purebred horses signifying the symbol of power, grace and identity.
The event was lauded by the horse connoisseurs – owners, breeders and equestrianism lovers.
The KIAHF-2023 was organised by Katara in co-operation with the QEF and QREC.