ENGLISH TEXTS huge turning point. The pedigrees have risen dramatically in quality. Not so much in speed, but in conformation. In 50 years, the average height of the Purebred Arabian horses has gone from 1.48 m to 1.57 m.
G. Who are the main stallions that have marked the breed in France?
M. B. If we stick to stallions purely French since the end of the 19 th century: Denousté and his son Kriss II, Gosse du Béarn and his sire Flipper. Denousté( Latif x Djaïma) is the most famous of them all. This chestnut was born in 1921 at Mr. Gaston Lalague’ s in the Landes. His dam traces back to Khouri and Dame Tartine( Burkeguy x Déesse). The National Studs acquired him for 20,000 francs at the time, to stand at Pau-Gelos from 1924 until his death in 1948. Considered the breed’ s patriarch, he sired Sultan, Kriss II, Alaric V, Baroud II, and was grandsire of Saint-Laurent. He also founded excellent broodmares such as Damas, Dorée II, Keiba, Magnesie …
G. After Denousté, the stallions you mention did indeed produce remarkable lines …
M. B. I count about fifteen overall. Among the descendants of Kriss II( 1933, Denousté x Kenia) are Janor( Nina IV x Djenissa) and Djerba Oua( 1946, Dragon x Dorée II), sire of Gosse du Béarn( 1954, Djerba Oua x Madou). Alaric V( 1929) produced Meké( 1948, out of
Meziana) and was grandsire of Nevada II out of Namouna. Kriss II also appears in Meké’ s ancestry, as damsire of Meziana. Gosse du Béarn sired Flipper( 1968), who produced four recognized stallions, out of Fleur d’ Avril, whose sire was Meké. Going further back, we must mention Norniz( 1922, Djebel Mousa x Nejmah), sire of Nifanor( 1931, out of Nifa) and Nedjanor( 1932, out of Nedjarine). Baroud II( 1927, Denousté x Belle du Sarot) is unavoidable. Through him we get Saint Laurent( 1948, via Norniz), who became a top performer.
G. Which are the best broodmares of modern times?
M. B. The best of all is Namouna( 1939, Alaric V x Nifa, by Danbik) who belonged to Mr. Camentron in the Southwest. Before 1955, she produced only Anglo-Arabs. But in 1955 she foaled Nevada II( Djanor), the most prolific foundation line of Purebred Arabians in France. Nevada II is the best producer. She gave us the stallion Nanic( 1968, Ourour), broodmares Nanou( 1966, Ourour), the great Nevadour( 1970, Ourour), Immana( 1971, Irmak), Java( 1972, Saint Laurent), Quesada( 1973, Saint Laurent), the major stallion Chéri Bibi( 1975, Baroud III) as well as Bibi de Carrère, leading sire for fifteen years in the UAE. Many top-class horses like Lady Princess come from the Nevada II line. Fatzica( Fatzour x Scindian Mystique) is not listed in the studbooks, but this wild mare, who had to be caught with a lasso, also deserves a place on the list.
G. And after them?
M. B. Madou( 1939, Norniz x Amica) produced two great stallions: Saint-Laurent( 1948, Baroud II) and Gosse du Béarn( 1954, Djerba Oua). Magicienne( 1937, Nedjanor x Magdala) produced Mouneya( 1948, Denousté), the best stallion in Italy, and Magnesie( 1949, Denousté). The latter produced Mandragore( 1955) and Mandarine III( 1956), both by Dragon. The entire Watrigant line comes from there. Mandragore is the dam of Manguier( 1971, Gosse du Béarn) and the patriarch Manganate( 1972, Saint-Laurent). The list is very long. Meziana( 1940, Kriss II x Messina) produced Meké, a valuable stallion. Maderba( Djerba Oua x Madone) left a rich legacy: Mireille, Madina, Ma Belle, down to Mona Lisa by the Polish sire Badr Bedur.
G. Who are the best stallions today?
M. B. At present, Al Mourtajez( Dahess x Arwa) tops the rankings. He is the sire of the famous Al Ghadeer. Next comes Azadi( Darike x Fadzica), sire of many winners. Then come Gazwan( Amer x Arc de Ciel), Mahabb( Tahar de Candelon x Joyzell), Mister Ginoux( Amer x Nacree al Maury), Nieshan( Akbar x Jade des Pins), Baseq al Khalediah( Tiwaiq x Keheilan) and four sons of Amer: Majd al Arab, Ebraz, Yazeed, and Assy.
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