ARABIANS
DAHESS
� PAGE 80
By Cécile Adonias
The great Purebred Arabian stallion Dahess died at the age of 25 in early September . An outstanding champion on the track and then at the Haras de Thouars stud farm under the colours of Al Shaqab Racing , he marked an era .
Dahess initially made his mark on racing with an impressive track record , then on breeding as a leading sire , and above all on everyone who crossed his path with his personality : « The only thing he lacked was speech !» exclaims broker Jean-Pierre Deroubaix , who bought him at the Deauville sales 17 years ago . A very endearing personality that has captured the hearts of all who have known him . Dahess did not start his racing career until he was 4 years old , an injury in training the previous season preventing him from hitting the track at 3 . Gifted but temperamental , « he would stop in a few strides after the post . One , two , three and it was done ,» explains Eric Ventrou , Alban de Mieulle ’ s assistant at the time and the horse ’ s work rider . « It ’ s thanks to him and all his entourage that I was able to travel and meet so many people ,» he continues . « He was very gifted , bordering on insolence . He loved racing and was always happy to go . He was very nonchalant in his behaviour .» Crowned best Purebred Arabian in 2007 by the IFAHR , he has a record to dream of : no less than 28 victories in five different countries , over all distances from 1,000 to 3,000m , and no less than 13 Group 1PA victories . At the age of 8 , with an already extensive track record , he nevertheless entered the ARQANA Purebred Arabian sale ring on 6 September 2007 . He was lot number 29 and was sold with an entry in Istanbul . Jean-Pierre Deroubaix , manager of Slim Chiboub , brought down the hammer and bought him for € 1,050,000 . In no time at all , he was on a plane to Turkey . He finished second in the Malazgirt Trophy ( Gr . 1-PA ). On his return , he began his new stallion career at the Haras National de Pompadour . The revolution in Tunisia reshuffled the cards and Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani acquired the beautiful grey . Dahess became a monument in Purebred Arabian breeding . One of his last foals is Al Mourtajez , a seven-time Group 1PA winner and standing alongside him at Haras de Thouars , also for Al Shaqab Racing . The patriarch who has just passed away is also the grandsire of another seven-time Group 1PA winner , Al Ghadeer , the historic winner of the 2023 Triple Crown and a candidate to repeat the feat in 2024 . A very expressive and particularly endearing horse , Dahess was the « boss » of the stallion barn at Haras de Thouars . He knew where he was being taken , to the paddock or to the breeding shed ... However , a simple headcollar was all it took to lead him , even though he never failed to put on a show every time he left his box .
Neighing and posing were a must , to mark his territory and his audience ! For all this , his passing will have moved all those who crossed his path . « The Purebred Arabian world owes him a lot . We will still be hearing about him for generations to come in France and around the world , through his victories and his progeny ,» says Youmna Mousli , Al Shaqab Racing ’ s representative in Europe .
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