News - 2004

David has recently been based in United Arab Emirates building on his endurance career from representing New Zealand in the 2000 World Championships in France. Over the past season, with David's return to New Zealand, Holly Farm has become his focus. The open day was the first for about five years.

From the cool and overcast morning emerged a sunny afternoon in which the Holly Farm horses were able to strut their stuff.

Bentley in costume

The eight-year-old gelding Bentley NZL (Saracen Karim (+Can) x Shaaltarah), currently selected for the NZ Endurance B team, greeted visitors at the gate dressed in his sire's 25-year-old Arabian costume ridden by myself. Bentley then came into the arena and opened the parade. He stands almost 16 hands and is definitely one to watch out for in the endurance field.

During the afternoon five Holly Farm stallions were paraded. The grand old gentleman of the day without question was Naaddel (+Au) (Moon Fashion x Naadirah). He is truly a remarkable fellow and has certainly perpetuated the Arabian dream not unlike his dam the beautiful Naadirah. It is notable that at 32 years of age this timeless Arabian is still to this day siring foals. Naaddel is the all-time leading sire in NZ of registered Arabian progeny. Sadly Naaddel has now passed on.

Pradaa

Another stallion of interest to many was bred by David in Australia and is the four-year-old Pradaa. He is by Naazim (dec) (Mustafa x Naadirah) and out of Russian mare GG Sasha (Narim x Vnushka). This season's Pradaa foals are extremely pretty and have acquired their sire's athletic movement, most pleasing too is that they are mostly fillies and out of some of the best broodmares of Holly Farm.

Simeon Sapar (+Au) (Anaza Bay Shah x Simeon Saada), a dynamite of Egyptian breeding, came out with a snort and plenty of show, much to the delight of spectators. Sapar's oldest son, Dahman Vanzant, has recently attained open endurance status at the early age of five. Sapar daughters are now entering the broodmare paddocks and are set to produce the next generation for Holly Farm.

Zaddam (Anwar Sadat x HFA Mazriah (Kandahar Ibn Kazra)) is the first homebred stallion to be kept by David. He has certainly proved himself with two major Supreme Championships in Canterbury this past year. He has also served his first mares this past season.

Whitestones Silver Flame (Arabesque Crystal Flame x El-Daf) owned in partnership with Trevor Copland, brings to the fore some of the best old colonial bloodlines. What a find when this old boy at 20 years was discovered in the North Island. Sadly, too, it has been discovered that there are no purebred progeny yet registered by him. David will certainly make sure that this is no longer the case and with Flame's obvious qualities toward adding size and substance for endurance, these contributions will be exciting.

During the afternoon a selection of geldings handpicked for endurance, young mares entering the broodmare paddocks, and a group of seasoned broodmares came into the arena and showed themselves at liberty.

Of Polish descent, the beautiful fleabitten grey mare Zelina (Cyrasa (Poland) x Kyrenia (Saracen Karim)) paraded her new filly foal by Pradaa.

David presented the 12-year-old endurance gelding, Traask (Naaddel imp Aust x Khala (Saracen Karim)) under saddle in endurance attire. Since the open day David and Traask have achieved the fastest 160km and highest ever placing of a New Zealand combination at the World Endurance Championships in Dubai, in January 2005.

Following the parade, visitors meandered through the yards perusing the young horses for sale as well as strolling the paddocks of mares with foals at foot. Afternoon tea and plenty of chatter filled the rest of the afternoon with friends staying on to enjoy the Arab tent, some shesha, and yarn over the times before and plans for the future. A very successful day came to a close.

After all, what is better than great company and great Arabians?