Belle Staar

Belle Staar with Mauri Chase

As a very young horse in 2000, before he went to America and the Middle East, before he sired a legacy of champion sons and daughters, Al Lahab was named the Junior Champion Colt at the Asil World Cup in Germany. The following year, in 2001, at the European Egyptian Event, Al Lahab was once again, the Junior Champion Colt and at the All Nations Cup, Al Lahab was the Reserve Junior Champion Colt. Bred by Ariely Arabians in Israel, Al Lahab's very bright star, even in the early days of his career, reflected a strong, vibrant and interesting maternal bloodline. Al Lahab's dam is The Vision HG, by Thee Desperado and out of a mare named Belle Staar. In America, whenever I see the name "Belle" attached to the name of an Arabian horse, I think of Old Egyptian breeding, for example, the Bel Gordas daughters like Belle Echo, Belle Fayama and Belle Yaana or even, Belle Echo's daughter, Masada Bellesabah. However, in the case of Belle Staar, the pedigree is not old, it is new and that of The Minstril, crossed with Alia-Aenor, a daughter of The Egyptian Prince and out of an AlBadeia-bred mare named *Hasna Al Badeia, a granddaughter of the 1946 EAO mare, Zaafarana. Sired by Balance, Zaafarana was out of the mare Samira (Ibn Rabdan x Bint Radia) a full sister to the important stallion Shahloul and Hamdan, a chief sire for Inshass. In tail female, she traces to the mare Bint Helwa, whom Lady Anne Blunt had purchased from Ali Pasha Sherif. Zaafarana is a Saqlawiyah Jedraniyah of Ibn Sudan, one of the most loved strains of all Arabian horses, going all the way back to Abbas Pasha, who had obtained the Saqlawi horses from the Ruala Bedouin. Zaafarana was celebrated in her time for her brilliant action and presence. She must have been electrifying, when moving. She captivated all who watched her, including Judith Forbis who said, "she was a mare of exceptional quality and brilliant action." Judi had imported Zaafarana's daughter by Nazeer, *Ansata Bint Zaafarana, who became an important broodmare for Ansata. Zaafarana was an excellent producer, passing on her athleticism to her sons *Talal (by Nazeer) and Amrulla (by Sid Abouhom), who became champions and much loved racehorses in Egypt. This is the exciting legacy that is at the very heart of the genetic fabric that made a wonderful mare like Belle Staar possible. Belle Staar produced 12 foals in her lifetime, including four other full siblings to The Vision HG, as well as foals by Hadidi, *Mishaal HP, Makhnificent KA and Ansata Malik Shah. And now, in these wonderful days of the Bronze World Champion stallion, Al Ayal AA, our world watches, as this legacy of maternal influence continues to unfold, thanks to the progeny of Belle Staar, who have spread her influence, all over the world.