Imperial Baedrah

Imperial Baedrah as photographed by Christine Emmert

Imperial Baedrah is a 2002 rosewater-coloured mare, a daughter of Imperial Baarez (PVA Karim x BB Ora Kalilah) and out of Imperial Safama (*Ibn Safinaz x Imperial Imwasama). In her matriline, she traces to the celebrated 1946 RAS mare, Zaafarana (Balance x Samira) through the Albadeia breeding program: *Wadeea (by Zahi)-> Ferial (by Anter)-> El Ameera (by Nazeer). However, the matriline to Zaafarana keeps going all the way back to Bint Helwa, whom Lady Anne Blunt had purchased from Ali Pasha Sherif. 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."

As treasured as the line of Zaafarana is, Imperial Baedrah's pedigree also combines ancestral elements in a very unique way. For example, she has two lines to Ansata Imperial (Ansata Ibn Sudan x Ansata Delilah), one line on the paternal side (6.25%) and the other on the maternal side (12.5%). However, what is interesting about these two crosses is that the matriline of Ansata Imperial runs back to Bukra, through the Sameh daughter, *Ansata Bint Misr. On the other hand, *Wadeea, the dam of Imperial Imwasama, is sired by Zahi, a Sameh grandson, out of the maternal sibling of *Ansata Bint Misr, Bint Bukra, a 1957 Bukra daughter by Nazeer (not to be confused with *Ansata Bint Bukra). This is one of several crosses which I find interesting, that is,  to combine different sources of Bukra in one horse, in combination with also different sources of Sameh blood (through *Ibn Hafiza and *Ansata Bint Misr), which helps to balance the multiple lines of Nazeer blood, as does the sources of Gassir (Kheir & Badia) and Seef (Mashour x Elwya).

Basharah Al Kamar MH, as photographed by Christine Emmert

Another unique example would be the use of the revered strain of Kuhaylan Kurush. Through both *Ibn Safinaz's and Sabeel's (Lancer Sahm's sire) matriline, the strain  is brought forward in Imperial Baedrah, only to be intensified with Dr. Joseph "Jody" Cruz's breeding program, who, over the years, incorporated this highly sought after strain through the blood of the mare, BintAzizaPrincess, whom Jody had purchased from Azali Arabians. Both stallions, Bashar Al Kamar MH and Nour Al Kamar MH  combine the strain (through their dam, Binte Aziza MH), while intensifying the influence of *Ibn Hafiza through his son, Abenhetep. Additionally, the lines to Maar Hala complement the multiple sources of *Ansata Ibn Halima (through his grandson, Ansata Imperial), as well as the Babson sources through both Fa Noufas and Aroufina. In 2015, bred to Nour Al Kamar MH, Imperial Baedrah produced a gorgeous grey filly aptly named Nourah Al Kamar MH and the following year, 2016, Imperial Baedrah produced my favorite, an exquisite bay filly, Basharah Al Kamar MH by Bashar Al Kamar MH.

I found the use of Moniet el Nefous also interesting, through her son: *Ibn Moniet el Nefous  and daughters: Mabrouka, Bint Mona and *Bint Moniet el Nefous. Most of these crosses appear in the 6th, 7th and 8th generations of Imperial Baedrah's pedigree, so it is impressive to consider that as far back as these horses are, the percentage of influence of the bloodline, combined,  is approximately 22%! I want to believe that the refined elegance that we observe in Imperial Baedrah and her daughters is due to the presence of Moniet el Nefous; while her spirit, that charismatic joy which is a vibrant part of Imperial Baedrah, a living memorial to the memory of Zaafarana!