Gala ECSSO

On Saturday, January 20th, the Syndicateof the Horse breeders of the Southwest ( ECSSO) organized his General assembly and his gala evening on the racecourse of Pau.

Record participation for the drawing of lots for stallions’ coverings 2018.

After these four G2 PA, the members of the AFAC were invited to a cocktail reception offered by the association, which took place at the panoramic restaurant of the racecourse.

This annual meeting allows the members to meet and to exchange, in a friendly and festive atmosphere.

But the high point of the cocktail reception is unquestionably the drawing of lots of stallions’ coverings for 2018, offered to the Association by breeders concerned about promoting their stallions. This year, 18 coverings of renowned stallions were attributed by drawing lots.
This lottery is reserved to AFAC members, against 50€ the ticket, without limit of purchase.

For this 2017 edition, 173 tickets were sold.

This contribution will be dedicated to the financing of the receptions organized by the Association over the year.

Download the results of the winning lots drawn out: 

We thank the generous donors: Thouars Stud, Royal Cavalry of Oman, Al Nujaifi Farm, Shadwell, Al Shahania Stud, Al Asayl, Al Shaqab, Grand Courgeon Stud, as well as Mr Ali Haddad, Edwina Stud, Mrs Val Bunting/Zakir Bunting/Zakir Stud, Danilel Stud, Mr Hassan Mousli and Mr Yves Plantin.

French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge

The four races that make up the French Arabian Breeders ' Challenge, a series created in 2004 by the AFAC, with the active participation of Jean-Luc Jardel, then President of the association, are the last PA groups of the French season.

The first edition took place on 29^th June 2004 at Toulouse racecourse and during these thirteen years they moved to Longchamp, then Saint-Cloud for the races for three-years-old horses.

Finally, in 2011 they returned to their course of origin: Toulouse, with an allocation of 45 000€ per race, completely financed by the AFAC. 

For the past few years, the four races have been awarded the status of Group 2PA and the three-year-old fillies competition is sponsored by the Festival of S.A. Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

French Breeders' Challenge Classic

This race, reserved for the horses of 4 years old and more was run over 2200 m. Nine runners, males and females, from 4 to 7 years old were in the field, including several which had participated in the groups 1 PA at Chantilly on September 30th and October 1st, as Muneera (Dormane x Hamiya by Al Hasim) the winner of the Qatar Arabian Trophy (juments).

The race was run in  2 ' 30 " 5  with a very close finish which ended with the victory of the 4-year-old filly Almaa FR, (Amer x Nyriad by Dormane), ¼ length followed by the male of 7 years Handassa FR (Madjani x Ziva by Dormane). Muneera FR (Dormane x Hamiya by Al Hasim) took the third place with only  a neck from the second.

The winner, Almaa, belongs to her breeder Al Shaqab Racing and is trained by Thomas Fourcy. Jockey Julien Augé rode the filly to the fourth victory of her career, victories which were all won in Toulouse, a course which suits her perfectly.

French Breeders' Challenge Poulains 2017

One thousand six hundred meters is the distance that seven three-year-old males had to run.

It was done in 1 ' 45 " 81 by the pupil of Charles Gourdain, Rodess de loup FR (Dahess x Aurore du Loup by Darike) who won by 2,5 lengths in front of Rawdah FR (Dahess x Orphe du Clos by Kerbella). Dynamites FR (Nashwan Al Khalidiah x Oleya du Loup by Kerbella) takes the third place ¾ length behind.

Rodess du Loup was born at Jean-Marc Saphores's and was raised in the Saint-Faust Stud which he joined at the age of 5 months. His owner is M. Khalifa Hamad Al Attiyah. The jockey Roberto-Carlos Montenegro led to his first victory of group PA but Rodess du Loup had already got noticed, at Saint-Cloud, end of September where he had taken the second place of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr.1PA).

French Breeders' Challenge Pouliches 2017

The same distance to run as their male counterparts but with a higher number of runners, there were nine runners to participate in this race for the three-year-old fillies.

Almost as fast as the males, the winner, Najah FR (Munjiz x Dahwa by Tidjani) travelled the 1600 m in 1 ' 45 "99 under the saddle of Jean-Bernard Eyquem. Joudh FR (Mahabb x Shamayl by Kesberoy) takes the second place, 3 lengths behind, ¼ length followed by Wadeeaa FR (Mahabb x Gaira by Akbar) offering tripled to the stable YAS Horse Racing management of Abu Dhabi. 

Najah, was born in Normandy at Wathba Stud the breeding of S.A. Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is trained by Frédéric Sanchez. Already a winner of a group 3 PA, she now goes to the next level with this group 2 PA win.

French Breeders' Challenge Sprint, Thursday 26th October 2017 at Toulouse 

The last race of the series is, as its name suggests, for sprinters over 1400 m and is reserved for the males and the females of 4 years old and more. Six males between 4 and 5 years and a female of 4 years were in the field.

It was the oldest, the male of 5 years Mith' haf Athbah GB (Amer x Karouj by Karmah) that finished in 1 ' 31 " 15, 5/4 length in front of Barnamaj FR (No. Risk Al Maury x Tashreefat by Bengalese d' Albret). A quarter of length further behind was, Ateej USA (AF Albahar x Sahara Croixnoire by Ala Croixnoire) who took the third place.

Mith' haf Athbah was born in Great Britain at Mrs NF Al Tobaishi and belongs to Athbah Stud. He is trained by Philip Collington and Pierre-Charles Boudot was in the saddle.