Russia purchased Kann from France in 1930 along with 6 mares. They had good shoulders and were known as "uphill" horses, i.e. taller at the withers than at their croup. By day's standards they would probably be considered far from beautiful (but then beauty is in the eye...) but they had strong legs and good conformation. Kann produced the mare Krona who foaled Taktika who became a foundation mare of the Russian Tersk breeding program. Taktika was a granddaughter of Star of the Hills, a Crabbet mare with much inbreeding to Mesaoud and highly prized by the Tersk breeding program. Taktika produced the famous race sire *Pietuszok who not only had a great racing background himself, but was the sire of Orzel who was Top 10 English Pleasure and US National Champion in Racing, one of the foundation sires of racing Arabians in the US.
*Pietuszok's sire was Priboj. Priboj was out of Rissalma, one of the Crabbet mares whom the Russian program had acquired, known for producing horses of strength and stamina, and by Piolin, a Polish stallion. Priboj was also the sire of triple crown winner Topol, full brother to *Pietuszok. TLA Halynov has 4 crosses in his pedigree to Priboj who is at the foundation of many successful race pedigrees. Please view Halynov's Russian Pedigree to learn about our stallion's Russian bloodlines with regards to ancestral race and show backgrounds. Priboj had a deep shoulder, arched neck and a pretty head.
In 1939, the German army invaded Poland and 12 of the greatest stallions and 42 mares were evacuated from the Janov stud to Tersk. One of those stallions was Ofir who was the sire of the 3 "W" stallions: Wielki Szlem, Witez II,and Witraz. One of the 42 mares, Makata, was the dam of Witraz. If you can imagine the extent to which the evacuation was fraught with chaos and confusion! The 80 or so total stallions, mares, and foals had to walk the 1000 mile trip; there were no railroad cars available. Several months after their arrival they had to be evacuated again on a 2000 mile march into Asia to avoid the Nazi army. Although many of the Thoroughbred and half-blood horses did not make it to the end of the journey, NOT ONE ARABIAN died!
Amurath Sahib was Koheilan in type: massive, bony with good constitutions and proven racing ability. He was the sire of Arax (who was out of a daughter of Wielki Szlem) who was brought to Russia in 1958 and used at stud there for 10 years. Arax was known for his great length and strength of hindquarters, good legs and huge black eyes. His only fault would have been a thick throatlatch. He was sire to Nabeg, sire of many Russian bred imported to the US. He was frequently crossed with Aswan daughters (e.g.*Nariadni).
Aswan was given to the Russian breeding program by Egypt as a gift following completion of the Aswan Dam. Frequently Tersk would use Aswan to impart that special flare and fire yet make sure that Arax was in the pedigree to insure good conformation. Nabeg sired such greats as Ptersk, Pesniar, Principe, Monokol...the list goes on...I guess I should probably quit here or this is going to resemble Genesis, with all the "begats!"
For more information on the Russian breeding program, please visit SAI Oaks web site at: http://www.arabianbloodstock.com/Russian_Arabian_History.html
(805) 239-ARAB (2722) -- (805) 239-2722 fax
Whispering Oaks Arabians
P.O. Box 482
Creston, CA 93432
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