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Indeed, with her the saying: "Nomen est omen ...." is really valid ! She not only became named as a baby foal LA DIVA, she really lives up to her name by presence, acting, disposition and spirit to show off like a real elegant diva!
Bred and owned by the Bentchikou family, owners of "Arabian Sun Horses" Stud in Belgium, she is the youngest in a group of full sisters coming out of the breeding of World Champion Stallion Warandes Plakat with the Polish/ Russian bred Euben daughter N.A. DIVINA, the foundation mare of Arabian Sun Horses.
As a yearling and as a two-year-old, LA DIVA started her show career, and records from those years of 1996/1997 show some major international show results, amongst them, the titles of Menton Champion Filly, Belgian National Champion Filly, and "Platinum Cup" Champion Filly in Oostende.
But show success is only one part on which Arabian Sun Horses studfarm manager, Ingrid Bentchikou focuses. "For me, it is more important to see the breeding qualities of a horse and to improve a mare as a good broodmare," she says. "LA DIVA did not really like the shows anymore after two years, I could see that she was not happy with this anymore which why we took her back to the stables and pastures, to give her a good life and to forget the showring work", Ingrid continues. When she was at the right age, we started to breed her, and up to now, we are very very happy with what she produces as broodmare for us."
In 2001, LA DIVA's first daughter, DONNA DIVA became born, a daughter by the World Champion Stallion Ekstern. DONNA DIVA shows a reflection in qualities of both parents. The size, elegance and length of neck of her dam, the type of both, and the great disposition and presence of her sire. Like her parents, she was successful in the showring with several wins and international achievements, and she also improved with her first foal, a colt by WH Justice named ASH Dream of Glory.
Arabian Sun Horses has meanwhile a little full brother to DONNA DIVA, the 2006 born cute colt ASH Antares, also by Ekstern. "Antares is what a breeder is always waiting for in a colt, he is for me like a dream come true," Ingrid Bentchikou says. And indeed, this 2006 born colt is most promising - with type, an excellent head with much dish, well balanced, but what makes him really special - showy with exceptional presence, trotting around in the pastures like "The one-and-only", acting like a stallion showing off, a proud peacock fanning his feathers like to say: "Look at me...." Several trainers have already tried to secure this colt for training and showing in the future, and indeed, ASH ANTARES is a really promising young colt, so we look forward to hear more about him in the future.
Another foal and successful son out of LA DIVA is the 2005 born PSY DREAM (by Psytadel). He was sold to England, and made his show debut as yearling over there with some good success. Amongst his results, he was Junior Champion at the West & Wales Show, as well as Junior Reserve Champion at the Midland Arabian Festival also in Great Britain in June 2006.
In the future, LA DIVA might return for one or the other show and this time competing in the senior female classes, before she goes back to breeding some new and wonderful foals. |
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