By Betty Finke, originally published in the May June 1990 'Upcoming Stars feat. Oran' issue of The Crabbet Influence magazine.
The influence of Oran, the last English stallion of straight Blunt breeding, was nothing short of vast, which made the selection of horses for this feature rather difficult. Should the criterion be direct descent from Oran, or rather resemblance? In the end, since Oran founded the probably largest branch of the Mesaoud sire line, I decided on a selection of stallions descended from Oran in direct male line.
Both historical and contemporary sires have been included, all of which are or have been well-known and significant animals in English breeding.
1. INDIAN KING
Foaled in 1953, Indian King was arguably Oran's most influential son in modern breeding. He was pure Crabbet, bred by Miss I. Bell and owned for most of his life by Ronald Kydd. Not big in stature - he stood 14.2 hh - Indian King was a giant as a sire with equally impressive records for sons and daughters.
Like all individuals, he was not without faults, but they tended to vanish beneath sheer presence; he was, especially in his old age, a horse that seemed to be aware of his own importance and he was an excellent mover. At the time this photo was taken, he was 22 years old.
2. SUNLIGHTS ALLEGRO
Indian King's harem of mares included the famous 'Heavenly Twins,' by Dargee out of *Shades of Night, Dancing Sunlight and Dancing Shadow, who were bred to him regularly. For some reason, Dancing Sunlight's proved to be superior to those of her sister.
The most notable among them were the mare Tarantella and stallion Sunlight's Allegro, the latter foaled in 1964 and shown here at 16 years of age. both were National Champions and excellent breeding horses. Sunlight's Allegro was used successfully on Indian King daughters several times.
Another full-brother, Dancing King, was also a sire of note, particularly of broodmares. Sunlight's Allegro died early in 1987, aged 23.
3. CRYSTAL KING
Crystal King was foaled in 1969 and was probably Indian King's most influential son not out of one of the twins. His dam was the Bright Shadow mare Crystal Clear, a very influential broodmare who also traced to Oran through her dam.
He was bred at the Underriver Stud and sold as a young horse to the Impney Stud - best known today for their champion mare Star of Destiny - and exported to Brazil when he was only 7 or 8 years old. Despite his limited time at stud in Britain, he had a great influence on English breeding.
He sired several outstanding stallions as well as many excellent broodmares. When this picture was taken, he was 5 years old and had yet to make an impact.
4. CRYSTAL MAGICIAN
Foaled in 1977, this 'black' chestnut stallion may be the most spectacular individual to emerge from the Oran line in recent years. Bred and owned by Mrs. N. Howard-Price, he is the only offspring of Crystal King and the great show mare Sheer Magic.
Sheer Magic, who was breathtaking in the show ring, was disappointing as a broodmare (though one should perhaps remember that if you start off with a superior mare, it is hard to get foals even just as good, not to mention better) and her son by Crystal King was her only outstanding foal.
Something in this mating; 'clicked' to produce a horse quite unlike his parents and highly prepotent.
A tall, long-necked horse, 'Chris,' as he is known at home, has collected many ribbons and championships both at halter and under saddle and has sired many champions as well as, more recently, race winners.
His daughters include the 1983 National Supreme Female Champion, Tarantara (also a granddaughter of Tarantella, the full-sister to Sunlight's Allegro); the 1985 National Junior Female Champion Spey Crystal; and the dam of the 1987 National Junior Female Champion Fazleta who is now owned by Paolo Gucci. He is show at the age of 7.
5. GRAND DUKE
Grand Duke, also one of Crystal King's best-known sons, has the distinction of being a National Champion both at halter and under saddle. He was foaled in 1974 out of Roxzeena, she by Ludo.
He was exported in the mid-eighties so did not spend a very long time at stud in England, but, similarly to his sire whom he resembled a great deal, he sired a large number of outstanding daughters.
6. *ACHIM
Achim was foaled in 1960, bred by Dr. Houtappel in Holland, but was nevertheless pure Crabbet: he was by the Oran son Noran out of Tehoura, she by Radi, the sire of Bright Shadow.
Noran was Oran's most international son; besides *Achim, his sons include Witel, who had some influence in West Germany through his daughter, and the Anglo-Arab gelding The Robber (later named 'Rex') who was one of the leading show jumpers of his time.
*Achim sired horses both in Holland and later in Britain where he also managed the unusual feat of being named National Supreme Male Champion on two separate occasions. The most remarkable thing about it is that on the second occasion, on which this photo was taken, he was 23 years old!
Though not very heavily used as a sire, he left several stallions - most notably the Dutch-bred performance winner Cherif and the pure Crabbet Silver Fahd - who are themselves good sires. *Achim was exported to the U.S.A. at an advanced age and spent his last years at Al-Marah Arabians.
7. ORION
One of Oran's last sons, Orion was foaled in 1965 at Crabbet park and was out of Dancing Diamond, who was herself sired by the Oran son *Royal Diamond. He was owned most of his life by the Briery Close Stud.
A brilliant show horse, he was National Champion Stallion twice, largely on account of his spectacular trot. Though an attractive horse in his youth, he was not very typey in later years and was in many ways reminiscent of his triple ancestor *Nureddin II.
He never emerged as a great sire and was not heavily used, but his get include the fine stallion Orontes and the beautiful National and International Champion mares Libra and Bright Venus. The picture was taken when he was 11 years old in 1976, the year of his second National Championship.
8. SILVADORIS
Silvadoris was foaled in 1954 and during his last years he had the distinction of being the last horse alive that had been bred by Lady Wentworth. He was by Oran out of the Indian Magic mare Silver Magic.
Some people thought he looked more like Indian Magic than Oran. Owned by a famer and small breeder, he was never heavily promoted or used extensively and was a real family horse who had one good mare of his own and took a few visitors each year.
He still has some fine horses to his credit, including a number of good broodmares and the 1987 National Champion Gelding Grey Warrior who is also a successful performance horse.
His best known daughter is Silvern Dream, bred and owned by Mrs. Rosemary Archer; she is the dam of the popular young stallions Silvern Idyll and Silvern Glimmer and of Silvern Glory who was exported to Australia.
He was over 30 when he died.
9. HANIF
Possibly the best known Oran son of all was *Silver Vanity who, unfortunately, did not leave very many horses in Britain before he was sold to the U.S.A. There were only two sons of his in England, including Hanif who is now 28 years old.
Hanif was bred at Crabbet Park and is out of Sirella, she by Dargee. He is something of a celebrity for his regular and spectacular appearances at the British Nationals where he is invariably in the ribbons - he managed to win his class last year at 27 years of age!
It seems as if ten years ago he simply decided to stop getting older. He has, of course, several generations of descendants including many prizewinners; his direct get include the National Champion Mare Zarafah and the multiple champion Haroun, who was later exported to Arabia.
This is a fairly youthful picture of the old campaigner - he was a mere 20 years old at the time.
10. BREMERVALE EMPEROR
To finish, a representative of the Oran - *Silver Vanity line from Australia: Bremervale Emperor, bred in 1976 at Bremervale Arabian Stud and of entirely Crabbet/Old English breeding. He is descended from Oran in the 5th generation, through *Silver Vanity - Sindh - Risaldar - Oxford Decimus.
He was imported in 1983 by the Foxbury Stud and has not been in England long enough to judge what impact he might have, but he has several outstanding prizewinners to his credit. To what extent this stallion will contribute to the *Silver Vanity line in England remains to be seen in the future.
**All of the articles included in the re-launched Crabbet.com site from the original website, Georgia Cheer, Silver Monarch Publishing and The Crabbet Influence magazine are shared here with permission of Georgia Cheer given May 16, 2012.**
Comments
No Comments