By Coralie Gordon
** Originally published in the March April 1990 issue of The Crabbet Influence magazine. Also published in The Crabbet Influence's 1993 Collector's Volume II.
Summarized from the 1987 book The Crabbet Silver Family in Australia by Coralie Gordon. Photos and article sent to us by Joan Flynn.
On March 17th, 1969, a pure white stallion left Queensland by motor float on the first leg of the second long journey of his lifetime - the first had brought him right across the world and now the second was to take him half way back again. *Silver Moonlight was included in a plane load of Thoroughbreds that left Sydney on March 20th for the United States.
Perhaps he was really too old and temperamental for the long trip in confined conditions. In any case, although he left in high spirits and good health, by the end of 1969 he was dead. He was then in his 20th year not such a great age for that particular line of Arabians.
The plane stopped off in New Zealand to collect another very important cargo - *Silver Moonlight's half-brother *Silver Sparkle. Neither of them transplanted successfully in their new home.
These two, with their sister *Silver Magic were the only progeny of Silver Fire to come to this part of the world.
The full-brother and sister *Silver Moonlight and *Silver Magic who came to Australia in the 1950s, shared more than just their lovely poetical names and their famous family. Between them they guaranteed that the Silver Fire family tree would take firm root and permeate forever the pedigrees of a vast number of Australian Arabians.
Their quality and fecundity ensured the survival of that family. Of *Silver Magic's descendants, her son Argent, who died only a few years ago, alone fathered a vast dynasty, while *Silver Moonlight made sure of his immortality by leaving a family both numerically and meritoriously significant.
Sixty-five direct sons and daughters, as well as numerous second and third generation descendants, are his legacy. Ally to this the fact that a great many successful show horses spring from this family.
*Silver Moonlight and *Silver Magic were the twelfth and thirteenth foals of the doe-eyed white Silver Fire. She had been 23 years of age when *Silver Moonlight was foaled in 1949. However, she subsequently bred again in the 1949 season, and the resultant filly was *Silver Magic.
At one time, after their importation, they were both in the same stud - the Queensland Agricultural College at Gatton in Queensland. Both of course were greys. Both were homozygous greys, a trait shared by a good proportion of their offspring.
*Silver Moonlight was dappled as a young horse but he became milk-white very quickly, and was thereafter the image of the classical romantic white stallion generations of artists have painted on canvas. But though he was the classical 'storybook' Arabian it was definitely not in a whimsical, ethereal sense.
He was made of more substantial stuff, more like a sturdy marble sculpture, with his smooth-muscled , powerful frame, square stance, and bold, deep-joweled head with prominent large eyes. He had a great presence and a very strong personality.
Being a fairly intensely line-bred individual, he was also a most prepotent breeding stallion whose type is recognizable even now, several generations from its source. He probably did for the color white what Bask did for bay in the United States.
His own silver color was marred somewhat in later life by a pigmentation problem noticeable about his eyes and muzzle. He was 14.2 hands high.
Mrs. Dora Maclean imported *Silver Moonlight to Fenwick Stud in 1951. She used him reasonably but not extensively for 9 years before selling him to Dr. (now Sir Clarence) Leggett of Oxford Stud in Queensland in 1960.
In 1962 he was acquired by the Queensland Agricultural College, although Dr. Leggett retained some breeding right to him. Both Studs used him quite liberally before his sale in 1969 to Dr. Andrew Sharf of the United States, earlier also the importer of the Australian Crabbet stallions Ranald and Crescentt.
Whilst he was not shown after 1961, *Silver Moonlight's show record nevertheless covers a full decade, viz.
- 1st and Reserve Champion Melbourne Royal - 1951
- 1st Sydney Royal - 1952
- 1st and Champion Melbourne Royal - 1952
- 2nd and Reserve Champion Melbourne Royal - 1954
- 2nd Melbourne Royal - 1955
- 2nd Sydney Royal - 1960
- Reserve Champion Brisbane Royal - 1960
- Champion Brisbane Royal - 1961
All of this, of course, was long before the days of the specialist Arabian shows! In Silver Moonlight's day the 'Royals' were 'THE' shows!
After his exportation to the United States *Silver Moonlight was bred with approximately 15 mares at Dr. Sharf's ranch, and Dr. Sharf had also been invited to show the stallion at the International Arabian Horse Convention in Los Angeles on the 19th of November.
However *Silver Moonlight died on the 2nd of November after becoming critically ill with colitis and despite all possible veterinary attention. In 1970 his last crop of foals was born.
His son Moonlight Apollo from the Fadjur mare Jana still stands at stud at Sharf Arabians in the Santa Ynez Valley.
HIS PEDIGREE
Apart from the obvious strong genetic influence of his dam Silver Fire, *Silver Moonlight also bore more than a general resemblance to his sire Indian Magic. He was linebred to Skowronek, but more specifically to Naseem who was the sire of Silver Fire and grandsire of Indian Magic.
In the 1978 book The Crabbet Arabian Stud (by Archer, Pearson and Covey), Cecil Covey says of Naseem:
...a very strong and masculine type of horse, very good head and neck and strong in the back, but very willful and requiring firm handling. His full-brother Naziri was also a character though much lighter in build and finer than Naseem. Both Naseem and Naziri were tremendously powerful horses to ride. It was like driving a high-powered car."
Many of these sentiments could be equally as well used to describe *Silver Moonlight.
Lady Wentworth felt Naseem to have "ideal type with perfect head and tiny muzzle."
Naseem was exported to Russia in 1936, from whence dated many new lines to him, via his numerous Russian descendants. Such horses as his son Negatiw and Negatiw's son Salon, Salon's son Muscat, Muslin and Namiet; the mare Nomenklatura and her daughter Neposeda and son Nabeg; and Negatiw's full-sister Nitochka come to mind easily.
Negatiw's sons Bandos and Naborr reigned as senior stallions at Janow Podlaski in Poland before both were exported to the United States.
Indian Magic was the last great Crabbet sire whose death at the age of 28 years when all the other Crabbet horses had departed, brought the stud finally to an end in 1972.
His pedigree is strong in female influence. His sire Raktha brings that great Crabbet mare Nasra who appears three times in *Silver Moonlight's pedigree in the first four generations.
Raktha's dam Razina, Lady Yule's brilliant producer, was also the dam of *Riffal, the sire of Oran; as well as Shamnar (by Naziri) dam of Count Dorsaz, *Carlina and Pale Shadow; Nurschida (by Nuri Sherif) dam of Rikitea, Sulka and Namilla; and Radi (by Rishan) dam of Bright Shadow.
Indian Crown, dam of Indian Magic, was also the dam of the lovely mare Incoronetta (by Dargee), and several males by Oran and Raktha. Indian Crown's dam Nisreen was also the dam of the Skowronek mare *Nasirieh who came to Australia.
Her full-sister Incoronata went to the United States in 1936. Nisreen's daughter Indian Pride (by Irex) was the dam of *Indian Jewel, Indian King, and the mare Indian Starlight.
The strong female components of *Silver Moonlight's sire family then, were more than a match for the splendid qualities Silver Fire brought to the pedigrees of *Silver Moonlight and *Silver Magic.
HIS PROGENY
Whilst at Fenwick Stud, *Silver Moonlight sired more fillies than colts, but some of the colts were of enormous significance.
In 1954 two very important colts were foaled. They were Moon Fashion (from Fadoura) and Moon Kabala (from Kassa).
Moon Fashion was bought as a weanling by Miss V. Goulden and taken to Red Cliff near Mildura. Then, when he was 4 or 5 years old, Mr. Andy Thompson of Kyabram, Victoria, went looking for an Arabian that was also a good working horse, as his brother had written from the Middle East while there during the war, and told him of the lovely horses he had seen there.
Mr. Thompson rode Moon Fashion for years for stock work as well as using him to sire many good Partbred Arabians which were used for Pony Club, Polocrosse, and Hacking. Many showed jumping ability, and one was exported to Singapore.
Very few of these horses were ever registered. When Moon Fashion was 16 years old he spent a season at Orbost in Victoria, and Maria Bennett-Elliott heard of him through a friend, buying him sight unseen for Milands Stud near Windsor, NSW.
At the age of 17 years he began to be used on Purebred mares, siring outstanding progeny in several fields. He sired a group of lovely broodmares very much in the *Silver Moonlight mold - Milands Gay Fashion, Milands Mi Fashion, Milands Radiant Fashion, Milands Moon Song, Milands Regal Fashion.
From these sprang the next generation of show winners including the colt Milands El Tigre (from Milands Regal Fashion) and the filly Milands El Roseyna (from Milands Radiant Fashion), a Futurity winner at the 1983 Victorian Classic, both by *El Shareef (The Shah/Shareefa).
Naaman Stud bred the Tasmanian stallion Naaman Gala Fashion owned by Shaylyn Stud. He has won every major award possible at the Tasmanian Shows, and made his mark as a sire of top progeny.
From 1976 to 1986 Naaman Gala Fashion competed at nine Tasmanian Division Shows for two Supreme Exhibits, four Champion Stallion and two Reserve Champion awards. He has also competed extensively under saddle and has AAROM Championships in both Halter and Performance.
Naaman Stud also bred the lovely mares Naaman Spring Fashion and Naaman Zuleika. Moon Fashion was also the sire of the stallion Naaddel (from *Naadirah) foaled in 1972 and exported to New Zealand where he was used over daughters of *Silver Sparkle.
At the same time another colt Milands Royal Fashion was also bought by Mr. Lester Marshall. He is now owned by Hestbank Stud, Wakefield, NZ.
When Milands Stud outgrew its location in NSW, Moon Fashion moved back to the lush irrigation country in the Goulburn Valley of Victoria. There he was put down in his 27th year and is buried in front of the stables.
Whilst at Fenwick *Silver Moonlight sired out of the mare Kassa (Kataf/*Nasirieh) one of his most influential sons Moon Kabala who died in February 1982. Moon Kabala had several owners, including Mr. Dick Best of Newbridge Stud, the Gordon brothers of Walgett NSW and Mrs. Jean Luckock.
He is the sire of the chestnut stallion Najaf (from Neyri), owned by Seabreeze Stud near Gosford NSW. Najaf has some purebred stock including the stallion Ibn Najaf (from Anemone) and the excellent performance mare, AAROM Supreme Diala Glen Bint Najaf (from Palmdale Kontess), but is chiefly recognized as a superlative sire of many top Palominos and Partbred Arabians.
Moon Kabala's last owner was Mrs. Anne Wilkinson of Timboon, Victoria.
Moon Kabala sired the very influential chestnut mare Aliya (from Maddalena) in 1962. That mare founded Dunwingeri Stud with her family of beautiful golden chestnut daughters by the *Crystal Fire son Farhan, among them the gems Dunwingeri Bint Aliya (1984 Australian Reserve Champion Mare) and Dungwingeri Naarilla.
Aliya is also famous as the dam of the lovely grey Abelya (by Abyad), whose foals for Tristram Stables include the top stallions Tristram Selam (by Desert Pride), Tristram Manbalou (by Tafadin) and Tristram Apparition (by Hansan). Tristram Apparition is the sire of Paul and Norma Walker's impressive team of greys from Bluegrass Arabians, Victoria, who are mostly from daughters of the stallion Desert Edlen, himself a great-grandson of *Silver Moonlight.
Moon Kabala's full-sister Moonkas, who was put down in her 30th year, was owned for most of her life by Pam Morris of Avondale Stud, in Victoria. At the time of her death, Moonkas was surrounded by six generations of her family.
Her son Sir Ross (by *Rossfennick) belonged to David Kemp's Homeleigh Stud. Sir Ross sired the males Roseyn, Sir Rac, Roseem and Roszan, and the females Rossna, Roscilla, Rossifa, Katishar (part-bred) and Saraband Sachem a champion Palomino.
Roscilla is the dam of Bataara (by *Sankt Georg) Supreme Junior Exhibit of the 1982 Victorian Classic. Rossna is the dam of Muslin, past Champion Mare of the Victorian Classic.
Moonkas and her daughter Kasran (by *Greylight) provided a twin base for Avondale Stud and have many quality progeny between them. Moonkas' other progeny include the mares Moonlight Bay (by Nuri Bey, a son of *Greylight), and Mystic Moon (by Fable), and several excellent mares - Dancelot, Avondale Akhira and Avondale Moon Minx - by Pam and Rob Morris' own elegant bay Crabbet stallion Akhu (Remembrance/Kai).
Kasran's get include full-brother and sister Grey Kim and Mardi (by *Greylight); the mares Brocade and Taffeta and the stallion Bay Blaze (by Nuri Bey), and several daughters by Akhu. Kasran's daughter Mardi in her turn has produced beautiful show-winning daughters by Akhu - fillies like Spring the dam of Royal Show Champion Avondale Gem; Avondale Caprice; Avondale Elegance, the dam of the lovely Avondale Elite.
The Moonkas legacy has been a most rewarding one. She died in 1983 at the age of 30 years, with 13 foals to her credit. Her last foal was a son Avondale Midas (by Masira) who is with Don and Andrea Chapman, Portland, Victoria.
The full-sisters Moonamet and Hamoonette were foaled in 1953 and 1960 respectively, from the *Rakib mare Hammamet. Moonamet spent some years in the Stud of Queensland Agricultural College, where one of her most celebrated descendants was the mare Cyrrene, daughter of Moonamet's son Mikwas by *Electric Silver.
Moonamet is also the dam of the Sydney stallion Zourrak by *Mahif, the lovely mare Flirt by *Silwan, Mrs. Joan Nattrass' Champion showhorse Rimski by *Spindrift, and Pimpala Studs Count Sukayet by *Count Manilla.
Moonamet is known chiefly through her long association with Masafi Stud in South Australia for whom she has founded a strong family through her daughters Masafi Moonet (by Prophet), Rimoon Light (by Rikash), and Masafi Maamouna (by *The Puritan) and her son Masafi Petard (by Ralvon Progress, full-brother to Ralvon Pilgrim).
There are some lovely young horses coming out of this Stud. One notices their short deep heads with large lustrous eyes - a real *Silver Moonlight trademark.
Moonamet's full-sister Hamoonette spent some years as a broodmatron at Mr. Leo Campbell's Santarabia Stud. There she bred the chestnut son Santarabia Sheykh (by the *Riffal son Ranald) of Wongaburra Stud, plus a filly Santarabia Nasrani. Bill Riley of Arabian Lodge Stud, then at Lismore NSW, purchased her and was lucky enough to breed five fillies and one colt from her.
The youngest filly, Arabian Lodge Hafiza (by Ansata El Masri) is a Queensland Futurity winner. Lorene Fullelove of Crystal Court Arabians, Ipswich, Queensland, owns the *Count Manilla daughter Suwari, while Arabian Lodge Bint Hamoonette (by Santarabia Witezar) died last year.
She was probably Hamoonette's most look-alike daughter. The Cameo Stud owns the white full-sisters Kalila and Malika 11 (by Santarabia Karim). These two have 16 foals between them and are still relatively young mares. Kalila is the dam of 1983 Australian Top Ten Mare Cameo Windsprite.
One of the older *Silver Moonlight mares bred in Victoria was Moonoura (from Badoura) foaled in 1953. Moonoura produced the lovely mare El-Sheba (by Flash Boy), and two years later the mare El-Salah (by Sala) in 1960. El-Salah became the foundation mare for Mrs. Dorothy Hodge's Stud in Victoria.
Moonoura is also the dam of the stallion Azura, Eastern Star, Moondream and Moonfire.
Marg Gillon owned one of the truly beautiful *Silver Moonlight mares Moonsprite. This mare has a large family, including the stallion Dorian Grey, who was the initial male influence in Bob Pilgrim's Stud; the Victorian Classic Supreme Exhibit Twilight Moon a very feminine mare owned by Mrs. Mary Ferrari; and the mare Moroccan Moon by Morocco, dam of Wataba (by *Sankt Georg) a Top Ten Mare in the Australian Championships of 1985.
At this stage I must say that it would be all too easy to miss mentioning one of the *Silver Moonlights because when one looks through the progeny listing, almost all of them became significant in one way or another. There were very few geldings and very few mares that weren't absolutely first rate.
The mare Nickel from (Nisib) dam of the wonderful mare Nicolette (by *Greylight) was foaled in 1959. Her progeny include the Queensland stallion Shahreza (by Rikham) and the stallion Nikias (by Abyad). Nickel is also the dam of Victorian stallion Nickelsilver (by Shafreyn).
A 1955 mare Balamara, bred by Miss Leonie Stokoe from her imported Rissalix mare *Zocola, was one of my favorites. She lived a long life though she was not prolific foal-wise. I remember her 1978 filly by Sardonyx, which may have been her last as she would have been 23 years of age by then.
The grey mare Eldoura (*Electric Silver/Badoura) had multiple owners during her lifetime, though she was foaled at Fenwick Stud. She is important to the *Silver Moonlight story because she produced quite a number of foals by him, especially when owned in Queensland by Dr. Leggett's Oxford Stud.
There were the daughters Silver Spray in 1958, Silver Moonbeam in 1962 and Silver Doura in 1964, and the sons Primus in 1959, Quintus in 1961 and Nonus in 1963. Silver Spray won her Yearling Filly Class at Brisbane Royal in 1959, and then went on to Miss Ruth Dalton's Wimsey Stud.
Miss Dalton sold one of her fillies - Moonlight Magic (by Malik) to Talisman Stud at Yass. Another daughter Wimsey Silver Frost has been leased to Ralvon Stud for some years.
Silver Moonbeam was exported to New Zealand where she was still well and breeding on just a few years ago. She with another *Silver Moonlight mare Silver Dawn from Champion show mare Contessa, were sold to Mrs. Clarkson in New Zealand.
Silver Doura was bred by Mrs. May Gresinger of Wollumbin Stud, Murwillumbah, NSW. She has had several owners, but is now treasured by Mrs. Lorraine Currie of Annandale Stud at Nambour on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, where she is being bred with the Silver Radiance son Somerled.
This mating has produced two up and coming colts, Silver Somerio (foaled 1986), owned by Al Marta Stud in Victoria, and Silver Conquest (foaled 1987) who has been retained in the stud that bred him.
Silver Doura is the dam of the exceptional Queensland show mare of the 1970s Mildoura. Mildoura was the dame of Brisbane Royal Show Reserve Champion Mare Rondeburn Mshona (by *A.K. Jabal Ibn Moniet), who in her turn is the dam of the highly successful young show horse Clifton Park Nile Queen (by Nile) with show wins at 'A' Class shows in three states.
Fenwick itself did not retain many *Silver Moonlight females, but one who stayed was Rose Pearl from the imported Oran mare *Rosinella. She is the dam of Rodula (by Baz), Precious Pearl (by *Riffal) and Priscilla (by *Shafreyn).
It is impossible to overlook yet another venerable old Victorian mare Electra Moon, from the *Electric Silver mare Electrimel. She and her dam were the foundation mares for Bob Pilgrim's Warrick Stud, and what a start that turned out to be!
Electra Moon was a sturdy, solid mare with enormous eyes, 'the biggest eyes in Australia.' Her best-known daughters were the Melbourne Royal Show Champions Desert Princess and Desert Star, gracious ladies who were two of the stars of the now famous Stud Dispersal Sale in 1980.
Both of these mares have numerous foals between them, many by the *Silver Magic grandson Boomerang Muskateer. Electra Moon ended her days at The Cameo Stud in Queensland, where she died at the age of 26 years.
Her last foal, born the year before her death, was a filly Cameo New Moon, (by Chip Chase Desert Wind).
Once in Queensland at the Queensland Agricultural College, *Silver Moonlight was used extensively. His most prominent sons from that period were the full-brothers Ivan and Leopold from the *Silwan mare Bellona. Ivan made his mark in Mr. Paul James' Arabian Park.
He sired a good number of foals including Arabian Park Destiny (from Dimity), Arabian Park Flame (from Fire Trix) and Arabian Park Persian Queen (from Arabian Queen). There were likewise many offspring born in Victoria, among them the show mare Heritage Mi-Gaiety owned by the Glassfords, and Hespera's daughter Replique.
Another stallion bred in this era was Enyo (from Riffalka) who has appeared in the Helwa Stud of Sheryl Portener and Peter Sultan in recent times, but many of the *Silver Moonlight colts were sold, both privately and through the Gatton Sales to western properties.
In some cases their registration cards remain with the College. The Blunt-Makim Stud had Joseph from Cyrene, but sold him to Townsville in North Queensland.
Some of the fillies bred while *Silver Moonlight was in residence at the College were Galatea (from Cyrene), Ignez (from Damo), Iole (from Cyrene), Janet (from Fatima), Jennifer (from Tareefa) and Karen (from Feodora).
The mouth waters to think what this Stud could have been in private hands, with these fine females to put back into the broodmare band. As it is, only one of these was retained.
Mr. Frank Staunton of Scimitar Stud was on the teaching staff at the College during the hey-day years of its Arabian Stud. Being an ardent admirer of *Silver Moonlight he bred many foals by him from his mares Atalanta, Fire Dance and Flamenco.
Frank still owns the gracious old *Silver Moonlight mare Swift Silver, though she doesn't breed now.
Cyrene's daughter Iole was the dam of Brisbane Royal Show Champion Stallion Tallangatta Muftakher (by *Royal Domino), a very typey and memorable Champion who has now replaced Gai General in the Wealdbarns Stud of Mrs. Erica Williams.
Tallangatta Muftakher's full-brother Tallangatta Silver Domino, one of the last crop of *Royal Domino foals, and also a stylish gray with great action, is now at Jangharm Stud on the Darling Downs of Queensland.
Kelkette Park has Deirdre's *Silver Moonlight daughter Iolia, who has bred so many quality offspring for Milands and Kelkette Park Studs. Ignez was an example of one of many *Silver Moonlight mares who founded successful Studs.
Mrs. Lesley Dowey of Arabesque Stud bought Ignez as a two-year-old from the Gatton College to join her now famous mare Hestia in the foundation of the Stud. Ignez produced 13 foals from 14 matings. Among her most notable offspring, from a family of 'notables' are Royal Show winners Arabesque Desert Spring and Arabesque Desert Gold, lovely mares by Desert Pride.
Ignez' son Arabesque Nizam is a Reserve Champion Stallion from Melbourne Royal where he also won the Galloway Under Saddle. The beautiful white mare Arabesque Pure Silver (by *The Puritan) was twice Reserve Champion Mare at Melbourne Royal.
She has also placed prominently in all manner of ridden classes. The graceful Arabesque Blue 'N' Gold (by *Ringing Gold) now owned by Amon Arabians is a National Stud Show winner. One runs out of superlatives in this family.
Jennifer, a particularly lovely female, was a great loss to Australia. She was sold to New Zealand to Mrs. Chris Mewett at the age of four years. At the time she was in foal to Miss Ruth Dalton's imported General Grant stallion *Snow King. The resulting filly was a chestnut named Cecilia.
Dr. Geoff Tucker of Newlands Stud (Petersborough, and now Jamestown, South Australia) used and infusion of *Silver Moonlight blood from several different sources in his interesting Stud which, though founded on old Fenwick bloodlines, has also incorporated some interesting imported stock in the breeding program.
The old Crabbet-bred stallion *Sherif has been a more recent incumbent, though he is now dead. Dr. Tucker had the old *Silver Moonlight mare White Flash. She had spent some years on Bendleby Station, via Orroroo, South Australia where she was often used as a station hack by owner Gil Luckraft and his brother Rex.
She was also bred with Niello (Rossfennick/Nitria), though some of her early foals were never registered. White Flash bred the daughter Silfe by Nefudh, a very interesting old horse foaled in 1946 and one of Dr. Tucker's 'finds' in rural South Australia. Nefudh was by *Rakib from *Nasirieh.
The stallion Moonshine was first brought from Fenwick to South Australia by Jack Fullerton, a butcher from Port Augusta. This horse too was used for cattle and sheep mustering, and Dr. Tucker declares him the best horse he has ever ridden.
For Newlands Stud he bred Dr. Tucker's beautiful riding horse Seville. Kittie Harris of Tasmania owns Moonshine's daughter Saika.
Niff Naff was the foundation mare for O. and D. Treasure's Lake Erie Stud in Western Australia. She produced several foals by the Stud's stallion Regal (*Rossfennick/Rapture). They include the fillies Golden Dorn, Silver Elect, Silver Nella and Regal Girl.
Another prominent *Silver Moonlight son is the stallion Scimitar Quick Silver (from Atalanta) of Mrs. Betty Serpell's Faraway Farm in Victoria. Mrs. Serpell is an endurance rider who has bred many good riding horses by him. Then there is Arabesque Moon Magic (from Zamara) of Pasadena Stud at Bulga, NSW.
Among the last drop of *Silver Moonlight foals in Australia was the gracious white mare Karen (from Feodora) owned by Caneagle Stud at Brookfield, near Brisbane. She was one of the last mares to be sold from the College Stud, bringing a very notable $7500, with keen bidders from three States, at 17 years of age.
Karen returned to a Crabbet breeding program when purchased by Bennelong Stud in 1989. She is currently in foal to former Australian Champion Stallion Rasham (by *Greylight) who resides at Mr. Ron Ryans stud in Victoria.
Mrs. May Gresinger's mare Moon Maid (from Zateyma) was also foaled in 1968. Moon Maid has foaled every year but one since 1972.
Very few stallions have left such a proud ongoing tradition as has *Silver Moonlight. His daughters are still in great demand despite their ages and the surviving sons are eagerly sought out. This is a horse that touched the Australian Arabian scene in a way that is almost unique.
*An asterisk indicates horses that were imported to Australia. We intend to follow with an updated article on the California *Silver Moonlight Arabians from Sharf Arabians.
**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.**
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