Resurgent Libya | Trainer Magazine | European Trainer Article Index

Apr 27

Apr 27 Resurgent Libya

When we in the West hear of racing in such countries as Libya we automatically think that it must revolve around non- thoroughbreds and poor purses for scant reward, all of which must surely have ground to a halt following the uprising and overturn of the Gaddafi regime. Think again. As Baghdad in Iraq has shown, horseracing often becomes a welcome distraction in times of trouble, with gate numbers increasing as countries recover slowly from war. It’s no different in Libya, where the highly active Libyan Equestrian and Horse Riding Federation staged a well-attended Flat race meeting at the Abusita Centre in Tripoli just after Christmas. This is just one of the racetracks in and around Tripoli, which also include Abi-Sitta and Ben Gashir – popular leisure destinations for Libyans, whatever the political situation. It was business as usual in Tripoli, with horses and jockeys travelling from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia to compete against the local Libyan contingent. Horseracing has always been one of the most popular spectator sports in Libya, with traditionally large attendances on national holidays, and a large crowd came out to see local hero Hussein Shaalami, Libya’s leading jockey, gain three wins and a second, including a win on Aramadi in the day’s feature race, run over 2000 metres. The day’s third race was won by the Tunisian team of Munir Al-Mansur and mount Bal Mural, with Tunisia also gaining a one-two in one of the minor races on the card. Bloud Nyan proved best of the Moroccans on the day when gaining a second under Zarkan Atuhami, making this a truly international meeting. If those are unfamiliar names now, it might be worth storing them in the memory banks for future reference, because Libya is set to become an emerging racing nation. The big ambitions of a far from small racing industry are being given a boost by two thoroughbred breeders, Dr Amad Eshaab and his brother Radwan, who own and manage Libya’s largest and most important stud, Al Shaab Stud in Tripoli. Al Shaab was established in 2000. “We have been breeding the thoroughbred for 12 years,” says Eshaab, “but there is no Libyan Stud Book up to now. We tried to establish one in 2004, but our thoroughbred industry at that time was of no interest to any of the other Associations.” The International Stud Book Committee is currently in the process of working with emerging racing countries and it can only be a matter of time before Libya joins the ever-expanding list within the European and Mediterranean Stud Book Liaison Committee. Eshaab explains, “We have big races here and thoroughbred racing is very popular. It is very much in the blood and part of our culture, the same as in Ireland. Horse breeding is very popular and all horse owners and breeders love their horses so much. Libyan breeders have always preferred horses other than the Arab. The Arab is a smaller horse and Libyans like the bigger horse, because we have traditional races that have always required size. Historically we have always crossbred the Arab with the thoroughbred to produce Anglo-Arabs. The Arab is not very famous here, for a long time Libyans have bred the Anglo-Arab.” With size and stamina traditionally taking prevalence it was natural for the brothers to look for complementary pedigrees in their quest for stallions at Al Shaab. “We started to breed from the speed horses,” Eshaab says. “That’s why we selected horses from Australia, Argentina, and Britain. The pedigree and racecourse performance was very important.” That much is obvious when one looks at the impressive stallion roster the Eshaab brothers have established. Among seven high-class individuals are the Australians Back Draft and Brut Force. The former won three races at two and is by Testa Rossa out of a good daughter of the champion filly Bravery. Brut Force, by Giant’s Causeway, boasts Zabeel’s champion filly Champagne as his dam. Al-Mutazim (formerly known as Metternich (USA)) is by Seeking the Gold out of the European champion filly Valentine Waltz, from the heralded family of Last Tycoon, Tie Black, Zipping, Zelding and Beauty Is Truth. They stand alongside former leading British juvenile Raise a Grand, by Grand Lodge out of an Irish River mare; Fawri, by Kyllachy out of a Danehill mare; and Muraqeeb, a son of Mr Prospector out of a mare who is the result of a union between the two outstanding milers of their era in Britain: Kris and Al Bahathri. Possibly heading this star-studded bill is the champion Argentinean racehorse Indio Glorioso, an eight-year-old by Honour and Glory out of the top Argentinean racemare Indianato, herself from a prolific Grade One winner-producing maternal line. Not surprisingly, mares visit the stallions not only from Libya, but from Egypt and Tunisia, too. Amad and Radwan have now found themselves at the forefront of rebuilding the Libyan thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and establishing the Stud Book. “We are getting lots of support from all of the industry and as I am rebuilding the TBA I am the voice for our industry,” admits Eshaab. It is a huge responsibility, particularly coupled with his existing duties as General Manager of Al Shaab Stud and his job as a veterinary surgeon. “I would like our TBA to have an international role, like other Associations,” he hopes, “We have over 1,000 breeders here and they have given me, through the TBA, the authorisation to speak on their behalf. We are not looking for government support; we have a lot of private investment and hope to attract more – we have a large industry and this can upport investment and employment. We believe we can rebuild again and we can support each other within the industry. I feel, from all the owners who speak to me, that we have a very nice future, but it is not going to be achieved very fast. We were 41 years under the Gaddafi regime so that is not easy for us. We need international support and investment.” Amad and Radwan know first hand the final blows dealt by the Gaddafi regime and were forced to cross the border into Tunisia in May of last year, unable to return until September. “Fifty-two horses were taken from us by Gaddafi’s son,” reveals Eshaab. “They were distributed in many different cities without documentation and we can’t find even one of the missing horses.” It was in trying to help and support the industry that the brothers brought such unwelcome attention upon the stud. As Eshaab points out, “I sent an email to the Australian Ambassador here in Libya looking for support. I explained we have no Islamic stronghold nor Al-Qaeda presence and we support the freedom of the Libyan people, so please support us. “This put us in a very critical position and we were left in no doubt that Gaddafi was looking. The Ambassador supported us and said on television that he knew the Libyan people were saying the right things.” They may have only returned to Tripoli in September, but the brothers were quick to restore business as usual at Al Shaab Stud and play a major role in strengthening the base of the Libyan thoroughbred industry, despite the heavy losses in their broodmare band. In December they were back at Tattersalls Breeding Stock Sale in Newmarket and purchased nine mares. “We are looking for more ways in which we can support the Libyan owner,” Eshaab says, “and one way is to bring in horses from Britain to improve our breed. We would like to import many quality broodmares, based on their pedigree and race record, which should be at least Group Three standard.” This isn’t as easy as it sounds, even if budget allows and the right horse is available. “The main problem is that we have no air cargo from Europe to Tripoli, so we have to send a box by sea and overland via Genoa to Newmarket. “This takes time. It’s more than 150 hours from Newmarket to Tripoli and this is very hard on mares, particularly any mare foaling 1st February. It also costs a lot. Until we have good connection with Europe by air cargo it is very difficult. Tripoli is only three hours from Newmarket by air.” The problems of air cargo have not unduly affected other Libyan breeders and owners, thanks to the foresight and business acumen of the Eshaab brothers. Al Shaab is not only an important stud farm, but also a thoroughbred auction house. “We hold a local auction here,” Eshaab explains, “which is very popular. The first thoroughbred auction was held in Libya in 1974, but it was then stopped by Gaddafi until we managed to reinstate it in 2009.” It was Al Shaab Stud that staged the renewed sales, held in March and October of 2009 and 2010. Not surprisingly, there was no 2011 renewal, but the sale has returned to the stud this year, held on 17th March. The October sale of 2010 attracted buyers both locally and from Egypt and Tunisia. One of the visitors was David Chester, Sales Director of Magic Millions, who commented, “We conduct business in many countries around the world and found the Al Shaab Sale was outstanding and extremely professional. “All the presentation and health of all sale horses was up to world standard, an amazing achievement considering the short length of time the Australian sale horses have been in the country.” Eighty-five percent of the catalogue changed hands and what might come as a surprise to those in well-established racing countries is the quality of the sale and the figures involved. The sales topper was a colt by Raaqi out of a Polish Navy mare that made 85,000 Libyan dinar, a healthy £43,941/€52,744. The average was an equally respectable £17,947/€21,522, both figures twice that of the 2009 returns, showing that Amad and Radwan’s aim to import better horses is certainly working. David Chester has pledged support in exploring better airfreight options between Libya and Australia. There remains only the acceptance of the Stud Book by the European and Mediterranean Stud Book Liaison Committee to assure the future of Libyan racing and breeding. “We have a lot of support and cooperation from other breeders,” says Eshaab. “We explain to them that we must breed and race in the right way and we are in constant communication with other countries. “We would like support and assistance from important countries like Ireland and Britain and anyone in a position to help us rebuild. We need to have documentation in place to enable us to comply with European regulations for travel and trade, we need to get that certification in place.” If anyone can achieve this, it is Dr Amad Eshaab. “I’m a vet, so this is my hobby and my job. We are the first, and only, major stud in Libya. We have a very big veterinary clinic here with the latest state-of-the-art equipment. We want to help others rebuild their studs and become like ours.” It is said with passion and one cannot help but believe the Eshaab brothers will achieve their aims sooner rather than later.

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(European Trainer - issue 37 - Spring 2012)

Apr 27 Dermot Weld

Apr 27 Robert and Rodolphe Collet