Three “famous” horses from Saudi Arabia have arrived in Tersk Stud: the two-time world champion Baanderos (Marwan Al Shaqab / HB Bessolea), *2005, and the two mares Layan Al Khalediah (Dakharo / Padrons Amour) *2006, Junior World Champion Filly 2007, and Rjoh Al Khalediah (Laith Al Khalediah / Ardah) * 2014. The Russian government received all three horses as a state gift from Saudi Arabia in 2017 (see link). The horses arrived in snowy Moscow from the Saudi desert in early 2018 and found a new home near the capital.
Last year a high-ranking visitor came to Tersk, the representative of the North Caucasian region in the Putin government. He was so impressed by the stud and the Open Day that he campaigned for Baanderos and the two mares from Al Khalediah to be able to move from Moscow to Tersk. After a thorough inspection of the stud by the government, the horses were now given the “green light” to move to the most important Arabian stud in Russia and to be used for breeding there.
Baanderos has many important show victories, e.g. 2010 Paris World Gold Champion Senior Stallion, 2008 Paris World Gold Champion Junior Colt, 2010 All Nations Cup Gold Champion Senior Stallion, 2008 All Nations Cup Gold Champion Junior Colt, 2011 Dubai International Gold Champion Senior Stallion and 2010 Qatar International Gold Champion Senior Stallion, that makes him the most victorious show horse in all of Russia.
Baanderos is in good company when it comes to state gifts, just think of Aswan (Nazeer / Yosreia), which was given to the Russian government by Egyptian President Nasser in 1963 and Sirdar (Nejma Zomorrod / Santa-Padova Statement), *1998 who came to Russia as a gift from the UAE in 2004 together with some mares. Sirdar still lives in Tersk today.
Of the two mares, World Champion Filly Layan is intended for breeding show horses. She has Patron several times in her pedigree. Rjoh is said to go into race horse breeding. On her dam’s side she goes back to Saudi “desert lines”, on her sire’s side, she has Tiwaiq as a grandfather.
