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MARQUIS is a synonym for: each time shown each time at the top! There was not a single show since his arrival in the European showring in which he failed or had a 'bad day'. And in each show to date, he achieved a championship title or came at least in the 'Top Five' group of all colts at the specific Title shows like Aachen or in the 'Top Ten' at the Finals of the World Championships in Paris! And whileMARQUIS is only three years now, his list of shows and show success is already long. Indeed he might be one of the most successful show colts ever!
MARQUIS was marketed and sold as a yearling by Michael Byatt to Al Khalediah Stables, from Saudi Arabia. The elegant, refined chestnut arrived right in time from the U.S. to the showground in Menton in South France, where Michael Byatt showed him in June 2005 for the very first time in Europe. The colt was already 'known' before he entered the ring, as he was one of the very first sons from the young sire MARWAN AL SHAQAB who is already famous and one of most successful sires of our day. MARWAN AL SHAQAB had made himself a great show career in his home country of Qatar as well as in Europe when he was young and junior colt, prior to him leaving to the United States. In America, he gave an unbelievable and unique input and influence to the today's breed, covering hundreds of mares each year since. MARQUIS was one of his first foals, and until today, he is one of the most prominent sons and representative of his sire.
At just one-year-old, the chestnut colt MARQUIS entered his class in Menton in a great style, trot and presence that everybody was excited. And those first steps gave him immediately a spectacular introduction to Europe. MARQUIS moved like hell, with his legs and hocks moving high and in the best action for power. With an attentive and curious upright stance in the front like saying: hey, what's up .... no need to look any other of this class, here I am - so where is the trophy .... Even in Michael Byatt's face you could read how much he enjoyed this young colt trotting next to him. The show ended up for MARQUIS with a sovereign class win and a bit tired in the final, he won the title as the Menton 2005 Reserve Champion Colt.
From those first steps, each show was another success for the elegant and refined chestnut. In 2005 and 2006, MARQUIS competed in most of the major international shows, and each time he went home with another success and win on his record. The year 2007, his last year as junior, started for him in glamour and grace. Excellently shown by the Belgian Philippe Hosay, MARQUIS became Champion Colt at the two international A-rated shows in the Emirates, Dubai and Sharjah. And he won the first Dubai Gold Cup (DGC) 'Colts' 2006/2007 for which his owners, Al Khalediah Stables, received a 100,000 US-Dollars prize money cheque. The Dubai Gold Cup is a special competition by a specific point system related based on the results of a series in international A-rated shows in Europe. For the DGC 2006/2007 it had been the 2006 shows in Menton, Borgloon, and Towerlands, culminating in the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championships 2007.
2007 is the last year of MARQUIS as 'Junior'. This is why it is planned that he returns to Europe for another show season, before his next task and obligation, to establish himself as a sire and to produce foals to demonstrate his quality as breeding horse. |
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