An article and a movie about him – no more words needed:
PS: We have his worldwide first foal! Jade A – we are very proud of this mare and to have her in our breeding barn.
Aja Justified – a real Triple Crown Winner! He won in 2010 all the big three shows in the Arabian show scene: All Nation´s Cup in Aachen, European Championship and the WorldChampionship in Paris in France – and this all in one year. To date only 17 horses achieved this in the 22 years since the title “triple crown winner” was established.
A fantastic article by Samantha Mattocks:
The Triple Crown Series
As I continue through my The Triple Crown Series, my attention turns to the 2010 Champion, Aja Justified. For many colts, it is their three-year old year when they shine the most and many a horse has won a Triple Crown title at this age. Just to underline how difficult it is to win the Eurpean Triple Crown series, the horse has to win the Gold Championship at ther All Nations´ Cup in Aachen, the European Championship title, and the Paris Wolrd Championship title, all in the same season. To date, just 17 horses have achieved this in the 22 years since the titel first came into existence. Aja Justified won his title six years ago – and it would be another three years before Emandoria (Gazal Al Shaqab x Emanda) came along to win her title.
This is the story.
Aja Justified was the talk of the year in 2010; indeed, from the moment he was foaled in 2007, all the eyes were upon him. Sired by the great WH Justice (Magnum Psyche x Vona Sher-Renea), and out of Aja Beneja (FS Bengali x G Estarreja), Aja Justified created waves for the right reasons from the momenz he was born.
Bred by Jane and Malcolm Hicford of Aja Arabians in the UK, Aja Justified was leased to HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Atbah Stud in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before the Triple Crown shows geban, and it was him that he won the ultimate accolades.
Wh Justice sire line is well known: he is by Magnum Psyche, probably the most famous son of Padrons Psyche who is, in turn, by Padron (Patron x Odessa). Magnum Psyche´s dam is A Fancy Miracle, a mare with wonderful Spanish lines being by Sasaki (Nagasaki x Safia) and out of Medina Azahara (Garbo x Grazalema). Wh Justice damline, however, is just as important. His dam was Vona Sher-Renea, a Renea (Jassen x Shamillazzan) daughter who goes back to wonderful old Crabbet lines, but it is Vona Sher-Renea´s sireline that is of particular note. El Sher-Mann sired this 1989 mare and he is, in turn, a son of the legendary El Shaklan (Shaker El Masri x Estopa), an Egyptian/Spanish stallion whose arrival in the world in 1975 was to revolationise Arabian horse breeding, just as Padrons Psyche would a generation later. El Sher-Mann´s dam is Gazira (Gazi x Sur-Rad Raziya), and this blend of Spanish, Egyptian and Crabbet, among other lines, all comes together in one broodmare that changed the course of history: Vona Sher-renea.
While the influence of Wh Justice in Aja Justified´s pedigree has had a terrific influence, his damline is also significant as it combines not only some of the most famed horses in recent times but also some of the most precious mares of the modern age. Aja Justified´s dam is the Aja Arabians homebred beauty, Aja Beneja. Her dam is the beautiful Gucci-bred mare G Estarreja, herself a Carmargue daughter (White Lightning x Velvet Shadow). Camargue was a popular stallion, very typey for his time, and not overused to the extent that some other sires have been. G Estarreja´s damline goes back to the immortal Spanish mare Estopa (Tamal x Uyaima). G Estarreja´s dam is estasha Bint Masri (by Masri), daughter of El Shaklan´s full sister, Estasha (Shaker El Masri x Estopa). Aja Beneja´s sire is FS Bengali, reinforcing that Estopa/El Shaklan influence even further as he was out of Om El Sanadiva (Sanadik El Shaklan x De La Reina). FS Bengali´s Russian power comes in through his sire the straight Russian Kubinec (Balaton x Kosmetika).
And so, in 2007, all of these bloodlines merged together and Aja Justified was born. He was the next step in the Aja Arabians programme, and the arrival of this special colt did not disappoint. “We knew it too – the special one´s just do …”. As a yearlingAja Justified was lightly shown and claimed Junior Male Championship titeles in Frankfurt and Ströhen, both international B shows., and Reservce Junior Male Championship titles at the international A Shows in Wels and Towerlands. He ended his season with a Top Five at the European Championships and did not return to the show-ring again until he was three years of age.
Aja Justified showed at the UK International Arabian Horse Show and there, he claimed Gold. Then, it was on to Aachen and the all Nations´Cup. It was just after his win in his class that the news was announced that he was showing for Athbah Stud, having joined their show string a couple of weeks ago.
(remark by Heinz Mader: “I can still remember the moment when Aja Justified turned into the arena …because we had a stallion El Corazon in this 3-year-old class. It was an amazing moment to see this stallion in a big class!”)
Aja Justified took the All Nations´ Cup Gold Junior Male Championship title and followed this up with a unanimous European Championship and finally, the jewel that secured him a Triple Crown – the World Championship.
Aja Justified then spent time at Athbah Stud, being bred to the amazing mares there before returning home. Later, he went to stand in the US at Michael Byatt Arabians before being leased to the Ajman Stud. At the beginning of last year, he was sold to Ronen Braver from Israel.
Now nine years of age, Aja Justified is a statuesque grey – and hes ist still winning and captivating audiences. His progeny have also excelled, including Aja Europa (ex HB Marais by Marwan Al Shaqab), European Champion Yearling Filly and Reserve Junior Female Champion at the UK International. With access to some of the best mares possible, including the incredible Kwestura (Monogramm x Kwesta), resulting in the white six year-old are Aj Noor Kwestura, Aja Justified has certainly made, and continues to make, his mark.
(remark by Heinz Mader: but it was Jade A who was his first foal and filly (out of Koratah III by Nagadir) being bred in Europe before he left to Atbah stud. Malenga Arabians have been the lucky one to be able to purchase this exceptional filly by this famous stallion) and through her foals (e.g. by Emerald or Falah Al Shaqab) the pedigree of Aja Justified lives on.)
We have not yet heard the last of the Aja Justified story – but certainly his Triple Crown win was one of the more memorable, and it will remaion clear in my memory for many years to come.
S.M.
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