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In 1930, the Russian breeders from Tersk visited France and purchased the
stallion Kann and six mares: Asisa, Gurara, Belle
et Bonne, Kirza, Carabine and Sapin. All of the mares but Kirza were in foal
at the time of purchase, adding five more offspring of French blood to the
nucleus of purebred Arabians.
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The Russian Breeders preferred horses who traced in sire line to Eastern-bred Arabian
horses, and in this instance, they all did. Belle et Bonn, Carabine and Sapin
were related to Nakhr Ibrahim who was
brought from the East in 1893. Kann was a grandson of Latif, brought in 1909. Gurara was the
granddaughter of Tel'Mez, brought in
1912. Asisa was a daughter of Teleb,
brought in 1914. The pedigrees of the horses purchase in France reflected seven
to 12 generations of breeding of desert-bred Arabian horses.
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The mares from France were described in the military stud books as, "Mares of
not large height, all chestnut with noble Arabian heads and necks, good
shoulders with considerable depth through the saddle girth. The legs have worthy
tendons, but mostly soft pasterns; the hind legs are a little saber shaped and
move too close together at the jumping joints. The upper lines at the loins and
croup are not satisfactory; the croup is short. The mares are light in their
movements."
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The stallion Kann, however, was described as "exceptionally strong with a
wide and deep chest, a long, very wide croup, having excellently developed
muscles and dry, strong, correctly placed legs".
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| During 13 years at stud at Tersk, Kann was the leading sire of purebred foals.
He crossed exceptionally well the mares brought with him from France, and the
resultant offspring were of high quality. Seventeen of Kann's daughters were
incorporated into the program at Tersk and greatly influenced the productivity
of the farm during its early years of operation. Unfortunately, Kann was not
fully utilized. He had limited breedings with the mares later brought in from
England and Poland. Kann's best son, Korej, was a French-English cross. |
Despot, by the same sire as Kann, was born at Tersk. Despot was smaller than
Kann, but had better motion. He was described as "simple, lop-eared , but having
a good neck with an excellent sloping shoulder, deep chest, rounder ribs with a
lowered sloping croup and dry, light limbs in relation to his body". Despot's
contributions to the purebred program were not significant and he was used
primarily to sire half-breds.
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The French mares of greatest merit as producers were Carabine and three of her
11 daughters: Kankara by Kann, Dikarka by Denouste, and Kasket by Kann. These mares have continuing dam
lines with stock still being used at Tersk. This line generally produced
"uphill" horses - taller at the withers than at the croup. Good shoulder and
good function to the legs are characteristic of this line.
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Carabine's daughter Kankara, was the granddam of Sonata by Skrzyp. Sonata was the dam of two full brothers
used extensively at Tersk - Suvenir and
Salon, both by Negativ. Salon is best known as the sire of
Muscat, 1980 U.S. and Canadian National
Champion Stallion. Sonata's daughter Sopka (by Priboj) had a continuing dam line through her
daughter Sosna, foaled in 1964 by Semen.
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| Dikarka's line continues through Piramida, foaled in 1945 by Piolun. Dikarka;s daughter Podruga (by Priboj), foaled in 1951, is the dam
of eight foals. The most significant was the mare Palba (by Arax) foaled in 1961. Palba was a winner of the
Certificate of First Degree at the All Union Exhibition in Moscow in
1964. |
Podruga's son Patron, sired by Aswan, was foaled in 1966. Sold to Holland,
Patron was an exceptional sire. It is unfortunate that he died at the age of 12,
before realizing his breeding potential. Patron was a good race horse,
reflecting the heritage passed along through his dam Podruga. She established
several filly records including the 1200 m (six furlongs)m in 1:20, the 3000 m
(1 7/8 miles) in 3:32, and the 3200 m (two miles) in 3:47. Podruga won the Oaks
and was second in the Derby to an Anglo-Arab. Patron won the S.M. Budenny Stakes
(2800 m) and six other races.
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| Carabine's third daughter of merit was the mare Kasket, by
Kann, foaled in 1934. She was the dam of Figurantka (x Ferhan), foaled in 1938. Figurantka had three
daughters with continuing lines through the present: Sofa II by
Skrzyp, her full sister Strofa, and most
important, Platforma, by Priboj.
Platforma was an athletic mare, having won the 1200 meter fully prize in 1:24.
She was also awarded a Certificate of First Degree at the All Union Exhibition
in 1957. Platforma was the dam of Pika,
by Knippel. Pika's two sons by Aswan,
Pirit and Plastun, both had excellent track records.
Pirit won the Derby, Autumn Prize, and S.M. Budenny. |
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