ÖZGÜNHAN – 2005 WAHO Trophy Winner – Turkey

ÖZGÜNHAN., Chestnut stallion, *1998 (Özgün / Neame 39).
Breeder: Anadolu Agriculture Enterprise (State Stud). Owners: Mr. Adil Turan and Mr. Ali Yildiz.
Strain: Dahman Umm Amer (Neame, 1923) The Turkish Arabian Stud Book Office at the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture has informed us that their 2005 WAHO Trophy has been awarded, by decision of a special Commission, to the stallion Özgünhan. They decided that not only does this horse display all the phenotypic features of the Arabian horse, but he is also a supreme athlete. In a country where racing is the main activity for Arabians, Özgünhan has an outstanding race record. Between 2001 and 2005 he raced 38 times in Istanbul, Ankara and Adana, with 26 wins and 10 places. Amongst those wins were eight Group 1 races and 6 Group 2 races. His sire, Özgün, also showed good racing performance and he has produced many champion race-winning offspring. His dam Neame 39 also produced the colts Don Juan, Halid, Sam Ay and Yavuzca, all of them have now achieved the status of breeding stallions.

Özgünhan, Turkey’s 2005 WAHO Trophy winner.

The presentation was made to the owner, Mr. Adil Turan and the breeder & TIGEM General Director, Mr. Ismail Hakki Sayin by Dr. Emin Pekkaya, the Turkish Arabian Stud Book Registrar and WAHO Stud Book Advisory Committee Member. Also present at the award ceremony were Mr. Umur Tamer, President of the Turkish Jockey Club, and Commission Members Mr. Cihat Guruz, Mr. Hucum Tulgar & Mr. Selman Tasbek.

Owner, Mr. Adil Turan; Breeder & TIGEM General Director, Mr. Ismail Hakki Sayin; Turkish Arabian Stud Book Registrar & WAHO Stud Book Advisory Committee Member, Dr. Emin Pekkaya.

As a further interesting footnote, Özgünhan’s dam Neame 39 was bred by Sultansuyu State Stud. His sire Özgün was bred by Karacabey State Stud. Özgünhan himself was bred by Anadolu State Stud, so he neatly encompasses all three Turkish State Studs of the Ministry of Agriculture and is a worthy winner of Turkey’s first WAHO Trophy.

L-R: Trainer, Mr. Erhan Diblen; Owner, Mr. Adil Turan; President of the Turkish Jockey Club, Mr. Umur Tamer; Commission Members: Mr. Cihat Guruz, Mr. Hucum Tulgar & Mr. Selman Tasbek; Breeder & TIGEM General Director, Mr. Ismail Hakki Sayin; Turkish Arabian Stud Book Registrar, Dr. Emin Pekkaya.