The Kuheila’t Umm Zorayr strain is of great antiquity but rarely heard of in modern breeding progammes, although the stallions of this strain were much used for stud in the Najd in mid 19th century.

In Bahrain we were most fortunate to have one survivor of this strain. In 1969 old studmaster Fatis realized that in the herd of broodmares in his change there was only one Kuheila’t Umm Zorayr, a very old black mare that used to be one of Shaikh Sulman’s favourite racing mares. This mare had not produced anything for many years nor had she shown any interest in the stallions- so she had been left to retirement of her own choosing. Fatis took her up to the Palace and put her in race training! Obviously the stimula of running and the special personal attention made the old girl think she was young again. She was mated with Jellaby Wasmiya and produced a filly foal. She died peacefully in December 1974 – toothless, deaf and half-blind yet contented.

This daughter Kuheila’t Umm Zorayr Ssarfa 154 had three daughters of her own and so this historical strain can be still be appreciated by future generations.