Harjeet MA

Harjeet MA: A Homebred Homerun For Milestone Arabians

by THERESA CARDAMONE

When Steve Miles first laid eyes on Harjeet MA, he knew he was looking at the finest colt yet bred by Milestone Arabians—a judgement that has been borne out by expert panels at the most important venues for the Arabian breed. Sired by World and U.S. National Champion Hariry Al Shaqab, Harjeet is out of Alia Psyche IA, without question one of the top producing Padrons Psyche daughters in the world and the only one whose dam is a direct daughter of Ruminaja Ali. That sets her in a league of her own. Harjeet MA fulfilled his pedigree’s promise by winning the title of 2019 United States National Champion Junior Stallion.

Harjeet was expertly and elegantly presented by Midwest’s Dagmar Gordiano. David Boggs remembers it well, “The two of them have a great bond that made it look as if they were one. The competition in the class was remarkable. It included the reigning Scottsdale Champion Stallion and a previous United States National Champion colt in a very tough field. It was a great triumph.” The victory by their homebred stallion was a big validation for the Milestone Arabians breeding program and endorses what the Miles family has believed all along. Darla Miles recalls the day the fiery chestnut colt was born. “Harjeet definitely stood out,” she states. “He was gorgeous, and he was so tall, he was drinking from the water bucket the first day! When David came to see the babies, he selected him as one we should show, and that’s the path we’re on.”

Boggs is very glad they took his advice. “Harjeet gave me those unmistakable goosebumps!” he recalls. “From birth, he possessed an extremely well-laid-back shoulder and high-set neck with amazing length and delicacy of throatlatch—his short face and perfectly-placed ears were no doubt a gift from his grandsire, *Padron. His first three foals, all outstanding fillies, are in Scottsdale at Midwest for all to enjoy.” Those three fillies are all homeruns for the Milestone program. Legacys Treasure (Legacy of Fame x Merri Porcelynn) and Aria Anastasia (Baha AA x Estrella De Psyche) had gorgeous chestnut fillies with beautiful motion, while WC Xceptshahnal (Xceptshahn x JE Ali Selene) presented Milestone with a similarly talented bay beauty.

Of the 29 colts bred by Milestone, only Harjeet MA has been retained for future breeding. In addition to his U.S. title, Harjeet was the 2018 Canadian National Champion Futurity Colt, Scottsdale Unanimous Champion 3-Year-Old Colt, and ANBF Scottsdale Signature Champion Colt among other honors. “We kept Harjeet because he has phenomenal bloodlines, plus his conformation is near-perfect,” Darla enthuses. “He has great legs and so many attributes that we value. His first three foals were born this year from very different mares and the best part is any little thing that we didn’t necessarily love about the mares, he complemented. The good points of both mare and stallion came out. I hope that carries on, since we bred him to three more mares for 2020!”

As for Harjeet’s immediate future, the Milestone team are putting their heads together to come up with a game plan that will include both breeding and showing. “Harjeet is being collected to satisfy outside breedings but I believe he will be seen in the show ring at Scottsdale in 2020,” Darla states. “Maybe Las Vegas too, but he will definitely continue to contribute to the Milestone Arabians gene pool.” David Boggs shares his prediction. “Harjeet is destined to take his rightful place of honor in our breed and create his own legacy as a future leading sire.”