A CONVERSATION
with Manuela Daverio-Scharfenberg and Paul Daverio
b y St e v e An d e r s e n Paul Daverio and Manuela Daverio-Scharfenberg, breeders of top-class Arabian racehorses.
What brought you into Arabian racing? The purebred Arabian racehorse. Its character, the unique personality, and of course, its beauty. If all of that comes up in a horse and is topped with speed, not a lot of experiences in life can compare with that feeling! As breeders we always try to give our best knowledge to receive the best products.
The Arabian racehorse is a passion for the husband and wife team of Paul Daverio and Manuela Daverio-Scharfenberg. From breeding top-class horses to winning major stakes in Europe, the Daverios have developed world-class results from a small stable. For 2016, their stable is at a crossroads. Some of their established runners have been retired to stud and the breeding paddocks, while a few three- and four-year-olds have captured their attention as potential replacements for leading stakes. Attend a day of Arabian racing at Newmarket Racecourse in England or Chantilly, north of Paris, and chances are the Daverios will be in attendance. They recently sat down to share their views on their racing stables, the direction of Arabian racing in Europe, and their interests outside of the sport.
In recent years, you have campaigned the stakes winners Ameretto (Amer x Win Taouy by Drug) and Djet Taouy (Dahess x Win Taouy); what do you expect from your stable in 2016? This year we are looking forward to racing Amjad al Aziz (Dahess x Aghami) and Selketh (Munjiz x Lostris), both fouryear-olds. Amjad has good chances at a mile and Selketh at 2,000m or more. We also have a three-year-old, colt Djebel de la Roque (Dahess x Fanny de Faust), who is preparing well in the southwest of France. Djet Taouy won the U.K. Arabian Derby in 2013. How does that win rate among your personal favorite wins? The U.K. Derby was a revelation for us. The win confirmed the Win Taouy dam line as a group-winning line. Ameretto and 76 ▪ ARABIAN RACING YEARBOOK ▪ WORLD
Djet Taouy were the first to demonstrate this good racing dam line. Ameretto raced as a nine-yearold in 2015 and won throughout Europe in his career. What are his plans for 2016? Is he off to stud, or will there be another season of races? Ameretto starts his stallion career now. We used his service in 2015 for two of our mares: Mak’leopatre and Toeris (Majd Al Arab x Lostris). They foaled on January 31, 2016, and February 20, 2016: two fantastic males were born. Keep these names in mind: Octopus and Aquila Nera. You buy and sell racehorses in the midst of their careers. What’s the best approach to take as an owner from a business and sporting perspective? A racehorse career is always a big challenge. Our aim is to breed winners, and this is a long way to go! From crossing a selected mare with the best adapted stallion you need not only knowledge, you need feeling and a lot of chance. It looks like experimental science: the research needs finders! From the sporting perspective we always try to reach the best physical and mental condition of our athletes in order