An Angel Ascends | Farewell to VALENTINO'S ANGEL MI

12 September 2011 - 13 April 2026

The world bid farewell to one of the most universally beloved and internationally accomplished Arabian mares of her generation on Monday, as VALENTINO’S ANGEL MI succumbed to complications from colic.

A premier member of Mulawa’s incomparable dam family of ‘Angels’ descending directly four generations from foundation mare M ANGELIQUE (Vision x Abanda by Banderol), VALENTINO’S ANGEL was one of three famous full siblings bred by the Farrell Family out of Aristocrat Dam ALWAYS AN ANGEL (SK Shakla Khan x Angel of Fame by Fame Maker R) and sired by the legendary DA VALENTINO (Versace x DA Love by Padrons Psyche). While full siblings ALWAYS VALENTINE MI and VANGELIS MI would both achieve significant show ring acclaim both in Australia and in North America while blessing the breed with the likes of A VISION MI, V MI and DURRAT ALBIDAYER, VALENTINO’S ANGEL would surpass both her siblings as a show horse of resounding consequence on four continents, becoming one of the most celebrated and highly decorated VALENTINO daughters of all time in the process.    

The ascent of VALENTINO’S ANGEL the show horse began in her native Australia as a yearling, completing her inaugural show season as an undefeated phenom, winning the ‘Aussie Triple Crown’ of the National Stud Show, the East Coast Championships and the Australian National Championship by unanimous consent. Her commanding show ring presence, enhanced by an extravagant forehand, an undeniable feminine allure, superlative tail carriage and an enchanting flaxen mane and tail did not escape the keen eye of renowned horseman and international judge Bruce McCrea, who secured VALENTINO’S ANGEL for Al Mohamadia Stud of Saudi Arabia soon after her record breaking run Down Under. For the next several seasons, ANGEL would compete under the Al Mohamadia banner across three continents, amassing an inspiring list of achievements at a remarkably young age, including the Bronze Junior Filly Championship at the All Nations Cup in her international show ring debut, a title earned less than two weeks after her second birthday.

As a young three year old the following season in 2014, ‘ANGEL’ would be named United States National Champion & Arabian Breeders World Cup Champion Three Year Old Filly, Region 14 Champion Senior Mare, ABWC Supreme Bronze Champion Junior Filly and unanimous Canadian National Champion Senior Mare, the latter title earned, most astoundingly, one month prior to her third birthday. Continuing her North American campaign in 2015, ANGEL would earn her second successive age division championship at the Arabian Breeders World Cup as a four year old and repeat Supreme Bronze Champion, this time as a Senior Mare, and well deserved Gold Champion Senior Mare honours at the US Arabian Open in Central Park, besting soon to be Platinum World Champion CR JASMEENAH, in one of her greatest show ring performances. Returning to the international arena in 2016 for Al Mohamadia in one final season under their stewardship, ANGEL would earn respectable scores in both Menton and Dubai before triumphing as Gold Champion Senior Mare & Best in Show at the Emerald Trophy in Brecht, earning the respect and admiration of show organiser Helen Hennekens in another unforgettable performance. 

In the prime of her life as six and seven year old mare in 2017 and 2018, ANGEL competed with Team Privilege SFQ under the joint ownership of Al Baydaa Stud of Egypt and Al Mai Stud of Kuwait, earning the Silver Senior Mare Championship at International Arabian Horse Days in in Ströhen, Gold Champion & Highest Scoring Female at the Elran Cup, and Gold Champion & Best in Show at the Bruges International Arabian Horse Event. The following year, VALENTINO’S ANGEL was offered as a premier lot in the STC Auction following the All Nations Cup in late September, selling after spirited bidding to Helen & Kay Hennekens of Belgium. Having fallen in love with ANGEL three years earlier when she was named Best in Show at the Emerald Trophy, the event held onsite at the Henneken’s own Flaxman Arabians, Helen & Kay were thrilled add the phenomenally successful international showring superstar to their exceptional collection of mares.

While Helen had great plans to breed next generation achievers from VALENTINO’S ANGEL for Flaxman, ANGEL’s biology unfortunately did not cooperate, prompting Helen to seek out her only direct produce residing in Europe: her daughter ZAFIRA AS (by ABHA Qatar) and VAKIL AL BAYDAA (by RFI Farid). Through both of these invaluable descendants, the VALENTINO’S ANGEL legacy still thrives, most reassuringly, at Flaxman, with several promising foals sired by Belgian National Gold Champion VAKIL maturing wonderfully and ZAFIRA assuming her dam’s prestigious position in the broodmare band. Adding further to VALENTINO’S ANGEL brief, but nonetheless increasingly consequential, career as a matron is the US-bred COPPER SKY SRA (by Van Gogh AM) – a multi-National & Regional Champion Hunter Pleasure and Ladies Side Saddle athlete in both the open and amateur divisions – who is yet another resounding testament to the unparalleled ability of the M ANGELIQUE dam line – Mulawa’s incomparable ‘Family of Angels’ – to excel as beautiful performers under saddle.                   

After several years of globetrotting and showing on the elite international stage, ANGEL settled into a life of quiet dignity and supreme respect at Flaxman, cherished as the queen in residence by Helen, Kay and the entire team. Remembered fondly by her long list of handlers and trainers – Cameron Bonney, Andrew Sellman, Glenn & Tom Schoukens, Raphael Curti, Philip Loyens, Peter Wilms and Koen Hennekens – as a mare of fierce determination and fiery spirit whose exhaustless exuberance was exceeded only by her ability to compose herself perfectly in an ideal stand-up, ANGEL will forever be treasured as one of the greatest Arabian mares each of them had the privilege to lead.

Farewell, sweetest ANGEL. Thank you for enriching our lives, even if only for a short time, with your incomparable presence, reassuring self-confidence and uncompromising nobility. There is no doubt that the greenest fields of heaven now shine infinitely brighter as they lovingly welcome one of their most incandescent ANGELs back home…