Shownel

photo: Aline Sagrabelny

Shownel was sired by Showkayce (1992–2020), a striking grey stallion who stood 15.3 hands and carried with him both presence and proven achievement. Bred and deeply cherished by Carol Steppe of Day Dream Arabians in California, Showkayce became the cornerstone of her breeding program and her chief stallion. He embodied the union of two influential bloodlines: sired by the celebrated Fame VF+, the 1987 U.S. National Champion Stallion and Legion of Honor recipient, and out of Kay, the treasured foundation mare of Day Dream Arabians. Showkayce’s own show career reflected his quality, earning distinctions as both a Canadian and U.S. National Top Ten Stallion and capturing the 1995 Buckeye Unanimous Champion Stallion title. His Legion of Honor recognition further testified to his impact in the ring, but his greater legacy lay in the breeding barn, where he transmitted type, size, and charisma to his get, continuing the vision of his breeder.
Shownel’s dam, the grey mare WR Jullane was born in 2001 and sired by Jullyen El Jamaal (1996–2014), the influential bay stallion bred by Haras Mei Lua in Brazil. He was later owned by Sheila Varian of Varian Arabians. Jullyen El Jamaal became one of the most important sires of his generation, carrying the legacy of his sire Ali Jamaal—the legendary stallion who transformed Arabian breeding in Brazil as chief sire for Lenita Perroy’s Haras Mei Lua and who himself earned the titles of 1989 Canadian National Champion Stallion and 1990 U.S. National Champion Stallion.
On her maternal side, WR Jullane was out of Likely to Strike, a grey daughter by Strike, winner of both the Scottsdale Grand Champion Stallion and the U.S. National Champion Stallion titles. This dam line traces to the celebrated desert-bred mare Rodania, through Al-Marah Rainbow, a mare who combined beauty with athleticism and gained renown as a Tevis Cup contender in 1963 under Linda Tellington-Jones. With such a pedigree, WR Jullane brought together halter-winning refinement, proven producing ability, and the substance of an enduring dam line.
Shownel has a beautifully sculpted head with large, dark eyes and a finely dished profile, set on a long, well-shaped neck that rises smoothly from the shoulder and carries with it a natural arch. Her animated and elastic movement likely reflects the heritage of Strike, her great grand-sire.
As a young mare Shownel was halter shown, firstly in the United States where she earned recognition as the 2006 U.S. National Top Ten Breeders Sweepstakes Yearling Filly, standing out in a competitive field of young mares. The following year she crossed the Atlantic, where she was named Top Five Filly at the prestigious All Nations Cup in Aachen.
Shownel’s value as a broodmare was recognized internationally, and she was acquired by Dubai Arabian Stud, where she contributed to their elite program. There she produced two notable colts: D Daffer, a grey stallion foaled in 2012 by the World Champion Marajj, and D Dabawi, a bay stallion foaled in 2014 by RFI Farid, one of the most admired sires of recent years.
In Shownel we see the timeless qualities of the Arabian horse—beauty, grace, athleticism, and the ability to inspire across generations. Her heritage is written in the names of legends, yet she carved her own chapter through success in the showring and her contribution as a broodmare.