Often with great joy comes great sorrow and tragically Millennium LOA was lost to the Arabian horse breed all too soon when the handsome bay stallion passed away in the early summer of 2005. He was an accomplished show horse - twice National Champion Stallion - and had really just begun to make his mark as a sire when he died.

Just as Millennium's star faded from the sky, another star ascended - that of his look-alike son El Milenio. Comparing their images, it is amazing to see the similarities between father and son. They both have the same rich, dark mahogany bay coloring, the bit of white marking their faces and big, black, kind eyes. Other noticeable similarities include their length of leg and length of neck, the powerful shoulders and free movement. Even as a late yearling, El Milenio almost matched his sire in size and the carriage of the son mirrors that of his father.

When Millennium LOA passed away, many in the Arabian horse industry felt the loss. The heartache of those who were closest to him was tempered with the success of his get, including his son, El Milenio. The colt began his show career early in 2005 when he won the Region XII Yearling Colts Sweepstakes Championship. It was an impressive win and it set the stage for the 2005 U.S. Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico where El Milenio was named National Champion Yearling Colt in the very same arena where his father had won his U.S. national championship title. It was a bittersweet win, yet the most perfect way possible to honor his late sire.

A National Champion Stallion casts a big shadow and rarely if ever does his get ever achieve the same level of success. Yet when El Milenio was named U.S. National Champion Yearling Colt, he stepped out of the shadow and into the spotlight of international acclaim. This big, powerful colt won't shy away from any comparisons to his sire - when the time comes he will be ready to assume his position within the breed as a sire. Through his father, Millennium LOA, El Milenio possesses a long line of champion producing sires including Bay Abi, Bay El Bey, Huckleberry Bey, Bucharest V, *Bask, Barbary, Ariston and Rafon. There is unlimited champion-producing potential in this colt's blood.

As every breeder is aware, a stallion's dam line is equally important as the sire line. The strength and substance, powerful movement and kind temperament that El Milenio is known for was enhanced by the blood of his dam, Miss Moraduke, a daughter of the imported straight Spanish stallion and national champion producing sire, *El Moraduke. It is a proven fact the use of Spanish bloodlines contributes these valuable qualities as is illustrated in the pedigrees of many of today's most successful show horses and breeding stock. Research shows that an impressive number of the top producing Arabian horse sires are either straight Spanish or have Spanish bloodlines in their pedigrees. The power of these bloodlines should not be overlooked or underestimated and in fact it should be considered as a very positive influence to breeders who are serious about producing top quality Arabian horses.

As El Milenio was awarded his regal rose blanket and national championship trophy, Manny Lawrence of Jade Creek Arabians was happy for his breeder, Charlotte Pertz and for his trainer Steve Heathcott. He also had a feeling of satisfaction because shortly before the show, Manny had voiced his interest in purchasing the colt. And although it wasn't his name that the announcer called as the owner of the colt, Manny knew that when El Milenio returned to California, that his new home would be at Jade Creek Arabians.

El Milenio did return to California and he has joined the Jade Creek Arabians' line up of National champions. It is an impressive list of exceptional horses - each with their own unique qualities - each ready, willing and able to contribute to your breeding program and the Arabian horse breed.