Riurik is our oldest son of our late foundation stallion *Nefison, an imported look-alike son of the significant Aswan son *Mag. *Nefison enjoyed a successful show and breeding career in his younger years and then as an aged stallion brought this irreplaceable foundation Russian breeding to a new generation beginning with the 2006 foal crop which included Riurik. Riurik's dam is our double Nabeg mare NM Rostalgia, a substantial granddaughter of two more imported Russian greats in *Monokl and *Nariadni. Her exotic dam Namusca was of the famed *Nariadni/*Muscat cross, and this dam line is one sought after for athleticism and racing talent to the great record-setting mare Prikhot. Riurik has always shown a strong influence from his Nabeg breeding, particularly through *Nariadni, with the substance, athleticism, and working western build which that breeding is known for. Through his sire, Riurik displays the type and style of the *Mag line which *Nefison reproduced consistently for us.