Dubai: Shadwell continue their long association and support of Jebel Ali Racecourse by once again sponsoring this weekend's Listed Jebel Ali Stakes, one of three feature races that the venue hosts each season.
A high-quality field of 12 runners, led by last year's winner Emmrooz, will line up to contest the 1,950 metre event, which carries a purse of Dh500,000, the highest offered at Jebel Ali this season.
Shadwell is the thoroughbred horse racing operation of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance. Mirza Al Sayegh, Investment Director to Shaikh Hamdan, highlighted Shadwell's role as a key sponsor of racing at Jebel Ali.
"Jebel Ali Racecourse is very successful and it is amazing to witness the high quality of racing that takes place at this popular weekend venue," he said. "It is indeed a pleasure to support the racecourse and hope that it will continue to offer a unique vibrancy to the UAE racing scene.
"The race meetings held here build a real sense of community as it brings together locals, expatriates and visitors from all walks of life and is a great asset to the emirate.
Delighted
"Shaikh Hamdan has supported Jebel Ali Racecourse for many years and will continue to do so in the future."
In addition to sponsoring the feature race of the afternoon, Shadwell will sponsor the opening race and the fifth race under the banner of his Derrinstown Stud. Other sponsors included Newbury Racecourse, England, Abu Dhabi University and the British University.
Stephen Higgins, Joint Managing Director, Newbury Racecourse, was present at the press conference and expressed his delight at being involved as a sponsor.
"We are absolutely delighted to have been once again invited to sponsor a race at the Jebel Ali Racecourse," he said. "This is our third year and we couldn't be more pleased to be here supporting this delightful venue.
"It is our way of saying thank you for the long and continuous support that Newbury Racecourse has received from Shaikh Hamdan through his extremely popular Dubai International Arabian Race Day each September.
"We a delighted to know that Shaikh Hamdan will once again support our racecourse this year in September with the renewal of the Dubai International Arabian Race Day," he added.