Melbourne: The Melbourne Racing Club together with Shadwell Stud Australasia and the National Arabian Racehorse Association (Nara) will host the inaugural running of the Shadwell Arabian Mile for Purebred Arabian horses at Caulfield Racecourse today.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, owner of Shadwell, will sponsor the race.
The Shadwell Arabian Mile, which carries a purse of A$20,000 (Dh76,817), will be the only Arabian race on an otherwise thoroughbred race programme. It will be contested by a field of 11 horses.
Landmark event
The UAE Embassy in Australia and Nara are using the landmark event to further diplomatic relations and promote tourism between Australia and the UAE.
Shaikh Hamdan is committed to establishing Arabian racing worldwide.
Last year, he sponsored races in the United Kingdom, Europe and the UAE.
Mirza Al Sayegh, Investment Director for Shaikh Hamdan's Shadwell operation is in Australia to help promote the event.
"It is a great pleasure for me to be here in Australia representing Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum at this weekend's inaugural running of the Shadwell Arabian Mile at Caulfield," he said.
"On behalf of Shaikh Hamdan and Shadwell Stud, I would like offer my thanks to the Victorian State Government for their support of today's announcement and for supporting Saturday's race, in particular to Dr Denis Napthine, Minister for Racing.
"It is crucial that these events receive the support of Government and this event will contribute further to fostering strong relationships between our two great racing jurisdictions," Al Sayegh added.
"We have been made to feel most welcome in Australia and are looking forward to further establishing Arabian racing in this country."
Dr Denis Napthine, Minister for Racing, said: "It is a real honour to welcome our connections from the United Arab Emirates, to celebrate the close ties between the Victorian racing industry and the UAE".
