Dubai: In a major first, the Group 1 UK Purebred Arabian Derby (IFAHR) will be sponsored by Shadwell Stud when it is run under a Shadwell-sponsored card of thoroughbred racing on Friday, September 25, at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse.
Run over a mile and a quarter for four year olds, the race hopes to attract horses from across Europe to compete for the £50,000 (Dh288,487) purse.
The Purebred Arabian Derby kicks-off a strong eight race Cambridgeshire Meeting card, which also features two Group 2 event and three Listed contests for thoroughbreds.
Shadwell is the breeding arm of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who is a renowned sponsor of Arabian racing around the world.
Explaining the reasoning behind the addition of the UK Arabian Derby to the well established Shadwell Day format, Shadwell Stud Director, Richard Lancaster, said: “Shadwell has supported racing at Newmarket through sponsorship for many years. In the past our fixtures have showcased the very top level of Thoroughbred racing with feature races such as the Middle Park Stakes (G1) and, until recently, the Fillies Mile (G1).
“As many in the Arabian racing community will know, Shaikh Hamdan offered his support to the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) at the start of 2015 when the sport was in considerable need of a major investment in order to operate the current fixture list.
“One of the races needing investment was the UK Arabian Derby; it seemed appropriate that Shaikh Hamdan, as patron of ARO and the most successful owner ever of Arabian racehorses in the UK, should add the race to his feature Thoroughbred fixture of the year.
“We hope that the addition of the Shadwell Arabian Derby to a prestigious Thoroughbred card will help showcase the sport and its participants to a wider audience, a major focal point of Shaikh Hamdan’s involvement in the sport.”
Despite being run at different tracks over the years, the UK’s Arabian Derby has always attracted top quality horses.
Recent winners include Nahee, Kiss De Ghazal, Mkeefa and Djet Taqouy.
Genny Haynes, Director of the ARO, who summed up the appreciation of the Arabian racing community, said: “The ARO is delighted that Shaikh Hamdan has extended his support for Arabian racing not only here in the UK but [also] worldwide in 2015.
“With this continued support and additional sponsorship in the UK, it is with great pleasure and excitement that this prestigious Arabian race will now be included in the race programme at Newmarket.
“This will certainly be another highlight in our Arabian race calendar for 2015 and it is appropriate that an international race of this calibre carries the name of Shadwell under the Patronage of Shaikh Hamdan.”
Amy Starkey, Regional Director of Jockey Club Racecourses East Region, added: “We are very pleased to be staging the Group 1 UK Arabian Derby at Newmarket Racecourses in 2015 and are delighted that our valued supporters and partners at Shadwell Stud will be sponsoring the event.
“The middle day of the Cambridgeshire Meeting, which features the Group 2 Shadwell Rockfel Stakes and the Group 2 Shadwell Joel Stakes, is enhanced by this fascinating race.”
