By Emma Berry
LONDON, UK–The emergence of Qatar's HH The Emir's Sword Festival has been an interesting addition to world racing in recent years and its increasing appeal to international runners has led to a first-time partnership with the prestigious Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and Breeders' Cup will exchange sponsor titles at their respective meetings in 2017, with Breeders' Cup being represented at Doha next month as title sponsor of the Breeders' Cup Dukhan Sprint at the HH The Emir's Sword Festival, which takes place from Feb. 23 to 25. In exchange, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Juvenile Turf Sprint S. will be run at Del Mar on Nov. 4.
Speaking at a press conference in London the day after the GI Breeders' Cup Classic had been recognised as the highest-rated race of 2016 at the Longines World Thoroughbred Rankings, Breeders' Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel said, “We are thrilled to take this next step in expanding our relationship with the renowned Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
“As we look to ways to elevate our international presence with similar calibre thoroughbred racing leaders around the world, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club is a natural fit. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship and encouraging the international thoroughbred community to support and race in Qatar.”
Fravel, who will travel to Doha for the first time next month, added, “If we can attract the best horses from around the world, then that's really what we are about. Sheikh Joaan [Al Thani] has been a big supporter of ours and this is an amazing connection for us with the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. It's about building relationships and getting to know each other better.”
Representatives from the Breeders' Cup were joined in London by Nasser Sherida Al Kaabi, the General Manager of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, who commented, “The Breeders' Cup World Championship is one of the most iconic international race meetings in the world and the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club is very proud to have formed this prestigious partnership. The HH Emir's Sword Festival is Qatar's flagship international race meeting of the year and we look forward to running the inaugural Breeders' Cup Dukhan Sprint on Saturday, February 25, 2017.”
Entries for Qatar's premier racing festival––a mixture of thoroughbred and Arabian racing at Doha's Al Rayyan racecourse––closed this week and Al Kaabi pointed to the potential increased international participation at this year's event.
“The entries are more attractive and in the years to come we hope they will be more interesting still. We need to attract the best horses from around the world––that is our aim.”
Potential starters in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Dukhan Sprint include the veteran Medicean Man (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and the fellow British-trained Gracious John (Ire) (Baltic King {GB}) and Eastern Impact (Ire) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}). Ireland's dual Group 1 winner Gordon Lord Byron (Ire) (Byron {GB}) is also entered and America could be represented in the form of Green Mask (Mizzen Mast).
This year could also see a first runner in Qatar for Sir Michael Stoute, who has entered Ballymacoll Stud's Arab Spring (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) for the HH The Emir's Trophy, in which recent German-trained Qatar Derby winner Noor Al Hawa (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) is likely to reappear. Aidan O'Brien is another powerful trainer with a debut entrant, with Group 2 winner Cougar Mountain (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) having been nominated for the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup.
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