Shadwell to sponsor seven-race card on 10 February, 2017

His Excellency Mirza El Sayegh second from left

7 February 2017, Al Ain, UAE ~ Al Ain Racecourse has announced that Shadwell Stud, owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will be sponsoring the entirety of the seven-race card on Friday, 10 February.

The Shadwell operation based in Thetford, UK, is sponsoring at the Al Ain Racecourse for the second time, and this is the first time they have supported the entire card on which there are also races allocated to the Emirates University and the Abu Dhabi University.

Shadwell Farm, the operation’s American Stud, lends its name to two races, while Derrinstown Stud, Sheikh Hamdan’s venue in Ireland, sponsors the third race.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Press Conference, His Excellency Mirza El Sayegh, Director of the Office of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, commented: “We are very proud to sponsor at Al Ain. Sheikh Hamdan is keen to do anything he can to promote Arabian racing, both in the Emirates and overseas, for which we have the Dubai International Arabian Races.”

Faisal Al Rahmani, Course Director of Al Ain Racecourse, added: “We are very pleased to welcome back HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stud as sponsor and partner at Al Ain Racecourse.

“Over the years Shadwell has grown to be one of the most recognized and successful breeders of Thoroughbred and Arabian horses, many of whom race with distinction here at Al Ain. We look forward to welcoming His Excellency Mirza El Sayegh and his team here on Friday, for what we are sure will be a hugely competitive day of racing.”

Leading trainer Jean De Roualle, based at Al Ain, also gave his support to the alliance, saying: “Thank you very much to Shadwell for their sponsorship of the card, it is a really big thing for Al Ain to have their backing.”

The feature race on the card is the AED 110,000 Shadwell Stayers Trophy, Round Three of the Al Ain Marathon Series, which takes place over 4100 metres.

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