Al Shaqab extends sponsorship of Newbury's Lockinge Stakes to 2024
Al Shaqab has extended itssponsorship of the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes held at Newbury Racecourse in mid-May each year - witha new five-year deal.
Under the new arrangement the Qatar-based Al Shaqab will support three races on the card, headed by the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, the first Group 1 race for older horses staged in the British Flat calendar, the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes,won for the past two years by the world’s top rated horse Crystal Ocean, and theListed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial.
The first edition of the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, one of the Flat season’s leading mile races, was run in 2015 for an increased prize fund of £350,000 which will be retained at the same value - as will the prize funds for the two other Al Shaqab-sponsored races.
Khalifa Al Attiya is General Manager for Al Shaqab: “The agreement to renew AlShaqab’s sponsorship of the Group 1 Lockinge for a further five years demonstratesour commitment to British horseracing and its well-deserved standing worldwide."
“With 50 horses in training in Britain alone and an extensive breeding and racingoperation in France, this is an important partnership for us and one which has helpedfoster our relations and cooperation with horse organisations in the UK and the rest of the world.”
Julian Thick is the Chief Executive of Newbury Racecourse: “We have enjoyed a greatpartnership with Al Shaqab since they came on board to sponsor the prestigious Group 1 back in 2015 and I am delighted they have extended the relationship for a further five years."
“The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes is a hugely important race in the European calendar,and we are delighted that, with the backing of Al Shaqab, we are now in a fortunateposition to look at attracting new partners to support and grow this event further.We are hugely excited about the possibilities for this fixture in 2020 and beyond.”
Al Shaqab Racing started in 2011 with Arabian racing and achieved multiple GroupOne wins including the Khalia Classic two years in a row. It has now evolved intoone of the modern superpowers of thoroughbred racing, winning the British Classic,the 2000 Guineas, with Galileo Gold in 2016 and the 2017 French Classic, thePoule d’Essai des Poulains with Brametot who was also successful in the Group1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club the same year.
Al Shaqab have approximately 50 horses-in-training in Britain alone at selected trainers around the country. These are managed by Alison Begley, Racing Manager for Al Shaqab Racing (UK).
Al Shaqab's major Group One successes include: the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood won by Toronado in 2013 - their first Group 1 success, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park, the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, the Qatar Prix Vermeille, the Prix du Jockey Club and the Qatar Airways Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp twice with superstar filly, Treve, plus the Coronation Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Al Shaqab’s breeding operation is based at Ecurie Haras Bouquetot inNormandy - an estate of 40 hectares. It has a rostrum of nine stallions and 100 mares.
There is more information at alshaqabracing.com