Abu Dhabi: Mirza Al Sayegh has reiterated the commitment of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, to supporting racing at Jebel Ali Racecourse and highlighted his strong focus on youth.
Two of Friday’s six-race meeting, where the showpiece event is the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile, will be run under the banner of the Abu Dhabi University and the British University-Dubai.
Al Sayegh, Director of Shaikh Hamdan’s Office, explained: “Shaikh Hamdan wants to lay emphasis on developing youth and to expose them to sports like horse racing.
“This will bode well for the future as more and more undergraduates will have the opportunity to embrace a sport that is close to the heart of Emiratis, at an early stage.
“Sport is fundamental to the early development of children and young who will learn about the importance of its key values like teamwork, abidance with rules, fair-play and respect for one another,” he pointed out.
In addition to Abu Dhabi University and the British University-Dubai, Friday’s race sponsors include Shadwell, Shadwell Farm, Derrinstown Stud, international stud farms which represent the breeding interests of Shaikh Hamdan and Newbury Racecourse.
Newbury partnership
Newbuy Racecourse in England and Jebel Ali Racecourse have for long enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership which Julian Thick, it’s chief executive, described as ‘very strong.’
“The relationship between Newbury and the UAE is a very strong one, built upon mutual respect and a deep love for the horse and for the sport of racing around the world,” he said.
“I would like to thank Major General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Head of Dubai Police and Mirza Al Sayegh for inviting us to be involved in this race meeting and for their continued and extremely generous support of Newbury Racecourse.”
“It will, as always, be a great pleasure for us to welcome Shareef Al Halawani (Jebel Ali Raceccourse manager) and his excellent team from Jebel Ali back to Newbury Racecourse in July, for what I am sure will be a memorable day, and to repay them for their generous hospitality this week,” Thick added.
“In the meantime I look forward to Friday’s race meeting and to sampling once again the unique atmosphere at this superb racecourse.”
The Jebel Ali Mile, which is the first of three Pattern Races run at the venue, has attracted a quality field of eight runners including the first two home in last season’s renewal — Forjatt and Shimaal Nibras.
The field also includes the Salem Bin Ghadayer trio of Frankfourfingers, Long River and Manahir.
The first named won the feature race at the final 2017 meeting at Jebel Ali while Long River won the third round of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge.
The field is completed by 2017 Jebel Ali Stakes scorer, Farrier, and the Ali Rashid Al Rayhi duo of Portamento and Taamol.
