Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) signed a deal with Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club to extend their exclusive sponsorship of the world’s richest race Purebred Pure Arabians, Qatar Arabian World Cup to be held at the Longchamp racecourse in Paris on October 5, 2014.

Qatar Petroleum International Ltd has been associated with France’s most prestigious race meeting for the past six years and became the exclusive sponsor of the Qatar Arabian World Cup for the first time in 2013.

QPI Chief Executive Officer Nasser Khalil al-Jaidah and QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani signed the sponsorship contract papers at the W Doha yesterday. Also present on the occasion was QREC General Manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain.

The Group 1 event, reserved for four-year-olds and over and run over a distance of 2,000 metres was given a prize money boost of more than 40% earlier this year to create the world’s first €1 million race ever for purebred Arabians.

QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani  said, “Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend is one of the highlights of our global sponsorship portfolio and we are delighted to welcome Qatar Petroleum International Ltd as a partner.”

“The Qatar Arabian World Cup has produced a distinguished roll of honour in its relatively short existence and we look forward to another exciting renewal this year,” he added.

Qatar Petroleum International Ltd is a regular supporter of horseracing events at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha, the home of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. 

QPI CEO Nasser al-Jaidah said, “We are proud to be renewing our sponsorship of the Qatar Arabian World Cup, a prestigious sporting event that demonstrates the pursuit of excellence and achievement, both of which are values shared by QPI. In partnership with QREC, this world class race demonstrates our mutual dedication to maintaining and promoting Qatar’s heritage and culture to the highest international standards.”

Through our parent company Qatar Petroleum, we have been affiliated with this world-class race since it began seven years ago. Today, QPI is proud to be exclusive sponsor of the Qatar Arabian World Cup for the second consecutive year.” 

“It is a natural fit for us to support this prestigious sporting event, as the Qatar Arabian World Cup demonstrates the pursuit of two core values shared by QPI: excellence and achievement. The challenging race also represents a key belief of QPI: performance at the highest international standards.”

“As part of our global sponsorship portfolio, the Qatar Arabian World Cup exhibits our dedication to maintaining and promoting Qatar’s heritage and culture. We are proud of our role in bringing Qatar’s best horses to the international stage and showcasing one of our nation’s greatest strengths.”

“Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe weekend offers a platform for QPI to come together with some of the world’s leading energy players in appreciation of talent and competition. With over 2 billion people watching this high profile event, we are excited to expand our global reach and recognition in what promises to be a monumental and historic event in the horseracing calendar,”  Nasser concluded.

Remarkably, Qatari owned horses have dominated in the previous four races. HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani owned General won in 2009 and 2010 and later HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani owned Areej and Mkeefa continued the winning trend for Qatar. In the inaugural race in 2008, Qatar’s Dr Rashid al-Marri owned Nil Blanc came a tantalising close second to Lahib.

The Qatar Arabian World Cup shares the programme of the second and final day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Troimphe Weekend with the world’s richest turf race for Thoroughbreds, which has been supported by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club since 2008.

 

 

 

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