QIPCO ends sponsorship of Irish Champion Stakes QIPCO has announced that it will be focusing its sponsorship activities in racing in Britain, ending their partnership with the Irish Champion Stakes and the French Derby. QIPCO sponsored the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown for the last six years. Tim Husbands, CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, said, “I would like to thank QIPCO and Sheikh Fahad for their incredible support of the Irish Champion Stakes for the past six years. They are fantastic supporters of racing and we were honoured to be part of that. We look forward to exploring this opportunity with a new partner in the future.” The most valuable race on the Longines Irish Champions Weekend card, the Irish Champion Stakes is one of the leading races in the world. Previous race winners include such legends of the turf as Sadler’s Wells, Daylami, Giant’s Causeway, Dylan Thomas and the brilliant Sea the Stars. Epsom Derby winner Golden Horn gave Frankie Dettori his sixth win in the race and French raider Almanzor gave a scintillating display in what many deemed ‘the race of the season’ in 2016 to defeat a field consisting of seven Grade 1 winners. Sheikh Fahad enjoyed one of his best days as an owner when Roaring Lion got the better of a final furlong dual with old rival Saxon Warrior in the 2018 renewal. David Redvers, Racing Manager for Sheikh Fahad, said: ‘’QIPCO enjoyed a highly successful partnership with Leopardstown through sponsorship of the Irish Champions Stakes and it is a race that perfectly fitted QIPCO’s aspiration to be associated with the very best horseraces in the World. "An absolute highlight for Sheikh Fahad and his brothers was Roaring Lion’s victory over Saxon Warrior in 2018, a race that will live long in all our memories for producing a true World Champion’s performance. "The Irish Champion Stakes provides a great opportunity to be involved in one of the leading global events in the racing calendar and be part of a piece of elite sporting history.”
