Al Shira'aa Racing will be the feature sponsor with their co-sponsorship of the G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind S. on May 6, Naas Racecourse and Al Shira'aa Racing announced on Thursday. The Kildare-based operation will also continue to support the Listed Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial on June 28.
A stepping stone to the Oaks at Epsom, the Blue Wind has thrown high-class winners in recent years, including multiple Group 1 winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal).
Al Shira'aa Racing is headed by Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan and managed by Kieran Lalor. Al Shira'aa Racing have horses in training in Ireland with Ger Lyons and Willie McCreery, in France with Carlos Laffon Parias and Pascal Bary, and in the USA with Christophe Clement and Neil Drysdale. They enjoyed major international success with Mutamakina, the winner of the GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine in 2021.
“We are delighted to be increasing our sponsorship and support of Irish racing to include the Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind S. alongside the Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial,” said Kieran Lalor, general manager of Al Shira'aa Racing. “Sponsoring these Classic trials at Naas is a great way for us to show our continued support for the Irish racing industry and we can recognise the hard work all stable staff put in, which was an important factor for the boss.”
Al Shira'aa Racing have boosted the prize fund for the Best-Turned-Out winner to €250 and to recognise the importance of stable staff, all grooms leading up in the race will receive €100.
Eamonn McEvoy, general manager of Naas Racecourse, added, “The G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind S. being a 3-year-old-only race is positioned perfectly in the calendar to be a leading Epsom Oaks Trial.”
For more information, visit the Naas Racecourse website.
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