Al Shira’aa Racing Announced as Sponsors on Derby Trials Day
Kieran Lalor, General Manager Al Shira’aa Racing and CEO of Leopardstown Tim Husbands with Mutamakina and her foal.
We are delighted to welcome Al Shira’aa Racing as the sponsor of the Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes.
Leopardstown Racecourse is delighted to announce Al Shira’aa Racing as the official sponsor of the Group 3 Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes, which will take place on Sunday, 12th May 2024.
The eight-furlong contest for three-year-old fillies, previously known as the Cornelscourt Stakes, has produced many impressive winners. These include ‘Zarinsk’ who won this race last year before going on to win a Group 3 in Fairyhouse and the Group 2 Minstrel stakes in Leopardstown in 2023.
The race will be named after Al Shira’aa’s mare ‘Mutamakina’. Bred by Widgham Stud, ‘Mutamakina’ was initially campaigned in France with Carlos Laffon-Parias. She then moved across the Atlantic to Christophe Clement, where she went on to win four graded races including the group 1 EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, Canada in October 2021. ‘Mutamakina’ now resides in Al Shira’aa’s at Meadow Court Stud in County Kildare, where she has a 2-month-old foal at foot by Wootton Bassett.
Tim Husbands, CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, commented “We are delighted to welcome Al Shira’aa Racing as the sponsor of the Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes. Al Shira’aa Racing’s pursuit of excellence through their racing and stud operation has been exciting to watch since taking over Meadow Court Stud in 2016. Al Shira’aa’s investment in the stud places it amongst some of the finest in Ireland. Their continued investment into the industry shows their commitment to Irish Racing. We are delighted that they have decided to name this after ‘Mutamakina’ who had such an impressive career, and are excited to see her foal continue to grow and hopefully go on to great things”.
Kieran Lalor, General Manager Al Shira’aa Racing commented on the new partnership “It is an exciting opportunity to partner up with Leopardstown for this important Group 3 race over 8 furlongs for fillies. I would like to thank Tim Husbands and his team who have been very welcoming and great to work with. We have enjoyed great success on course at Leopardstown highlighted last year with Ocean Jewel and Atlantic Coast both winning Group 3’s. It is always top class racing and a great atmosphere.”
“Mutamakina was a very important racemare for us and even more so now as a broodmare. She was our first winner at the highest level. In France she was a listed winner and twice second at Group 2 level, one of them against French Derby and Arc winner Sottsass. She then went on to a very successful campaign across the pond winning four graded races. We are delighted to recognise her talent and importance to us by adding her name to this race”.
The Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes 2024 is set to take place on the 12th of May as part of Derby Trials Day. This event promises to be an unforgettable occasion for racing enthusiasts and industry professionals.