Qatari private investment firm QIPCO Holding has reached a three-year deal with Horse Racing Ireland to become the title sponsor of the Irish Champion Stakes.
The 2014 Irish Champion Stakes will run at Leopardstown on September 13 and is the feature race on day one of the new Irish Champions Weekend, with the Irish St Leger running the following day at Curragh.
QIPCO will oversee an increase in the prize-fund for this year’s Irish Champion Stakes to €1m ($1.4m) from €750,000.
Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “The Irish Champion Stakes is one of the most important races in the international flat racing calendar and with the involvement of QIPCO it can become the first leg of a ‘Triple Crown’ of European Championship races, followed by the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and the QIPCO British Champions Stakes at Ascot in October.”
An established presence in British horse racing, QIPCO Holding is the current sponsor of British Champions Day at Ascot and other feature races including the 2000 and 1000 Guineas. The group is owned by six brothers who are members of Qatar’s royal family.