Al Basti Equiworld Dubai is today named as the new sponsor of the Group One July Cup, the centrepiece of the three-day Debenhams July Festival at Newmarket Racecourses next month.
This exciting new sponsorship builds on the existing strong relationship between Newmarket Racecourses and Al Basti Equiworld Dubai, the leading Dubai-based equine industry supplier.
The £600,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai July Cup offers the first opportunity in the UK racing calendar for three-year-old sprinters to take on their older counterparts at the highest level over the distance of six furlongs. The year’s running takes place on Saturday 12th July.
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai is already the sponsor of the Newmarket Owners and Trainers Facilities across both the Rowley Mile and the July Course, which have been widely praised in the racing industry. The company also previously sponsored the Friday card of the Cambridgeshire Meeting on the Rowley Mile in the autumn.
Al Basti Equiword Dubai Founder and CEO, Malih Al Basti, said, “Newmarket holds a special place in my affection and I have fond memories of racing there over many decades. More recently it has provided a valuable platform for the promotion of our business.
“The July Cup has a strong heritage and an iconic international reputation and I am very proud that it is now associated with the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai brand.”
Sophie Able, Newmarket Racecourses & International Director, The Jockey Club, said: “It has been a great privilege to work alongside Mr Al Basti and all the team from Al Bast Equiworld Dubai, he has been a great supporter of Newmarket Racecourses. It is wonderful news that his support will continue and we are thrilled to take our association to another level with this new sponsorship agreement announced today.
“The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai July Cup is our summer highlight at Newmarket as well as one of the best sprint races in Europe and this exciting new partnership will help to take the great race further forward.”
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai July Cup (Group 1) 6f
Newmarket, Saturday 12th July
Latest entries following June 24th scratchings deadline
Aramram (IRE) 4 9 8 Mr Ziad A. Galadari Richard Hannon
Art Power (IRE) 8 9 8 King Power Racing Co Ltd Tim Easterby
Elite Status 4 9 8 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum K. R. Burke
Iberian (IRE) 4 9 8 Teme Valley & Ballylinch Stud Charles Hills
Inisherin 4 9 8 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Kevin Ryan
Jasour 4 9 8 AlMohamediya Racing Clive Cox
Khaadem (IRE) 9 9 8 Mrs Fitri Hay Charles Hills
Kind of Blue 4 9 8 Wathnan Racing James Fanshawe
Kinross 8 9 8 Marcstown Ltd Ralph Beckett
Night Raider (IRE) 4 9 8 Clipper K. R. Burke
Rogue Lightning (IRE) 5 9 8 Wathnan Racing Tom Clover
Run To Freedom 7 9 8 Mr Godfrey Wilson Henry Candy
Starlust 4 9 8 Mrs Fitri Hay Ralph Beckett
Twilight Calls 7 9 8 Phil Cunningham Richard Spencer
Believing (IRE) 5 9 5 Mrs Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith & Resolute George Boughey
Flora of Bermuda (IRE) 4 9 5 Wathnan Racing Andrew Balding
No Half Measures 4 9 5 Mr R. P. Gallagher Richard Hughes
Prime Art (IRE) 4 9 5 Denford Stud Jane Chapple-Hyam
Arizona Blaze 3 9 2 AMO Racing Limited/Giselle De Aguiar Adrian Murray Ireland
Big Mojo (IRE) 3 9 2 RP Racing Ltd Michael Appleby
Ides of March (IRE) 3 9 2 Magnier,Tabor,Smith,Brookdale Racing Aidan O'Brien Ireland
Symbol of Honour 3 9 2 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Whistlejacket (IRE) 3 9 2 P Brant/Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith Aidan O'Brien Ireland
23 entries remain
3 Irish-trained
About The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai July Cup
The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai July Cup is the centrepiece of the three-day Debenhams July Festival at Newmarket and is one of the very best sprint contests in the European racing calendar.
Sponsored for the first time by Al Basti Equiworld Dubai this year, the Group One event is run over six furlongs on the famous July Course. It offers the first opportunity of the year in the UK for three-year-olds to take on older horses at Group One level over six furlongs.
Springfield, bred by Queen Victoria at the Hampton Court Stud, took the inaugural running in 1876, and followed up a year later to become the first dual winner. Springfield also proved top-class over longer distances, landing the Champion Stakes over 10 furlongs in 1877.
Other outstanding victors in the early years included Sundridge, successful in 1902, 1903 and 1904 - the only triple winner in the history of the race. The son of Amphion was a truly rags to riches story, having graduated from selling company. He was also a great success at stud, being a highly influential sire in Europe and North America.
The great mare Diadem added to her victory in the 1917 1000 Guineas by scoring in 1919 and 1920. Diomedes, a grandson of Sundridge, recorded a brace of victories in 1925 and 1926, on the latter occasion dead-heating with Phalaros, while flying grey Abernant landed the spoils in 1949 and 1950.
Another dual winner was Right Boy, triumphant in 1958 and 1959. The son of Impeccable, purchased for 575 guineas by his trainer Bill Dutton - the winning rider on 1928 Grand National victor Tipperary Tim - also landed the Nunthorpe Stakes twice, the King George Stakes twice, the Cork & Orrery Stakes twice (now the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes) and the King's Stand Stakes (now the King Charles III Stakes).
In the 1970s, the July Cup was dominated by the formidable trainer-jockey partnership of Vincent O'Brien and Lester Piggott. They hit the bullseye four times during the decade, kicking off with Thatch in 1973, followed by Saritamer (1974), Solinus (1978) and Thatching (1979).
Piggott continued his excellent form in the race into the next decade, securing the 1980 renewal aboard Moorestyle. This kick-started an outstanding period for the July Cup, with the next five winners - Marwell (1981), Sharpo (1982), Habibti (1983), Chief Singer (1984) and Never So Bold (1985) - all rated as the best sprinter in Europe in their year.
The 1990s saw two big upsets in the July Cup. Hamas, a 33-1 shot, triumphed under Willie Carson in 1993, getting the better of favourite College Chapel to deny Lester Piggott an 11th success in the event, while Compton Place shocked punters when landing the prize at 50-1 under Seb Sanders four years later.
Agnes World holds the distinction of being the first ever Japanese-trained winner in Britain when taking the 2000 July Cup. Trained by Hideyuki Mori and ridden by ace Japanese jockey Yutaka Take, he prevailed in a thrilling finish by a short-head.
As with so many Group One races, Vincent O’Brien’s successor at Ballydoyle, the unrelated Aidan O’Brien, has enjoyed great success in the July Cup with a joint-record five winners courtesy of Stravinsky (1999), Mozart (2001), Starspangledbanner (2010), US Navy Flag (2018) and Ten Sovereigns (2019).
