QIPCO sign five-year King George sponsorship deal

Novellist romping his way to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last year. Image copyright of Racingfotos.com

QIPCO Holdings has signed a five-year deal with Ascot Racecourse to sponsor the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The partnership will see QIPCO, who also sponsor the British Champion Series and British Champions Day, further extend their portfolio of investment into British racing.

The £1 million King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by QIPCO will become the third seven-figure valued race annually at Ascot under their sponsorship, joining the £1.3 million QIPCO Champion Stakes and £1 million Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO.

As an Official Partner of the Berkshire-based track, QIPCO Holdings will also enjoy annual branding rights across the racecourse, including at the Royal Meeting in June, with benefits such as stalls and stalls handlers’ branding for all six races on the opening day

Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani, Director of QIPCO Holdings, said: "My brothers and I are delighted to extend our relationship with Ascot through QIPCO’s sponsorship of the King George.

"On account of the course being the home of QIPCO British Champions Day, together with the heritage and the quality of racing at the Royal Meeting, Ascot means a great deal to us, so it is a privilege for QIPCO Holding to become an Official Partner.

"QIPCO are already proud to sponsor the launch of the British Champions Series with the Guineas Festival at Newmarket so the addition of the King George, together with the Sussex Stakes, provides a perfect mid-summer platform, before culminating with the season’s finale and the most valuable day’s racing in Britain, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot."

The QIPCO British Champions Series is back in 2014 on Saturday 3 May, as the QIPCO 2000 Guineas sees the star three-year-old colts battle for Classic glory.