Third Successful Year of Irish Champions Festival Sponsorship for Tonybet
Operator praises racing of the “highest quality” as first day of Ireland’s biggest weekend of Flat racing enjoys post-COVID record attendance.
Following their sponsorship of the Group 2 Solonaway Stakes on Saturday 12th September, Tonybet have heaped praise on Leopardstown for delivering racing of the “highest quality” on the first day of the Irish Champions Festival.
Tonybet was enjoying its third year as title sponsor of the Solonaway Stakes, which this year produced a very talented winner in the shape of Quddwah, trained by Simon & Ed Crisford. It was the second time the father and son duo had saddled the winner of the mile contest, having first scooped the Group 2 prize with Jadoomi in 2022.
The nine-race card was bursting with class throughout, including the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes which was won by 50/1 rank outsider Hotazhell, and as such attracted a post-COVID record crowd of 11,516 spectators.
Dmitry Arabuli, CEO of Tonybet, said:
“Firstly, we’d like to thank Leopardstown for putting on such an amazing feast of racing. For us to be a part of it with the Group 2 Tonybet Solonaway Stakes is very special and a proud moment for our business.
“There’s no doubt that Irish Champions Festival is one of the highest quality fixtures in the Flat racing calendar. As mirrored by the rise in attendances each year, the event is only getting bigger and better.
“Congratulations to the Crisfords, James Doyle and connections of Quddwah. He looked a high-class winner of the Group 2 Solonaway Stakes and we look forward to following his progress through the autumn.”
Irish football legend Tony Cascarino was on hand to present the trophies to winning connections of the Group 2 Tonybet Solonaway Stakes, while he also launched three footballs into the crowd around the parade ring after the race.
Speaking at Leopardstown, Tonybet ambassador Tony Cascarino said:
“I love being at the races, you can’t beat it, and Irish Champions Festival has to be right up there. Seeing all the fans around the parade ring and in the stands at Leopardstown is great, there’s been a real buzz around the place.”
The Group 2 Tonybet Solonaway Stakes is Tonybet’s flagship racing sponsorship, while Tony Cascarino is the online bookmaker’s brand ambassador.
