Officials from three racing jurisdictions were present at Leopardstown's international meeting on Thursday evening with the aim of strengthening links between Ireland and important overseas markets. Irish Thoroughbred Marketing helped arrange the sponsorships and hosted the foreign dignitaries throughout an evening of quality racing.

The Japan Racing Association lent its support to the Group 3 Tyros Stakes for juveniles with Mr Masayoshi Yoshida, the JRA Executive Director of Finance and Facilities and his wife on hand to meet with senior Irish racing figures. Pat Keogh, Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse, is determined to attract Japanese connections to participate in the Irish Champion Stakes, ranked the fourth highest-rated race in the world from 2013 to 2015, and such visits can only help achieve that aim.

The Jockey Club of Turkey again sponsored the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes for juvenile fillies. The Club's Secretary General Mr Turgut Alakus along with his wife and International Affairs manager, Mr Okan Ozeren, were present to greet Promise To Be True (IRE) after her impressive victory. The TJK will again host its very valuable international meeting at Veliefendi in Istanbul on September 3rd and 4th when more than €1.35 million in stakes will be divided between five races at Group 2 and Group 3 level.

SOREC, the state body entrusted with organising horse racing in Morocco, were back in partnership with Leopardstown, adding their name to the Apprentice Handicap won by Windsor Beach for the in-form Johnny Murtagh team. Yasser Ghaleb, a director at SOREC, was also keen to invite Irish runners to compete in the €110,000 Grand Prix of His Majesty, the King Mohammed VI over a mile and a half on dirt to take place at Anfa racecourse in Casablanca. In terms of invitees, SOREC aims to approximate a Listed grade of contest, although horses rated in or around a mark of 90 may be considered. Generous travel subsidies to and from Morocco for horse and connections are also provided.