IN the past week, the British racing media has been assessing the possible ramifications of Qatar’s severed diplomatic relationship with its neighbouring countries in the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are among a number of Arab nations to have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing the country of funding terrorism and extremism.

That news makes for uncomfortable reading when you consider the large Irish community currently residing in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Social media reports have shown pictures of empty supermarket shelves as residents there, fearing a shortage, stocked up on food and other supplies. The Irish Government has urged Irish citizens living in Qatar to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and also to exercise a high degree of caution.

CONCERN

Racing is obviously a mere footnote in this crisis but it is not immune to the growing concern. Qatar’s involvement in racing in Europe has supersized in the last decade.

Concerns raised in the British media ranged from whether Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the UAE, will continue to have runners in Qatar-sponsored races, to whether Queen Elizabeth might invite any Qataris to travel in the Royal procession at Ascot next week.

Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) sponsors the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and has recently added Newbury’s Lockinge meeting and the entire Glorious Goodwood festival (now Qatar Goodwood Festival) to its portfolio.

Qipco [Qatar Investment & Projects Development Holding Company] has also been heavily involved in race sponsorship. It is the title sponsor of the British Champions Series, including all of Champion Stakes day at Ascot in September, a fixture expected to offer total prize money of £5 million within five years. Qipco also sponsors the €1.25 million Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Pat Keogh, Leopardstown's chief executive, said last week that Qipco’s sponsorship deal - which was extended by three years in January - was not under threat. He pointed out that Qipco is a privately owned family investment vehicle and, unlike QREC, is detached from the state of Qatar.

SUBSIDIARY

Qatar Racing is a subsidiary of Qipco and is headed by Sheikh Fahad, a popular figure in racing circles here and in Britain. His claret and gold silks are regularly in the winner's enclosure including twice last week at Navan where Treasuring and Gold Spinner won for trainer Ger Lyons.

Qatar Racing is completly separate from Sheikh Joaan's Al Shaqab racing operation. Al Shaqab's horses are mainly based in France and Britain, dual Arc winner Treve being their most successful purchase.

While Qatar Racing and Qipco are privately-owned vehicles, QREC and Al Shaqab are effectively state entities. Their main function is to represent Qatar around the world, similar to the way in which Sheikh Mohammed has used his Godolphin brand to promote Dubai.

For example, QREC's Goodwood sponsorship sees the maroon and white Qatar flag displayed prominently at Goodwood for the five-day meeting at the beginning of August.

Irish racing has so far only had a tiny amount of sponsorship from QREC but it would be no surprise to see the organisation move to sponsor a flagship Irish flat race in the coming seasons.

Al Shaqab has had a handful of runners in Ireland - most recently when Mehmas finished second to Churchill in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh last September. That horse now stands here at Tally-Ho Stud who own 50% of the stallion.

Coolmore Stud sold "a significant interest" in the 2013 Derby winner Ruler Of The World to Al Shaqab before the 2014 season.

Asked whether Irish racing should react to the Qatar crisis, Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh stated that the sport will follow the lead of the Irish Government. That seems the right call.

In the meantime it seems likely that both Qatar Racing and Al Shaqab will keep a lower than usual profile in the coming months. We probably won’t get an indication of any change of strategy or investment level until the yearlings sales in October.

In the short term, it will be interesting to note if either of these powerful owners buys any of the top lots at the Goffs London Sale next Monday, or if Sheikh Joann or Sheikh Fahad are present at Royal Ascot should any of their horses be good enough to win a race at the big meeting.