Homebreds are the future as World Cup host Qatar builds its racing operation

It is difficult to escape the feeling of progress in Qatar. New roads, towering skyscrapers, glittering stadiums and the sound of working machinery are a permanent reminder this is a country preparing to throw open its doors when it hosts the FIFA World Cup in two years' time.

Driving through the streets of the capital, Doha, to the charming Al Rayyan racecourse some 30 minutes from the city centre, it is easy to forget this is a country beleaguered by negative press attention and ongoing disputes with its Arab neighbours.

The racing industry is something of an established institution in comparison to the rapid development surrounding it, with its state-of-the-art facilities this year once again playing host to the HH Emir Sword Festival.