• Home
• /
• Horse Racing

Dubai Duty Free Handicap to take centre stage

DUBAI — Dubai Duty Free, world’s number one airport retailer, has extended its portfolio of races at Newbury Racecourse’s two-day ‘International’ meeting, which begins on Friday, 17 September, to include the £100,000 Dubai Duty Free Handicap, a press release said here on Monday.

A notoriously competitive event with a long and colourful history, the Dubai Duty Free Handicap is run over a mile and a quarter on the second day of the meeting, and is one of the richest races of its kind in the British racing calendar.

It is also a popular stepping stone to Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Handicap the following month, especially for improving three-year-olds which have a fine record in the race.

The Queen, with Leading Star in 1985 and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with Shahib two years later are among the internationally renowned patrons of the sport to have their names etched on the race’s roll of honour.

The Dubai Duty Free Handicap shares centre stage with the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, a race which commemorates the 1971 Derby winner trained, like Leading Star, by Ian Balding, who is expected to be among Dubai Duty Free’s guests on the day.

Designed to attract horses with Classic race potential, the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes is one of the top two-year-old races of season and was won last year by Awzaan, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Richard Hills, who was winning the race for a third time.

The Group 3 Dubai Airport World Trophy, a five furlong sprint, is the ideal test for horses targeting Europe’s richest all-aged race, the Prix l’Abbaye at Longchamp on ‘Arc’ day, and a trip to Paris may also be on the agenda for runners in the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial which features on the opening day of the meeting.

Commenting on his company’s race sponsorship, Dubai Duty Free’s Managing Director, Colm McLoughlin, said, “The support of horse racing has been part of Dubai Duty Free’s marketing mix almost since its inception more than twenty six years ago.

“Our racing programme begins in March on Dubai World Cup night at Maydan with the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free, and after Newbury’s Spring Trials meeting, continues with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival at The Curragh in June.

“We are back in the UK for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, the world’s premier international jockeys challenge at Ascot in August, before returning to Newbury for what promises to be another fascinating two days of racing this autumn.

“It represents a major commitment, and we know that our association with high-profile sporting events around the world continues to help promote Dubai as a centre of excellence for sport, tourism and commerce.”