Dubai: Dubai Duty Free capped another successful season of flat-racing sponsorship in the UK at the Dubai Duty Free International Weekend at Newbury Racecourse where several stars of the future were unearthed over the course of the two days.
One of the outstanding two-year-olds on display was the Godolphin-owned Ribchester, who has emerged as a Guineas horse following his exciting performance in the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, a recognised trial for next season’s Classics.
Trained in the north of England by Richard Fahey, the highest scoring trainer in Britain this season, the son of Ifraaj will be trained with the 2,000 Guineas on April 30, as his principal target. The prestigious race was the highlight of a thrilling weekend’s action as Dubai Duty Free’s traditional home in the Uk, Newbury Racecourse, which saw the world-renowned airport retailer lending their nine to nine races on Friday and Saturday.
However, a pall of gloom descended on the final day’s action following the death of Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the eldest son of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
As a mark of respect to Shaikh Rashid, an Asian gold medal-winning endurance rider and a five-time champion owner in the UAE, jockeys riding at the event wore black armbands and Newbury’s flags all flew at half-mast .
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice-Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, paid tribute to the young sportsman and equine enthusiast during his luncheon address at Newbury and also gave out a message of esteem for the association of Newbury and Dubai Duty Free.
“Newbury gives us value,” he said. “I would like to congratulate them on the developments at this racecourse – the new buildings and layout. It is a venue we are pleased to be associated with for this 20th year.”
The start for the first race on the card was timed at 1.10pm in recognition of Newbury’s 110-year history, the last twenty of which Dubai Duty Free has been the major sponsor. Over 15,000 people turned up for that first fixture – and a similar crowd, quite coincidentally, entered the gates on the Saturday this year.
