Dubai Duty Free’s 2024 European horseracing sponsorship portfolio gets underway in style this week when Newbury Racecourse, UK hosts the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend beginning.
A recognised early season target for many of the sport’s leading stables, the two-day fixture features established trials for the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas in Saturday’s Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes and the Dubai Duty Free Stakes which both share Group 2 status.
The seven furlongs fillies’ trial has attracted 11 entries with among them Elmalka who looks set to make her Turf debut for Newmarket trainer Roger Varian in the colours of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who beat off eight rivals to win a seven furlongs fillies’ Novices’ stakes on her sole start on the all-weather at Southwell last November.
The Dubai Duty Free Stakes is one of seven races supported by title sponsor Dubai Duty Free at the fixture which was widely acknowledged as a favourite of the late Queen Elizabath II. Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Duty Free said, “We are very proud of our long association with Newbury Racecourse and with British horseracing which extends back to 1996. During that time we have witnessed many changes at Newbury including the construction of the Dubai Duty Free Grandstand, but the quality of the racing has remained a constant.”
Aside from a competitive programme of races, racegoers will be able to enjoy a host of activities including the opportunity to sample Arabian hospitality in the Dubai Duty Free Marquee where there will also be the chance to win fabulous prizes including free entry into Dubai Duty Free’s Finest Surprise and Millenium Millionaire prize draws each day.