IRELAND/UAE. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Capri won a thrilling Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday at The Curragh, in the 152nd running of Ireland’s most lucrative horse race.
A hotly contested race saw the Seamie Heffernan-ridden three-year-old finish just a neck ahead of John Gosden-trained Cracksman in second place, while Capri’s stablemate, Wings of Eagles (winner of the English Derby) finished in third after going out as 2/1 favourite.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby was worth €1.5 million this year, as Dubai Duty Free celebrated its tenth year as the title sponsor; the world’s largest airport retailer at a single location sponsored six of the eight races on Saturday’s card.
The winning connections – owner John Magnier, jockey Seamie Heffernan and trainer Aidan O’Brien – were presented with specially commissioned trophies by Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin, Chief Operating Officer Ramesh Cidambi and Senior Vice President of Marketing Sinead El Sibai. They were joined on the podium by UAE Ambassador to Ireland H.E Mohammed Saeed Al Shamsi, Irish Ambassador to the UAE H.E Paul Kavanagh and The Curragh CEO Derek McGrath.
McLoughlin said: “I’m very happy that Dubai Duty Free is still involved at the Curragh. I think the temporary facilities are fantastic, the people are fantastic, the racing was fantastic and the weather… was almost fantastic! It was a great race that was tight right up until they went through the winning post and it just beat the rain.
“We are happy to continue our association with this magnificent racecourse and today once again proved why it is certainly up there with the very best tracks in the world. The standard of horses that were brought to this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby festival is a testament to how highly regarded the weekend is.”
Aidan O’Brien said: “We’re lucky to have this track in Ireland. When you want to get the real proper mile and a half horse there’s no track in the world that can do that like The Curragh.
“There’s real pace on it, there’s nowhere to hide. Seamus rode Capri in Epsom and he was very happy with him and he was looking forward to coming here with him. It’s the ultimate test over a mile and a half for a three-year-old colt. Seamus gave him a lovely ride. He had a lovely position throughout and he timed his run perfect and he got the mile and a half really well.”
Capri was Aidan O’Brien’s third winner on the day. Capri followed up earlier wins for Asking in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship Handicap, while US Navy Flag opened began the day’s proceedings by landing victory in the Dubai Duty Free Find a Surprise EBF Maiden.
Colm McLoughlin and his wife Breeda hosted almost 400 people (including The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie and President Dermot Davitt) in the VIP pavilion inside the track at The Curragh. Chanelle McCoy, wife of champion jockey AP McCoy, led the Best Dressed Lady Competition which was sponsored by Dubai Duty Free.
She was assisted by Breeda McLoughlin, Bairbre Power of the Irish Independent, Melanie Morris of Image Magazine and Susie Hopkins Burke of The K Club. Suzanne McGarry from Sligo was declared the winner and won a five-star holiday to Dubai with flights and accommodation at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and €1,000 worth of spending money from the airport retailer. She also won a luxury break at the K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby was the culmination of a weekend of activities that included a golf classic and black tie charity ball at The K Club and a best dressed window competition for businesses in the neighbouring towns of Newbridge and Kildare.
*This week Dubai Duty Free hosts another major event in the sporting calendar: the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by The Rory Foundation, which takes place in Portstewart, Northern Ireland.
