IRELAND/UAE. The 16th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival will take place at The Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare, from 30 June to 2 July, offering the world’s leading travel retailer at a single location high-profile exposure through its horse racing sponsorship.
The Moodie Davitt Report will attend the festival on Sunday, with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby the key event. One of the premier races in the global calendar, it draws some of Europe’s top trainers, jockeys and horses to compete. Last year’s winner was the Ralph Beckett-trained Westover, ridden by jockey Colin Keane.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival has grown in profile since the airport retailer took on the role of title sponsor in 2008. Alongside the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, the company is sponsoring five other races on Derby Day, 2 July. Dubai Duty Free will host guests in the Aga Khan Stand, as it did last year after an upgrade of The Curragh grandstand was completed.
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin said, “This year marks our 16th as title sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby although we have been working with the Curragh Racecourse, supporting them, and sponsoring other races for 22 years now. Over the term of our sponsorship, we have worked closely with the Curragh team and have endeavoured to grow this event into a festival with activities taking place both on and off the track.”
This year’s major race is shaping up to be a tight contest with three of the first four horses home in the Epsom Derby in England in line to clash again. These include Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin, who is bidding to become the first horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double since Harzand in 2016.
John Murphy’s White Birch and the Jessica Harrington-trained Sprewell, third and fourth respectively at Epsom a month ago, appear to be the biggest threats to O’Brien’s Epsom winner. Other potential contenders are Adelaide River, Covent Garden, Peking Opera, San Antonio, Knight to King, Salt Bay, Proud & Legal and Up & Under.
Worldwide viewership of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be enhanced this year as the main day of racing on Sunday will be part of the Tote World Pool for the first time. Tote World Pool is an initiative introduced in 2019 whereby global tote betting operators operate a single pool on several major international race meetings. Terrestrial TV coverage of the race will also include live broadcasts by both RTE and ITV while digital and specialist racing platforms including Racing TV will extensively feature the weekend.
During the three days of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, the Curragh Racecourse will feature music and fine food, with guests on Sunday competing to be named Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Best Dressed Lady and Best Dressed Man. The day will also feature a live performance from European six-piece music group, Spring Break. ✈
