UAE/IRELAND. The highly-anticipated 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby takes place at The Curragh Racecourse, Co. Kildare, on Saturday 30 June.
The event, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free since 2008, is part of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival (29-30 June). It is regarded as Ireland’s answer to Royal Ascot.
With an eye to attracting the world’s best horses to compete at The Curragh, Dubai Duty Free has raised the prize money to €1.5 million, making it Ireland’s richest and most prestigious race. Capri, owned by John Magnier, gave jockey Séamus Heffernan his third win, and trainer Aidan O’Brien his 12th success, in the 2017 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.
Heffernan previously won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with Soldier Of Fortune and Frozen Fire in 2007 and 2008 respectively, both trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin said: “The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is a terrific event, it reflects our brand and is very much in line with our global marketing plan which encompasses sports sponsorship.
“This is our 11th year as title sponsor of what we believe is a complete festival that incorporates a golf tournament at the K Club, a charity ball at the K Club with proceeds raised for the Jack & Jill Foundation and Best Dressed Shop Front Competition in the neighbouring towns of Newbridge and Kildare, and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day itself.
“Since we took over as title sponsor in 2008 we have made a concerted effort to build on our association with the derby and to engage with as many communities as possible both on and off the track.”
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Golf Classic is played at The K Club on Thursday 28 June. This four-person team event is played on the Palmer Ryder Cup Course, home of the 2006 Ryder Cup and the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. The winning team is invited to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to enjoy the hospitality offered in Dubai Duty Free’s private VIP suite.
The annual Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball will be held at the Five AA Red Star K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare on 29 June. The ball supports The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, a charity which provides direct funding to families of children up to the age of five who suffer severe intellectual and physical developmental delay, enabling them to purchase home respite care. The foundation also provides end of life care to all children up to the age of five.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival includes music performances, a food enclosure and ‘style stakes’ which include the Dubai Duty Free Best Dressed Lady Competition on Saturday 30 June. The prize includes a trip to Dubai for two including flights and accommodation at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and a €1,000 Dubai Duty Free spending spree. Overnight stays at The K Club and the Kildare Golf & Spa Resort are also included.
Dubai Duty Free said it invests heavily in the events it sponsors, spending 2.5% of its annual turnover on marketing each year, most of which is dedicated to sport. The company is expected to achieve US$2 billion in sales this year.