The 20th anniversary of Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship of Newbury Racecourse’s September meeting was celebrated in style at the Dubai Duty Free International weekend which took place on September 16 and 17.

Celebrities from the worlds of sport, entertainment and media joined business leaders and diplomats at the star studded two-day event hosted by executive vice president - Corporate Services, Salah Tahlak, and senior vice president – Marketing, Sinead El Sibai.  

Activities off the track commanded as much attention as the top class horseracing when stars from racing, tennis and golf combined in celebration of the world-renowned airport retailer.

Dubai Duty Free brand ambassadors Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic joined 20 times champion National Hunt jockey, Sir Anthony McCoy and PGA European Tour Chief Executive, Keith Pelly in the title sponsor’s hospitality suite from where guests enjoyed superb views of the sporting action and a DJ set after racing on the second day by songwriter and producer Mark Ronson.

One of Newbury’s most prestigious meetings of the Flat season, the Dubai Duty Free International Weekend features the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes named in honour of the 1971 Epsom Derby hero and his trainer, Ian Balding, who enjoyed much success for many leading owners including The Queen, was on hand to assist with the trophy presentations.

The six-furlong showpiece was won by Harry Angel ridden by Adam Kirby and trained locally by Clive Cox who together with wife Tina had been a guest of the sponsor on the opening day of meeting.

Sulaiman Al Mazroui, UAE Ambassador to the UK, attended the event at the invitation of Dubai Duty Free and joined in the presentations to the connections the winners of Saturday’s feature races.

TV personalities John McCririck, famed for his eccentric presentation of horseracing and betting, and Fred Dinenage, a stalwart of news and factual programmes for the ITV network who will take over as British racing’s sole terrestrial broadcaster from next year, were also among guests.

The fixture, which brings to a close Dubai Duty Free’s horseracing sponsorship programme for the 2016 season, got off to a perfect start for His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, when his colours were carried to victory by Musawaat an unraced two-year-old, in Friday’s opener, the EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes.

Dubai Duty Free’s racing portfolio resumes with the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Meeting at Newbury in April 2017. - TradeArabia News Service