Dubai Duty Free Senior Manager for Marketing, Salim Dahman presented the trophies to the winning connections of Sukanya, trainer Jack Channon, jockey David Probert and Opulence Thoroughbreds officials after winning the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes.

A boost in raceday crowds and more than 100 horses engaged across Saturday’s seven races alone demonstrated the continued appeal of the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend at Newbury Racecourse this weekend. 

The event began on Friday 17 April and members of the TRBusiness team were honoured to be in attendance at the prestigious horse racing event on Saturday (18th), at which Dubai Duty Free rolled out its signature first-class hospitality.

As for the thrilling racing action, the opening seven furlongs Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes worth GBP95,000, the One Thousand Guineas Trial, attracted a larger than usual field of 15 high class fillies and set the pattern for the day.

Sukanya trained by Jack Channon who took over from his father, the former England footballer Mick at West Ilsley Stables, came from last to first to overturn the favourite Touleen.

Sukanya is owned by Opulence Thoroughbreds who are small shareholders, but love their racing and their delight was evident when jockey David Probert brought their colours into the winner’s enclosure.

Another highlight was the GBP95k Group Three Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes – over a mile and a half for four-year-olds and upwards – which showed jockey Clifford Lee at his best, having to manoeuvre his mount Convergent through several gaps and the four-year-old, carrying topweight with a penalty for a previous Group Two success, responded to his jockey’s urgings.

“He has a good turn of foot,” said Burke. “He’s been working well and though the 2021 winner Shadwell’s Al Aasy came at him, his turn of foot was vital.”

Burke, from his North Yorkshire base, was the meeting’s furthest British trainer-traveller.

Left; TRBusiness’ Nigel Hardy, Co-Owner & Joint CEO, Faye Bartle, Editorial Directors and Janice Hook, o-Owner & Joint CEO. Right: Salim Dahman, Senior Manager – Marketing, Dubai Duty Free, addresses guests.

The £20k Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Maiden Stakes for three-year-olds over a mile featured a huge field of 25 runners – and a considerable training feat by local trainer Archie Watson to bring Exclusive Code fit to do the business from a 247-day absence.

The jockey was full of praise for the gelding. “He’s a natural miler,” said Doyle.

The successful weekend in glorious spring weather, in front of a large crowd culminated with the £20,000 Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Handicap over 10 furlongs. It was a competitive affair with 14 runners and saw Jack Channon post a famous double.

Short priced favourite Valedictory, in his first handicap, ran on strongly for the Godolphin operation but couldn’t quite catch battle-hardened Rathgar.

A coveted glimpse inside the parade ring at Newbury Racecourse.

The opening day of the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend commenced with the 10 runners for the Dubai Duty Free EBF Maiden Stakes for unraced two-year-olds over five furlongs and worth £12,500.

The fancied horses had been showing early promise on the gallops and in their pedigrees but the eventual winner Blessed Voyager was trainer Ralph Beckett’s first juvenile winner of the season.

The £32,500 Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises 7fur handicap for three-year-olds with 14 runners due to the late absence of Godolphin’s unbeaten Fort Rock, still left a strong field, with Stellar Sunrise the comfortable winner.

Racegoers on both days formed queues at the Dubai Duty Free Marquee for a chance to spin the prize wheel and win spot prizes including Dubai Duty Free Merchandise, free entry into the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws and free tickets to future Newbury meetings.

Salim Dahman, Senior Manager – Marketing, represented Dubai Duty Free at the event, presenting specially commissioned trophies to the winning connections and hosting a lunch on the feature day of the meeting attended by guests from the British racing industry and media for the sports, horseracing and travel retail sectors.

In the meantime, the Dubai Duty Free brand will be showcased at The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh in June and at the world’s premier international Jockeys’ competition, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, at Ascot in August.

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