The sense of expectation is rising ahead of the 12th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, which takes place at the newly-renovated ‘Home of the Classics’, Curragh Racecourse in Co. Kildare (Ireland) from June 27th-29th.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is the feature event of the festival of high-octane racing (Sat 29th June), with the best horses, jockeys and trainers in the world taking each other on in front of an enthralled audience revelling in supreme hospitality.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival has grown beyond recognition since the world’s leading airport retailer took on the role of sponsor in 2008. The centrepiece, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, has become one of the premier races in the global calendar, with prize money increasing incrementally to the current €1.5 million, making it Ireland’s richest race.

This has guaranteed quality participants. Indeed in 2017, the colts’ Classic was rated the top three-year-old race in the world, as the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Capri provided trainer Aidan O’Brien with a staggering 12th triumph in the mile-and-a-half contest.

Fame And Glory (2009), Cape Blanco (2010), Treasure Beach (2011) and Camelot (2012) went on to complete a seven-in-row for O’Brien (Dylan Thomas and Soldier Of Fortune claiming the spoils in 2006 and 2007). Camelot’s success was particularly memorable in that O’Brien’s then 19-year-old son Joseph was in the saddle.

Trading Leather was a very popular winner in 2013, bridging a 21-year gap for trainer Jim Bolger from his previous triumph with St Jovite in 1992. This had a strong family link too as the Coolcullen maestro not only trained Trading Leather, but also bred him, while he was owned by Bolger’s wife Jackie and ridden by their son-in-law Kevin Manning.

Aidan and Joseph O’Brien combined once more for glory in 2014 with Australia, before John Gosden and William Buick joined forces with Jack Hobbs for the first English-trained victor since Balanchine, owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Godolphin racing operation, beat the boys in 1994.

The County of Kildare had a very local success in 2016, as the Aga Khan-owned Harzand made the short trip from Dermot Weld’s Rosewell House to claim the honours under Pat Smullen. Capri led home a stellar field in the 2017 renewal.

Last year supplied another tremendous story when the aforementioned Joseph O’Brien bagged his first Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby as a 25-year-old trainer, his 19-year-old brother Donnacha providing the encouragement from the saddle and denying the siblings’ father Aidan another success in the process.

Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, Colm McLoughlin said: 'The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is always a fantastic contest and last year provided us with a tremendous narrative as Joseph O’Brien, who had ridden the winner of the race twice for his legendary father Aidan, won it for the first time as a trainer with Latrobe, who was ridden by Joseph’s brother Donnacha.'

Dubai Duty Free spends 2.5% of its annual turnover on marketing each year, most of which is dedicated to sports sponsorship. 'Sports sponsorship allows us to reach a global audience via the media exposure that goes with each of events we are involved with', said Colm McLoughlin. 'Each of our sponsorships are very carefully chosen to ensure they align with our potential customer base and the discerning traveller who might consider visiting the vibrant city of Dubai for business or leisure. We are very focused on utilising our sports sponsorship to continue to communicate all that Dubai has to offer.'

He went on to say, 'Since we took over as title sponsor in 2008 we have been committed to building our association with this prestigious race and to engage with as many communities as possible both on and off the track. That is a key component of all our sponsorship relationships. Away from the track we hold a golf classic at The K Club and for many years we have hosted a charity ball to raise funds for children’s charities.'

Just a matter of days after the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby takes place, Lahinch Golf Club will host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open from June 4th-7th, continuing an association that began in 2015.

Given the popularity of horse racing in Dubai, it is no surprise that the global airport retailer also sponsors the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Saturday and Dubai Duty Free International Weekend at Newbury, as well as the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free, boasts an illustrious roll of honour, attracting the world’s finest tennis players to Dubai. Roger Federer claimed his eighth title earlier this year and his 100th singles career title, while Belinda Bencic made it a Swiss double in the women’s event.

That this will be the first Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival to be held in the plush, new, state-of-the-art Curragh facility only adds to the attraction and status of what is already an enticing prospect for owners, trainers, racing followers and anyone looking to be entertained.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Golf Classic is played at The K Club on Thursday June 27th. 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, making it a super attraction. The winning team will be invited to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh Racecourse on the Saturday, where they can enjoy full hospitality in the Dubai Duty Free Derby private VIP suite.

On Friday June 28th, the executive team and their guests from all over the world will attend a charity lunch at The Curragh Racecourse called ‘Under StARTers Orders’ when six life sized horses, made out of fibreglass and painted by leading Irish artists will be sold to raise funds for two charities, Irish Injured Jockeys and Sensational Kids.

During the three days of racing during the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, the Curragh Racecourse will be a hive of music, fine food and glamours, with many of those in attendance pursuing the coveted title of Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Best Dressed Lady.

Courtesy of Dubai Duty Free, the Best Dressed Lady will win a luxury trip to Dubai for two including flights and accommodation at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, where she and her guest will stay for five glorious nights. Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, owned by Dubai Duty Free, is a luxurious five-star hotel, offering an authentic cultural experience in the heart of the city. The winning lady will also be treated to a €1,000 Dubai Duty Free spending spree.