Caulfield Welcomes Dubai Racing Club
- Wednesday, 18 September 2002 00:00
A contingent of approximately 30 Dubai racing officials, sponsors and guests arrive in Melbourne today to attend the Dubai Racing Club Cup Day racemeeting at Caulfield on September 22.
Many of the leading contenders for the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup Carnival are certain to be on show on Dubai Racing Club Cup Day.
Two Group One events the $352,000 Dubai Racing Club Cup (1400 metres) and $352,000 Emirates Racing Association Underwood Stakes (1800 metres) spearhead an outstanding card and the depth of the meeting is always a signal that the Spring Carnival has arrived.
The prestige handicap event now known as the Dubai Racing Club Cup traditionally attracts a top line field of sprinters, whilst the some best weight-for-age performers and Cups bound horses will contest the Emirates Racing Association Underwood Stakes.
Champion galloper Northerly won the Underwood Stakes in 2001 and appears certain to bid for a repeat win this year.
This Sunday racing spectacular is firmly established as one of the Melbourne Racing Clubs premier meetings and is a fitting choice for the racemeeting sponsorship exchange with the prestigious Dubai Racing Club.
In the first phase of the strategic alliance, the Melbourne Racing Club sponsored the UAE Oaks meeting at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai on April 13 and organised a Club tour to attend the historic event. Support races on that programme were sponsored by corporate associates of the Melbourne Racing Club.
Similarly, for the upcoming meeting at Caulfield the Dubai Racing Club was given the opportunity to offer the sponsorship naming rights of the remaining races to its own business partners, with the exception of the Group 3 Carlton Draught Guineas Prelude which was exempted due to the Melbourne Racing Clubs existing sponsorship agreement with CUB.
Other races have subsequently been supported by Jumeirah International (Group 3 $150,750 Jumeirah International Stakes 3yo fillies, 1400 metres), leading international airline Emirates (Listed $100,000 Emirates Airline Classic 2000 metres),
Dubai Department of Commerce and Tourism (Listed $75,500 Dubai Convention Bureau Plate Mares, 1200 metres) and Dubai Shopping Festival ($50,000 Dubai Shopping Festival Handicap 1200 metres).
"Having enjoyed a memorable trip to Dubai for our inaugural Melbourne Racing Club-sponsored UAE Oaks racemeeting in April, we now look forward to reciprocating in the hosting role as we welcome the Dubai Racing Club to Caulfield," Melbourne Racing Club Chairman, Mr. Kevin Hayes said today.
"This outstanding raceday will showcase the renowned excitement of Spring racing in Melbourne to our visitors from the Dubai Racing Club and I am certain they will enjoy the whole experience," he added.
Whilst in Melbourne, the Dubai Racing Club contingent will participate in a number of social and leisure activities including a cocktail function, official dinner and golf challenge with the Melbourne Racing Club. On Saturday, the visitors will attend the AFL Preliminary Final at the MCG.
"We are extremely proud to have Dubais name associated with such a prestigious racemeeting and we are looking forward to seeing some of Australias best racehorses," said Dubai Racing Club Chairman, Mr Ali Khamis Al Jafleh.
"The alliance formed between our club and the Melbourne Racing Club has been an outstanding success and we hope it continues for many years."
"Something like this cannot be possible without the support of sponsors and Dubai Racing Club is much appreciative to have the support of some of the most recognised names, not only in the Emirates, but around the world."
Dubai Racing Club Cup Day is the fourth of Caulfields "Top 20 Racedays" in the 2002/2003 racing season. Under this exciting new format, Caulfield now has a revised annual programme of 20 racemeetings all of which are feature days.
Media Release - MRC
