Emirates flies in for US’ richest race meeting

Unbeaten filly Nashoba’s Key, trained by Carla Gaines, heads the 12 runner field for the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, one of the Grade One races held during America’s richest race meeting, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

For the first time this year the Breeders’ Cup, of which Emirates is an Official Partner, is being run over two days, Friday 26th October and Saturday 27th October, with the whole meeting worth US$ 23 million in prize money. It is also the first time that the Breeders’ Cup has been run at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

The Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, worth US$2 million, is run over 2,200 metres with the English challenger Passage of Time, trained by the legendary Henry Cecil, and the Todd Pletcher-trained Honey Ryder looking the likely dangers to Nashoba’s Key.

Won last year by the great Ouija Board, under Frankie Dettori, the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf has attracted two runners from Ireland, two from England, one from Canada and seven representing the home team.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide, said: “Our relationship with the Breeders’ Cup has been instrumental in helping us raise the profile of the Emirates brand within the American market.

“Thoroughbred horse racing is very close to the hearts of people of Dubai and the Breeders’ Cup is an important addition to our portfolio of premier sponsorships. Sponsorship plays an important role in our strategy to work closely and productively with the countries in which we do business and with our passengers. They have also helped build Dubai into a premier tourist, business and financial hub. We look forward to another exciting afternoon of horse racing.”

Later in the afternoon, Pletcher’s Indian Vale, the mount of John Velazquez, is favourite to land the US$2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff over 1,800 metres

In addition to its affiliation with the Breeders’ Cup, Emirates is the title sponsor of the world’s richest race, the US$6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) and is the Official Airline of the Dubai International Racing Carnival. Around the world, Emirates is the title sponsor of the Emirates Melbourne Cup and sponsor of the Melbourne Cup Carnival; the Gold Coast Turf Club and the Australian Jockey Club’s Autumn and Spring Carnivals.

Emirates also supports racing at Newmarket and York in Britain, The Curragh in Ireland and the Singapore Derby. Emirates is also a partner of Godolphin, horse racing’s most successful international stable.