THE Irish Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Alison Milton, was the guest of honour at last Saturday’s Irish Race Day at Jebel Ali Racecourse in Dubai. Among the race sponsors were Gain Equine Nutrition, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and the Curragh Racecourse.

Joanne Hurley of Gain Equine Nutrition told The Irish Field: “The day went really well, thanks to Jebel Ali Racecourse making a massive effort to promote the Irish-UAE racing connections.”

Pictured (l-r) are Jeremy Greene of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, owner Abubaker Kadoura, and Abubaker’s son Osama. The ITM-sponsored race was won by ex-Joseph O’Brien trainee Shepperton Lodge. Abubaker was busy buying at the Orby Sale last year under the Local Creator banner

Pictured following the running of the Gain Equine Nutrition-sponsored race are (l-r) Joanne Hurley and Eoin Sullivan of Gain Equine Nutrition), jockey Tadhg O’Shea, Caroline Seemar (representing trainer Bhupat Seemar) and Lisa Dunphy of Gain Equine Nutrition

Evan Arkwright (second left) of the Curragh Racecourse and the Irish Ambassador to the UAE, Alison Milton, present trophies to the connections of the Curragh-sponsored race at Jebel Ali

A scene from the Irish raceday at Jebel Ali