Thousands enjoy spectacular derby festival at the Curragh
Frank Berry, Sarah Clarke, Sarah Nash, Laure Berry and JP McManus Photo: Jimmy Fullam
The recent 17th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival was filled with fantastic racing, fashion, and fun.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby was the feature event of the festival of high-octane racing, where the best horses, jockeys and trainers in the world take each other on for derby glory and the race was won by Los Angeles to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a record-extending 16th triumph in the race and ridden by Ryan Moore.
The newly appointed managing director of Dubai Duty Free, Ramesh Cidambi, together with his wife Alpana hosted 130 guests for lunch, as the company sponsored six of the nine races on the card. Speaking after the race, Ramesh Cidambi said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to the winning connections and also to compliment The Curragh Racecourse on another hugely successful festival.”
The Dubai Duty Free Best Dressed Competition was a hotly contested affair with some serious style on display at the track. The fashion judges on the day included Lisa Hogan of the popular Amazon Prime show , Alpana Cidambi, Breeda McLoughlin and fashion writer, Bairbre Power.
Liz Maher from Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, was crowned Best Dressed and took home the Dubai Duty Free Best Dressed prize. Liz looked very elegant in a white suit which she said is a trusty piece in her wardrobe and has had several days out at the races over the years.
As well as her best-dressed title, Liz was over the moon with her fabulous array of prizes including return flights for two to Dubai with five glorious nights in Dubai Duty Free’s own five-star hotel, The Jumeirah Creekside, and €1,000 spending money at the award-winning airport retailer.
On Derby Day the executive team also presented Barretstown Children’s Foundation CEO, Dee Ahearn with a donation of €20,000 to support the great work the foundation does for seriously ill children.
