Nina Carberry launches 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

Nina Carberry launches 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

The three-day festival takes place from Friday 29th June - Sunday 1st July.

Former champion female amateur jockey Nina Carberry today launched the 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival at Mick Halford’s Copper Beech Stables with Platinum Warrior, one of the 36 entries in this year’s €1.5million Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday 30th June.

Nina will join the Dubai Duty Free Best Dressed Lady judging panel on Saturday 30th June, which also includes Bairbre Power, Fashion Editor of Independent News and Media and Breeda McLoughlin, wife of Colm McLoughlin, CEO and Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free.   

Courtesy of Dubai Duty Free, the Best Dressed Lady at The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will win a luxury trip to Dubai for two including flights and accommodation. The winner and a guest will stay in the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel for five glorious nights.  Jumeirah Creekside Hotel is a luxurious five-star hotel, offering an authentic cultural experience in the heart of the city of Dubai.  The prize also includes a €1,000 Dubai Duty Free spending spree where the winner can shop for the latest designer handbags, perfumes, jewellery or cosmetics.  The airport retail operation is one of the largest in the world and is a haven for shoppers seeking a wide array of goods. The night before the trip to Dubai the winner and a guest will enjoy an overnight stay at The K Club and a second night at the luxury Kildare Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort on their return. 

Speaking at the launch of the three-day event in The Curragh, Nina Carberry said: "I am delighted to be involved with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby which is such a prestigious event in the flat racing calendar. I am really looking forward to being at The Curragh for the top-class racing, not to mention the fabulous style and am thrilled to be part of this year’s judging panel. The Derby is synonymous with style and I’ll be looking for an eye-catching yet appropriate outfit for a day at the races."

This year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival promises to be a fantastic weekend of prestigious racing, style and entertainment over three days. The Curragh has in 2018 unveiled the new parade ring, pre-parade ring, Queens Room and Bistro in addition to high quality temporary facilities as it continues its exciting redevelopment ahead of the completion of the new grandstand for racing in 2019.

Friday, 29th June Derby Friday is the second of the Curragh’s 3-night "Summer Sounds at the Curragh” music series and there will be live music with 2FM DJ Blathnaid Treacy after racing as well as free transfers and admission to Studio One, Kildare's newest night time venue. The feature race of the evening will be the Her.ie Apprentice Jockeys Derby over 12 furlongs, the most important race in the Irish racing calendar for future stars of horse racing. 1st race 5.25pm.

Saturday, 30th June is the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and the highlight of the racing and style calendar so now is the time for the ladies to focus on fashion and think high style. The day will also have a fantastic music line up with up and coming band State Lights, and Irish vocalist Gemma Sugrue will be performing the Irish National Anthem and Curragh of Kildare. 1st race 1.40pm with the feature event of the weekend the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby going to post at 5.15pm. 

Sunday,1st July The prestigious Group One Pretty Polly Stakes sponsored by Juddmonte Farms Ireland for the first time and Comer Group International Curragh Cup take centre stage of an eight race programme with the 1st race is off at 1.45pm.

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