World famous jockey Frankie Dettori rides for final time at Kildare's Curragh Racecourse
World famous jockey Frankie Dettori rides for the final time at the Curragh on Sunday for the Champions Festival.
The superstar jockey is booked to ride for Donncha O’Brien in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at Racing HQ on the Curragh plains. He announced last year that 2023 would be his final year in the saddle.
Meanwhile, off the track, the prize has been announced for the Irish Champions Festival Style Awards which will be judged by well known TV and racing style commentator Marietta Doran. The winner will walk away with a stunning white gold and diamond pendant valued at €5,000 from Weir & Sons, a two night luxury stay for two in a castle room at the gorgeous Kilkea Castle in County Kildare with breakfast, dinner in the 1180 Restaurant on night of their choice, round of golf and spa treatments together with a bottle of Moet Imperial Brut, courtesy of it's official champagne partner.
The theme is ‘Racing Chic and World Class Style’ because with world class racing on show, the style needs to complement and coincide with that.
The prize for best dressed man is again from Kilkea Castle with dinner for 2 in Hermione’s Restaurant plus a round of golf.
In providing a guide for the world class theme style judge Marietta Doran said “I’m looking for head to toe glamour from headpieces, jewellery, the outfit, the footwear and the bag as I’ll be looking strongly at the ability to accesorise. Chic, classy, elegant outfits with a nod to current trends especially with this season’s bright and bold colours such as red, purple, yellow, green and pink and I’ll be looking for some and even all of those colours.”
“When it comes to men, again I’d like to see head to toe glamour and it would be nice to see hats, a good tailored suit with or without a tie and classic footwear,” she continued.
The Irish Champions Festival is recognised as one of the leading international racing festivals and the 10th renewal boasts a strong programme of races at the Curragh this Sunday September 10, including the final Classic of the Irish Flat season - the Comer Group International Irish St Leger.
The entertainment schedule promises to be equally exciting. Junior racegoers are promised an epic day out in The Moyglare Kids Zone where they can enjoy an assortment of free activities magic shows, meet and greet stilt walkers, face painting, cartoon characters, miniature electric land train and lots more.