Retired Carlow cattle buyer takes most stylish crown at the Irish Derby

Large crowds descended onto a sunny Curragh Racecourse today and were treated to one of the closest Irish Derbies for years as Los Angeles took the biggest crown in Irish racing for Tipperary based trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Off track the coveted Dubai Duty Free Most Stylish competition was taken by Liz Maher.

Racegoers embraced the ‘dress to feel your best’ theme.

Dubliner Lisa Hogan from hit TV programme Clarkson’s Farm joined fashion writer Bairbre Power, Alpana Cidambi, Breeda McLoughlin and stylist Marietta Doran in seeking out the spectators who they felt had nailed this year’s fashion trends.

Retired cattle buyer Liz Maher from Bagenalstown in Co Carlow took the crown. Ms Maher wore a Caitriona King Millinery headpiece with a white Julie Caulfield suit, all completed by a handbag, shoes and jewellery from her own collection.

As well as her Most Stylish title, Ms Maher was over the moon with her prizes including return flights for two to Dubai with five nights in The Jumeirah Creekside, and €1,000 spending money.

Ruth Norton, marketing manager for the Curragh Racecourse, said: “Everyone who came to The Curragh this year really did put their best foot forward in the fashion stakes.

“The winners we selected not only exhibited style but also let their personalities shine through in the outfits they chose, which is what the theme of ‘dress to feel your best’ is all about! Thank you to everyone who turned out in every way and gave us judges such a difficult decision.

“We were delighted to see an Irish winner take home the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby this year and the crowd were asking in fabulous rare sunshine for the big race.”

On the actual course itself the highlight of the day was the biggest classic race of the year the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby which was won by Los Angeles – who actually came third in the English Derby at Epsom a month ago but showed big improvement since to take Irish racing’s biggest and most prestigious prize.

The horse is trained by the maestro trainer Aidan O’Brien in Ballydoyle just outside Cashel in Co Tipperary.