JACQUELINE O’Brien stole the show at the launch in Dublin on Wednesday night launch of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend at the Curragh. Recalling stories of past Irish Derby winners, she was there to launch a new book on the 150 years of Ireland’s premier classic. Her husband Vincent trained six winners of the race and one of the tales she recalled was about how Ballymoss came to be acquired following a chance visit to the yearling sales in Doncaster. She was joined on the night by a number of her grandchildren.

Representatives of the world of racing and fashion mingled at the Marker Hotel where a specially commissioned trophy for the 150th running of the Irish Derby was unveiled by Sinead El Sibai of Dubai Duty Free.