DCU student Niamh Higgins Wins Top Prize from Godolphin Initiative

DCU Genetics and Cell Biology student, Niamh Higgins, has won an all expenses trips to Dubai, courtesy of The Godolphin Student Initiative over Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

Niamh is one of two winners who was selected out of 200 students and will fly out to Dubai next March.  Her prize includes tickets to the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan racecourse on Super Saturday as well as a visit to Godolphin’s Dubai private training facility and a trip to the top of Burj Khalifa (the highest building in Dubai).  The other winner was a final year Veterinarian Student, Stephanie Fitzgerald from UCD.  

The Godolphin Student initiative was created in 2015 and its objective is to promote the sport of horse racing to students by allowing them free entry to Longines Irish champions Weekend as well as showcasing careers in the thoroughbred industry and Dubai.  The initiative is a partnership between Leopardstown, the Curragh and Godolphin. Godolphin is a thoroughbred racing stable which was established by the Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Dubai - His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

In 2016, all participating students received free entry to Longines Irish Champions Weekend, (courtesy of Godolphin) with 870 students attending racing over the two days. The two winners were selected from 200 students who attended a private tour of Kildangan Stud, before racing at Longines Irish Champions Weekend. The Kildangan visits consisted of talks from Stud Director Jimmy Hyland and Godolphin Ireland Representative Joe Osborne and General Manager Gerry Duffy as well as a Stallion Parade.

Joe Osborne, Kildangan Stud Managing Director and Godolphin representative in Ireland, said: "We are delighted how the second year of the Godolphin Student Initiative has gone.  The number of participants has increased but even more impressive this year is their level of interest and engagement in Longines Irish Champions Weekend, in the thoroughbred industry and in Dubai. All of our team enjoyed hosting the student tours to Kildangan Stud and giving them some insight into Godolphin.”

Pictured (left to right): Niamh Higgins (DCU), Stephanie Fitzgerald (UCD), Slade Power with handler Mark Delaney