The Dubai World Cup Carnival

There's a new 'kid on the block', of the four legged variety. Curlin was American Horse Of The Year in 2007, and this strapping Smart Strike-sired, Steve Asmussen-trained, and Robby Albarado-ridden four year old celebrated his high profile initiation onto the world stage with a resounding victory in this year's Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday 29 March. Cynics might ponder the strength of his opposition but the form book will ultimately testify that Asiatic Boy, second here, be it seven lengths in his wake, was a very convincing sixth length winner of last year's UAE Derby.

The supporting races were dominated by South African trainers, Mike de Kock and Herman Brown, who won the two Turf races (Dubai Sheema Classic and Dubai Duty Free) with Sun Classique and Jay Peg respectively.

Earlier in the evening, Diamond Stripes and Edgar Prado triumphed in the Godolphin Mile, the Mike de Kock-trained, Argentinian-bred Honour Devil took the UAE Derby, and Benny The Bull made it a double for trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr, and jockey, Edgar Prado, in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum was four handed in the opening Dubai Kahayla Classic, for Pure Bred Arabians, but his Madjani, a three time winner of this race in previous years, was beaten in a close finish on this occasion by the Abu Dhabi based and trained Mizzna, owned by Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was attending the Damascus Arab Summit, at the time.

British trained and bred horses fared disappointingly throughout the evening but, it must be said, we were very sparsely represented, in both respects.

This was another immaculately organized and presented evening of racing, attended by upwards of 50,000 people, with US$21 million of prize money on offer – but, with due deference to our exceedingly generous hosts, there were two caveats, of a logistical nature, which could have been better addressed.

First, journey times by car/bus from Dubai City to Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, a distance of only 7/8 miles, were upwards of one and a half hours – and, secondly the Dubai World Cup ceremony, featuring an outstandingly spectacular fire-work display and an impressive ensemble of Arabian horses, between the third and the fourth races, though magnificent in its presentation, must have been a terrifying experience for the equine participants, about to parade for the Dubai Duty Free.

There were a number of official pre-race receptions and functions, organized by the Dubai Racing Club, in the build up to the 'Big Race', to which Anna P and GPG were invited, as guests of Darley.

The first of these was the Post Position Draw at the Madinat Jumeirah on Wednesday evening, when stall positions were allotted for the Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Sheema Classic and the Dubai World Cup – a very interesting concept, attended by over 500 press officials, owners, trainers, jockeys and race connections.

The following morning, over 2,000 invitees made the 6.30am start for Breakfast With The Stars at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, and that evening, 5,000 very fortunate souls were party to the Arabian Nights Extravaganza in the desert, an hours travel from Dubai City – a mind blowing experience of gargantuan proportions, staged in a vast purpose built 'Arabian amphitheatre', designed for universal enjoyment, and also the promotion of Sheikh Mohammed's new Meydan Racecourse, scheduled to open in time for the 2010 running of the Dubai World Cup.

Also included in a busy itinerary was an hour's meeting at the British Embassy in Dubai, with John Hawkins, the Consul General, an avid racingman and eager to help our BBM initiative in the Middle East. John moves on to be British Ambassador in Qatar in June, which should be an added bonus.

A very productive and rewarding few days in Dubai, and a prime opportunity to network with a host of racing participants from around the globe.

Final impressions? – Dubai continues to grow at an unthinkable pace and we can only wonder and surmise where it will all end. By all accounts, Sheikh Mohammed has only completed 7% of what he intends to achieve for Dubai – heaven only knows what he has in mind for the remaining 93% of his remarkable endeavours.