The win came to the Japanese in the Dubai World Cup with the 10/1 shot Ushba Tesoro who got a great ride from Yuga Kawada and they outgunned Algiers, who was favourite in the UK markets. Emblem Road, another 10/1 shot was third.

But the race of the night – as usual – has to be the Sheema over 2400m on turf where Christophe Lemaire and Equinox led wire to wire and to those of us watching it didn't seem a very fast pace but they finished by breaking the track record by a second.  Westover was second and Mostahdaf third but it was the superlative performance of Equinox that will remain in everyone's memory.  On the track in the morning he looked and paraded like a superstar and that he is.

Lord North made history by winning the Dubai Turf for the second successive year and so we got a Dettori flying dismount in the winner's enclosure!  Japanese runner Danon Beluga under Joao Moreira took second and Nation's Pride (Appleby-Buick) third and we were delighted to see Shirl's Speight run fourth

The Golden Shaheen went to the American Sibelius (one for all my music loving friends) who was in the tightest finish of the night with local hero Switzerland ridden by Tadgh O'Shea for B Seemar (the O'Shea children had been keep us company in between races)  and another American speedster in Gunite third.  Unfortunately no luck for Mouheeb which was a shame as it was Michael Costa's wife Mel's birthday.

The Japanese made sure of the Derby as they filled the first four places with Derma Sotogake winning from Dura Erede then Continuar third and Goraiko fourth with a good run too from Go Soldier Go to finish fifth.  The family of Derma Sotogake especially the children are delighted that they will be off to America for the Kentucky Derby!

The weather was perfect, the crowd enthusiastic and one kept meeting friends from all over the world!