Australia Pavilion screens Melbourne Cup live as part of a special event at the Expo 2020 Dubai

DUBAI: The Australia Pavilion at Expo celebrated the country’s most famous thoroughbred horse race, the Melbourne Cup, with a breakfast hosted by the Victorian Government.

There was a live screening of the race – with guests watching as Verry Elleegant, ridden by jockey James McDonald, claimed the AUD 4.4 (AED 12 m) first prize – and the pavilion itself was transformed into a replica of the venue, Flemington Racetrack. In attendance were Justin McGowan, Australian Commissioner General for Expo 2020 Dubai; Kassem Younes, General Manager of the Victorian Government Trade and Investment (VGTI) office in Dubai; and Hugh Anderson, UK and Dubai Director of Godolphin Stables, who delivered the keynote address.

The Melbourne Cup is a 3,200 metres race for three-year-old thoroughbreds and is described as the richest two-mile handicap in the world. Dubai’s Godolphin Stables has been a regular participant, and in 2018 finally won the race with its horse, Cross Counter, ridden by Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy. The Melbourne Cup won by the Dubai team that year was also displayed at the breakfast.

The Victorian Government is the Platinum Partner of the Australia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and hosted the breakfast in partnership with the Victorian Racing Club (VRC), Austrade, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Pre-recorded messages from The Hon Martin Pakula, Minister for Trade, Minister for Racing and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and Neil Wilson, VRC Chairman, were also shown.

Source: Expo 2020 website