What a mind-blowing week it has been for sports fanatics like myself with top-class flat racing at Epsom and Belmont Park, the French Open at Roland Garros, Fifa World Cup friendlies, international rugby, boxing, Formula One qualifying and more.

I can’t remember enjoying a better sporting weekend in a long, long time.

If you ask me, the highlight of the week was delivered at Epsom by the imperious filly Taghrooda who bolted home to win the Oaks. It’s been a fairly long time since we’ve seen the eminent royal blue-and-white silks of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, being carried to victory in a major but it was worth the wait as Shaikh Hamdan’s homebred put on a majestic performance to trounce her 16 rivals.

Shaikh Hamdan is extremely passionate about the sport and it was nice to see him being rewarded with a rare one-two finish in the great fillies’ race after Tarfasha, another Shadwell homebred, claimed the runner-up slot.

There was also a lot to like about the way Paul Hanagan rode Taghrooda after she appeared to have been wrong-footed when getting bumped coming down the feared Tattenham Corner. Hanagan showed why he is held in extremely high regard by Shaikh Hamdan when he gathered his horse and helped her to regain her right footing and rhythm, which she did very well.

Sometimes incidents like that tend to rattle a horse, who is still very young and learning with every race, but Taghrooda showed plenty of maturity to overcome the hiccup and keep her mind on the job before finishing the race like a true champion one.

All being well, we’re likely to see the two Shaikh Hamdan-owned fillies compete against each other again in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 19 and that’s certainly a race to look forward to.

While none of the five horses with Dubai connections won the Epsom Derby, which was won by the wonderfully-bred Australia, there was a Dubai link in the victory as co-owner Teo Ah Khing is the architect who conceived the iconic grandstand at Meydan Racecourse. It will also come as a boost to Meydan Group’s efforts to promote horseracing in China, as I’m sure this success will interest a lot of people in China, particularly those who are members of the China Horse Club.

Romsdal ran a big race to take second while True Story was unlucky not to finish fifth, instead of seventh, after he hung left when under pressure from his rider Kieren Fallon.

Epsom officials reported that over 120,000 fans attended the Derby which has always been a breathtaking spectacle even if you are watching it on TV where the coverage boasts depth, variety and even a touch of humour, courtesy the amazing Claire Balding — with a little help from jolly sorts like trainer Peter Chappel-Hyam.

What fun, and what a week it was!