1.1695177-2869547774
Victor Espinoza collects the Dubai World Cup Image Credit: Reuters

Winners

Race 1: Mathmoon Race 2: One Man Band Race 3: Vazirabad Race 4: Lani Race 5: Buffering Race 6: Muarrab Race 7: Real Steel Race 8: Postponed Race 9: California Chrome

10pm

That's a wrap, folks. We hope you enjoyed the live blog. Stay with Gulf News for all the reports from tonight's races.

9.58pm

Read all about it! California Chrome is the world's richest horse.

Read the full article here.

9.45pm

Fireworks!

9.37pm

A wealthy horse makes for happy people

9.28pm

It's a record! California Chrome set a new Meydan course record on the way to victory with a time of 2:01.830.

9.24pm

Watch California Chrome, now the world's richest race-horse, march out.

9.18pm

It's official

9.16pm

Classification

RACE 9 - DUBAI WORLD CUP TRAINER  
1 11 CALIFORNIA CHROME (USA)  Art Sherman USA
2 4 MUBTAAHIJ (IRE)  Mike de Kock SAF
3 10 HOPPERTUNITY (USA)  Bob Baffert USA
4 5 SPECIAL FIGHTER (IRE)  Musabah Al Muhairi UAE

9.14pm

Race winner: Numer 11, California Chrome!

9.10pm

Race 9, the Dubai World Cup... And they're off!

9.04pm

The tension... oh, the tension

9.01pm

The horses are making their way to the stalls for the last - and biggest - race of the night. So, that being the case, here's your last racecard.

8.54pm

Watch Postponed do the business in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

8.50pm

There's only one race left, and it's the big one. The richest horse race in the world: the Dubai World Cup.

Here's the racecard.

RACE 9 - DUBAI WORLD CUP TRAINER  
1 KEEN ICE (USA)  Dale Romans USA
2 MSHAWISH (USA)  Todd Pletcher USA
3 GUN PIT (AUS)  Caspar Fownes HKG
4 MUBTAAHIJ (IRE)  Mike de Kock SAF
5 SPECIAL FIGHTER (IRE)  Musabah Al Muhairi UAE
6 CANDY BOY (USA)  Doug Watson UAE
7 VADAMOS (FR)  Andre Fabre FRA
8 HOKKO TARUMAE (JPN)  Katsuichi Nishiura JPN
9 FROSTED (USA)  Kiaran McLaughlin USA
10 HOPPERTUNITY (USA)  Bob Baffert USA
11 CALIFORNIA CHROME (USA)  Art Sherman USA
12 TELETEXT (USA)  Sami Al Harabi KSA

8.45pm

Classification

RACE 8 - DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC TRAINER  
1 7 POSTPONED (IRE)  Roger Varian GBR
2 4 DURAMENTE (JPN)  Noriyuki Hori JPN
3 1 LAST IMPACT (JPN)  Katsuhiko Sumii JPN
4 8 HIGHLAND REEL (IRE)  Aidan O'Brien IRE

8.38pm

And here it is:

8.35pm

Race winner: 7, Postponed

8.30pm

Race 8, Dubai Sheema Classic... And they're off!

8.19pm

Here's your racecard for Race 8, the Dubai Sheema Classic.

8.17pm

The horses for Race 8 are heading to the stalls.

8.16pm

Watch Real Steel win the Dubai Turf.

8.14pm - Winner watch

Gallery time

8.10pm

Next up is Race 8, the Dubai Sheema Classic at 8.20pm. Here's the racecard:

RACE 8 - DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC TRAINER  
1 LAST IMPACT (JPN)  Katsuhiko Sumii JPN
2 SHEIKHZAYEDROAD (GB)  David Simcock GBR
3 THE BLUE EYE (GB)  Jassim Al Ghazali QAT
4 DURAMENTE (JPN)  Noriyuki Hori JPN
5 ONE AND ONLY (JPN)  Kojiro Hashiguchi JPN
6 GAILO CHOP (FR)  Antoine de Watrigant FRA
7 POSTPONED (IRE)  Roger Varian GBR
8 HIGHLAND REEL (IRE)  Aidan O'Brien IRE
9 DARIYAN (FR) Alain de Royer-Dupre FRA

8.06pm

This poll is literally centimetres below.

8.03pm

Classification

RACE 7 - DUBAI TURF TRAINER  
1 14 REAL STEEL (JPN)  Yoshito Yahagi JPN
2 10 EURO CHARLINE (GB)  Marco Botti GBR
3 2 TRYSTER (IRE) Charlie Appleby UAE
4 12 ERTIJAAL (AUS)  Mike de Kock SAF

7.58pm

And it's official.

7.54pm

Dubai Turf won by number 14, Real Steel.

7.50pm

Race 7, Dubai Turf... And they're off!

7.45pm - Poll watch

7.42pm

Atmosphere alert: It all looks like good fun out there...

7.37pm

Race 7, the Dubai Turf, is only a few minutes away. Here's the racecard.

7.35pm

Dubai Kahayla Classic: Mathmoon hands Hamdan yet another Purebred honours.

Read the full article here.

7.30pm

You may be asking why we've been quiet for the last 10 minutes. Well, here's why.

7.23pm

Race 7, the Dubai Turf, is next on the agenda. Here's a peek at the racecard. With 15 runners it's going to be a busy one.

RACE 7 - DUBAI TURF TRAINER  
1 FORRIES WALTZ (SAF)  Mike de Kock SAF
2 TRYSTER (IRE) Charlie Appleby UAE
3 FORJATT (IRE) Dhruba Selvaratnam UAE
4 GHAAMER (USA)  Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
5 FARRIER (USA)  Satish Seemar UAE
6 FLAMBOYANT (FR)  Patrick Gallagher USA
7 THE CORSICAN (IRE) David Simcock GBR
8 INTILAAQ (USA)   Roger Varian GBR
9 HARRY'S SON (AUS)  Paul Lafferty SAF
10 EURO CHARLINE (GB)  Marco Botti GBR
11 VERY SPECIAL (IRE)  Saeed bin Suroor UAE
12 ERTIJAAL (AUS)  Mike de Kock SAF
13 BASATEEN (IRE)  Doug Watson UAE
14 REAL STEEL (JPN)  Yoshito Yahagi JPN
15 GABRIAL (IRE)  Richard Fahey GBR

7.21pm

Look who our man Alaric Gomes bumped into in the paddock - and he has a special message for Gulf News readers.

7.15pm

Job: Done.

7.09pm

The next race on the agenda is the Dubai Turf, Race 7. Mercifully there's a short break before it kicks off. 7.45pm scheduled start.

The lights are out as soothing music and elegant lights entertain the revelers.

7.04pm - Hat watch

Words fail us. 

7.01pm

Janet Jackson is performing after the final race tonight. And now she's tweeting.

6.53pm

6.51pm

Provisional classification:

RACE 6 - DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN TRAINER  
1 7 MUARRAB (GB)  Musabah Al Muhairi UAE
2 3 X Y JET (USA)  Jorge Navarro USA
3 1 RICH TAPESTRY (IRE)  Michael Chang HKG
4 9 MORAWIJ (GB)  Dhruba Selvaratnam UAE

6.47pm

Number 7, Muarrab wins the Dubai Golden Shaheen.

6.45pm

Race 6, Dubai Golden Shaheen... And they're off!

6.40pm

Five minutes to go. Here's the racecard.

6.38pm - Quotes from the paddock

David Vedelago, owner, Aspariamo Racing, one of the owners of Buffering: This is one of the most memorable evenings for any of us. He has been a star and he has left us with such sensational memories for making this trip from Down Under. This is the best feeling any owner can have. What more can I ask of a horse? It is simply such an honour to have him with us.

His next stop will be Hong Kong. He leaves in another four weeks.

Joao Moreira, jockey, Peniaphobia (third place): I think he was unlucky after coming up with such a fantastic run. The pace of the race was hot indeed and for some time i thought he went a bit too fast. But i think there are so many other reasons why i can be happy with him.

6.37pm

The horses are heading to their stalls for Race 6, the Dubai Golden Shaheen.

6.35pm

Race 6, Dubai Golden Shaheen, starts at 6.45pm. Here's a peek at the racecard:

RACE 6 - DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN TRAINER  
1 RICH TAPESTRY (IRE)  Michael Chang HKG
2 MASTER KOCHANGWONG (AUS)  David Hall HKG
3 X Y JET (USA)  Jorge Navarro USA
4 KIFAAH (GB)  Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
5 DOMINEER (GB)  Caspar Fownes HKG
6 SUPER JOCKEY (NZ)  Tony Millard HKG
7 MUARRAB (GB)  Musabah Al Muhairi UAE
8 CONFRONTATION (USA)  Kiaran McLaughlin USA
9 MORAWIJ (GB)  Dhruba Selvaratnam UAE
10 REYNALDOTHEWIZARD (USA)  Satish Seemar UAE

6.33pm - Hat watch

And the winner is...

6.29pm

Watch Buffering take the win in the Al Quoz Sprint.

6.26pm - Leslie Wilson Jr.

Dubai: Highly-regarded French handler Alain de Royer-Dupre described his classy stayer Vazirabad as being ‘very special’ after the four-year-old swooped late to snatch victory from British hope Big Orange in the $1million Dubai Gold Cup (Group 1), the longest race on the card at a distance of 3.200 metres.

Winner of the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud, France in October Chirstophe Soumillon's mount demonstrated when he is regarded as one of the best stayers in Europe when delivering a breath-taking run in the closing stages of the race to score by a neck.

This was a sixth straight win for Vazirabad, a son of German stallion Monduro, and Royer-Dupre’s second big win at the Dubai World Cup meeting following Dolniya’s triumph in the $6million Dubai Sheema Classic 12 months ago.

Royer-Dupre said: "They went quick and I knew he would be at the back.

“But his main quality is that he has a really big turn of foot and we were not afraid to use it. He was a little bit tired at the end, perhaps he came too early, but I’m not sure.

"I don't know if we'll stay at long distances, perhaps we will drop him back to 2,400 metres. he could go for the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (Group1, 2,440m) as I know he is very special."

Soumillon, who was doing the steering when Dolniya won last year, opted to sit a long way off the pace being made by 2014 shock Gold Cup winner Certerach.

Jamie Spencer went for home aboard Big Orange with two furlongs to run but Vazirabad was closing the gap with every stride under a confident Soumillon. The two fought out the final furlong and while Soumillon appeared to be gaining the upper hand Big Orange battled back for Spencer only to lose out in the final strides.

The Richard Fahey-trained Suegioo finished strongly only to be beaten in a photo-finish for third by Saeed Bin Surour’s Haafaguinea.

Michael Bell, has campaigned Big Orange in all the top staying races around the world, including the Group1 A$6million Melbourne Cup, was full of praise for his charge and said: "The winner is very good but he had to pull out all the stops to beat us.

“I’m really proud of him, it was a very good effort.

“We’ll make plans when we get back that set’s him up nicely for the rest of the year.

Spencer added: "I had a perfect trip and the horse has given us his all. No complaints, we were beaten by a good horse."

James Doyle was full of praise for Godolphin’s Haafaguinea.

"It was a monster effort. He had a smooth trip and I'm absolutely delighted with him."

Former British footballer Michael Owen, who took home the trophy twelve months ago, saw his wishes come true when he posted on his twitter account, @themichaelowen, ‘a year today since Brown Panther demolished the field in the Dubai Gold Cup. Let’s hope a European horse leads them home this time.’

Vazirabad was stretching to three wins Europe’s dominantion of the race following Certerach in 2014 and record-setting Brown Panther last season.

Owen’s stable flag-bearer set a course record of 03:18.84 seconds when landing the prize for Richard Kingscote aboard the Tom Dascombe-trained horse.

6.22pm

In case you missed it earlier, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, wrote about the importance of horse racing in the UAE.

Read the full article here.

6.16pm

Buffering takes the spoils.

6.15pm

Provisional classification

RACE 5 - AL QUOZ SPRINT TRAINER  
1 9 BUFFERING (AUS)  Robert Heathcote AUS
2 5 PENIAPHOBIA (IRE)  Tony Cruz HKG
3 6 ERTIJAAL (IRE)  Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
4 2 JUNGLE CAT (IRE)  Charlie Appleby UAE

6.12pm

Race winner: 9, Buffering

6.10pm

Race 5, the Al Quoz Sprint... And they're off!

6.07pm - Couple watch

Beyond the furlongs...

6.02pm

The Al Quoz Sprint is minutes away as the horses head to the stalls. Race start time is 6.10pm.

5.57pm

We'll just leave this here...

5.50pm

GNTV captured the moment when Lani crossed the line to take the win in the UAE Derby. Watch for yourself...

5.47pm

Race 5, Al Quoz Sprint, starts at 6.10. Here's the full racecard:

RACE 5 - AL QUOZ SPRINT TRAINER  
1 NAADIRR (IRE)  Marco Botti GBR
2 JUNGLE CAT (IRE)  Charlie Appleby UAE
3 BEL CANTO (JPN)  Koichi Tsunoda JPN
4 NOT LISTENIN'TOME (AUS)  John Moore HKG
5 PENIAPHOBIA (IRE)  Tony Cruz HKG
6 ERTIJAAL (IRE)  Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
7 SOLE POWER (IRE)  Edward Lynam IRE
8 GOLDREAM (IRE)  Robert Cowell GBR
9 BUFFERING (AUS)  Robert Heathcote AUS
10 MUTHMIR (IRE)  William Haggas GBR
11 FITYAAN (GB)  Musabah Al Muhairi UAE
12 SIR MAXIMILIAN (IRE)  Ian Williams GBR
13 LADY SHIPMAN (USA) Kiaran McLaughlin USA

5.46pm - Couple watch

The glamour continues...

5.43pm

5.40pm

Lani wins the UAE Derby.

RACE 4 - UAE DERBY TRAINER  
1 3 LANI (USA)  Mikio Matsunaga JPN
2 2 POLAR RIVER (USA)  Doug Watson UAE
3 4 YU CHANGE (JPN) Hideyuki Mori JPN
4 5 VALE DORI (ARG) Mike de Kock SAF

5.35pm

Race 4, UAE Derby... And they're off!

5.34pm

Race 4, the UAE Derby, starts in one minute. Here's the racecard.

5.32pm

Race 3, Dubai Gold Cup official classification:

RACE 3 - DUBAI GOLD CUP TRAINER  
1 1 VAZIRABAD (FR)  Alain de Royer Dupre FRA
2 7 BIG ORANGE (GB)  Michael Bell GBR
3 11 HAAFAGUINEA (GB) Saeed bin Suroor UAE
4 3 SUEGIOO (FR)  Richard Fahey GBR

5.29pm

Our man on the ground has been snooping...

5.25pm

The UAE Derby is next up, here's the racecard.

RACE 4 - UAE DERBY TRAINER  
1 FRANK CONVERSATION (USA)  Doug O'Neill USA
2 POLAR RIVER (USA)  Doug Watson UAE
3 LANI (USA)  Mikio Matsunaga JPN
4 YU CHANGE (JPN) Hideyuki Mori JPN
5 VALE DORI (ARG) Mike de Kock SAF
6 ON THE ROCKS (JPN)  Hideyuki Mori JPN
7 LAZZAM (GB)  Marco Botti GBR

5.20pm

Watch the climax of the Dubai Gold Cup. We're still waiting on the official classification.

5.15pm

Now it's time for another gallery. There's horses in this one.

5.11pm - Man watch

5.07pm - Godolphin Mile, quotes from the paddock

Doug Watson, trainer, One Man Band: No, never I wasn't expecting such a clean sweep. It's such an amazing feeling when you consider that you've been waiting for this moment of winning only one. And now in one race we have all three. I was just expecting to get one of my horses out there in the front.

If you as me to describe the feeling, I would say it is unbelievable. This is such a great start to the evening and hopefully, there will be more winners from our side.

As far as the jockey goes, I didn't have to tell him anything before the race. He is such an experienced hand and he knew exactly what he had to do.

5.05pm - Godolphin Mile, quotes from the paddock

Sam Hitchcott jockey of One Man Band winner of the Godolphin Mile

“He travels so good and gets everyone up when it matters, and you can get him up at that point, and then he kicks off the turn and he just goes again…

“To be fair to this fella his most awkward part of the race is just jumping [starting] because he can rock in the stalls a little bit, but he was just brilliant today, like I say good team effort all round brilliant for Doug brilliant for the boys in the yard and we’ll enjoy it…

First world cup night for him and the team? “But we’ve got a few chances yet don’t worry.”

5.02pm

Photo finish for third place. Results not yet classified.

5pm

Vazirabad ridden by Christophe Soumillon, trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre, owned by Aga Khan wins the Dubai Gold Cup.

4.58pm

Race won by 1 Vazirabad

4.55pm 

Race 3 Dubai Gold Cup... And they're off!

4.53pm - Hat watch

4.50pm

The Dubai Gold Cup is five minutes away. Here's the racecard.

4.44pm

Race 3, the Dubai Gold Cup, starts at 4.55pm. The horses are on their way to the stalls now.

4.42pm

It's time for another gallery! Our photographers are busy today.

4.40pm

The next race on the schedule is the Dubai Gold Cup. Here are your runners:

RACE 3 - DUBAI GOLD CUP TRAINER  
1 VAZIRABAD (FR)  Alain de Royer Dupre FRA
2 PARADISE (GER)  Waldemar Hickst GER
3 SUEGIOO (FR)  Richard Fahey GBR
4 NEO BLACK DIA (JPN)   Yuichi Shikato JPN
5 STAR EMPIRE (SAF)  Mike de Kock SAF
6 CERTERACH (IRE)  Michael Halford IRE
7 BIG ORANGE (GB)  Michael Bell GBR
8 MANATEE (GB)  Andre Fabre FRA
9 MEADOW CREEK (GB)  Doug Watson UAE
10 TELLINA (SAF)  Mike de Kock SAF
11 HAAFAGUINEA (GB) Saeed bin Suroor UAE

4.35pm - Manjusha Radhakrishnan

It was an explosion of colours, prints, hemlines and styles as thousands of men and women put their best foot forward at the Dubai World Cup 2016, held at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.

The focus wasn’t just on the horse racing tracks and which horse takes home the world’s richest prize, but it was also about how chic and quirky one can get on the styling front.

Alvina Gabdrashitova, 17, wore her passion on her hemlines as she wore a billowing golden gown that had wild horses printed over the train.

“I ride horses. It’s my biggest passion and I thought to myself why not combine my love for horses with fashion,” said Gabdrashitova. It’s her fourth year at the Dubai World Cup and she makes sure that she never misses this sporting extravaganza.

Jeanne Lindell, 45, from Sweden who was all set to participate for the Jaguar Style Stakes chose a pale blue strapless gown for the big day.

“I love the atmosphere now. There’s a fashion competition that I hope to win and a sporting event on the other side. What’s not to love?,” said Lindell, who took over a month to plan her outfit for this year’s races.

Meanwhile, the competition was heating up at the Jaguar Style Stakes 2016, a sartorial contest that’s held on the sidelines of the horse races.

Latoyah Asha has come all the way from Australia to attend the races and participate in the Jaguar Style Stakes.

“I ride horses for a living and it’s great to be a part of such a fun, fashionable event,” said Asha, who was being sized up for The Best Hat category.

It was a first for Poonam Rajpara from India. She’s Dubai-based, but has never gotten around to seeing the races.

“It’s such a glorious day and I can’t wait to experience the excitement at the races and see people from around the world enjoy a day in the sun,” said Rajpara.

4.31pm - Leslie Wilson Jr.

Race 1. Dubai Kahayla Classic (Group 1), Empowered  by IPIC

Purse: $1,000,000 (Purebred s 4yo+) 2000m Dirt 1. AF Mathmoon (trained by Musabah Al Muhairi) ridden by Dane O'Neil 2. TM Thunder Struck (Alban De Mieulle) Olivier Peslier 3. Thakif (Nacer Samiri) Silvestre de Sousa 4. Handasa (Francois Rouhat) Paul Hanagan.

Also ran:Versac PY, Shaheer, AF Lafeh, Arkan, Lares De Pine, Haajeb, Rasi, Nashmee, AF Tawaq, Mahess Du Soleil, Qassy.

Winning distances: Neck, 1.25lengths, 1.25.

Winning time: 02:15.45secs.

Winning owner: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

4.27pm - Hat watch

This Dubai Frame homage paints an interesting picture...

4.24pm

One Man Band ridden by Sam Hitchcott, trained by Doug Watson and owned by Shaikh Saeed Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum wins the Godolphin Mile.

Here's the top four: 

RACE 2 - GODOLPHIN MILE TRAINER  
1 1 ONE MAN BAND (IRE) Doug Watson UAE
2 4 FAULKNER (GB)  Doug Watson UAE
3 8 COOL COWBOY (USA)  Doug Watson UAE
4 2 MARKING (USA)  Kiaran McLaughlin USA

4.20pm

Godolphin Mile... And they're off!

4.19pm - Hat watch 

4.16pm

Time for a gallery, we think. Here's how it all looks at the Meydan right now.

4.14pm

The horses are heading to the stalls for Race 2. Here's the racecard.

4.09pm - Hat watch

4.07pm

Here's the racecard for Race 2, the Godolphin mile.

RACE 2 - GODOLPHIN MILE TRAINER  
1 ONE MAN BAND (IRE) Doug Watson UAE
2 MARKING (USA)  Kiaran McLaughlin USA
3 LE BERNARDIN (USA)  Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
4 FAULKNER (GB)  Doug Watson UAE
5 MAFTOOL (USA)  Musabah Al Muhairi UAE
6 GOLD CITY (IRE)  Satish Seemar UAE
7 GOD'S SPEED (IRE)  Hussain Al Shuwaib KSA
8 COOL COWBOY (USA)  Doug Watson UAE
9 SLOANE AVENUE (USA) Jeremy Noseda GBR
10 PRAYER FOR RELIEF (USA)  Mike de Kock KSA

4.05pm

Next on the schedule is the Godolphin Mile, which starts at 4.20pm

3.58pm

3.54pm

AF Mathmoon wins the Kahayla Classic ridden by Dane O’Neill, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi and owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

3.52pm 

Kahayla Classic top 4 

RACE 1- KAHALYA CLASSIC TRAINER  
1 14 MATHMOON (UAE) M Al Muhairi UAE
2 1 TM THUNDER STRUCK (US)  Alban de Mieulle QAT
3 12 THAKIF (FR)  Nacer Samiri UAE
4 4 HANDASSA (FR)  Francois Rohaut FRA

3.48pm

Winner: 14 Mathmoon

3.45pm

And they're off!

3.40pm

The horses are on their way to the stalls. Race start at 3.45pm.

3.35pm

So with 10 minutes to go until the Kahayla Classic, here's another glance at the racecard.

3.32pm

And more...

3.31pm

A sample of the atmosphere

3.30pm

Just 15 minutes to go until Race 1, the Kahayla Classic, takes off. Can you feel it?

3.18pm

Our Chief Sports Writer, Euan Reedie, recently wrote a piece about Laura King, there's a link to it somewhere in this tweet.

3.15pm

There's 30 minutes to go until the first race leaves the stalls. Here's the racecard for the Kahayla Classic.

RACE 1- KAHALYA CLASSIC TRAINER  
1 TM THUNDER STRUCK (US)  Alban de Mieulle QAT
2 AF LAFEH (AE)  Ali Rashid Al Raihe UAE
3 HAAJEB (FR)  Nacer Samiri UAE
4 HANDASSA (FR)  Francois Rohaut FRA
5 VERSAC PY (FR)  Erwan Charpy UAE
6 ARKAN (OM)  Hamood Al Raqadi OMA
7 RASI (QA) Jassim Al Ghazali QAT
8 QASSY (QA)  Jassim Al Ghazali QAT
9 MAHESS DU SOLEIL (GB)  Arnaud Chaille-Chaille FRA
10 AF TAWAQ (AE)  Ernst Oertel UAE
11 SHAHEER (AE) Eric Lemartinel UAE
12 THAKIF (FR)  Nacer Samiri UAE
13 LARES DE PINE (ITY)  Stefano Meattini ITA
14 MATHMOON (UAE) M Al Muhairi UAE
15 NASHMEE (FR) Eric Lemartinel UAE

3.11pm - Hat watch

Look at this madness. Hats everywhere.

3.03pm - Manjusha Radhakrishnan

Every year, before the Dubai World Cup, I am forced to make some life-altering decisions (ok, I exaggerate). Do I wear vertiginous heels or opt for practical flats?

The narcissist in me wants to throw caution to the winds and just choose looks over practicality because as a reporter covering the fashion side of the racing extravaganza you are on your feet all afternoon. Any woman worth her Christian Louboutin will vouch that it's no mean feat to walk around in those beautiful, but high heeled creations.

Once again, the voice of reason wins! If you spot the only lady in bright yellow flats (something's gotta give) among the sea of impractical-yet-sexy heels, don't judge. Duty calls.

2.58pm 

Two-time British champion jockey Paul Hanagan is targeting more glory on World Cup night for owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

Read the full article here.

2.53pm - Hat watch

They're coming thick and fast. Check out this fascinator...

2.52pm - Hat watch

Gulf News has been talking to race fans in the paddock.

2.49pm - Leslie Wilson Jr.

It's the turn of the Emirati 'stick dancers' to keep the crowd enthralled at Meydan.

Fascinating folk routine, also known at the 'Ayala' dance, I'm told.

Elsewhere in the jockey's weighing room, the 15 riders are gearing up for the Kahayla Classic, the first race of the day.

I'm outside this high-tension room and can almost feel the pressure rising. Glad it's them and not me getting on those majestic Arabians in less than an hour.

May the best man win!

2.43pm

Jacquie Doyle knows her horses, and she has a lifetime's worth of stories to share. She penned some thoughts exclusively for Gulf News. 

Read the full article here.

2.39pm

The marching band looking majestic

2.33pm - Leslie Wilson Jr.

Strike up the band!

The Dubai Police Band trumpeting the countdown to the first race with a medley of big band songs in front of the iconic main Grandstand at Meydan racecourse.

Great stuff!

2.30pm

Glitz, glamour, girls, and GGs... and much, much traffic. You'd better leave some extra time to get to the Meydan as the queues are building up.

2.25pm

We're not sure who they are, but they have a helicopter. 

2.21pm

Kiaran McLaughlin, who saddles Frosted tonight, has by now cemented his place in UAE racing history both as a multiple champion trainer and a winner of the $10 million (Dh36.73 million) Dubai World Cup.

He asserts that victory in Saturday’s 21st renewal of the world’s richest race will nonetheless be nothing short of ‘spectacular.’ Read the full article here.

2.13pm

Hats, or "fascinators" as they're known, are all part of the experience. The rules are there are no rules. We're looking forward to seeing what kinds of head adornments will be peppered around the Meydan today.

The Sports desk is keen for people to wear traffic cones on their heads, but we're told what the judges in the Jaguar Style Stakes are looking for. Read the full article here.

No traffic cones, sadly. 

2.07pm

Poll time! The question kind of speaks for itself.

 

2.01pm

Asked by doctors to stay away from horses, Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda today is the leading Emirati owner and breeder of Purebred Arabians.

He spoke to Gulf News about his passion. Read the full article here.

2pm

It's time for a flashback! Here's last year's Dubai World Cup, which was won by... no spoilers. We won't ruin it for you.

1.54pm

The masses are begin to flock in. There could be as many as 60,000 people at the Meydan this evening...

1.50pm

Goodness, that's a large trophy. Who will get their hooves on that later tonight?

1.43pm

Are you heading to the Meydan today? We don't want you to get lost, so show this map to the taxi driver. Better to be safe than sorry...

1.40pm

Have you seen Gulf News Sport's front cover today? We think it's quite striking...

1.31pm

What's the hardest part about being a jockey? Well, aside from having to literally look up at most people, it take a lot more than you may think.

Read the full article here.

1.28pm - Leslie Wilson

Hi Everybody!

The UAE's blue riband sporting event is finally here... It's Dubai World Cup day at a bright and sunny Meydan Racecourse in the heart of Nad Al Sheba.

Our enthusiastic team of writers are at the venue, which is absolutely buzzing with activity and anticipation as we countdown to the first of nine races on a glittering card worth $30 million in prize money.

We hope to take you through the day with on-the-spot updates, news, and reactions which culminate in the big race of the night, the $10million Dubai World Cup at 9pm UAE time.

I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun together... let's go!

1.23pm

1.19pm

If you're curious about form, which you almost certainly are, then fillies are looking like the ones to beat. 

Read more here.

1.13pm

1.06pm

Gulf News' racing writer Leslie Wilson is getting organised ready for a long day in the office. 

Good luck, Leslie.

12.59pm

The first race today is the Kahayla Classic, and it kicks off at 3.45pm local time. But who is running? Here's the racecard.

12.43pm

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai says that horse racing has come home.

Read the full article here.

12.32pm

Saleha Al Ghurair has etched her name in the history books as the first-ever Emirati female trainer and breeder for Pure Arabians.

However she thinks that more fairness is needed in handicapping. Read the full article here.

12.21pm

It's only a matter of time before the masses begin flocking through the gates. Naturally, before the horses start running we must tend to the business of fashion. 

Certainly, @GulfNewsTabloid will be on the look out for some rather fetching hats.

12.01pm

Let's begin by looking at the schedule for today's meeting. 

Race Time Race Runners Distance Course Purse
1 3.45pm Dubai Kahayla Classic 15 2000m Dirt US $1-million
2 4.20pm Godolphin Mile 10 1600m Dirt US $1-million
3 4.55pm Dubai Gold Cup 11 3200m Turf US $1-million
4 5.35pm UAE Derby 7 1900m Dirt US $2-million
5 6.10pm Al Quoz Sprint 13 1000m Turf US $1-million
6 6.45pm Dubai Golden Shaheen 10 1200m Dirt US $2-million
7 7.45pm Dubai Turf 15 1800m Turf US $6-million
8 8.20pm Dubai Sheema Classic 9 2410m Turf US $6-million
9 9pm Dubai World Cup 12 2000m Dirt US $10-million

12pm

Hello race fans and welcome to the Gulf News live blog for the 2016 Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race.

We'll be bringing you all the action from now until later tonight, from mad hats and avant garde fashion to racecards, runners and results.

Get involved with us by following us on Twitter @GulfNewsSport, and use the hashtag #DubaiWorldCup. Share your posts with us and who knows, you may end up here!

Happy horsing! 

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Postponed Image Credit: AFP
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Real Steel Image Credit: AFP
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Golden and shining Image Credit: GN
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Vazirabad Image Credit: GN
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Race fans enjoying the weather Image Credit: AFP
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Now there's a good shot. The Dubai World Cup in front of the grandstand Image Credit: Gulf News
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The paddock is where the trophies are on display Image Credit: Gulf News
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Things are warming up at the Meydan Image Credit: Gulf News
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