The curtain came down on the week-long Melbourne Cup Carnival at the Flemington Racecourse in Australia yesterday with the staging of Emirates Stakes Day.
The feature race of the day, the Emirates Stakes, saw an exciting finish with Valedictum, ridden by Steven King, finishing just ahead of Infinite Grace and Shania Dane.
The Emirates Airline Welter race run over 1400 metres had Cargo Cult, ridden by Nicholas Ryan and trained by Colin Anderson surging ahead of Botero and Shadowmaker.
Emirates has been the principal sponsor of the Stakes Day, popularly referred to as the ‘Emirates Day’, for the past eight years.
The day is a firm favourite for its family-orientated atmosphere replete with competitions, children’s games and entertainment for all age groups.
In addition to sponsoring the race day itself, Emirates was also a sponsor of three activities on the day - the Emirates Stakes, the Emirates Airline Welter Race and the Emirates Kids Fashions on Field competition.
A record crowd of 61,382 attended the spring Racing Carnival at the Victoria Racing Club (VRC). A meeting also set new four-day record attendance of 383,784 patrons.
Richard Vaughan, Emirates’ Senior Vice-President Commercial Operations East Asia and Australasia who presented the trophies, said: “The Emirates Stakes Day is an integral part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and offers us an unique opportunity to finish the event on a high note.
“It’s been an exceptionally wonderful week and the Emirates Stakes Day, wrapped up in fashion, fun, a family-feel, and sporting glory, has capped it all.”
Emirates integrated the twin themes of the Stakes Day and their own marquee when they invited guests to take part in the silent auction of a painting by artist Rachel Black, titled ‘Moroccan Courtyard’, the proceeds of which will be donated to the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital.
The marquee’s ambience and hospitality were a hit with guests including Jane Turner from one of Australia’s highest rating TV programmes, blues singer Renee Geyer, and stars of the small screen Sharni Vinson, Jason Smith and Jodi Gordon.
Gulf News
