The Victorian Government has hosted a special Melbourne Cup breakfast with guests from around the world in the Australian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

A major attraction at the event was the 2018 Melbourne Cup which was won by Godolphin’s thoroughbred ‘Cross Counter’, giving His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, his first ever win in Australia’s greatest race.

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).

In attendance were Australian Commissioner General for Expo 2020 Dubai Justin McGowan, General Manager of the Victorian Government Trade and Investment (VGTI) Office in Dubai Kassem Younes and UK & Dubai Director of Godolphin Stables Hugh Anderson who delivered the keynote address.

“The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival and we’re thrilled that our guests in Dubai could experience it alongside a recent Cup winner,” said Mr Younes.

“This annual breakfast celebrates a special connection between Melbourne and Dubai and provides a great opportunity to promote Victoria to the business and sporting community here in the UAE.”

Along with a live cross from the Melbourne Cup into the Australian Pavilion, there were also pre-recorded messages from The Hon Martin Pakula, Minister for Trade, Minister for Racing and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and VRC Chairman Neil Wilson.

Victoria is the major event and racing capital of Australia and the Melbourne Cup is renowned as ‘the race that stops a nation’.

Crowds returned to the Melbourne Cup as Victoria’s safe reopening ramped up. Up to 10,000 racing fans were at Flemington days after music lovers across Melbourne attended a concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.