The 18-carat gold Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy was a star attraction in Dubai to launch "Victoria Week".
The initiative was part of the Victorian state government’s trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, the wider Middle East and North Africa region, in conjunction with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC), Emirates Airline and Atlantis, The Palm.
The event also marked the inaugural direct A380 flight to Melbourne by Emirates – the VRC’s principal partner.
Valued at AUD6.2 million in 2012, the Emirates Melbourne Cup is one of the world’s most valuable thoroughbred races, which was won last year by Qatari Royal racehorse owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, with the French-trained Dunaden.
The defending Cup champion has returned to Australia to defend his title on the first Tuesday in November.
The four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival attracts over 350,000 people to Flemington Racecourse each year.
In 2011, the Carnival was experienced by 18,295 overseas visitors and generated a gross economic benefit of more than AUD349.1 million to the Victorian state economy, and more than AUD746.1 million to the Australian economy.
