Who will win tonight’s Dubai World Cup? I have a favourite

The Dubai World Cup is here again. Held every year, the event is one of the world’s most popular equine races, and attracts the very best of participants year after year.

I have been covering the event for Ten years now. I visit the venue days before the race, before the sunrise, to photograph the elegant creatures as they go about their practice runs. It is a sight to watch these agile animals canter on the green turf and brown mud.

This time, the horses were out there until about 8.30am, when their jockeys and owners come out to meet the media.

Dolkong, the five-year-old chestnut, is my favourite. I am fascinated by this horse, for his expertise, flair and grace, and I hope he takes the cup this year.

Wednesday morning had been a washout because the Dubai skies opened up. The rains were an impediment and the horses were not brought out, though I was there at the race course at my usual time. Yes, I was disappointed at not having the opportunity to see my favourite one that day. Watching these gracious animals is like a good omen for me now. It brings me great pleasure. The biting cold does not matter, nor the fact that I was giving up on my beauty sleep.

Dubai is now all set for this year’s races, and so are we, the photographers. On Thursday, attendance was compulsory for all accredited photographers and members of TV and video crews intending to cover the Dubai World Cup. We were handed out the photographer bibs and were briefed on the stringent guidelines in place to ensure a safe and smooth running of the proceedings. My position near the finishing line has been marked. I’ll be waiting with my camera when Dolkong crosses the finish line first.