Organising an international sporting event is a little like completing a jigsaw multiple pieces of the puzzle must slot together to ensure everything runs seamlessly. Local horse-racing event the Dubai World Cup is no different. On Saturday March 30, tens of thousands of people from all over the world will descend on Meydan Racecourse to watch the world’s top horses compete for prize money of more than Dhs36 million.

Dubai ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s horse Monterosso, from the famed Godolphin stables, galloped across the finish line in first place. This year he – and 15 other horses from a variety of stables – will be aiming for glory, says British rider Ross Birkett, who is responsible for exercising horses in Dubai for UK trainer Mick Channon. ‘No horse has won the Dubai World Cup twice