THE eyes of the racing world were centred on the action from Meydan at the weekend, and Irish-bred horses performed with distinction on that world stage. With major victories for Calandagan and Ombudsman on the Dubai turf, we can look forward to some outstanding battles ahead if and when these two meet.

With so much negativity at times concerning horseracing, there can be few more wonderful images that that of Princess Zahra Aga Khan, her daughter Sara, and French racing manager Nemone Routh standing – and jumping - at the trackside rail as they watch their beloved five-year-old stride to victory in the Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.