Almandin takes out the 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup

True to its reputation of being ‘the race that stops a nation’, the Emirates Melbourne Cup has once again delivered an incredible result for trainer Robert Hickmott, with jockey Kerrin McEvoy riding Almandin to victory in a nail-biting finish.

Run over 3,200 metres, the Emirates Melbourne Cup offers the richest prize in Australian sport and a 18 carat solid gold trophy valued at $ 175,000.

Emirates’ Divisional Vice President for Australasia, Barry Brown, presented the Emirates Melbourne Cup to the winning connections of Almandin, which is owned by Lloyd Williams and his son Nick, giving the team an unprecedented fifth winner of the Melbourne Cup.

While Australians around the country celebrated the race, Emirates entertained special guest, international actress Elsa Pataky, and a number of well-known Australian celebrities including Rachel Griffiths, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Marcia Hines, Molly Meldrum, Eddie Maguire, Michael Klim, Todd McKenny, Derryn Hinch and Matt Preston.

Special guest model Samantha Downie, who is a part-owner of Heartbreak City, also watched her horse take out a thrilling second place in the Cup from the terrace of the Emirates marquee.

Also flying in for the event was former Miss World Australia and Project Runway Middle East host Jessica Kahawty and tennis legend Henri Leconte.

The heads of Australian business and politics also celebrated the moment in the Emirates marquee, including mining magnate Gina Rinehart, Lindsay Fox, Julie Bishop and partner David Panton, Rhonda Wyllie and Jeff Browne, Anthony and Claudine Pratt, Janine Allis, Naomi Simson and Fiona and Sidney Myer.

This year, Emirates collaborated with Head Designer of BazmarkInq, Silvana Azzi Heras, who has worked alongside Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin for the past 18 years, to create a classic Australian homestead-style marquee.

Inspired by Australia’s extraordinarily vibrant and unique flora and fauna, guests of the Emirates marquee were greeted by a towering 4-metre Australian gumtree, which took pride of place in the centre of the marquee, and 1930s-inspired Australian Art Deco furnishings with a contemporary Australian design.