Emirates gives world’s best racehorses a safe passage to Dubai World Cup

Those on board included Arrogate - the Pegasus World Cup winner earlier this year, and currently the world’s highest rated racehorse ahead of the US$10 million-prize event at the weekend.

Racehorses arrive at Dubai World Central ahead of the Dubai World Cup. Courtesy Emirates

It’s not just us human passengers that Dubai carrier Emirates has been transiting around the globe during the past few weeks.

The airline’s SkyCargo unit has been providing safe passage to a number of champion thoroughbred horses set to take park in Saturday’s Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse.

Those on board included Arrogate — the Pegasus World Cup winner earlier this year, and currently the world’s highest rated racehorse ahead of the US$10 million-prize race at the weekend.

Emirates said Arrogate took the US to Dubai flight with its stablemate Hoppertunity, while Stallwalkin Dude and Imperial Hint also arrived from the United States.

“Emirates SkyCargo provides a calm and comfortable transportation environment that ensures maximum comfort and safety of the horses at the same time complying with all the regulations set out by national and international authorities on live animal transport including IATA Live Animals regulations (LAR),” it said.

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To make the journey as comfortable as possible for the horses, there are custom designed stalls, the temperature is set to a certain level, and professional grooms and certified veterinarians can travel onboard.

Emirates said it also operated a special charter flight from Japan last week to transport the likes of Apollo Kentucky, Awardee and Gold Dream ahead of the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Move Up arrived from the Godolphin stables in Newmarket, UK and Dundonnell and Amazing Kids made the trip from Hong Kong.

Fellow UAE airline Etihad announced in 2014 that it would provide transfer services for horses through its cargo division.

Qatar Airways followed suit in 2015 with its own “five-star” service for equine travellers.