They came to hail a hero and the massive crowd did just that as Dubai Millennium destroyed his 12 rivals and in the process scorched to a record-breaking success in the desert heat at Nad Al Sheba racecourse.
The horse hailed by Sheikh Mohammed as the best he had ever seen showed just why he is held in such high regard as _ in seemingly effortless fashion _ he led his field throughout the mile-and-a-quarter event to record a six-length verdict over American challenger Behrens.
Such was the superiority of the winner he trimmed a tenth of a second of his own record time for the dirt track, causing jockey Frankie Dettori to almost break his neck when looking for the opposition in the straight.
"As I came into the straight I heard the crowd begin to clap and when they started to cheer I thought I had won so looked round to see the opposition," said the Italian.
"I nearly broke my neck because I couldn't see them and I must admit I almost had tears of disbelief in my eyes."
Dettori was happy to allow Dubai Millennium to set the pace despite the presence of some high-class American dirt horses.
"He's got a mind of his own and wanted to go so I said OK let's go," he said.
"No words can describe the performance tonight, he's the best horse I've ever ridden."
The jockey had struggled to choose his mounts from the many Godolphin horses on display in the undercard of the US12 million meeting.
"I didn't know what to ride from the choice of five or six in each race and thought I might choose the wrong one.
"But I said 'I'm on the right one in the last, that's for sure!'
"I'm not surprised he broke the record with that performance."
Dubai Millennium will now be aimed at all the big 10-furlong races en-route to the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November, according to Sheikh Mohammed.
"He will go for all the best races in Europe and North America in the Emirates World Racing Championship," said the Sheikh.
"He is the best horse I have ever seen or had anything to do with."
Dubai Millennium was originally called Yaazer but the name change came with this race in mind.
"I changed his name before he had run as a two-year-old because I knew he was a good horse," explained Sheikh Mohammed.
"I was hoping he would go all the way to this day and he has not let me down.
"I am very happy with the result."
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford admitted he had thought the four-year-old might produce this type of performance.
"When he broke the course record I thought that all we needed to do was to repeat that to win comprehensively," he said.
"When the name Dubai Millennium was chosen this race was the grand plan and you have to be quite bold to make that type of plan two years in advance.
"Surprisingly he is equally as good on turf as he is on dirt and Sheikh Mohammed is very keen to parade him as the first champion on both surfaces.
"The Breeders' Cup Classic is obviously the ultimate goal and it looks like we'll start at Royal Ascot with the Prince Of Wales's Stakes."
Jim Bond, trainer of Behrens, is already looking forward to the opportunity of revenge.
"I would love to have a rematch in the Breeders' Cup Classic," he said. "The Sheikh has got himself a great horse and I would love to meet him again at Churchill Downs. I am up for the challenge!"
Richard Mandella, trainer of fourth-placed Puerto Madero said: "I am very happy. I wish he had been fresher before the race.
"He had third until he saw some lights and was startled, his mind was not on the job."
Mandella also had news of last year's runner-up Malek, who was scratched from this year's field at the 11th hour due to injury.
"Malek will go to stud and his injury is very slight. He is now sound and we will take him home and look around and see what interest there is."
Hong Kong trainer Ivan Allan whose Indigenous finished eighth said: "The race was over the moment the gates opened.
"It was aime of year."
Running Stag's jockey Shane Sellers remains positive about the horse's future which is likely to include a tilt at the Sandown mile.
"I'm excited about this horse," said Sellers. "He ran well but then he tired in the stretch. He'll be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the year."
The other British-trained horse in the 13-strong field was Lear Spear who finished ninth.
His jockey Neil Pollard said: "He should have appreciated the fast pace but didn't seem to quicken for some reason. Maybe he's a better horse on turf and this surface didn't suit him."
Corals have issued a quote of 6-1 about the chances of Dubai Millennium winning the Breeders' Cup Classic.
