LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY // Bob Baffert has suddenly gone from having a solid contender to having the solid favourite for the Kentucky Derby.
The Baffert-trained Lookin At Lucky, last year's two-year-old champion, assumed the role after Eskendereya was forced out of the field by a leg injury.
"There's no telling how good that horse was. Todd Pletcher (Eskendereya's handler) has never brought a horse to the Derby like that," Baffert said on a cloudy and cold Monday at Churchill Downs. "The Derby dream just gets totally lost like that. It's horrible."
Baffert knows the feeling, though. In 1998, Event of the Year was to be the Derby favourite, but broke a leg the week before the race. Baffert's horse, Indian Charlie, went off as the favourite. His other entry, Real Quiet, won, giving the trainer his second consecutive Derby victory.
Mike Pegram owned Real Quiet, who went on to win the Preakness, putting Pegram and long-time friend Baffert on the brink of the Triple Crown. But the colt was beaten by a nose in the Belmont.
Now, Baffert and Pegram, who co-owns Lookin At Lucky, have a shot at making the head-spinning trip to the winner's circle together again.
"You appreciate it more as you get older. You understand what the Derby really means," Pegram said. "You know how fortunate and lucky you are to make the race and to have a chance to win it."
Baffert believes Lookin At Lucky and Sidney's Candy should reverse their positions since the John Sadler-trained colt beat him by six lengths in the Santa Anita Derby.
"It would be good for John," Baffert said, laughing.
The expected full field of 20 Derby horses shifted again on Monday, with Pletcher eliminating Rule and adding the filly Devil May Care. Despite the loss of Eskendereya, the trainer could have five starters as he tries to end an 0-for-24 skid in the Derby.
Still, he said losing Eskendereya, winner of his last two starts by a combined 18¼ lengths, was hard.
"No matter what happens on Saturday, there's always going to be that what-if," Pletcher said. "There's no way around it."
Lookin At Lucky has improved daily since arriving at Churchill Downs last week. The colt, with six wins in eight career starts, completed his final major workout on Monday, going five furlongs over an off-track in 1min .80sec, the fastest of 26 workouts at the distance.
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Match info
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Manchester City 2
Sterling (14'), Bernardo Silva (64')
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
