Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor trained Willing Foe finished fifth at the Melboune Cup on Tuesday, and Cavalryman was withdrawn before the race on veterinary advice as Protectionist won by four lengths at Flemington Racecourse.
Race favourite Admire Rakti collapsed and died after finishing last. The Japanese-trained horse faded towards the end of the gruelling 3,200 metre handicap.
“The favourite Admire Rakti on return to the stalls after the race has collapsed and died,” Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey said.
“Our vets are on hand and the horse will undergo an autopsy. We will have to await those results for the cause of the death.”
Germany’s Protectionist, beautifully ridden by English jockey Ryan Moore, beat England’s Red Cadeaux, a familiar sight in Dubai, by four lengths, with New Zealand’s Who Shot Thebarman another half-length away in third.
But there was sadness in the immediate aftermath. The well-supported Admire Rakti collapsed and died in his stall upon returning from the track.
Admire Rakti’s death shocked Flemington as news of it emerged following Protectionist’s outstanding victory to become the sixth internationally-trained winner of Australia’s iconic race.
The Japanese topweight in the race had been well supported after a storming victory in the Caulfield Cup last month, and was up with the lead for most of the two mile event.
But as the 7-year-old galloper rounded the final bend he was noticeably under pressure.
Jockey Zac Purton furiously tried to maintain his position, only to drop back sharply through the field to finish 25 lengths behind the second-last horse.
“He travelled well for me the whole way but when the pressure come on he folded pretty quick,” Purton said.
Protectionist was Germany’s first success in the race and a first for trainer Andreas Wohler.
Moore skilfully manoeuvred Protectionist into the clear about 200 metres from home and the five-year-old charged to the line for an easy victory in the 104th Melbourne Cup.
“He’s won very easily, a very good horse,” said a delighted Moore.
“Obviously, it’s very special to win.”
Wohler was also jubilant. “We’ve had great success all over the world but that’s the biggest of all,” he said.
“He (Moore) was so patient. When he came around the last bend I said he just needs to have the right gap and he found it ... Ryan is a superstar.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s a moment you won’t forget in your life. It’s a big achievement from our team.”
Purton said he was “just shattered” by the fate of Admire Rakti.
“He gave me such a great thrill there at Caulfield. They don’t deserve this,” he said, adding that owner Riichi Kondo was distraught.
“The whole way through the run I thought I’d win. I didn’t think they’d beat me from where I was,” Purton said.
But with 800 metres to go the horse was not responding and Purton began worrying that all was not well.
“I didn’t know it was as bad as it was,” he said.
As they approached the home turn Admire Rakti was clearly under stress and then dropped sharply back through the field.
Purton eased him down and virtually walked him over the line, 25 lengths behind the second-last horse, Mr O’Ceirin.
It is the second consecutive year in which a horse has died in the Melbourne Cup. French mare Verema was put down after snapping a cannon bone in 2013.
In another post-race incident, seventh-placed Araldo kicked out at a fence when returning to the mounting yard and injured a hind leg.
Vets were assessing the seriousness of the injury.
Nine-year-old Red Cadeaux gamely held off Who Shot Thebarman to take the runner-up cheque for the third time in the event.
“He gave me his best, as always,” said jockey Gerald Mosse. “Very big heart and he tried so hard all the way. He just found one too good for him again.”
Signoff, ridden by Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira, was fourth.
In fifth, Willing Foe was seven lengths off the lead pace, finishing a length behind Signoff and one ahead of Precedence.
Cavalryman, with the discovery of a leg swelling issue pre-race, was scratched.
Godolphin, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, have been trying to capture Melbourne Cup victory since 1998 without luck.
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
GROUPS
Group Gustavo Kuerten
Novak Djokovic (x1)
Alexander Zverev (x3)
Marin Cilic (x5)
John Isner (x8)
Group Lleyton Hewitt
Roger Federer (x2)
Kevin Anderson (x4)
Dominic Thiem (x6)
Kei Nishikori (x7)
Frida%20
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Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
SHADOWS%20AND%20LIGHT%3A%20THE%20EXTRAORDINARY%20LIFE%20OF%20JAMES%20MCBEY
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Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
