There will be many great athletes performing awe-inspiring feats this weekend, but it would be hard to find a specimen in any sport with greater physical and mental attributes for the task in hand than Sea the Stars has in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe today.
He is just three years old, considered a baby in any other codes of horse competition, yet he has a maturity beyond his years and boasts a physical perfection and flexibility that allows him to win over distances ranging from seven furlongs to a mile-and-a-half.
The five-time Group One-winning colt is described as a "magnificent presence" by his trainer, John Oxx, and is racing's middle-distance equivalent to Usain Bolt.
Neither his peers nor the older generation have been able to touch him and even the desperate, stamina-sapping tactics employed by Aidan O'Brien's five runners in the Irish Champion Stakes had no impact on the formidable colt last month.
He is bred from Cape Cross, a sire owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai's Darley breeding operation and widely accepted to be the finest racehorse of the last 20 years.
Unsurprisingly, he is the out-of-sight favourite for Europe's most prestigious race today.
Drawn in stall six, the starting location of two out of the last four Arc winners (Dylan Thomas, 2007 and Hurricane Run, 2005), Sea the Stars will run on his ideal going with the ground declared good at Longchamp.
His jockey, the unrivalled Mick Kinane, who has tasted international victory on the seven-time Group One-winning Rock of Gibraltar, super sire Galileo, his half-brother and Arc-winner, Montjeu, and five-time Group One-winner, Giant's Causeway, has already been so bold as to proclaim Sea the Stars the best horse he has ever ridden.
"To find a horse like him at this stage of my life is fantastic and he's the best one I've ridden," said the 13 time Irish Champion, who knows this race could be the crowning moment in his incredible 35-year career. "It's phenomenal how he can travel, he's never in trouble and I haven't ridden a horse like him who can do it at any
distance."
Sea the Stars has triumphed over the mile of the 2,000 Guineas, the mile-and-a-half Epsom Derby, and the mile-and-a-quarter of the Coral Eclipse, Juddemonte International and Irish Champions Stakes.
The Arc will be by far his biggest challenge to date and steps him back up to a mile-and-a-half, thought by some to be the very limit of his stamina, and it is in that belief that his rivals place their hope.
O'Brien, keen to taste Arc victory for a second time, once again saddles more than one, and will no doubt use his three runners, Fame and Glory, Grand Ducal and Set Sail, as the racing equivalent of a wrestling tag team as they attempt to push the pace beyond the favourite's comfort zone.
Mick Channon's Youmzain, runner-up in 2007 and 2008, is hoping for glory under the man who beat him by a neck in 2007, Kieren Fallon, while Sir Michael Stoute's King George IV and Queen Elizabeth Stakes-winning Conduit sets out his stall under Ryan Moore.
But the way Sea the Stars has been bolting across the line recently suggests he will have enough left in the tank for the extra two furlongs and O'Brien's best entry, Fame and Glory, was beaten by two-and-a-half lengths by Oxx's horse at Leopardstown.
It is possible that fatigue could play a part in Sea the Stars bid for ultimate glory today, but Oxx is not the type to enter a runner in Europe's showpiece if he did not think he was fit enough.
"You wouldn't call running in a Group One every month since May, as this horse has done, as being a typical Arc preparation," said Oxx.
"But Sea The Stars has taken all his races really well seems to be thriving.
"He's one of those landmark horses that come along every 25-30 years that we always remember and he's the nearest living thing to a machine. If any of us is still around at the end of the century, I doubt there will be too many other horses who have achieved what he has done."
stregoning@thenational.ae
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
Fight card
Preliminaries:
Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)
Main card:
Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)
Title card:
Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)
Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)
Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
