DUBAI // In terms of the prize money and prestige the Dubai World Cup holds the centre stage but in terms of an actual contest the Dubai Sheema Classic appears to be the most exciting with a truly international line-up.
The 15 entries represent horses trained in England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Qatar, United States, and the UAE, battling over the 2,410m distance on turf for a share of the US$5 million (Dh18.36m) prize.
In the mix are some of the best middle-distance runners from around the world: the Aidan O’Brien-trained Magician, Japan’s champion mare Gentildonna, the 2012 winner Cirrus des Aigles, and Dunaden, winner of the Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase in 2011.
Magician, who was victorious in the Breeder’s Cup Turf in the United States and the Irish 2000 Guineas, will be ridden by the trainer’s son Joseph O’Brien.
“He is in good form, he’s an uncomplicated horse and will like the fast ground. He won the Breeders’ Cup from off the pace and that’s probably the way to ride him,” the jockey said.
The trainer is double handed in the race with Festive Cheer as he attempts to emulate his stable’s success from last year with St Nicholas Abbey.
“I think Festive Cheer has generally been overlooked and I think he has a massive chance,” Joseph O’Brien said.
Japanese Fillies Triple Crown champion Gentildonna, who was second last year, is a two-time winner of the Japan Cup and was the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2012, represents the Far East.
Sei Ishizaka, her trainer, thinks she is in better form thanlast year.
“She worked more powerfully,” he said. “She showed dramatic change with her condition from last year when she was in Dubai and worked more powerfully ahead of the race. She also showed the good sign that she got ready for the race.
“I will go into the race with confidence. She is a very important prospective mare. Hopefully she runs well and brings a good result in her final career year.”
Corine Barande-Barbe, the trainer of Cirrus des Aigles, wished the race was on Friday rather than Saturday after her stable star cantered around the all-weather track.
“The plan was for him to go a bit slower this morning [yesterday] but he had other ideas,” said Barande-Barbe. “He is getting better every day out here and is so well this morning that I wish the race was tonight [Friday]. My heart is full of joy.”
Mikel Delzangles, the trainer of Dunaden, arrived in Dubai in time to watch the globe-trotting eight-year-old bay son of Nicobar canter on the all-weather track.
“He showed everyone that he was happy,” he said. “He knows how things work. He continues to be in good form, at least in the morning he gives us the impression that he is still as good as ever. Now we will see what he will do in the race, which is very competitive.”
Denim And Ruby is Japan’s second runner and her trainer Katsuhiko Sumii said the filly is in great shape. “There is no issue about her condition at the moment,” he said. “She is eating up well. I wanted to get the feel of her condition after the gallop on Friday. She had a quick response only with a gee-up. Everything has gone well and we’re all set for race day.”
apassela@thenational.ae
Check out our INTERACTIVE RACECARD for Saturday night's events at Meydan Racecourse on Dubai World Cup night.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
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The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
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The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
