Sport

Simpson returns for another ride

The ever-eventful turf career of Rod Simpson rolls on. The Englishman has returned to the UAE to take charge of the Al Asayl Stables and is looking forward to start from where he left off.

Amith Passela
Amith Passela

November 08, 2008

ABU DHABI // The ever-eventful turf career of Rod Simpson rolls on. The Englishman has returned to the UAE to take charge of the Al Asayl Stables and is looking forward to start from where he left off, with 10 runners in tonight's opening meeting for Purebred Arabians at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Simpson's first experience in training Purebred Arabians was in 2001 when he joined Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, and later head-hunted for the Jebel Ali Palace and the Millennium Stables, where he had reasonable success before returning to Great Britain to form his own company Carnival Quest. "This company was formed mainly to fly down horses for the Dubai Carnival but we just couldn't get the right horses," said Simpson who saddled 37 winners in the UAE.

"It is only one year so I hope we'll eventually get a few horses across. This offer from Al Asayl came along and here I am again in the UAE." The former Lambourn trainer, with more than 40 years experience in the job and more than 350 winners to his name in the UK, marked his return with a couple of runners in the season opener at Nad Al Sheba, Le Gusta Bailar and Men Bu Dhabi, finishing fourth and sixth respectively.

"I was pretty happy for those two and they'll come out well from the experience," said Simpson, who has five entries in the opener, a 15-runner maiden for local bred, and five more spread over three other races. "I have got around 10 unraced 3-year-old colts and have entered five of them. They all look exciting prospects to me. They are all coming out for the first time and I'll be pleased if they run a good race."

Simpson is represented by Time Out in the fourth race. He said, "This horse has run well under the previous trainer and I don't see why he won't run well again. He has been working well." The trainer was more excited about Wafidah, a three-year-old unraced daughter of Pavot Al Maury, in the next. "She is an extremely exciting little filly with a tremendous pedigree, and I expect her to run well."

And Simpson felt the other two unraced local bred three-year-old fillies, Aliaah and Men Abu Dhabi, to finish on the board. However, RS Khan - one of the first progenies of the multiple Group 1 winner Ezil - from the Al Reef Stables will be the one that the Simpson's runners will have to beat. Mohammed Ali, assistant to the Al Reef trainer Jaber Bittar, was confident of the bay colt, "He has been very impressive in his track work and I expect him to run a big first race."

Eric Lemartinel made a perfect start by saddling Murawih to claim last Thursday's opener Nad Al Sheba. The Frenchman can add to that tally with Alama and Jaifar. The final race of the card for 3-year-old local bred fillies is anyone's guess. apassela@thenational.ae

RESULT

West Brom 2 Liverpool 2
West Brom: Livermore (79'), Rondón (88' ) 
Liverpool: Ings (4'), Salah (72') 

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.