NEWBURY, England // It is billed as Dubai International Arabian race day but if trainers Jean-Francois Bernard and Julian Smart have their way Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s jewel in the British Purebred Arabian crown may well be hijacked by owners from Oman and Qatar today.
Three Group 1 races act as the cornerstone to the eight-race card with the £50,000 (Dh308,000) Dubai International Stakes over 2000 metres the feature sponsored by the Minister of Finance’s Shadwell Stud.
Bernard has crossed the English Channel with three gilt-edged chances in each of the Group 1 events, while Smart sends out a team of five from his base in Lambourn.
Leading Bernard’s three-pronged attack is Djet Taouy, a five-year-old bay who bids to defend the title he won 12 months ago in the International Stakes.
The Frenchman will also run Farh, a grey mare who takes her chance in the Hatta International Stakes, while No Problem Al Maury runs in the Zabeel International Stakes. Both horses are owned by Qatar’s Al Shaqab.
Smart is also represented in the three main races and all three of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s horses will be ridden by Harry Bentley. Al Anga will prove stiff opposition to Djet Taouy in the feature, while Djainka Des Forges goes in the Hatta International and Aden in the Zabeel International.
All eyes will be on Djet Taouy as he looks to augment his victory in the Group 1 Coupe d’Europe at Saint Cloud under David Michaux, who again takes the ride.
It looks a drop kick, with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Al Hibaab and Nerbah, who, like Djet Taouy, runs for the Royal Cavalry of Oman, the only other runners in the race.
“His last race was perfect at Saint Cloud, I don’t know of a horse that has such a finish,” Bernard said of his charge’s turn of foot.
“It is why I think it is actually an advantage to have so few runners in the race. Nerbah is likely to lead and we can sit in behind and wait to pounce with our pace.
“I think he has a first-class chance and the only concern I have is Al Anga.”
For his part, Smart could scarcely envisage a scenario in which Djet Taouy could be beaten.
“Jean-Francois would say that,” Smart said.
“He is a wily old fox. Everybody knows my filly needs a strong pace and there is no way she will make the running.
“If Harry can get her settled with so few runners then she may well have a chance, but I think they will race very slowly and it will be a sprint finish. It will be an extremely tactical race.”
Bernard’s record stands the closest inspection. The trainer has farmed Britain’s best races for the past few seasons and has only missed out striking at the top level here in 2012.
Last season Shararah won the Hatta International. In 2011 Kiss De Ghazal won the President Of The UAE Cup at Ascot. A year before that Nashwan Al Khalidiah won the Zabeel International and 12 months before that Nayef
Al Khalidiah won the President Of the UAE Cup at Ascot and Quesche Du Paon won the Hatta International.
It all adds up to a huge run from the highest rated horse in the race, and a win would be a handsome return for the Royal Cavalry of Oman, who bought the horse on the back of his exploits last season, which included a win in the Group 1 Arabian Derby at Newmarket.
Such a purchase only highlights, once again, that the Royal Cavalry Of Oman have huge ambition, but it is now tough at the summit of the sport as Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa have also been joined by the burgeoning Al Shaqab operation.
Al Shaqab may be better known for its exploits in the thoroughbred world but it is often forgotten that its owner, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad, won the Dubai Kahayla Classic at Meydan Racecourse with his own silks courtesy of TM Fred Texas in 2012 and Al Mamun Monlau last year.
Al Shaqab is set to expand on the 20 Purebred Arabians they have in training in Europe, eight of which are lodged with Bernard. It is a string of horses that includes leading Purebred Arabian World Cup hope Dahor de Brugere.
“Dubai day is an important day and it is Sheikh Hamdan’s day,” Harry Herbert, Al Shaqab’s racing manager, said.
“What’s more, big days like this are so few and far between in the Purebred Arabian calendar, which is why it becomes doubly important for everybody taking part.”
Sheikh Hamdan has enjoyed a glorious summer and tops the British owners’ championships for both thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians, but the battle today may well be lost.
sports@thenational.ae
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
Company profile
Name: One Good Thing
Founders: Bridgett Lau and Micheal Cooke
Based in: Dubai
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 5 employees
Stage: Looking for seed funding
Investors: Self-funded and seeking external investors
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
