Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Dunaden will have no problems emerging from an inside draw in Sunday's Hong Kong Vase following yesterday's post-position draw at Sha Tin racecourse, according to the horse's trainer.
Dunaden was drawn in the No 3 stall, three places inside Godolphin's Campanologist, and trainer Mike Delzangles was optimistic of his charge backing up his victory in the Melbourne Cup in the 2,400m contest.
Last month, in Australia, Dunaden edged out Red Cadeaux, who will re-oppose from Gate 7, and the Sheikh's five year old is reportedly thriving ahead of his bid.
"He's freshened up nicely since Melbourne," Delzangles said. "I think his work has been very encouraging. I think he's just as well and happy as he was in Melbourne, so I am very hopeful.
"Maybe he would be better drawn a little bit wider but if there isn't much pace, he will be able to take a good spot."
Dunaden will try to improve on the record of Americain, last year's French-trained Melbourne Cup winner that went on to finish third to Godolphin's Mastery in the Group 1 feature.
Americain struggled 12 months ago with the lack of pace at a crucial period over a distance 800m shorter that at Flemington racecourse, but Dunaden is more likely to appreciate the drop back in trip.
The mount of Craig Williams has never finished out of the frame in seven runs over the Vase distance. The latest success was under the Australian rider in the Geelong Cup in Australia in October, and the jockey believes he has the best mount in the Dh6.6 millon race.
Dunaden worked over 1,400m on Wednesday and Williams could not have been more effusive.
"I will just use one word - superb," the 34 year old said. "He really lengthened well and his recovery was immediate. Looking at him, he's put on weight, and just the feel he gave me in trackwork tells me he's right to go on Sunday."
Rocket Man's attempt to better last season's runner-up spot in the Hong Kong Sprint was dealt a major blow when the Dubai Golden Shaheen winner was drawn in stall 13.
Only Sacred Kingdom, the domestic runner trained by Ricky Yiu, who was third 12 months ago, was drawn wider of the 14 challengers.
Rocket Man went down 12 months ago to subsequent Al Quoz sprint winner JJ the Jet Plane, and Patrick Shaw was phlegmatic at his chances of improving on that record.
"Well it's not the gate we would have wanted obviously, but he'll go forward from there because that's what he does. I won't say I'm not fazed by the draw, but what can you do?"
Rocket Man thrashed Sacred Kingdom by six lengths at Kranjii racecourse in Singapore in May, but was beaten by a neck by his long-standing rival in the 2009 race.
Rocket Man likes to be up with the pace, which will be difficult from his wide draw, but Yiu highlighted that Sacred Kingdom will be less inconvenienced.
The 2007 and 2009 Sprint winner raced in mid-division during both of his successes and the trainer revealed that Brett Pebble, the jockey, would be given orders to ride a similar race once again.
"It's a very competitive race. I would have been happy in the middle," he said. "I'm hoping for mid-division and we will save him to the last. I expect him to run well like he did last year. I think he is getting back to his best.
"Rocket Man is clearly our main danger."
Sports@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
More on Quran memorisation:
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Stamp%20duty%20timeline
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
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)
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Specs%20
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.