DUBAI // Connections will be hoping that Frankyfourfingers can emulate the 2003 winner of Thursday night’s 1,900-metre middle round of the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge, Moon Ballad, by going on to win the Dubai World Cup.
African Story, runner-up in this race last year, went on to land the world’s richest horse race but he was well beaten this time on the new dirt surface, finishing seventh, about five lengths back.
Runner-up in the 1,600m in the first round of the challenge, the Salem bin Ghadayer-trained Frankyfourfingers was impressive, sitting just off the early speed before quickening clear at the top of the straight under stable jockey Mickael Barzalona.
Barzalona said: “He ran really well the first day and it was only close home he was run out of it. We thought he had improved for that run and were confident the extra trip would suit him.
“Hopefully, he will come back on Super Saturday and then on World Cup night – all things well for the big race itself.”
Last year’s Kahayla Classic, the Purebred Arabian equivalent of the World Cup, was won by Rabbah De Carrere who, 12 months ago, landed the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge II, over 2,200m on this card. This year the race went to Richlore, the mount of Adrie de Vries and trained by Salem Al Ketbi for Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE.
The Kahayla Classic is 2,000m but the way the mare travelled throughout this contest, the shorter trip in the World Cup feature will not be an issue.
The UAE 1000 Guineas, over 1,600m on dirt, was won, in great style, by Local Time, ridden by James Doyle and a ninth winner in the race for Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor who also saddled runner-up Good Place.
The pair are likely to clash again in the UAE Oaks.
Doyle said: “She was brilliant tonight and that was a big win. She seems to be improving and loves this dirt surface.”
The 1,400m turf Meydan Classic Trial was won by Mastermind under Paul Hanagan for trainer Mike de Kock..
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Duminy's Test career in numbers
Tests 46; Runs 2,103; Best 166; Average 32.85; 100s 6; 50s 8; Wickets 42; Best 4-47
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
In 2018, the ICRC received 27,756 trace requests in the Middle East alone. The global total was 45,507.
There are 139,018 global trace requests that have not been resolved yet, 55,672 of these are in the Middle East region.
More than 540,000 individuals approached the ICRC in the Middle East asking to be reunited with missing loved ones in 2018.
The total figure for the entire world was 654,000 in 2018.
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)
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
