Last week it was Luca Cumani, the Italian trainer, who stole the show at Meydan Racecourse when Presvis crushed the opposition in the Al Rashidiya. Marco Botti, his compatriot, is hoping for something similar tonight when his Gitano Hernando lines up in round two of the Maktoum Challenge.
Botti's five-year-old was the favourite for the Dubai World Cup in March, but after missing the break and finding trouble in running during the world's richest race he finished an unlucky sixth. It remains Gitano Hernando's only defeat on a synthetic surface in six outings.
Botti has been plotting a revenge mission during the intervening months, and now that the five-year-old has confirmed his liking for the Tapeta surface, the trainer has set a course that should ensure a repeat bid on March 26.
"The horse is in good form and has been wintering in Dubai really well," Botti said. "He's a fairly adaptable horse, who can pick up quickly but he needs a strong pace, which he didn't really get in the World Cup. He is not 100 per cent for this race as we want to build him up for Super Thursday and then hopefully on to the World Cup."
Aside from Gitano Hernando, Botti has two other horses entered for the Dubai International Racing Carnival. Fanunalter, who arrives in the emirate next week, and Lolamar, who will go down the handicap route, having struggled to acclimatise quickly to the warm winter.
Despite winning the Cape Verdi last season with Soneva, Botti has limited experience as a trainer in the UAE, having taken out a licence only in 2006. Prior to that he worked for six months in Dubai with Godolphin, under the gaze of Saeed bin Suroor.
"The methods used out there are slightly different to what I am used to, more in tune with an American style than European racing," Botti said. "In America they tend to concentrate more on speed, whereas in Europe trainers tend to build in stamina."
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Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
