Tadhg O’Shea and Antonio Fresu have picked up their rivalry from where they left last season.
The two are once again locked in a battle for the UAE jockey’s championship crown even at this early stage of the campaign.
O’Shea stretched his record title win to 10 while Fresu is bidding for his first, having finished second behind the Irishman in the last two occasions. This time around, O’Shea has 20 winners for the season so far with Fresu again second, on 16.
O’Shea is booked in all 18 rides across the three meetings that kick-off with the six-race card in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, followed by Jebel Ali and Sharjah on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Fresu rides in 15, including all six in the capital.
The capital’s fixture consists of five races for the Purebred Arabians and the concluding handicap for the thoroughbreds that has drawn 12 runners with the weights headed by Desert Destination, to be ridden by Fresu for rookie trainer Osama Refai.
ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
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The Italian’s mount, a five-year-old Night Of Thunder gelding, remains a maiden after nine starts, evenly divided between Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor, Beverley Deutrom and Refai but has shown plenty of promise both locally and in the UK.
This, his first UAE turf outing and just third overall on grass, looks a good opportunity and he was runner-up over 1,600m on turf at Chepstow in August 2020.
Champion Trainer Bhupat Seemar relies on Bridesman and O’Shea, the four-year-old Exceed And Excel gelding looking to lose his maiden tag at the fifth attempt on what will be just his second turf start and fourth for current connections.
Richard Mullen partners Sugar Boy who may be approaching the veteran stage but does at least have a course and distance victory to his name, his third career success after two in the UK.
That win in the capital was back in April 2019, on his fifth start for Qaiss Aboud, who still trains him, but he has seldom threatened since although he does seem to reserve his best for the Abu Dhabi turf.
With five of the runners maidens, it does not appear the strongest of contests and of those who have actually won, Sugar Boy aside, only Razeen Dubai and Heraldic can boast a success in the UAE, but neither have won on turf.
Jebel Ali hosts A six-race all thoroughbred affair highlighted by the Jebel Ali Stakes Prep, a Dh100,000 conditions race run over 1,800m.
The Doug Watson-trained Lost Eden won this 12 months ago before winning the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes, both over the 1,950m trip.
He appears to be one to beat in the 10-runner field in which the Jebel Ali Stables trainer Michael Costa is double handed Avant Garde and Shamikh, the choice of stable jockey Jean van Overmeire.
The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup is the feature race in the mixed six-race card at Sharjah.
The Dh100,000 race with Prestige status has Majed Al Jahouri’s Wadheha, whp looks solid with Fresu in the saddle. The Badad filly was an impressive winner of her last start over the 1,200m distance at Meydan last week.
The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
The biog
Favourite Quote: “Real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction emerge from its ashes,” by The late king Hussain of Jordan.
Favourite Hobby: Writing and cooking
Favourite Book: The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
RACE RESULTS
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Poacher
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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