The silver jubilee running of the Dubai World Cup takes place on Saturday at the Meydan Racecourse. Here is all you need to know about the annual horse racing event.
What is it?
The Dubai World Cup is one of the most prestigious and celebrated horse racing events in the world and a key highlight on the UAE sports calendar. This year will be the 25th edition after last year's event was cancelled in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 event will therefore celebrate the Dubai World Cup's silver jubilee.
The Dubai World Cup meet comprises nine races, culminating in the lucrative Dubai World Cup Group 1 race - one of the richest races in all of horse racing.
When is it?
The 2021 Dubai World Cup takes place March 27.
Where is it?
Meydan Racecourse, Dubai
What races make up the Dubai World Cup?
The Dubai World Cup meeting is set to feature a total of 117 horses from 11 countries for a total prize fund of $26.5m across six Group 1 races, including a race for Purebred Arabians, and three Group 2s.
Here is the list of races with the prize funds and times:
3.45pm: Dubai Kahayla Classic (Purebred Arabians) Group 1 - $750,000
4.15pm: Godolphin Mile Group 2 - $750,000
4.50pm: Dubai Gold Cup Group 2 - $750,000
5.30pm: Al Quoz Sprint Group 1 - $1m
6.05pm: UAE Derby Group 2 - $750,000
6.40pm: Dubai Golden Shaheen Group 1 - $1.5m
7.30pm: Dubai Turf Group 1 - $4m
8.10pm: Dubai Sheema Classic Group 1 - $5m
8.50pm: Dubai World Cup Group 1 - $12m
What is the lineup for the $12m Dubai World Cup?
Displayed is horse's name, trainer, owner:
1. Mystic Guide (USA), Michael Stidham (USA), Godolphin
2. Chuwa Wizard (JPN), Ryuji Okubo (JPN), Shinobu Nakanishi
3. Magny Cours (USA), Andre Fabre (FRA), Godolphin
4. Salute The Soldier (GER), Fawzi Nass (BHR), Victorious
5. Jesus’ Team (USA), Jose Francisco D'Angelo (USA), Grupo 7C Racing Stable
6. Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) Miguel Angel Silva (USA), Thumbs Up Racing LLC
7. Gifts Of Gold (IRE) Saeed bin Suroor (UAE), Godolphin
8. Hypothetical (IRE), Salem bin Ghadayer (UAE), Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed
9. Military Law (IRE), Musabah Al Muhairi (UAE), Nasir Askar
10. Great Scot (GBR), Abdullah Moshrif (KSA), HRH Prince Faisal bin Khaled
11. Thegreatcollection (USA) Doug Watson (UAE), Zaur Sekrekov
12. Title Ready (USA), Dallas Stewart (USA), Charles E Fipke
13. Ajuste Fiscal (URU) Antonio Cintra (URU), Stud La Pomme
14. Capezzano (USA) Salem bin Ghadayer (UAE), Sultan Ali
Can fans attend the 2021 Dubai World Cup?
There will be no fans in attendance at Meydan Racecourse this year, other than a few owners and sponsors' guests, who will adhere to strict social distancing.
How to watch the 2021 Dubai World Cup?
The entire meet can be watched live on the Dubai Racing Channel, while updates, race results and highlights can be found on the @DubaiWorldCup Twitter account and MeydanRacing YouTube Channel.
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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.
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
