Godolphin’s Ghaiyyath goes into Wednesday's Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on the back of superb form with hopes high of extending his winning run to four from as many races.
The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old has won all three races this year and is expected to stretch that record in a field that includes Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group 1 winner Magical, the 2000 Guineas hero Kameko and the Group 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes victor Lord North.
The feature race of the four-day Ebor Festival has drawn only five runners but it’s a quality field and Appleby is excited to be part of it.
“This could be one of the best races of the season, and it is exciting to be part of it,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.
“It is the first time the top three-year-olds will be taking on the older horses at this [over 10 furlong] trip.
"The Juddmonte was always the plan for Ghaiyyath. He has proven himself at the highest level, most recently in the Eclipse, where he was coming back in distance."
Ghaiyyath began the year with an emphatic victory over stable companion Spotify in the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes in the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan on February 20.
Since then, he has won the Group 1 Coronation Cup Stakes in a new track-record time at Newmarket in June and the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse over the champion mare Enable at Sandown Park in July.
“I’ve been asked whether I was surprised the way he won the Coronation Cup, and the honest answer is ‘no,” Appleby said.
“You don’t win a Group 1 by 14 lengths like he did in Germany [2019 Grosser Preis Von Baden] by being just an OK horse. You’ve got to be pretty special ... and he is special.
“That day at Baden Baden, the ground rode on the fast side of good. Before that, we thought he was more comfortable on a slower surface, but what he has shown us since on quicker ground knocks that theory out of the park.
“He’s the finished article now, and that has a lot to do with it. He’s shown that he has grown up mentally and physically, and he taken his races so well this season.
“He was digging deep over the final furlong in the Eclipse, yet he came back fine. It was no harder race for him than the Coronation Cup, which he won going an end-to-end gallop over a mile and a half in record time.
“He showed maturity at Sandown. He showed he was manageable in a race, which is the result of growing up.”
William Buick who has been on board in all three wins this year is in the saddle again.
Magical spearheads the challenge and she’s coming off two impressive Group 1 victories at the Curragh.
Kameko finished fourth in his last two starts in the Epsom Derby and the Group 1 Sussex Stakes while Lord North carries the hopes of Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed. Completing the line-up is the Group 3 Musidora Stakes winner Rose Of Kildare.
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
