DUBAI // It is tight at the top of the domestic jockeys' championship, with the battle between Tadhg O'Shea and Royston Ffrench boiling down to the last four meetings of the season.
Success at Jebel Ali Racecourse today could have a major impact on the final standings, which will be decided after the World Cup meeting at the end of the month.
Just two wins separate O'Shea, who is Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's second jockey, and Ffrench, who is attached to the in-form yard of Ali Rashid al Raihe.
Godolphin's Frankie Dettori has already tied up the Carnival title with 13 wins - well above the second-placed Christophe Soumillon's eight.
Yet while the Carnival championship covers six weeks of racing, the UAE title stretches the entire season from November 6 to March 27.
"It's pretty close alright," said O'Shea yesterday, who has high hopes of a big run from his ride, Alsadeek in Jebel Ali's final Listed race of the season - the Jebel Ali Sprint.
"It's come down to the last few meets of the season."
O'Shea, who has 32 wins, makes no secret of his desire to claim the championship, but whatever happens over the next two weeks he will be happy with his performance.
"This has been my best UAE season by far," he said.
Race card
"I really couldn't have asked for more."
Alsadeek, who is trained by Doug Watson, is a threat in the sprint.
He has winning form over five furlongs at Jebel Ali and was the runner-up in December to 2009 Sprint winner, Hammadi, who also races today.
Hammadi - who is also trained by Watson - will become the second horse to win the race twice in its 17-year history if he is successful.
"I thought he was a bit unlucky when we finished second to Hammadi," said O'Shea who did not get the best draw on that occasion.
"He's one of the most improving horses at Jebel Ali this season and I'm looking for a big run."
Jerry Barton's So Shiny, the 2009 UAE 1,000 Guineas winner, comes into the race after claiming a handicap at Meydan this season and Mike de Kock saddles last year's runner-up, Frosty Secret.
@Email:stregoning@thenational.ae
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Pickford (Everton), Pope (Burnley), Henderson (Manchester United)
Defenders Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Chilwell (Chelsea), Coady (Wolves), Dier (Tottenham), Gomez (Liverpool), James (Chelsea), Keane (Everton), Maguire (Manchester United), Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Mings (Aston Villa), Saka (Arsenal), Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Foden (Manchester City), Henderson (Liverpool), Grealish (Aston Villa), Mount (Chelsea), Rice (West Ham), Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Winks (Tottenham)
Forwards: Abraham (Chelsea), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Kane (Tottenham), Rashford (Manchester United), Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Sterling (Manchester City)
HEADLINE HERE
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Canvassed, Par Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
Winner Dubai Future, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mouheeb, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
8.15pm Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
9.50pm Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Man Of Promise, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')
Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')
Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
