Sheikh Hamdan has played a sporting hand with Taghrooda. Instead of running her in last week’s Irish Oaks against her own gender she bids to become the first three-year-old filly for 38 years to win the British mid-summer highlight.
It is not an easy assignment. Telescope, the impressive Hardwicke Stakes winner, vies for favouritism and Eagle Top, another Royal Ascot winner, lies in wait. Godolphin will be represented by Trading Leather, while Romsdal runs in the silks of Princess Haya.
Read more: Untapable puts unbeaten record up against the boys
It was Taghrooda’s victory in the English Oaks over Saturday night’s 2,400-metre distance that was the deciding factor for jockey Paul Hanagan, who has ridden Mukhadram in all 13 of his starts. Dane O’Neill deputise Saturday.
Where Taghrooda is a certain stayer, Mukhradram is yet to prove himself at a distance over 2,000m. Where Taghrooda is flashy, Mukhadram is dour. Where Taghrooda could well be the next big thing after her effortless victory at Epsom last month, it took Mukhradram six attempts to win at Group 1 level. Even the blood running through Taghrooda’s veins is of a more purple hue than that of the yeoman Mukhadram.
Taghrooda is by Sea The Stars, a horse who slashed his way through the British programme in 2009 to register six Group 1s in as many months. His standard is not only carried this season by Taghrooda, but by Sea The Moon, his son who is amongst the favourites for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after his easy victory in the German Derby this month.
Mukhadram is by Shamardal, the French Derby winner, but his chances of being born were slim as Magic Tree, his dam, was one of only 55 horses foaled in the UAE in 2002. Since Magic Tree was born, in Dubai, the breeding of thoroughbreds has declined in inverse proportion to the rise of Purebred Arabians.
There were 294 Purebred Arabians born in the UAE in 2002 but, according to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, 668 Purebred Arabians were bred in the UAE a decade later. In contrast, no thoroughbreds were bred at all in the UAE two seasons ago, only one a year before that, and one 12 months prior to that.
It was a fluke that Magic Tree was even used as a brood mare, too. She raced only once, and finished 13th of 16, but was picked up by David Loder, a former trainer for Godolphin, for a mere 2,800 guineas. Loder knew that Alan Kent, his friend and a successful polo player, was on the lookout for ponies and Kent decided to train her for chukkas rather than racecourses.
“I spent two years training her for polo,” Kent said. “She showed a lot of promise, too, but then her relations started winning big races and I had to have a re-think. I was quite upset at the time, but it was a better proposition to have her producing racehorses.”
Magic Tree’s more illustrious relations included Kirklees, who won the 2009 Group York Stakes, and Mastery, who won the English St Leger in the same year.
Kent transferred Magic Tree from his polo farm in West Sussex to Alvediston Stud in Salisbury, where she first produced Entihaa in 2008. Mukhadram followed in 2009 and Woodland Aria, who was last behind Euro Charline in the Listed Valiant Stakes here yesterday, was foaled in 2010. Siblings by Nayef, Sea The Stars and Oasis Dream, have followed.
Mukhadram was sold by Kent and Andrew Wardall, his business partner, for 190,000 guineas, a price which Kent believes to be a solid piece of business. With Alice, his daughter, now working for William Haggas, Mukhadram’s trainer, Kent can scarcely believe the symmetry.
“I was over the moon at his sale price and one of the world’s most powerful owners bought him,” he added. “I still get as much excitement when he runs as if I own him. I am meant to be at the Audi International Polo down the road at the Guard’s Polo Club, but I might just slip out and watch him run at Ascot.
“Both Mukhadram and Woodland Aria have run at the past two Royal Ascots, and I was there this year to see him finish fourth in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
“It is a fairy tale.”
sports@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
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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
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At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars
Results
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner No Riesgo Al Maury, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Marwa W’Rsan, Sam Hitchcott, Jaci Wickham.
6pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Dahess D’Arabie, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi.
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner Safin Al Reef, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m
Winner Thulbaseera Al Jasra, Shakir Al Balushi, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
7.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 80,000 2,200m
Winner Autumn Pride, Szczepan Mazur, Helal Al Alawi.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
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
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')