Sarah Tregoning compiles a notebook of entries of events and happenings around the paddock as events unfolded in the world's richest race at Meydan Racecourse.
Dubai Golden Shaheen: The first one is special
No matter how many more winning horses Fawzi Nass trains, Krypton Factor must surely remain a favourite. Not only did the talented sprinter claim Nass's first victory as a trainer earlier in the season, but he also claimed the handler's first Dubai World Cup day win. Krypton Factor, ridden by Kieren Fallon, stalked the fast-finishing Rocket Man, coming alongside him and then passing him to win the US$2 million (Dh7.34m) race by two-and-a-half lengths.
Al Quoz Sprint: Ortensia improves score
Ortensia, a mare, claimed a victory for Australia in the Al Quoz Sprint when Craig Williams steered her over the line ahead of Sole Power and the 2010 winner, Joy And Fun. "I have had 20 rides on the mare for four wins. She has been unlucky in a few but she was brilliant today," the winning rider said. "I was able to get into clear running inside the last 300 metres and she had an explosive turn of foot."
UAE Derby: Daddy Long Legs' trip
Aidan O'Brien, became only the third trainer to win the UAE Derby and the first handler to do it for Ireland in 12 renewals of the race after his Daddy Long Legs powered across the line just over a length ahead of Yang Tse Kiang. O'Brien's victory broke the stranglehold of Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor and South Africa's Mike de Kock, who have won the race seven times and five times, respectively. Daddy Long Legs, who was ridden by Colm O'Donoghue, will now head to the US and a run in the Kentucky Derby.
Godolphin Mile: Dettori has it covered
Godolphin's African Story and Frankie Dettori claimed a victory in the Godolphin Mile by four lengths from De Kock's Viscount Nelson. The win marked a record seventh victory in the race for Dettori. African Story, trained by bin Suroor, may now chart a course to the Champion's Mile at Hong Kong's Sha Tin next month. "All options are open for him," said bin Suroor. "He looked really good before the race and we thought that he would be our best chance on the night so we are pleased with him." De Kock was delighted with the effort of Viscount Nelson under Kevin Shea. "We never expected him to run so well," said de Kock.
Hills' farewell bite
Richard Hills, who has been Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's premier rider since 1997, closed out his career last night. The Englishman rode more than 1,840 winners in a 33-year career. His partner in the UAE Derby, Sheikh Hamdan's Entifaadha, trained by William Haggas, could not keep up with the leaders and finished 13th. Hills got a second bite of the cherry to end his riding career in the rerun of the Dubai Gold Cup. Zanzamar stormed home in the stayers' race to earn Hills a share of the $100,000 third-place prize.
O'Shea hopes for more
Tadhg O'Shea was crowned UAE champion jockey for the second time as he wrested the trophy back from Wayne Smith, who beat him to the title last season by just one win. This season, the Irishman was able to draw five wins clear. O'Shea, who is a retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan, said he was looking forward to working with Paul Hanagan, the new Sheikh Hamdan rider, following the retirement of Hills. "I hope he has a good season because that means I'll have a good season," O'Shea said.
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
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
SHAITTAN
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