Sefri has had a fruitful partnership with jockey Paul Hanagan. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
Sefri has had a fruitful partnership with jockey Paul Hanagan. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Sefri delivers in style for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid at Jebel Ali Racecourse



DUBAI // It was smiles all around for the sponsors when Sefri won the Jebel Ali Stakes Prep, the feature event at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday.

Raced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, who sponsored the race through his Shadwell stables, the Erwan Charpy-trained former French racehorse caused a surprise recording his first victory in the UAE.

Ridden by Paul Hanagan, the five-year-old gelding took his career total of wins to four, adding to three in France in 2013.

“He has been running well,” Charpy said.

“We have just taken a while to really get to know his best trip and the tactics to adopt. It appears he has not always found a lot off the bridle but he has won well today.

“This win gives us plenty of options, obviously here at Jebel Ali but, of course, at Meydan and the Carnival, be it on dirt or the turf. He is a nice horse and one to look forward to.”

Doug Watson’s Red Stables team has been in flying form of late but went winless at Meydan on Thursday and also in the first three races at Jebel Ali until Busatto ended that run with victory in the fourth, a handicap over 1,800 metres.

Taken straight into the lead by Pat Dobbs, he powered to win decisively. Disappointing on the Abu Dhabi turf on his UAE debut, he was a Jebel Ali winner over 1,950m on his dirt bow three weeks ago.

“He obviously loves it here and this surface,” Watson said. “After his Abu Dhabi run we have just tinkered with his bridle and it has worked perfectly.

“This was a good performance and another drop in trip. The Jebel Ali Mile is a definite option.”

Watson was celebrating a double just 30 minutes later with Banaadeer making a winning seasonal return in a 1,200m handicap.

Having only his third UAE start, Banaadeer made virtually all of the running and in doing so also completed doubles for Sheikh Hamdan and Hanagan.

“He has had a few problems at the stalls,” said Hanagan. “So fair play to Doug and his team who have, hopefully, rectified that. He did it well today and is hopefully a sprinter who can go on from this.”

There were highs and lows for jockey Richard Mullen. He added a double to his season’s tally before injury robbed him of a third visit to the winner’s circle.

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UAE cricketers abroad

Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.

Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.

Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.

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Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

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Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

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Spain v England, 10.45pm (UAE)

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Teaching your child to save

Pre-school (three - five years)

You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.

Early childhood (six - eight years)

Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.

Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)

Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.

Young teens (12 - 14 years)

Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.

Teenage (15 - 18 years)

Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.

Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)

Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.

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