Soft Falling Rain will be back at Meydan Racecourse for trainer Mike De Kock to help put the super in Saturday on Dubai World Cup night. Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images
Soft Falling Rain will be back at Meydan Racecourse for trainer Mike De Kock to help put the super in Saturday on Dubai World Cup night. Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images
Soft Falling Rain will be back at Meydan Racecourse for trainer Mike De Kock to help put the super in Saturday on Dubai World Cup night. Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images
Soft Falling Rain will be back at Meydan Racecourse for trainer Mike De Kock to help put the super in Saturday on Dubai World Cup night. Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Shea Shea and Soft Falling Rain return to make Saturday super at Meydan


  • English
  • Arabic

The return of leading Dubai World Cup night performers Shea Shea and Soft Falling Rain took a step closer on Monday when the two Mike de Kock runners were among the entries for the bumper Super Saturday card at Meydan Racecourse.

Shea Shea has been entered to defend his title in the Meydan Sprint, a turf sprint over 1,000 metres in which he broke the track record 12 months ago.

Shea Shea then broke his own record when winning the Al Quoz Sprint three weeks later ahead of a fruitless campaign in Europe.

Sole Power is also set to take his chance without the services of Johnny Murtagh, who retired last week, having duelled with his South African rival throughout the summer in England after finishing fourth in the Al Quoz Sprint. Sole Power beat Shea Shea in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, but trailed him in both the July Cup at Newmarket a month later and in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August.

De Kock has frequently stated that Soft Falling Rain has the speed to be successful over shorter distances than the 1,600m over which he won last season’s Godolphin Mile.

The South African trainer has entered Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s colt in both the 1,600m Burj Nahaar and the Mahab Al Shimaal, over 1,200m.

Fellow South African raider Variety Club has also been given an entry to the Burj Nahaar, having proved his credentials on Tapeta with a devastating win in the Firebreak Stakes last month.

The three South African horses are the highest-rated runners on the US$1.83 million (Dh6.7m) card, which features two Group 1 races, the Jebel Hatta and the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3.

Variety Club has also been entered in the Jebel Hatta alongside fellow South African raider Heavy Metal and there could be a first appearance at Meydan for the Australian runner Linton.

Saeed bin Suroor is chasing a 10th victory in the $400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge and the Godolphin trainer will be relying on Prince Bishop and African Story, the first two across the line in Round 2 of the World Cup trial last month.

sports@thenational.ae

Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE

Jebel Ali results

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard

3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson

4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer

England's Ashes squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. 

Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)

Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)

Saturday

Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)

Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)

Sunday

Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)

Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)

Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)

England XI for second Test

Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson

War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

The team

Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory 
Videographer: Jear Valasquez 
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory 
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat 
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova 
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi 

 

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

HEADLINE HERE
  • I would recommend writing out the text in the body 
  • And then copy into this box
  • It can be as long as you link
  • But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
  • Or try to keep the word count down
  • Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into 
  • That's about it
MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 400hp

Torque: 500Nm

Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)

On sale: 2022 

RIDE%20ON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Larry%20Yang%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jackie%20Chan%2C%20Liu%20Haocun%2C%20Kevin%20Guo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A