NEWMARKET, ENGLAND // These are heady times for Rabbah Bloodstock. Representing the umbrella racing organisation for the friends and associates of Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, in England this weekend will be Rizeena, the strong favourite for Sunday’s 1,000 Guineas.
Also on the books is Night Of Thunder, who takes his chance in the 2,000 Guineas tomorrow. Last week, Our Channel qualified for the English Derby and will head straight for Epsom next month, having proved himself with a victory at the course.
Rabbah Bloodstock was set up in England in 2006 and they have had their successes, including the fine runs of Jaber Abdullah’s Youmzain in finishing second in two Prix de l’Arc De Triomphes in 2008 and 2009, or Music Show’s victory in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes for the same owner.
To have Rizeena run in the silks of Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, however, as the most likely winner of the first fillies’ classic in Europe, is an event not lost on racing manager Bruce Raymond.
“I’ve never been in this position before,” Raymond said. “It is a great thing to have a Guineas favourite on the team.”
Rizeena, trained here by the veteran Clive Brittain, raced eight times last year in a season that included a win at Royal Ascot over five furlongs, a Group One win in Ireland at the Curragh over seven and a battling second in the Fillies’ Mile here in September.
Brittain, who trained Sheikh Mohammed’s Pebbles to become the first British-based winner at the Breeders’ Cup in the Turf in 1985, has long believed that Rizeena can be victorious in the Guineas without a prep run, although Raymond begged to differ when Brittain relayed the filly’s weight at the start of the year.
“She put on a lot of weight during the winter,” Raymond said. “When Clive told me she was 520kgs, I feared she had a fat belly, but the weight has gone on in all the right areas – her hind quarters and shoulders. She’s a big filly.
“Clive has had some great fillies, but she’s the easiest he’s had to train.”
This is the third season that Sheikh Rashid has had horses training in England, and last year he had 13 winners from just 52 runners.
He has had seven runners this season in Britain with no winners, but that lack of success early season will all be forgotten if Rizeena strikes in a Classic race at the home of flat racing.
Sheikh Rashid has been in almost daily communication with Raymond as Rizeena’s date with destiny approaches, and the Sheikh’s enthusiasm is tangible, according to his racing manager.
“It is right I speak to him nearly every day,” Raymond said. “He and his brother Sheikh Juma are very excited.
“They could go the whole of their time as owners and not have a Guineas favourite, so it is big thing.”
The two Sheikhs are far from the only owners based in Dubai who are set to have runners at Newmarket this weekend.
Godolphin field the dual UAE Classic winner Ihtimal in the 1,000 Guineas, and in addition to the wide-margin UAE Oaks winner, Charlie Appleby will represent the international stable when he saddles Outstrip, the Breeders’ Cup winner, in the 2,000 Guineas as well as Pinzolo in a Derby trial tomorrow.
With Meydan supremo Saeed Al Tayer’s Zurigha and Mohammed Al Nabouda’s Jathabah entered in Sunday’s Dahlia Stakes, Our Channel owner Abdullah Al Mansoori’s Tamayuz Star in the sprint handicap and Night Of Thunder owner Saeed Manana also represented by Monsea tomorrow, Newmarket will feel like a mini-Meydan, without the weather.
“The Guineas meeting is a festival that is well supported by my clients,” Raymond said. “Everyone’s in town for it, it is an important meeting.”
sports@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
EA%20Sports%20FC%2024
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%207%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%93%203hrs%2029min%2042ses%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%20%E2%80%93%2010sec%3Cbr%3E3.%20Geoffrey%20Bouchard%20(FRA)%20AG2R%20Citroen%20Team%20%E2%80%93%2042sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20Classification%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenaders%20%E2%80%93%2059se%3Cbr%3E3.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%9360sec%3Cbr%3ERed%20Jersey%20(General%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EGreen%20Jersey%20(Points%20Classification)%3A%20Tim%20Merlier%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EWhite%20Jersey%20(Young%20Rider%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EBlack%20Jersey%20(Intermediate%20Sprint%20Classification)%3A%20Edward%20Planckaert%20(FRA)%20Alpecin-Deceuninck%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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ATP RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 4)
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
The biog
Name: Gul Raziq
From: Charsadda, Pakistan
Family: Wife and six children
Favourite holes at Al Ghazal: 15 and 8
Golf Handicap: 6
Childhood sport: cricket
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)
Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)
Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)
Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
Company%C2%A0profile
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Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Mumbai Indians 213/6 (20 ov)
Royal Challengers Bangalore 167/8 (20 ov)
RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
