Ahead of the 20th running of the Dubai World Cup on Saturday, Geoffrey Riddle gathers the recollections of the men who figured prominently on the night the world's richest horse race was launched.
When I was asked to ride at Nad Al Sheba for the first time by the International Racing Bureau I turned it down and Gary Stevens went instead of me to ride in a jockeys’ challenge. I didn’t know where Dubai was ... I did some research into it and when I was asked again, I did not refuse.When I arrived in Dubai 1994 there were about 15 high-rise buildings, which makes a huge contrast to today, and I was happy to win two races.
After that I had a long chat with John Gosden [the trainer], who revealed to me Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for a World Cup. I was in awe of the whole concept. I remember the post-position draw had huge statues, around a foot-and-a-half tall, of falcons wearing hoods. When the owners were drawn out, they came up and looked under the hood to find out what their draw was.
One time, we all got on a bus and were taken to what looked to me like a palace in Abu Dhabi. It was phenomenal. People were catching fish and within an hour of them being caught they were on a huge barbecue for us all. We then had dune-buggy rides across the beach and, later on, I actually went to a camel race. I had a blast.
RELATED
– Geoffrey Riddle’s guide to the 20th Dubai World Cup
– Dubai World Cup 2015 racecard
I remember during the race thinking that I was going quite well but as soon as Cigar went I thought he would win.
Then Soul Of The Matter edged ahead of him and it looked as if he would finally be beaten. Apparently, there was a hell of a race for third, but I don’t remember much of that as I was riding my tail off for the fifth-place money, which was about US$120,000 (Dh440,000). I was so proud that America had the first three and I was just thrilled even to be in the inaugural race. I was buzzing so much that I really don’t remember what Saeed bin Suroor said to me afterwards. What I do remember, however, is that Allen Paulson, Cigar’s owner, and Billy Mott, his trainer, didn’t wait until the end of the World Cup festivities and jumped in Mr Paulson’s Gulfstream private jet and headed to the Seychelles.
I won’t be at this year’s World Cup as I have just retired form the saddle and it is my 60th birthday on Friday. I was lucky enough to go Abu Dhabi in November, and took the chance to make a trip to Meydan. It is amazing to think that Nad Al Sheba was just Step 1 of Sheikh Mohammed’s idea. Meydan is just awesome.
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How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Biog:
Age: 34
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite sport: anything extreme
Favourite person: Muhammad Ali
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador
Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
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