The most anticipated Purebred Arabian race of the year moved a step closer on Tuesday when connections of Al Mourtajez revealed he could have a warm-up race before defending his title in the Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood in August.
Al Mourtajez has not been seen since he was foiled in his bid to land the US$1 million (Dh3.67m) Qatari Triple Crown in Doha in February. He recently returned to training after a break at Thomas Fourcy’s yard in France.
The seven-year-old has a real fight on his hands this season to remain champion, with Muraaqib, belonging to Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Minister of Finance, now a legitimate pretender to his crown after his victory at Deauville on Sunday.
“Al Mourtajez returned to Thomas three weeks ago and is back in training,” Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, French racing manager to owners Al Shaqab, confirmed to The National on Tuesday. “He has been progressing really well, and Thomas is very happy with him.”
“We’re looking loosely at the Goodwood race, the Prix Dragon and then the Qatar Arabian World Cup. Everything this season is based around that race and it is our main aim.
“Whether we have a lead-in to Goodwood, we will just have to see but it is something we are thinking about.”
Pritchard-Gordon was at Deauville on Sunday and liked what he saw.
“Muraaqib has always been a very good horse and he was very impressive at Deauville,” he said. “It was a good field and he showed great acceleration. He is going to be a tough rival to have around.”
Sheikh Hamdan has the final decision about whether Muraaqib will take part in a clash with Al Mourtajez and there are several reasons why the heavyweight bout could well come to fruition.
The Goodwood contest is not a race that has previously drawn support from Sheikh Hamdan, as it is staged so soon after his cherished Dubai International Arabian race day at Newbury.
This season he has two high-class Purebred Arabians with Handassa, the Dubai Kahayla Classic fourth, on course to represent him at Newbury over 2,000 metres on July 30 in the Dubai International Stakes, a race he was won 13 times previously.
That could then free up the five year old Muraaqib to grapple with Al Mourtajez three days later at Goodwood over 1,600m.
“I don’t mind where we race against Al Mourtajez,” Rohaut said. “We can meet on any track. When you have a horse like ours you want to prove he is the best. If you don’t try, we will never know.
“Last year we didn’t want to run against him, because we thought we might hurt our horse. Now he is ready to fight. I hope it will happen one day.
“He has the speed to drop down to a mile. The mile of Goodwood is a tough one so it will be perfect for him.
“He can do anything you ask him to do. He is very easy, is a nice horse to train and he can run on any ground. He is still improving and that was just his seventh race. He is a champion. That is all.
“Handassa is OK. He has had a month’s rest at Shadwell in Newmarket and has just got home. We will probably go to Newbury with him.”
At York Racecourse in England on Wednesday Godolphin rely on a three-pronged attack at the Group 2 sprint over 1,200m.
Comicas, who was a fine second to Mind Your Biscuits in the Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan in March, returns to turf under James Doyle.
Jungle Cat, who was fourth in the Al Quoz Sprint, and Baccarat, who was 11th, also take part with William Buick and Adam Kirby in the respective saddles.
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RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
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Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Results
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Al Ajayib, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Falcon Claws, Szczepan Mazur, Doug Watson
5pm: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Al Mufham SB, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Badar Al Hajri
5.30pm: Sharjah Marathon – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,700m; Winner: Asraa Min Al Talqa, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
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The%20specs
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What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
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Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5