Ted Durcan, left, and Saeed bin Suroor have had success at the British Classics.
Ted Durcan, left, and Saeed bin Suroor have had success at the British Classics.

Bin Suroor is saddling up



Dubai's famous Godolphin stables have the best chance in years of claiming a British Classic win with Saeed bin Suroor, the trainer, picking out five horses as having a genuine chance of glory. After saddling nine winners in four Dubai Racing Carnival meetings this season, there is a buzz about the form of the operation owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

And while success at Meydan Racecourse's inaugural season is a top priority, bin Suroor is looking forward to the summer with relish due to his crop of three-year-olds - the only horses allowed to complete in the British Classics. "This is the best quality of horses we have had for the last four or five years," said bin Suroor. "We have horses like Al Zir, Passion for Gold, Poet's Voice, Long Lashes and Sand Vixen."

There are five British Classics and they are among the most coveted races in the world. They consist of the 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks, Epsom Derby and St Leger Stakes. Because only three-year-old colts and fillies can enter, British Classics are among the hardest races to win. Bin Suroor has 103 horses under his care in Dubai, but for the next few months he will be casting an extra-observant eye over the occupants of one particular barn at the Al Quoz site - where the three-year-olds reside.

Mastery won the St Leger under Ted Durcan for Godolphin last season and that victory marked the first time since 2005 that the stable claimed a British Classic. This season Godolphin, who have amassed 24 Classics since 1994, look set to be well represented. Most talked about among the group is Passion for Gold, the six-length winner of the Group One Criterium de Saint Cloud in France in November and fancied for the Derby. He was an honourable third in the Group Two Beresford at The Curragh before that, two lengths behind another hot three-year-old, St Nicholas Abbey from Aidan O'Brien's yard, who is the early Derby favourite. But Passion for Gold could be considered a little babyish on both those outings and his trainer said there is something effortless about the way he is working in Dubai.

"I always thought he could be at that level," said bin Suroor. "Even when he was much younger. He is growing up well and when he works in the mornings you can just see that he is one of the good ones. It's all very natural to him, with him it is effortless, like a good student, he is not lazy at all." Al Zir, a good third in the Racing Post Trophy last season, is another that will hit the track in the spring with the benefit of a bit of maturity behind him. Named after a heroic Arabian leader from ancient times, bin Suroor has high hopes for the dark bay colt.

"I named the horse after Al Zir because I liked him so much," said bin Suroor. "From day one he stood out. He is still a little weak but we always knew he would be a better three-year-old. He is maturing and we are patient because he is going to come on." As is usual practice, the stable's Classics contenders are wintering in the UAE, away from frosty Newmarket, which has been suffering in the throes of one of England's snowiest winters on record.

Bin Suroor said Godolphin was likely to follow the same pattern they began last year and ship horses to Newmarket early. "It's not definite but we felt that going to England soon after the World Cup helped our horses settle," said the trainer. "We have a plan for each one but it is too early to say now. "We know which one is good enough for which race, for example the Guineas, but will we take him to the English Guineas, or the French or the Irish? We will wait until we see what happens in our trials." @Email:stregoning@thenational.ae

Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

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Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

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Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Results
  • Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
  • Braun Strowman and Nicolas won the Raw Tag Team titles against Sheamus and Cesaro
  • AJ Styles retained the WWE World Heavyweight title against Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
  • Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
  • The Undertaker beat John Cena
  • The Bludgeon Brothers won the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos and New Day
  • Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
  • Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
  • Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
  • Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
  • Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
  • Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
  • Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal
How%20I%20connect%20with%20my%20kids%20when%20working%20or%20travelling
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

 

 

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The biog

Name: Salem Alkarbi

Age: 32

Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira

First started supporting Al Wasl: 7

Biggest rival: Al Nasr

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Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit

As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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Credit Score explained

What is a credit score?

In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.

Why is it important?

Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.

How is it calculated?

The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.

How can I improve my score?

By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.

How do I know if my score is low or high?

By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.

How much does it cost?

A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.

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