Godolphin horses aim for six prizes on Dubai World Cup night

Godolphin are conspicuous by their absence in the Dubai World Cup race but have strong representations in several other races at Saturday's meeting at Meydan.

It’s the only the second time the Royal Blues are not entered in the line-up for the $12 million main race – the first since 2005 – but they have an overwhelming presence across six other races on the night.

Can Frankie Dettori and Country Grammer make Dubai World Cup history?

They kick-off their campaign in the Godolphin Mile with the France-based Andre Fabre’s Egot.

The five-year-old races on dirt for the first time. He is a half-brother to Meydan winner Laser Show and has posted two Group 3 wins on turf in France, and was runner-up in an all-weather conditions race at Chantilly on his seasonal return.

Next in line is a quartet in the Dubai Gold Cup. Charlie Appleby’s Siskany and Global Storm, Saeed bin Suroor’s Passion And Glory, along with John and Thady Gosden’s Trawelman can make a race between themselves.

Al Suhail is chasing a hat-trick at Meydan. The Dubawi gelding won twice over the 1,400m trip and drops in distance for the Al Quoz Sprint. He likely faces a strong challenge from Al Dasim, who is undefeated in his last five starts including over the track and trip on his last three visits.

Godolphin’s Lemon Pop, trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka in Japan, is an interesting runner in the Golden Shaheen, the dirt sprint over the 1,200m distance. The Americans have a strong presence in the race while the local trainer Bhupat Seemar has a trio led by last year’s winner Switzerland, and Sound Money and Tuz.

Appleby’s Nation’s Pride and Master Of The Seas are joined by Bin Suroor’s Real World in the $5 million Dubai Turf.

Another Appleby runner, Rebel’s Romance, and Fabre’s Botanik challenge for the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic.

Rebel’s Romance looks to maintain his unbeaten record on turf and notch a fourth consecutive Group 1 win over a mile-and-a-half. The 2021 UAE Derby victor enjoyed an outstanding 2022 for Appleby, scoring in the Grosser Preis von Berlin, Preis von Europa and Breeders' Cup Turf.

“Rebel’s Romance missed his intended prep run on Super Saturday with a minor setback, so we brought him to Meydan for a gallop to take the freshness out of him,” the trainer said.

“He had a lovely experience and hasn’t missed a beat since. It is a race of real strength in depth, with form lines all over the world coming together, but Rebel’s Romance is a terrific horse who has done nothing but improve as he has got older.”

Racecard:

3.30pm: Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $1million (Dirt) 2,000m

4.05pm: Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $1million (D) 1,600m

4.40pm: Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $1million (Turf) 3,200m

5.15pm: Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (T) 1,200m

5.50pm: UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $1million (D) 1,900m

6.25pm: Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $2million (D) 1,200m

7.10pm: Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 1,800m

8pm: Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $6million (T) 2,410m

8.35pm: Dubai World Cup – Group 1 (TB) $12million (D) 2,000m

The National selections:

3.30pm: RB Rych Like Me

4.05pm: Royal Mews

4.40pm: Siskany

5.15pm: Al Suhail

5.50pm: Go Soldier Go

6.25pm: Lemon Pop

7.10pm: Nation’s Pride

8pm: Rebel’s Romance

8.35pm: Country Grammer

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

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The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

THE DETAILS

Kaala

Dir: Pa. Ranjith

Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar

Rating: 1.5/5

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The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

Tips to stay safe during hot weather

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat

Results

Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.

Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).

Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.

Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday

AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)

Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)

Benevento v Parma (5pm)

Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)

Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)

Lazio v Spezia (5pm)

Napoli v Crotone (5pm)

Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)

Torino v Juventus (8pm)

Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

Company profile

Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

The%20specs%3A%20Taycan%20Turbo%20GT

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Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Kareem Shaheen on Canada

A second lockdown will be especially tough in cold countries

Hard-hit Canada is springing back to the cliched 'new normal'

Justin Trudeau 2.0 will need to take all of Canada with him

Trump and Covid-19

David Frum: Trump's bungling of coronavirus will reshape US politics

Con Coughlin: Whose coronavirus is it anyway? It does not matter

Paul Peachey: US and Iran seek gains as coronavirus bites

While you're here

Chitrabhanu Kadalayil: Singapore election is more than just a family feud over LKY's legacy

Sholto Byrnes: Robert Mugabe and Lee Kuan Yew: two leaders with very different legacies

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: UAE and Singapore can be partners for a world in transition

Nick March: Singapore and UAE are on the move – in airport development

World politics

Sholto Byrnes: How liberals in the West forgot what liberalism is

Rashmee Roshan Lall: Donald Trump will disrupt US democracy

Sholto Byrnes: Populists are the product of failed political parties

PAKISTAN SQUAD

Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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Ant-Man%20and%20the%20Wasp%3A%20Quantumania

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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young