Ascot, England// Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s decision to run Taghrooda in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes paid off spectacularly when she ran away with the British mid-summer highlight on Saturday.
Taghrooda built on her victory last month in the English Oaks with a power-packed run to deny Royal Ascot winner Telescope by three lengths.
Another Group 1 one-two narrowly evaded Sheikh Hamdan when Mukhadram, who also sported the stable’s blue-and-white silks under jockey Dane O’Neill, was only a short head behind.
Much like at Epsom, when Paul Hanagan rode in the Oaks for the first time, it was the 33-year-old jockey’s first ride in the Group 1 event and he was ecstatic that he had chosen the filly Taghrooda, and not Mukhadram, the horse he had ridden in all his starts before yesterday.
“I had to make a tough decision and Mukhadram ran very well and I’m very proud of him,” Hanagan said. “It was such a buzz and something you would think would never happen.”
Taghrooda’s win marked the first time that a three-year-old filly defeated the older colts in the 2,400-metre contest in 38 years. Whatever happens next, Taghrooda will retire at the end of the season as a special filly, indeed.
Taghrooda has perhaps only two more runs remaining, with the Yorkshire Oaks next month at York Racecourse the likely next port of call before a possible attempt to land a first Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October.
Given the bold decision to run here, the sop of victory in France will surely help sway Sheikh Hamdan’s thoughts away from the Champion Stakes, which he won twice before with Haafhd and Nayef.
Should Taghrooda cross the Channel, she could do battle with the impressive German Derby winner, Sea The Moon.
It was Taghrooda’s fourth consecutive victory and ever since she won her maiden at Newmarket in September, the Shadwell homebred has seemed destined to be one of the flag-bearers for Sheikh Hamdan.
“She’s never taken a backward step since that race,” said Angus Gold, Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager. “She is blessed with this extraordinary temperament, which is unusual for a filly of this age.
“She went down to the start on a long rein and went straight into the gates.
“We’ve had a few quiet seasons, and the same amount of effort goes into the good years and the bad years. With a Shadwell filly, it was particularly satisfying.”
The best racehorses can operate under any circumstances and the win highlighted that Taghrooda can be ridden in many different ways. At Epsom she was ridden up with the pace, whereas Hanagan had to hold up his mount because of the initial early pace set by Leitir Mor.
O’Neill took hold of the race by effectively setting the pace behind Leitir Mor, who was little more than an outsider, and he went for the lead on the bend as Telescope made headway under Ryan Moore.
Mukhadram led into the straight and Moore ranged up alongside with 400 metres to go as Hanagan let Taghrooda go for home.
In 200 metres, Taghrooda blew past the two colts and into history.
“She’s right up there and would be the best filly I’ve had over a mile and a half,” trainer John Gosden said.
“If she is in good order, then the Yorkshire Oaks would seem a good place to go, and then it is up to the boss. The Arc would make a lot of sense.”
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:
What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.
Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.
When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.
How do I nominate someone? Through the website.
When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.
Company%20Profile
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
The years Ramadan fell in May
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
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