DUBAI // Olivier Peslier, the four-time French champion jockey, is to eschew his usual winter campaign in Japan to ride at Meydan instead.
His presence at the Dubai International Racing Carnival, which launches on January 28, brings yet another big-name jockey to a much-anticipated 2010 season.
Peslier, 36, is a permanent fixture among the jockey jet-set and one of a handful of riders known as "Concorde jockeys" for their lucrative, globe-trotting careers.
Frankie Dettori will be kept busy riding for Godolphin while Richard Hills maintains his position as Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's No 1, but there will nevertheless be an embarrassment of options for trainers looking to secure the services of the world's elite.
After a superb season riding for Sir Michael Stoute, Ryan Moore, who has been crowned England's champion for the second consecutive year will be back, as will Irish champion, Johnny Murtagh, who was Aidan O'Brien's jockey during the summer.
Kieren Fallon, the comeback king, makes the trip and will be attached mainly to Luca Cumani's stable, while Henry Cecil's jockey, Tom Queally, who won five Group Ones this year, is also likely to make the trip.
The usual quotient of top US and Australian jockeys will also be desert-bound once trainers from their part of the world confirm attendance.
Peslier holds his head high among a roll-call of the world's top-10. He claimed seven wins at the recent Hong Kong meeting, including the Group One Hong Kong Cup, on possible Dubai World Cup contender, Vision D'Etat.
"I have travelled the world to ride in races and I am very excited to see the new Meydan racecourse," he said. "Many jockeys have been keeping an eye on the development."
Peslier, who made international headlines when he steered home three consecutive Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe winners, Helissio, Peintre Celebre and Sagamix from 1996-98, is no stranger to the UAE. He claimed the country's premier Arabian contest, the Dubai Kahayla Classic on Magic de Piboul in 2001.
But he has been absent in recent years, preferring to ride in Japan where he has a large and loyal following.
Arriving in Dubai on January 20, Peslier said Stephane Chevalier would be helping him with his bookings. Chevalier is assistant to Saudi Arabia-based American trainer, Jerry Barton, who won the US$2million (Dh7.3m) Dubai Golden Shaheen last season with Big City Man. Peslier will be riding some of Barton's horses, which are owned by Saudi's Prince Sultan al Kabeer.
"I have a few things lined up," said Peslier, who could also ride for Alain de Royer-Dupre. "I have some interesting opportunities to come and I will be free to pick up other rides once I am there. I am in Dubai for the whole season, from the opening of Meydan to Dubai World Cup day so we will see what happens."
Peslier could be a possible partner to Vision D'Etat in the US$10m Dubai World Cup on March 27 after Libaud confirmed his horse was a likely contender, providing he was happy with the new Tapeta racing surface.
Tiago Pereira, a top Brazilian export, is also on his way to Dubai. The 33-year-old rider, who touches down on January 10, rode 2009 World Cup runner-up, Gloria de Campeao to victory in May's Group One Singapore Cup, denying Cumani's Presvis who was pipped into second under Moore.
Presvis, third to Vision D'Etat in Hong Kong for Fallon, arrived in Dubai last week to start his Carnival preparations.
Pereira rode Brazilian horses, Sushi Bar to seventh in the 2005 Golden Shaheen and was fifth with Kalibanos in the UAE Derby the same year.
@Email:stregoning@thenational.ae
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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 Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
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Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic
John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
