Christophe Soumillon had already used the giant television screen at Meydan once to good effect, and he needed it again when he partnered Dolniya to victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday.
The French mare led home a one-two for France in the US$6 million (Dh22m) contest to confirm that her win over Flintshire in a prep run at Chantilly 26 days ago was no fluke.
At the line, Dolniya was two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up and Breeders’ Cup Turf hero, while Japanese Derby winner One And Only was third.
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It was a second win on the night for Soumillon, after he enjoyed an arm-chair ride on Mubtaahij to win the UAE Derby. It was when he had glanced up at Meydan’s giant screen that he knew Mubtaahij had won, but this time the TV relayed that a few more taps were required before victory was in the offering.
“When I arrived at the screen I saw Flintshire coming quickly on the outside, and when I gave her a few smacks she reacted well,” the Belgian rider said.
It was a third win of the Dubai World Cup Carnival for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. Cladocera, who finished sixth in the Dubai Turf, had won the Cape Verdi and Balanchine this season, and Dolniya put the icing on the cake for the Chantilly handler, who registered his first success on World Cup night.
Fillies or mares have won five of the last seven Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes, and Royer-Dupre has Paris in October firmly in his sights.
“We have to think about the Arc, but she is better on good going like at Meydan, where the ground is excellent, rather than soft ground,” he said.
Dolniya became the third mare to win the Sheema Classic in six runnings at Meydan, after Gentildonna last year and Dar Re Mi in 2010, and looks right out of the top drawer.
The race was run to suit her, however, and the slow pace up front ensured that the accent was on fleetness of foot, rather than grinding stamina over the 2,400 metres.
As soon as the gates opened, Soumillon and Dolniya leapt to the front, but they soon settled behind the pace set by Andrea Atzeni and Just the Judge, the British mare.
Cristian Demuro and One And Only were third, while Maxime Guyon kept Dolniya in his sights on Flintshire in fourth.
Halfway through, Rajiv Maragh used up too much petrol to get Main Sequence into a more prominent position, but once the leaders hit the straight they accelerated and left those held up in the dust.
For Soumillon, his first win in the Sheema Classic was particularly sweet. Rarely does the 5ft 7in (1.72m) rider sweat down to 54.5 kilograms, but Dolniya was worth the effort.
“Usually when the gates open, she stays in the gates for one of two seconds,” he said. “I prepared her really well and she jumped out really quickly. I was surprised to be out in front so fast.
“I made a big effort with my weight to ride her, so it paid off.”
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Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Handicap | Dh85,000 | 2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap | Dh70,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
