Saeed bin Suroor suffered several reverses on Thursday but the master of Al Quoz could be in line for better in the two cornerstone races to the seventh Dubai World Cup Carnival card at Meydan on Saturday night.
The UAE 2,000 Guineas and the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes over the same dirt 1,600 metres will be the stage on which the long-standing Godolphin handler will try to regain the momentum after his setbacks.
Bin Suroor built up a head of steam on Thursday with two good winners in Top Score and Alabaster, but with the UAE 1,000 Guineas there for the taking he missed his chance.
Really Special lost the opening Classic of the UAE season almost as soon as she exited the stalls. The overwhelming favourite was squeezed for room and bumped early on and eventually was fifth to the impressive Saudi Arabian filly Nashmiah.
The experience will always be embroidered by the memory of Best Of Times, too, who suffered a fatal injury in the concluding handicap.
From such adversity heroes are made, however, and Bin Suroor holds excellent claims in both showpiece events on Saturday night.
He takes the wraps off the deeply impressive Thunder Snow, the only colt in the field who can boast a Group 1 win.
Just over an hour beforehand Confrontation will bid to become the first horse since Bin Suroor’s Skysurfers in 2011 to win the Firebreak Stakes back to back.
In October, Thunder Snow thumped Group 3 winner South Seas by five lengths in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.
According to the season-ending European Classifications he is the fourth best juvenile in Europe behind Coolmore’s Churchill, the Queen Mary winner Lady Aurelia and French colt National Defense.
Despite Thunder Snow being the best horse in the 11-runner field, Bin Suroor sounded a note of caution concerning Christophe Soumillon’s mount. He also saddles Best Solution.
“I’m pleased with his preparation,” the trainer said. “His latest piece of work on Monday went very well. It will be his first run on the dirt, so we will need to see how he copes with it.
“He is improving all of the time and is 85 per cent ready to go on his first start of the year.”
Bin Suroor sits alongside fellow Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby at the top of the Carnival trainers’ standings on seven wins, but his Marmoom Stables counterpart leads due to countbacks.
Fly at Dawn has already proved he can handle Meydan’s dirt when he beat Saturday night’s rival Cosmo Charlie in the trial a fortnight ago.
According to official handicap ratings William Buick rides the stable first string, while Mickael Barzalona attempts to double down on Thursday’s 1,000 Guineas win aboard Appleby’s maiden winner Capezzano.
Fly At Dawn has a tricky task from Gate 11, but his trainer is upbeat. “The step back up to a mile is going to suit him,” Appleby said.
It may be Godolphin versus Godolphin once again, but Thursday reminded us that anything can happen in horse racing.
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Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
NO OTHER LAND
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
