DUBAI // Mastery and Allybar of the Godolphin stables - touted as challengers to the favourite, Gio Ponti, at the Dubai World Cup - were named yesterday in the early fields for the race. Runners will be confirmed at the final declaration stage next Monday, but there are 14 horses from six countries entered for the 15th running of the world's richest horse race on March 27.
Mastery, Godolphin's St Leger winner, and Allybar, the Al Maktoum Challenge Round II winner, are listed in a field headed by Gio Ponti, the favourite and Breeders Cup Classic runner-up. Gitano Hernando, the Marco Botti-trained Goodwood Stakes victor, represents Great Britain, as does Brian Meehan's Crowded House, who won the Group One Racing Post Trophy last year. Henry Cecil's Twice Over, third in the Breeders' Cup Classic, has been pleasing his connections as he prepares in England.
"He is doing very well and is effortless in his work," said Cecil. "I'm trying to time his preparation right and he will go to Dubai a week before the race when his main work will have been done." Gio Ponti, prepared by Christophe Clement, is a four-time Grade One winner in the US and was runner-up in his last three Grade One starts. Richard's Kid, a Grade Two winner, Take the Points and Furthest Land, both Grade One winners, also go to post for the US.
Mike de Kock, without the now-retired Eagle Mountain, the injured horse he had pinned his hopes on at the beginning of the season, still has two runners - the talented Lizard's Desire and Mr Brock. Red Desire, the Japanese filly who won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round III in fine style two weeks ago, takes her chance among the boys for the trainer, Mikio Matsunaga. Other headline World Cup night runners include Sir Michael Stoute's Qatar Prix Foy winner Spanish Moon, who will race in the Sheema Classic.
After an unsuccessful trial on Tapeta, Presvis, the 2009 Dubai Duty Free runner-up and Group One Audemars Piguet QEII Cup-winner, makes a return to turf in the same race this year. The Luca Cumani charge was counted out of the World Cup, his original target, and appeared to have rediscovered his form in spectacular fashion under Ryan Moore in the Group Two Jebel Hatta at the start of the month. stregoning@thenational.ae
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Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%20Profile
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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
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.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
Company%20profile
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Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Specs%20
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Race card
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB), Dh82,500 (Dirt), 1,900m
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB), Dh82,500 (D), 1,200m
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB), Dh82,500 (D), 1,200m
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB), Dh120,000 (D), 1,400m
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB), Dh92,500 (D)1,400m
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB), Dh95,000 (D), 2,000m
