Godolphin will be hoping to finish their Royal Ascot festival campaign on a high when they bid for the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes, the highlight of the fifth and final days meeting on Saturday.
The Royal Blues are double-handed with Creative Force and Naval Corner, both trained by Charlie Appleby, in the 27-runner six-furlong dash.
Creative Force, winner of the Group 1 British Champions Sprint over the track and trip in October, is the choice of the trainer’s first choice jockey William Buick.
Creative Force and Naval Crown finished first and second in the seven-furlong Group 3 Jersey Stakes 12 months ago.
Naval Crown, the mount of James Doyle, broke the seven-furlong course record on his first outing of 2022 in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan in January.
He produced a huge performance to finish fourth on his first try over six furlongs in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup Night, a race in which Creative Force trailed home down the field.
“Creative Force was a bit disappointing in the Al Quoz Sprint but it was his first run back in sprinting company after a break,” Appleby said of the four-year-old Dubawi gelding on Godolphin's website.
“He definitely benefitted for that run and looks fantastic. Naval Crown ran a fine race on his first sprint appearance in the Al Quoz.
“There is a big difference from racing over seven furlongs compared to six but he seemed to handle it well. They will go hard and fast over the stiff six at Ascot, which will bring his stamina into play.
“Creative Force probably has the bigger challenge in stall one, as there doesn’t look to be the strongest pace angle around him, but as usual we will leave it up to the jockeys to decide their races.
“Some cut in the ground would have been ideal for both, but they have form on a quick surface and turn up fit and well.”
Challenging the Godolphin pair are a host of speedsters that include the Chris Waller-trained Home Affairs, Wesley Ward’s American raider Campanelle, and Owen Burrows Minzaal in the silks of Shadwell.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
Specs
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Torque: 985Nm
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
