Sir Alex Ferguson, pictured here at the 2022 Punchestown Festival, is in Bahrain with Spirit Dancer. PA
Sir Alex Ferguson, pictured here at the 2022 Punchestown Festival, is in Bahrain with Spirit Dancer. PA
Sir Alex Ferguson, pictured here at the 2022 Punchestown Festival, is in Bahrain with Spirit Dancer. PA
Sir Alex Ferguson, pictured here at the 2022 Punchestown Festival, is in Bahrain with Spirit Dancer. PA

Sir Alex Ferguson bids for one more title with Spirit Dancer in Bahrain


  • English
  • Arabic

Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the greatest football managers of all time, is more likely to be seen at a racetrack than in a tracksuit nowadays as he indulges in his other great passion in life: horses.

He is currently in Bahrain where the horse he co-owns, Spirit Dancer, a son of the legendary Frankel, competes in the kingdom’s showpiece race, the $1 million International Trophy on Friday afternoon.

This is the first time he has been back to Bahrain since 1986 when, having just taken over as manager of Manchester United, he brought the squad to the Gulf to train and play a Bahrain Select XI to celebrate the birthday of a member of the Royal family.

And Ferguson has nothing but praise for the transformation he has witnessed in the Kingdom in the intervening years. He is loving the experience.

“It has been fantastic here," Ferguson said on Thursday morning while watching his gelding being exercised. “The facilities are great and I think that in five or six years this will be one of the top places in the world for racing.”

Such praise and endorsement from a sporting legend will be music to the ears of the organisers, the Bahrain Turf Club, of a race which in only five years has risen to Group 2 status and for this renewal has attracted its best ever field from around the world.

Ferguson recalled he was drawn into racing as a young boy, remembering Saturday mornings with his father studying the form. “That was when the seed was set,” he explained.

He began to take it seriously rather than just a hobby about 25 years ago when there was an international break in the football season.

“I said to my wife Cathy, ‘Why don’t we go to the races?’,” Ferguson said. “She replied, ‘Where did you get that from?’.

“We went to Cheltenham and met two great Irish men, Dessie Scahill who did the commentaries in Ireland, and John Mulhern, a trainer and owner who was a wonderful man. I got hooked on it. I bought a horse with Jack Berry and I have now got 32.”

Sir Alex Ferguson is attempting to break new ground when his horse Spirit Dancer lines up in the Bahrain International Trophy on Friday. PA
Sir Alex Ferguson is attempting to break new ground when his horse Spirit Dancer lines up in the Bahrain International Trophy on Friday. PA

Racing helped to act as a distraction from the stresses of chasing titles and cup glory in the high-pressure world of football.

“It is a fantastic sport for me in terms of a release for me from the football,” he told Racing TV.

Ferguson explained that he was more sanguine about success and failure in racing.

“I leave my competitive element to football,” he said. “I never question the trainer or get upset if the horse loses. It is a different sport.

“I can’t tell a horse what to do but at least I could tell my players what to do,” he joked in reference to the famous ‘hairdryer’ treatment he on occasion felt he had to dish out to his team.

“In that respect, I am not a critical judge. I enjoy being at the races and of course, if it wins, you’re excited, particularly in big races.”

Spirit Dancer has a special place in his affections as he was homebred at the stud he now owns in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.

“He was the first product, a son of Frankel from Queen’s Dream. We have done well in the stud,” he added.

The four-year-old is trained by Richard Fahey at his yard in Malton, North Yorkshire.

“We’ve had a great season with him but it’s a tough race,” said Fahey. “It’s more like a Group 1 than a Group 2 in the Middle East. I’m very happy with him, we’ll just see what happens.

“Sir Alex has enjoyed him this year. You can tell he’s getting a buzz out of him. To be fair to him, he’s been patient, and he’s getting the rewards for his patience.”

Fahey shares Ferguson’s enthusiasm for what Bahrain has to offer.

“It’s great to be a part of it, Bahrain has been very good to us and fingers crossed we can finish in the first four.”

The favourite and class act in the field is Godolphin’s Nations Pride, trainer Charlie Appleby’s winner of Group 1 events in Germany and Canada already this year. He skipped an appointment at the Breeders’ Cup to run in Bahrain. He will be ridden by William Buick.

Aidan O’Brien runs Point Lonsdale with Ryan Moore on board. The four-year-old who was highly regarded by Ballydoyle has shown signs of coming back to form this season. Another one who could figure is Birr Castle trained by Andre Fabre in France.

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Blah

Started: 2018

Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and talent management

Initial investment: Dh20,000

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 40

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

PROFILE BOX

Company name: Overwrite.ai

Founder: Ayman Alashkar

Started: Established in 2020

Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai

Sector: PropTech

Initial investment: Self-funded by founder

Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

WWE Super ShowDown results

Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title

Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship

Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns

Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party

Randy Orton beats Triple H

Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley

Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal

The Undertaker beat Goldberg

 

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
RACE CARD AND SELECTIONS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m

5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m

6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m

6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m

7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m

 

The National selections

5pm: RB Hot Spot

5.30pm: Dahess D’Arabie

6pm: Taamol

6.30pm: Rmmas

7pm: RB Seqondtonone

7.30pm: AF Mouthirah

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

Updated: November 17, 2023, 7:02 AM`