Having picked up two wins from two runs at Meydan, Kabirkhan has raised hopes he can deliver what would be a first success for Kazakhstan in the Dubai World Cup.
All in all, he has won 10 times and finished second on his other start. Success in the $12-million Group 1 race would make him a superstar as well as providing a first success in the showpiece for Doug Watson, the long-serving American trainer based in Dubai.
Kabirkhan faces his biggest challenge at Meydan on Saturday when he comes up against a highly competitive 12-runner field that also includes the defending champion Ushba Tesoro, the $20-million Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador, Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap hero Newgate and the Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up and last year’s UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake.
Kabirkhan, the four-year-old chestnut son of 2016 Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome has continued to impress the racing fraternity.
He won on his first two starts at Meydan, even though Watson remains realistic when he says the horse must step up in class. He does think, however, he can follow his victories over the track and trip on January 12, followed by his Group 1 success in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 just two weeks later.
Kabirkhan and Hero Mo – the only horse to deny Kabirkhan victory with a win at the Russian Derby – moved to Watson’s Red Stables last year.
Kabirkhan avenged his defeat to Hero Mo when he reversed that result by four lengths on his Meydan debut and comes into the Dubai World Cup spotlight following his win in the Al Maktoum Challenge.
“He’s got to step up his game and we think he can,” Watson, the seven-time UAE champion trainer, said of Kabirkhan at Meydan on Tuesday.
“I think what he's shown out there is that he likes the track. I don't have many that work like him. He’s got the pace to be in the race early somewhere and he comes home nicely.”
Watson liked the horse from the first moment he watched him breeze over the trackwork in Dubai.
“We kind of all just looked at each other, and were like ‘wow, this is a pretty nice horse’. Then we saw him win that first handicap pretty well and two weeks later he ran a huge race in the Al Maktoum Challenge. After that win, we really got excited.
“He’s a horse that does everything you want in the morning and in the afternoons. Just looking back the Al Maktoum Challenge, he travelled so well.
“When you look at that race, you see about six or seven jockeys, just scrubbing their horses to get towards the front and he just kind of took Pat [Dobbs, the stable jockey] there.
“He doesn't break particularly well. We did work on that a little bit and I just think it's a kink in him, but hopefully on the night, he breaks well and can put himself in the race and then from there, a little racing luck, and see what happens.”
“I liked him physically by himself, although there were minor flaws,” Nadir Khassanov, the Kazakh agent who made the purchase told The Racing Post.
“In general, I liked his father California Chrome. I watched him when he raced. That year my budget was more than $12,000, I would have given up to $20,000 for him, but that year the prices for California Chrome foals fell and I managed to buy Kabirkhan.”
Kabirkhan began his racing career with Kazakh trainer Turganzhan Yuldashev in June 2022 at the Almaty Hippodrome. He beat just two rivals on his debut on a dirt track.
“He won all his races in Kazakhstan, racing three times for three wins, including in the main race for two-year-olds, the Favourite Prize,” Khassanov said.
Kabirkhan was sold to Kazakhstani owner Tlek Mukanbetkaliyev and was transferred to training in Russia with Arslangirey Shavuyev, where he continued his domination.
“As a three-year-old in Russia he had five wins out of six starts, winning two Derbies [Pyatigorsk and Kabardino Balkaria] but losing the main Derby,” Khassanov continued.
“It's very exciting for us to see him run in the Dubai World Cup. This is a historic moment when our horse performs from Kazakhstan, especially since he has come this far.
“He became a champion two-year-old in Kazakhstan, then one of the best three-year-olds in Russia, and is now winning races in Dubai.”
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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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
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
