After more than three decades of success, Zabeel Stables are moving to a new location at Meydan.
Overlooking the Dubai skyline, with landmarks such as the world's tallest building the Burj Khalifa in the background, Zabeel offered a unique experience the moment you arrived, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
While the operations are moving to a new location, Zabeel is a special place that will remain close to trainer Bhupat Seemar's heart.
“To leave Zabeel with a Dubai World Cup as well as both the trainers' and jockeys' championship was the crowning glory. It was a good send-off and it was beautiful. I have spent 21 memorable years [there] but life has to move on,” Seemar said in an exclusive interview with The National.
Seemar is grateful to Dubai Racing Club for “doing a wonderful job” on the facility at Meydan, with even better amenities than they had at Zabeel.
“They are still putting in everything that we've had in Zabeel. So, there's a lot of work going on there. It’s going to be a wonderful facility. Green Stable is the biggest stable at Meydan,” he said.
“We have a large number of horses and that’s the most suitable stable. I'm thankful they've offered this to us.”
Seemar landed the $12 million Dubai World Cup with Laurel River in the silks of Juddmonte Farms.
He completed a Group 1 double with that win following Tuz's triumph in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen earlier in the evening.
Seemar rounded off the season with a second UAE Trainers' Championship title just three years after he received his trainer’s licence.
It was an incredible season for him. The Dubai World Cup has made Seemar an international star; he served his apprenticeship as an assistant to his uncle Satish Seemar for over 18 years, having spent six years in the USA with four-time Dubai World Cup winner Bob Baffert.
Zabeel also saw stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea clinch a record-extending 12th UAE championship after riding both Seemar's Group 1 winners on Dubai World Cup night.
Success at the Dubai World Cup and in the trainers' championship last week, however, hasn’t quite sunk in yet.
“When I wake up in the morning, I pinch myself and ask if I am the World Cup-winning trainer. These things don't happen that often. So, yeah, I have to say it is a super special season,” Seemar added.
“To win the Dubai World Cup and completing a Group 1 double on the night, and then round off the season with the trainers' championship was really, really amazing.”
Seemar's work for next season is already gathering steam with a busy schedule shopping for new bloodstocks.
“We went to the horse sale in Dubai and sold a few,” he said. “I'm going to do some shopping from April 14. I'm going to the UK for the Craven Sale. I’ll touch base and fly to Deauville in France and from there will fly to the USA and Ireland.
“There’s going to be plenty of shopping this summer, busier than last season. Actually, I've been quite busy in the summer in the last two years anyway. I need to restock to fire again for the next season.”
Seemar is yet to discuss plans for his Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River with the owners.
“At the moment, we are all enjoying the moment. We still have another two, three weeks to think about what we're going to do,” Seemar said.
“They were very supportive. They know their pedigrees in and out. They told me there's a lot of stamina in his bottom side, from the female side of his pedigree. Obviously they would have discussed it with the owners and they gave it the go ahead.
“I'm very thankful to all these clients from all over the world, and especially Juddmonte, who had the faith in me and the trust to train their horse; the rest of the clients who have horses with us on the field to make us the champion trainer and a very hard-working staff who make everything possible.”
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Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
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Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
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Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Founded: 2017
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Sector: Travel & tourism
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Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
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Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
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Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
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Monday
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
The burning issue
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On sale: Now
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Day 3, stumps
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Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
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What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
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Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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