Bhupat Seemar has taken an easier route for his Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River's first run of the season after scooping the $12 million prize last March.
The Zabeel Stables trainer has the seven-year-old son of Into Mischief lined up in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes run over the 1,600-metre trip in the Fashion Friday Dubai Carnival meeting at Meydan on Friday.
It was a similar race, the Group 3 Burj Nahar over the trip and track, that had his Saudi Arabian owners promptly supplementing him for the World Cup.
The plan this time around is to have a go at the $20 million Saudi Cup in February and a title defence back in Dubai in April.
“In my opinion, it’s always better to start shorter and build up. I didn’t want to train him for ten furlongs (2,000m) now as that’s a lot of extra work,” Seemar explained.
“Our goal is the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup, so this is just a prep. He’s ready for it, he’s doing very, very well. He’s as fit as he can be without having had a race.”
Laurel River is ideally drawn in gate 4 and takes on nine others including a couple of winners over the track and trip in their last starts – Meshtri and Crown Estate.
The Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 is the official feature of the meeting, and it has drawn 12 entries including last year’s winner Kabirkhan.
The Doug Watson-trained five-year-old by the 2016 Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome won twice at Meydan before being unplaced in the Dubai World Cup last March.
He spent the summer in the US and is back in Dubai to be reunited with Watson, who said: “The team at WinStar Farm did a really good job with him over the summer. He seems a bit stronger this year. We’re looking forward to him.”
An interesting runner in the race is the Group 1 Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval being tried for the first time on dirt.
“Connections were keen to run him in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but I was not so tempted and thought the QEII [second to Charyn] was a better race for him,” his handler Jerome Reynier said.
“The plan was to send him to Dubai for the winter and try him on dirt before the big race (Saudi Cup). He’s training really well on the surface, but it will be a very different scenario with the rhythm and the kick-back and everything.
“If he copes with conditions he will go for the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup, but if he’s not in the first three he’ll go for the Singspiel Stakes on Super Saturday and then the Dubai Turf.”
Imperial Emperor, two from two for owners Deva Racing and since switching to the Meydan dirt, takes a notable step up in grade here.
“He’s up in distance and class,” said Seemar, who also runs the impressive Listed Entisar winner Walk Of Stars.
“It’s unknown territory as he’s only gone a mile before for us. He’s improved every run and taken to the dirt like a duck to water.
“We’ve come through the handicap ranks and we’re going in a big race now. He’ll have to get his big boy pants on and prove he can do it. From this race onwards, we’ll find out if he’s a World Cup horse or not."
Tomorrow 2021
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
FINAL SCORES
Fujairah 130 for 8 in 20 overs
(Sandy Sandeep 29, Hamdan Tahir 26 no, Umair Ali 2-15)
Sharjah 131 for 8 in 19.3 overs
(Kashif Daud 51, Umair Ali 20, Rohan Mustafa 2-17, Sabir Rao 2-26)
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Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
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“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.
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Explained
Defence review at a glance
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When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
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The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
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Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
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Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
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Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
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Tomorrow 2021
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
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