It took more than two decades for Tadhg O'Shea to win the Dubai World Cup.
And having realised that dream with the Bhupat Seemer-trained Laurel River in the silks of the Saudi owners Juddmonte Farms last year, the Irishman is hoping that he does not have to wait that long for another, come April 5.
With Laurel River out of the race after a training setback, the UAE-based jockey has a tough decision to make in choosing the right horse of the two Zabeel Stables entries in the $12 million race run over the 2,000-metre dirt track at Meydan.
O'Shea must decide between Walk Of Stars and Imperial Emperor, on whom he won the Group 2 Al Maktoum Classic on Super Saturday to claim a direct spot in the Dubai World Cup.
Before that, he steered Walk Of Stars to win the Group 1 Al Maktoum – ahead of Imperial Emperor.
However, Walk Of Stars was subsequently unplaced behind Japan’s Forever Young in the $20 million Saudi Cup last month even though he was an impressive winner over Imperial Emperor before that over the 1,900m distance at Meydan.
“I’ll have to decide which horse to ride of the two after a final spin close to the Dubai World Cup. Hopefully, I’ll be atop the right horse on the day,” O’Shea told The National.
“The Dubai World Cup is a prize that I always dreamt of since I made my base in Dubai. Firstly, just be in the race, and finally to win was an absolutely proud moment.
“It has opened my eyes to wanting to win another one because I know how long it took me to finally win it. So hopefully I don’t have to wait long for the next.”
O’Shea is a true legend of the turf in the UAE with records that will be hard to beat. He already has 12 UAE jockey’s titles and is the all-time leading rider in the country with 826 winners.
He also has the honour of being only the second jockey after Richard Hills to win both the Dubai World Cup and the Dubai Kahayla Classic, the unofficial Dubai World Cup for the Purebred Arabians.
O’Shea rode Eric Lemartinel’s Mizzna in the silks of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed to win the Kahayla in 2008, which incidentally was his first Group 1 career success.
He won the prize again on Ernst Oertel’s AF Maher for Emirati owner breeder Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah in 2019.
“The first time I won on Mizzna, I was led into the winner’s enclosure by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, although it was owned by Sheikh Mansour,” he said.
“It was he who provided me with the opportunity to come and ride in the UAE as part of a scholarship award for the Irish champion apprentice in 2001. So, I’m forever indebted to him for what I have achieved.”
After a memorable Dubai World Cup last year, winning two Group 1 prizes with Laurel River and Tuz in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, O’Shea has six rides this time around.
He kicks off with Oertel’s AF Maqam in the silks of Al Naboodah in the opening Arabian showpiece followed by the first of five rides for Seemar, Trafalgar Square, in the Dubai Gold Cup.
Of the two Zabeel Stables runners in the Godolphin Mile, O'Shea is likely to ride Mufasa oover Galactic Star in the UAE Derby, and Tuz in the Golden Shaheen.
“Tuz is an amazing horse. He’s been a great horse for the whole stable and beautifully prepared every time by Bhupat and the team,” O’Shea said of the eight-year-old Oxbow gelding.
“It looks a very good race with the Breeders' Cup and Saudi Cup winner Straight No Chaser in there. Tuz may to have to put on his extra-fast shoes. So, we're looking forward to it. He's probably better this year than he's ever been, so long may it continue.”
For O’Shea, who is completing his 24th season in the UAE, it has been an incredible journey.
In the jockey’s championship race, he is currently four winners behind Silvestre De Sousa. He has the Dubai World Cup meeting followed by Al Ain and Abu Dhabi in April 10 and 12 respectively to overtake the Brazilian and win a record-extending 13th UAE title.
De Sousa rides for Emirati trainer Musabah Al Muhairi as well as for Yas Racing, which is the Purebred Arabian powerhouse of Sheikh Mansour.
“He's got a lot of rides to choose from and very good horses, so makes my life hard,” O’Shea said.
“Looking back, to win the jockey’s title was always the dream when I was sitting seventh or eighth and ninth and 10th in the standings in those early days. My goal was to be in top spot one day, so to win 12 now, it's pinch yourself stuff.”
Despite the success, O’Shea remains one of the busiest riders and is as hungry as ever.
“Look, I have a great will to win,” he said. “You need a very good work ethic. You need to be very, very dedicated. And you need to be very hungry for success. So all of those contributions are still intact.
“So, yeah, as I said, it's been an amazing journey. It's been an amazing city. And let's hope we can get a few more World Cup winners on the CV and a few more jockey’s championships.”
O’Shea is aware how difficult it is to reach the career highs that he has – and then stay there.
I've been very lucky ... my wife and kids are fully committed to me and the sacrifices I have to make from time to time
Tadhg O’Shea
“I suppose it's like the alpha male in any pack in the wild,” he added. “If they get the top spot they don't like to let it go to another alpha. So it makes me get up in the morning and remain hungry and remain motivated.
“I ride for great people and you know their horses are turned out impeccably well and I try to steer them around and have as little mistakes as possible.
“It's been a great journey and I've met some lovely people over the years and I seem to have a great following, especially when I'm winning.
“So we're very grateful for all the support and I really do think with support like this it does motivate me going forward.
“I've been very lucky; my wife Debbie and two kids Darragh and Aaron are fully committed to me and fully committed to the job I have and the sacrifices I have to make from time to time. And without a good family behind you, it's not possible either.
“I don't know if my kids, now 12 and 14, will become jockeys, but they're super interested in it. They really get behind me now, and they're very knowledgeable in all the horses I'm riding, which makes it great, because we've always something to talk about in the O'Shea household.”
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The five pillars of Islam
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Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Race card
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB), Dh82,500 (Dirt), 1,900m
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB), Dh82,500 (D), 1,200m
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB), Dh82,500 (D), 1,200m
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB), Dh120,000 (D), 1,400m
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB), Dh92,500 (D)1,400m
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB), Dh95,000 (D), 2,000m
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
