ABU DHABI // After producing two winners in the opening race day in Abu Dhabi, Eric Lemartinel and Gerald Avranche, the trainer-jockey combination, are expecting another back-to-back success in tonight's six-race meeting in the capital.
Lemartinel, who won the opening race of the Al Wathba Stud Farm series, saddles Neferman in the Maiden race run over 2,200m, the second race of the series. Samira De Carrere goes 30 minutes later in the Saddiyat Handicap.
"It is their first outings in more than seven months but they really are fancied on the strength of the races they have run last season," Lemartinel said. "They have done their homework well and go into the races in good shape."
Neferman has not won in seven starts but drops back from Group 3 company for tonight's Maiden. Samira De Carrere made a winning bow in Abu Dhabi and placed second in the next two starts, including the UAE Arabian Derby.
Lemartinel has nine entries in five races and also expects good efforts from Albar Lotois and AF Maqam Alezz, his two runners in the second race, the Corniche Handicap, in which Sahib De Clos, the UAE Arabian Derby winner, looks the one to beat.
Sahib Du Clos makes a quick reappearance and should be fancied in the second race. Last year's UAE Arabian Derby winner ran an eye-catching second behind the classy Shadiyda in the final race of the Sheikh Zayed Cup series last Sunday, and should prove too good in the one-mile handicap.
The Saifaldeen Deeb-trained Kerbella colt will be ridden again by Richard Mullen, who can complete a double by claiming the solitary prize for the thoroughbreds on the Satish Seemar-trained Eddie Jock in the final race.
apassela@thenational.ae
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed CVT
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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
