ABU DHABI // Ernst Oertel missed out on a clean sweep of the races for the Purebred Arabian juveniles, but was happy to go home with two of the three prizes, including the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship.
Adrie de Vries, deputising for the suspended stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea, was on-board both the winners, Fatat Al Arab in the Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic and Nymphea Du Paon in the Listed race.
In between, the Dutchman was runner-up on Molahen El Alham in the Abu Dhabi Colts Classic in Sunday night’s six-race card at the capital’s racecourse.
“They are very nice fillies and ran true to their potential. I was a little bit disappointed of the colt, though,” Oertel said of Molahen El Alham. “He was green and still a baby. We took the blinkers off because I thought it would help him. It was a mistake.”
De Vries did not have to break much sweat on leading a one-two finish for the Al Asayl Stables trainer in the opener as Nymphea Du Paon trounced her nine rivals, turning the 1,600-metre race into a procession.
De Vries had her in front after the 200m marker and they went clear from there to win by five-and-three-quarter lengths from Swwing (under Ted Durcan) and stable companion Burj Khalifa (James Doyle), a further three-and-quarter lengths down in third.
“She is a very nice filly,” Oertel said. “I haven’t done a true piece of work on her and was a bit concerned of her fitness. She proved me wrong and won well. She will progress from this race.”
Nymphea Du Paon took her career victories to three from four starts and Oertel has lined up the Arabian Triple Crown Round 1 over the course and distance in two weeks as her next target.
“It is over the course and distance and she is sure to progress from her first start for the stables. She should handle any distance from 1,600m to 2,400,” he said.
As well as his two winners, De Vries clinched a second and a third place from the four rides for the Al Asayl Stables.
“I was very fortunate to be on some of the top-notch Arabian juveniles while Tadhg had to stay at home,” De Vries said.
De Vries also led a one-two finish for Oertel in the first race.
“I had her [Fatat Al Arab] placed in a nice position and didn’t have to do much until I took her to the font, and she did it very nicely for me,” he said.
“My second winner [Nymphea Du Paon] on the night did even better. She had plenty of pace and I had no problem in leaving her to do her own way.”
Royston Ffrench on Af Al Hazer came with a strong late run to win the Colts Classic by four lengths from De Vries on Molahen El Alham.
They were both unbeaten in two starts coming to the race and it was the trainer Ibrahim Al Hadhrami’s grey son of Af Al Buraq who maintained his 100 per cent record.
Patrick Cosgrave steered Bayan to win the fourth race, a maiden, and apprentice Noel Garbutt produced a scintillating late run on the Eric Lemartinel-trained Solo Restoreto to win the Al Wathba Stud Farm Cup for the private owners and stables.
Richard Mullen on the Satish Seemar-trained Inthar took the concluding thoroughbred prize from Mutayaser (Ahmed Ajtebi) and Henry Clay (Sam Hitchcock).
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
The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
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Summer special
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
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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.
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
