ABU DHABI // Fernando Jara, the Panamanian jockey, made quite an impression on his two previous visits to the Emirates.
He rode the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Invasor to victory in the 2007 Dubai World Cup in the silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid in his only ride of the meeting.
Jara returned in the 2008/09 season as stable jockey for the Dubai-based trainer Doug Watson and was crowned the UAE champion jockey.
Now he is now back as stable jockey for the UAE champion trainer Musabah Al Muhairi and kicked off his campaign with a winner from his first ride, on the Purebred Arabian AF Al Sally in Abu Dhabi’s opening meeting last Sunday.
“It is nice to be back to a place I love and to be on-board a winner from my first ride on the new job,” said two days after his arrival.
Jara, who turns 28 on December 18, was to join the Oasis Stables last season but some confusion on his paperwork delayed his arrival by a year.
“The important thing is now I’m back and looking ahead, particularly to ride at Meydan, which is similar to the tracks in the US where I have been riding for most of my time,” he said.
Jara rode Invasor to victory at the old Nad Al Sheba racecourse, which was replaced by Meydan in 2010.
The jockey rose to fame after winning the Belmont Stakes on Jazil in 2006, followed by his success on-board Invasor at both the Breeder’s Cup Classic and the Dubai World Cup.
The horses were both trained by McLaughlin for Sheikh Hamdan.
However, the success Jara enjoyed as a teenager also led to his downfall as he became complacent and was taken out from riding McLaughlin’s horses.
His riding career took another blow when he suffered a broken collarbone at Hollywood Park in November 2007. Jara spent the following year riding in Panama.
It was McLaughlin, who spent a decade in Dubai from 1993 and is a three-time UAE champion trainer, who helped Jara to move to Dubai.
The jockey acknowledged his mistakes later in media interviews.
“When I was a little kid, I used to dream all the time of being a jockey and winning those kind of races, but I told myself ‘Maybe when I’m 30 or 40, I might have a chance to ride in one of those races’,” he said. “For all that to happen so quick, it was like it wasn’t real. I think it affected me a little, because sometimes you get kind of big.
“You make a lot of money and get a lot of attention, and you start thinking ‘I don’t need them, I’m the man.’ But it’s not like that.
“I stopped working hard in the mornings; sometimes my agent would get me horses to work and I’d call and say I was sick.”
Jara says all that is behind him and his current focus is on earning the respect of his trainers.
“I took it a bit easy after the success I enjoyed early in my riding career but that was in the past,” he said when asked of his fallout with McLaughlin.
“I rehabilitated myself and that’s when I really enjoyed my time in Dubai.
“I loved the environment and the quality of life.
“Now I’m back in the UAE. It is still very early to think I will be able to ride in the Dubai World Cup, but I’m yearning for that opportunity.
“I hope I get to ride horses like Jazil and Invasor.
“I want to prove that I can do it again.”
That will be a hard proposition because some of the best horses Al Muhairi has in training are Sheikh Hamdan’s and they will be the choices of the owner’s retained jockeys Paul Hanagan and Dane O’Neill, who rode one of them to a win at Jebel Ali on Friday.
“I am aware of that situation but Musabah has a lot of good horses in training and I will have a fair share,” Jara said.
TWO FEATURES WILL SERVE AS PREVIEWS
The prep races for both the National Day Cup for Thoroughbreds and the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup for Purebred Arabians are the highlights of Sunday night’s meeting at Abu Dhabi.
The Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained Forjatt, winner of the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile in 2013, heads the 14-strong field for thoroughbreds. He was first past the post in the same race last year but was then disqualified. Chris Hayes will ride Forjatt, who will concede weight.
“He is fit and well,” Selvaratnam said. “His penalty will make it difficult, but he will certainly benefit from the run.”
Trainer Musabah Al Muhairi has two entries, with Mustahdaf and Modern History.
Stable jockey Fernando Jara will ride the former in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid.
The owner’s retained jockey, Dane O’Neill, will ride Mundahesh, trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
O’Neill and Al Muhairi team up on Sivit Al Maury, a Group 1 winner in Turkey in September, for the featured Arabians race.
Sivit Al Maury was among the reserves in last week’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, the world’s richest race for Purebred Arabians.
The Nacer Samiri-trained pair Areem and Sha’Red are the main dangers to O’Neill’s mount.
Areem is a multiple Group 1 winner, including the National Day Cup in 2012 and 2013. He was also second last year in the same race.
“On his day, he is a very good horse,” said Wayne Smith, who rides the front-running seven-year-old son of Mahabb.
apassela@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @NatSportUAE
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Switzerland, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Lord Giltters, Adrie de Vries, David O’Meara
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Land Of Legends, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
10pm Dubai Dash Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner Equilateral, Frankie Dettori, Charles Hills.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 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
EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
%3Cp%3ECreated%20by%3A%20Darren%20Star%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Lily%20Collins%2C%20Philippine%20Leroy-Beaulieu%2C%20Ashley%20Park%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202.75%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The%20end%20of%20Summer
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Salha%20Al%20Busaidy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20316%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%20The%20Dreamwork%20Collective%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The years Ramadan fell in May
More on Quran memorisation:
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Story%20behind%20the%20UAE%20flag
%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
