A number of US-based trainers have their sights set on the world's richest night of racing as two Breeders' Cup winners are aimed at Dubai's lucrative winter season.
A rush of high-profile winners are making their way to the Emirates to run at the new Meydan track, which opens its doors for the first time on January 28.
Mike Maker, the man behind the shock success of Furthest Land, winner of last November's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is considering a shot at the US$10 million (Dh36.7m) Dubai World Cup on March 27 for his charge.
"We hope he's good enough," Maker said of the five-year-old who triumphed over more fancied rivals in the Breeders' Cup, including Godolphin's third-placed Midshipman for jockey, Garret Gomez, and Aidan O'Brien's fourth, Mastercraftsman under newly-crowned Irish champion rider, Johnny Murtagh.
Connections of California Flag, who won the Breeders' Cup Turf at the same meeting are gearing up for a shot at World Cup night's newest race, the Al Quoz Sprint worth $1m. Run on the new turf sprint, the race compliments the Dubai Golden Shaheen, run this year on the all-weather.
California Flag beat Jenine Sahadi's runner-up, Gotta Have Her at Santa Anita, but was subsequently fifth in the Hong Kong Sprint having tailed off the early pace after making the running. His trainer, Brian Koriner, expects him to recover well for his Dubai campaign though.
"The speed took its toll early on and he lost some weight, but he'll bounce back fast," said the handler. "We've got a long way until March."
Meanwhile, English trainer, John Gosden, has sent four Princess Haya bint al Hussein-owned runners for the Dubai International Racing Carnival.
Charm School, fresh from winning November's Heritage Handicap at Doncaster, joins Invisible Man, Green Beret and Cadre in the UAE.
stregoning@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
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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
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MEYDAN%20RACECARD
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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
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
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Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now