It is four years since Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s blue-and-white Shadwell Racing silks were last seen crossing the line to victory in a European Classic. Bethrah’s Irish 1,000 Guineas win in 2010 remains Sheikh Hamdan’s last major Group 1 winner.
Since he became champion owner in Britain in 1990 – the first time of four – never has he experienced such a drought at the top table in the northern hemisphere, with at least one horse securing honours at Group 1 level every year up to Bethrah’s success.
It is understandable that breeding and racing operations ebb and flow but for a man who, before this slump, had enjoyed nothing but success for the best part of two decades, it must be a frustrating period.
Yet, this could all come to a glorious end at Epsom tomorrow where Sheikh Hamdan will be represented in the English Oaks by Taghrooda and Tarfasha.
The duo are widely considered two of the best chances in the 2,400-metre classic and headed the final field of 17 after yesterday’s final declarations.
If one of those two fillies fails to prise open the gates to the winners’ enclosure, Sheikh Hamdan has ample opportunities to secure Group 1 honours later this month at Royal Ascot, which he is expected to attend for all five days.
There, at the world’s most lavish race meeting, Sheikh Hamdan has a strong chance of snapping the losing sequence with Soft Falling Rain, who worked at Newmarket racecourse this week in preparation for the Queen Anne over a mile on June 17.
Mukhadram, the Dubai World Cup runner-up, is slated for a clash with Treve in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes the following day, while Aljamaaheer, who was second in the Queen Anne last season, bookends the meeting on June 21 when he drops in distance to contest the Diamond Jubilee Stakes over 1,200m.
Sheikh Hamdan again was named champion owner at the end of the UAE season, and his trainers in Britain are sending out horses at a winning rate of 23 per cent.
With six of the top 20 juveniles, according to English rating service Timeform, in his stables it appears that the good times are just around the corner.
Angus Gold, who has Richard Hills ably assisting him in his role as racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan, was upbeat at the prospect of a strong European season.
“We have had three quiet seasons and this season is already better than the last three,” Gold said.
“I don’t think anybody could put their hand on their heart and say why we have had a few lean years.
“You are always looking for the Classic winners and the Group 1 winners; it is what the sport is all about. We have a better spread of horses this year, unlike in previous years when we have relied on a flag-bearer.
“When you are producing a lot of home breds there is always going to be a few quiet years.”
Of the six juveniles that have made Timeform’s cut, the four that have Gold dreaming of glory at Ascot include Mukhmal, who made the running from the worst draw at Chester a month ago and looks tailor-made for the Norfolk Stakes, the unbeaten duo of Adaay and Muhaarar, and John Gosden’s Kasb.
“This year’s two year olds are much the best lot I have seen since I have been here,” Gold said.
“When I first saw them in March they were – to look at and combined with their pedigree – much the best ever. And they are by the sires that give you a chance: Teofilo, Shamardal, Dansili, Oasis Dream and Dubawi.
“We have got more decent chances at this stage before the Royal meeting than we have had for a very long time.
“Ascot is the biggest stage; it is amazing how the meeting has grown.
“Everybody wants to have winners at Ascot, and with the Qataris now involved, it seems to have gone to another level.”
Gold joined Sheikh Hamdan’s racing operation in 1987 as it was really beginning to soar.
Shadwell Farm, in Lexington, Kentucky, had just been built; Queen Elizabeth’s exceptional brood mare Height Of Fashion had been acquired; and two years later Nashwan sliced through the British Classics with ease, picking up the English 2,000 Guineas, the Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
With the considerable help of Hills, Gold oversees about 320 horses in Europe for Sheikh Hamdan, as well as horses in America, South Africa and those scheduled for Dubai.
Last season, Sheikh Hamdan had horses lodged with John Gosden, Mark Johnston, William Haggas, Marcus Tregoning, Richard Hannon, Sir Michael Stoute, Roger Varian, Brian Meehan, Charles Hills, Ed Dunlop and Mike de Kock in England, with Dermot Weld and Kevin Prendergast in Ireland and Jean-Claude Rouget, John Hammond, Freddy Head, Francois Rohaut and Carlos Laffon Parias in France.
That was in addition to the roster of trainers in Dubai. It is no wonder, then, that Gold needed Hills’s help with calling the trainers every day for updates.
Sheikh Hamdan and Gold speak almost daily by phone and Hills takes care of collating the feedback after each day’s racing from Paul Hanagan, who has been the retained rider since 2012 and is based in Newmarket, and Dane O’Neill, who is Hanagan’s deputy and is based 225 kilometres away in Lambourn.
Also read: Angus Gold’s picks for Epsom
Hills may no longer run four miles a day as he did when he was a jockey, but he rides out every day in Newmarket and, every two weeks, makes the trip to Lambourn with Hanagan to ride Sheikh Hamdan’s horses based in the area.
“I have a very good working relationship with Paul,” said Hills, looking no different to the day he hung up his boots.
“I don’t think he needs my advice or anything, but I think it is good to be able to talk through races – I used to talk to my brother Michael all the time. It is good to get another perspective on races, who is possibly going to be on the pace or whatever.”
Having Hills to provide his opinion after riding work puts Gold in a stronger position. In debates with trainers his words have greater gravitas and his updates for Sheikh Hamdan are more deeply informed.
Hills, who won the Oaks for Sheikh Hamdan in 2005 with Eswarah, has ridden Taghrooda in work and feels that she has all the qualities to provide Sheikh Hamdan with a third victory in the fillies’ Classic. The first was Salsabil in 1990.
“She goes about her work and is not flashy,” Hills said. “She only does what you ask of her.
“You get these horses that want to win every gallop but she’s much more laid back. She has won both of her races, which is all you can ask of her.
“People forget that Eswarah had only two runs before she won the Oaks. I never compare generations but she has done everything right, and is showing the right signs and feels right.
“She is a well-balanced and strong filly – you wouldn’t want to get a kick from her.
“At Epsom you need to travel. Lack of speed can put you into trouble and she has the right blend of speed and stamina.”
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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
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
Mountain%20Boy
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Results
2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)
2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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 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
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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More on animal trafficking
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
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.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
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
