DUBAI: What a difference 12 months makes.
Last year the Saudi Arabian-owned Arrogate thundered to Dubai World Cup glory at Meydan Racecourse.
Here in Dubai on Saturday the world will converge on this most international of race meetings where there is $30 million up for grabs with the Saudi involvement considerably muted.
Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Monarchs Glen bids to keep his owner’s white, pink and green standard flying when Newmarket trainer John Gosden and Frankie Dettori team up with the gelded son of super sire Frankel in the $6 million Dubai Turf.
Earlier on the glittering nine-race card Tallaab Al-Khalediah, owned by Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, will attempt to augment his success at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Horse Festival in January by taking away the Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians.
In terms of Saudi Arabian involvement, that is it.
Monarchs Glen has a fiendishly difficult task if he is even going to make the frame in the 1800-meter contest.
He won a Group Three race at Newmarket in England in October, and will try to land one of the most competitive Group Ones in the world off the back of a layoff since then.
As is customary at this meeting, he faces a myriad challengers from around the world.
Benbatl, the favorite, is owned by Godolphin and trained in Dubai. He is joined in the race by fellow runners from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s stable in Blair House, Leshlaa and Promising Run.
The last two winners of the race, Vivlos and Real Steel, will form a Japanese raiding party that includes the quietly-fancied Neorealism, Crocosmia and Deirdre. Trais Fluors hails from France. Janobi from South Africa. War Decree and Lancaster Bomber from Ireland.
And Prince Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager is under no illusions as to the size of the task facing Monarchs Glen.
“We’re very excited and obviously he has not run since October, which is interesting,” Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to the Saudi Prince, said. “He was looking quite wintry around two weeks ago in a gallop around Chelmsford (in England) but he certainly has lost his coat and has a real sheen on him now.
“He will need to be on the upgrade because he is taking on stiffer opposition than he has ever met. We gelded him last year and his attitude got much better. Prince Khalid likes to race his horses and obviously we have not had many geldings of this calibre recently and he could be interesting. He is a son of Frankel so we definitely plan to carry on with him.”
Away from the Dubai Turf, the $6 million Dubai World Cup takes center stage.
Arrogate became the 11th US winner of what was formerly the world’s most valuable race, which, now back on a dirt surface, has once again taken on the dimension of Godolphin against the Americans.
West Coast represents Arrogate’s trainer, Bob Baffert, who is seeking a fourth win in the $10 million event by also saddling Mubtaahij.
The American attack is completed by Forever Unbridled, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner who is gunning to become the first mare to prevail, with Gunnevera and Pavel bolstering their raid.
Godolphin field dual Group 1 winner Thunder Snow and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Talismanic, who bids to prove his credentials on dirt. Of the domestic challenge, look out for North America who won the key trial three weeks ago for controversial Chechen owner Ramzan Kadyrov.
Baffert has been a mainstay at morning trackwork all week. The indefatigable 67-year-old has wise-cracked his way through almost three hours per day of watching a selection of the 111 horses set to appear on the nine-race card today go through their paces.
On the eve of the race, West Coast, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano, looked a picture as he warmed up at the racecourse on Friday. Baffert was flanked by Jimmy Barnes, his long-time assistant who had flown in overnight.
With Gary and Mary West, the owners of the World Cup favorite, also expected in for their first taste of the meeting, all the building blocks are now in place. The stage is set.
“West Coast has looked strong the whole week and has even filled out,” Baffert said. “He has the natural speed and the mile and a quarter (2000 meters) is his game but he to still break good and get around there. He’s got to get up there and be close to the pace and then kick home. That’s his style. But, this is a mad scramble. The jockeys like to ride to the first turn like there’s a sack of a million dollars there.”
And there is another nine million at the end for the winner, too.
Saudi Arabia guns for more glory with two horses on Dubai World Cup night
Saudi Arabia guns for more glory with two horses on Dubai World Cup night
Holders Barcelona, PSG win through to Women’s Champions League semis
BARCELONA: Barcelona eased to a 3-1 win over Brann on Thursday to set up a repeat of last season’s Women’s Champions League semifinal against Chelsea, progressing 5-2 on aggregate, while Paris Saint-Germain also clinched a place in the last four of Europe’s elite club competition.
Reigning Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati, Fridolina Rolfo and Patri Guijarro struck for the defending European champions in the quarter-final second leg, with Barca targeting a third triumph in four seasons.
Stubborn Norwegian surprise package Brann held their own in a 2-1 first-leg defeat and battled hard at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, but Jonatan Giraldez’s side patiently unpicked them.
Tomine Svendheim’s second-half goal gave a strong traveling contingent reward for their noisy support, but Guijarro, who scored twice in last season’s final, killed off any chance of an unlikely comeback.
Barcelona, who beat Chelsea 4-0 in the 2021 final, have now reached the semis for six consecutive seasons.
“I think like last year it will be a very equal tie,” Barca coach Giraldez told reporters.
“(Chelsea) have invested a lot and have a high quality squad.
“For sure we will see a great semifinal, they are in great form — but so are we.”
Bonmati broke the deadlock brilliantly after 24 minutes, wriggling free on the edge of the box and bending home beyond the reach of Brann goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen.
Barcelona grabbed their second on the night when Caroline Graham Hansen glided inside effortlessly and her blocked cross sat up nicely for Rolfo to tap home in the 56th minute.
The Swedish winger, who scored the winner for Barcelona in last season’s thrilling final against Wolfsburg, has returned from her knee injury with three goals in seven games despite playing at left-back.
Brann then pulled a goal back when Svendheim stole in behind Lucy Bronze and slid a low effort into the far corner after a long drive forward by Signe Gaupset.
Rolfo struck the post for Barca and Guijarro then sealed the win with a tap-in after the vibrant Graham Hansen picked the locks again and put the ball across the face of goal.
“We came here and we pushed them,” said Brann coach Martin Ho.
“We didn’t want to come here and lay low for the whole game, we wanted to make it a challenge.”
In Paris, the home side built on a 2-1 quarter-final first-leg win away to Hacken by beating the Swedish side 3-0 at the Parc des Princes to progress 5-1 on aggregate and set up a semifinal against domestic rivals Lyon.
Impressive Malawi striker Tabitha Chawinga, the top scorer in the French league this season, gave PSG the lead on the night just before the half-hour mark, firing a shot in off the far post on her left foot after collecting a pass from Marie-Antoinette Katoto.
They doubled their lead on 70 minutes as a long-range strike by Korbin Albert sailed into the top corner.
Albert, a 20-year-old midfielder, is a rising star in the US but is at the center of a brewing storm over controversial social media posts which have drawn a strong response from American great Megan Rapinoe.
PSG’s third goal arrived soon after that as Katoto headed in from a Sakina Karchaoui cross for her fifth goal in this season’s Champions League.
The result means there is guaranteed to be a French side in the final in Bilbao in May, with PSG and Lyon meeting in the semifinals next month.
They also clashed in the last four two years ago, when Lyon went on to win the trophy for a record-extending eighth time.
Lyon, who beat Benfica in the quarter-finals, are currently seven points ahead of PSG at the top of the French league.
Al-Ahli crowned champions of inaugural Saudi Women’s Cup
- They defeated Al-Shabab 3-2 in a thrilling final at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Thursday night
RIYADH: Al-Ahli have been crowned the inaugural Saudi Arabian Football Federation Women’s Cup champions, after defeating Al-Shabab 3-2 in the final of the competition at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Thursday night.
Al-Ahli forward Ibtissam Jraidi, who scored the first two of her team’s goals, in the 18th and 50th minutes, was named player of the match. Teammate Naomie Kabakaba added a third in the 53rd minute as Al-Ahli continued to dominate.
However, Al-Shabab mounted a late comeback attempt, beginning with a penalty converted in the 68th minute by Oriana Altuve. Chaima Abbassi added a second in the 88th minute. But in the short time remaining they could not get the third goal they needed to pull level.
The final marked the culmination of the new 16-team Women’s Cup’s inaugural competition, which began in November. The federation introduced it to increase the competitiveness of women’s football in the country, amid rapid development of the women’s game worldwide.
UEFA will listen if Euro 2024 coaches want larger 26-player squads to lessen risks from injury
- Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said this week the number of injuries in modern soccer meant it was absurd to return to the traditional squad size of 23
- “A workshop with the participating teams will be held on April 8 and on that occasion UEFA will listen to the views of the coaches,” the European soccer body said
NYON: European Championship organizer UEFA said on Thursday it will listen to national team coaches if they want bigger squads of 26 players instead of 23 for the tournament in Germany.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said this week the number of injuries in modern soccer meant it was absurd to return to the traditional squad size of 23.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased 26-man squads were allowed by UEFA at Euro 2020, a delayed edition played in 2021, and at FIFA’s 2022 World Cup.
If players were isolated for health reasons, their replacements were already in camp and complying with the mandatory protocols.
UEFA decided last year on 23-player squads for Euro 2024.
It will host coaches and officials from the 24 teams in two weeks in Duesseldorf, Germany.
“A workshop with the participating teams will be held on April 8 and on that occasion UEFA will listen to the views of the coaches,” the European soccer body said. “Any idea in this respect will then be considered and assessed.”
Koeman wants his national federation to ask UEFA for an increase and noted this week “you have to deal more with injuries these days.”
“It is about the load carrying ability of the players,” Koeman said on Tuesday after his team’s 2-1 loss to Germany, suggesting host team coach Julian Nagelsmann agreed.
England coach Gareth Southgate said there had been a “little bit of talk among some of the coaches” to ask for 26.
Southgate said he did not plan to pressure UEFA for an increase, though acknowledged the extra numbers would lessen the risk of selecting preferred players who carried injuries.
“We’ve been able to give people time,” said Southgate, who is taking England to his fourth major tournament as the coach, “but with 23 that’s definitely more difficult.”
It is unclear how many of the 24 coaches want a larger squad that would include more players likely not getting game time on the field.
Euro 2024 is from June 14-July 14 in 10 German cities.
‘Very special’ Parag powers Rajasthan Royals to IPL win over Delhi Capitals
- Parag, who reached his 50 off 34 balls, cracked 25 runs with three fours and two sixes off the final over
JAIPUR: Riyan Parag’s unbeaten 45-ball 84 propelled Rajasthan Royals to 185-5 and sealed a 12-run win over the Delhi Capitals in IPL on Thursday.
Rishabh Pant-led Delhi won the toss and chose to field first and maintained a stranglehold over the game until the second half of the Royals’ innings.
Rajasthan lost both their explosive openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (five) and Jos Buttler (11) early and even batting mainstay, captain Sanju Samson, failed to convert his start and fell for 15.
With the team reeling at 36-3 in the eighth over, Rajasthan promoted India’s spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who built a crucial 54-run partnership with Parag.
Ashwin scored 29 off 19 balls and took the team to 90 before he was dismissed in the 14th over by India teammate Axar Patel.
Parag, who has been criticized in previous IPL seasons for his rash shot selection, kept the scoreboard ticking until after the 17th over.
The 22-year-old put together another key partnership with Indian wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel (20).
Parag, who reached his 50 off 34 balls, cracked 25 runs with three fours and two sixes off the final over bowled by South African paceman Anrich Nortje.
He was ably supported by West Indian Shimron Hetmyer, who hit an unbeaten seven-ball 14 that propelled the team to an impressive 185-5.
Samson praised player of the match Parag.
“Wherever I go, people ask me about him. There is something very special he can give to Indian cricket,” he said.
Patel was the standout bowler for Delhi and finished with 1-21 in his four over spell.
Delhi started their chase well with Australian openers Mitchell Marsh and veteran David Warner.
Marsh was removed after a 12-ball 23 in the fourth over by South African quick Nandre Burger, who also removed Ricky Bhui (0) in the same over.
But that didn’t stop Warner, who took the team to 59-2 at the end of the powerplay.
He was removed in the 12th over after a well compiled 34-ball 49, falling to young India fast bowler Avesh Khan.
Delhi subsequently fell behind the run rate before a late innings counterattack by South African Tristan Stubbs who finished with an unbeaten 23-ball 44.
Avesh bowled a tight last over to seal a 12-run victory.
Leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal finished his three overs with 2-19 while Burger had 2-29.
Losing captain Pant said that he was “definitely disappointed.”
Pant, who hopes to make a comeback to the Indian team after his long injury layoff ahead of the T20 World Cup this summer, made 28 off 26 balls.
“The best thing to do from here is to learn from it,” he added.
Pochettino taken aback by Chilwell’s starts for England after injury
- Chilwell last started for Chelsea on March 2 against Brentford and has played just a few minutes for the London club since then
- Chelsea currently have nine players ruled out of Saturday’s Premier League match with Burnley
LONDON: Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said Thursday he was surprised Ben Chilwell started two games for England during the international break after the defender only recently returned from a knee injury.
Chilwell last started for Chelsea on March 2 against Brentford and has played just a few minutes for the London club since then, as a late substitute in the FA Cup against Leicester.
Nevertheless, the 27-year-old featured for the whole of England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday, three days after spending 67 minutes on the field in a defeat by Brazil.
Chelsea currently have nine players ruled out of Saturday’s Premier League match with Burnley at Stamford Bridge, with several others to be assessed following international duty, including Chilwell — who suffered a blow to his knee against Belgium.
“He didn’t play after Brentford, then he played only a few minutes against Leicester,” said Pochettino. “(Then) he started two games (for England).
“It’s a surprise for us. It’s bad luck because he got a dead leg in the last moment against Belgium. Now we need to assess if he can be available.”
Enzo Fernandez, who played twice for Argentina in the United States during the break, will also have his fitness monitored ahead of this weekend’s match.
Chelsea confirmed earlier this week that Romeo Lavia would be out for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old midfielder who joined Chelsea from Southampton in pre-season for an initial £53 million (62 million euros), has managed just 32 minutes of first-team action this term following ankle and thigh problems.
“It’s a difficult situation for him,” said Pochettino. “He’s sad. He only played 30 minutes, for a new player at the club.
“When we signed him, he arrived with problems. He couldn’t train with us for the first months. Then when he was ready he suffered a problem in his feet.
“He recovered, he played 30 minutes then got injured in December. Then he didn’t have the possibility to train. It’s really sad news.”
But leading scorer Cole Palmer could face Burnley, with the 21-year-old having not featured in either of England’s recent games.
“I talked with him,” said Pochettino. “He’s a little bit disappointed because he couldn’t play with the national team.
“The first game he had a small problem,” the Argentinian added. “He thought maybe he’d play the second game. Now he’s OK, is training well. The plan is he will be available for Saturday.”
Chelsea are 11th in the table, with Burnley in the relegation zone.