Sport IN Uae – 5Uae.com

For many years it has been the bane of many a budding, or established, tour player’s life – “the woes of the wand” – putting! My inspiration this week came from the European Tour website, which said that the Argentine rookie Estanislao Goya, who last week landed his maiden tour victory at the Madeira Islands Open, performed an act on the greens reminiscent of the feats undertaken by the Houdini – nothing short of a miracle!

Having studied his stats it brought a wry smile to my face and the faint glimmer of hope that perhaps there is possibly an easier way to recapture the hope and dreams I had left behind many, many years ago.

That was it – all of a sudden the game was easy; a simple game, which required you to keep your ball inbounds with whatever style you could fashion (as long you could give it a reasonable prod off the tee) and just pop the thing in the hole with a god-like putting action whenever you got a sniff of the flagstick.

You see – anyone can do it! You don’t have to be a talented ball striker – that’s over-rated. Why bother putting all that practice in on the range? Just use every hour under the sun (and floodlights for that matter) with a little wand in your hand and off you go.

Genius! Putting has indeed broken many a future star. It is the singularly most annoying aspect of the game, just because it requires the simplest action. There are no hazards to worry about, no out of bounds – there isn’t even the added confusion of getting the ball airborne. With the act of putting requiring the least amount of body movement of any shot in the game – why does it continue to bring golfers to their knees?

Goya, with his mediocre, wayward drives and erratic approach shots, doesn’t know what all the fuss is about. Look at his stats – 47.9 per cent of fairways hit (34th), average drive of 288.8 yards (39th) and 52.8 per cent of greens in regulation (37th) are the kind of numbers you would expect to see at the end of the field on a lesser-ranked pro tour, but this was the European Tour and he won.

Compare that to Carlos Del Moral of Spain, who finished 70th of the 74 players that made the cut (23 shots behind Goya), with stats of 52.1 per cent fairways hit (24th – 10 places higher), average drive of 298.3 yards (20th – 19 places higher) and 62.5 per cent of greens in regulation (eighth – 29 places higher). But if the stats that really count – average putts per round – Goya is first with 25.0 and Del Moral is 50th with 32.7.

On putts per green in regulation Goya is sixth with 1.670 and Del Moral is 49th with 1.974. We all know what Carlos should be doing this week don’t we! And after 23 years of whacking golf balls senselessly up and down driving ranges around the world, I have finally found the secret. See you all on tour – I’ll be the guy on the putting green.

DUBAI – Seventy-six pairs of golfers took to the Majlis and Faldo courses at Emirates Golf Club for the 17th Indian Invitational, but in the end there could be only one double act out in front in the betterball stableford tournament (¾ handicap).

And it was Mick and Lee Brett’s impressive 43 point total that gave the single-figure handicappers victory by a single point. The event is played to an unusual format where competitors play either both front nines or both back nines of the Faldo and Majlis courses.

For the Bretts it was the two long back nines of the respective championship courses they had to tackle (total par 74) and their superb effort saw them return a card of three-under par 71.

The birdies soon began to fly in, with threes recorded at the 14th and 16th holes of the Majlis course followed by further birdies on the 10th and 13th of the Faldo.

The only dropped shot in 18 holes came with a four on the par-three 11th on the Majlis course. Suresh Subberwal and Madhu Sharma secured second place with 42 points over the back nines to pip Bob Knott and Veneet Mohan, who were tackling the arguably tougher front nines, into third place on countback. The event raised Dh20,000 for the club’s junior staff.

Other Results

Two front nines

1 Anand Lakhiani and Pts Jamshed Batliwala 41

2 Bhupesh Sharma and Jignesh Sangani 39

3 Charles Pardhanani and David Phillips 39

Two back nines

1 Kourouche Achtari and Humayun Shahryar 42

2 Nancy Wingate and Gordon Wingate 42

3 Phillipe Urasch and

Dubai – Bradenton Preparatory Academy, the renowned US school that paved the path to stardom for the likes of Monica Seles and Andre Agassi, is now looking to emulate its track record in the UAE.

And it has already taken the first step towards that by setting up shop at the $4 billion, 50 million square feet purpose-built Dubai Sports City.

The school, which opens this September, is bringing along its famed policy of encouraging students to develop their sporting and other artistic talents in addition to studying a flexible academic programme.

Modern facilities

Once out of the classroom, students will have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art facilities at Dubai Sports City Academies Campus, which is situated adjacent to Bradenton Preparatory Academy.

In a chat with XPRESS, Dubai Sports City Academies Manager Jeff O’Brien revealed future plans of having a boarding programme for talented athletes where a select few members will be granted scholarships by Bradenton upon committing to graduate through the school.

“The reason we got them on site is their ability to develop a curriculum that’s flexible,” said O’Brien. “That names such as Tommy Haas, Andre Agassi, Monica Seles have come through their ranks, you know from that they have a flexible programme, and that’s the key.” O’Brien added: “Scholarships is another way we can give back to the community.

But don’t expect that from the first year itself. We need to be mindful of the fact that what we are opening here is very unique and we face a lot of challenges in the opening days.” Dr Lois Gerber, the school’s founder, insisted though that the institution’s primary aim is “not to produce great athletes but great kids”.

She said: “It’s important for parents to understand that whatever their child learns never goes to waste, even if they don’t make it to the top in their respective sport. But what we do is present them with the opportunity and take them as far as they can reach.”

DUBAI – Saturday’s $6 million Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race and final renewal of the 10-furlong dirt event to be staged at Nad Al Sheba, is set to be contested by the largest ever field with 14 declared.

Former UAE Champion Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin won this race in 2007 with Invasor for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and this year the pair combine with likely favourite Albertus Maximus, to be ridden by Alan Garcia.

A winner at the Breeders’ Cup for previous connections, he was purchased by Shaikh Hamdan and arrives here having won the Donn Handicap. Invasor was also a Breeders’ Cup winner with a Donn Handicap victory en route to the World Cup, as was inaugural World Cup winner Cigar, to name but two.

McLaughlin has been pleased with his stable star since landing in the UAE. “I arrived earlier this week but the horse has been here longer and has pleased everyone,” he said. “He has taken the trip well and settled in nicely. He is in good shape and we are hopeful.”

Second favourite is likely to be Asiatic Boy, winner of the UAE Triple Crown (the only horse to have completed that treble), culminating in the UAE Derby on this night two years ago. Last year he chased home Curlin in the world Cup and won the Maktoum Challenge III over the Nad Al Sheba course and distance last time out.

Trainer Mike De Kock is upbeat and said: “This has been his target since last year’s race and he should be spot on come Saturday. “He has been brought along steadily and has hopefully peaked at the right time.

He should run a big race.” Third last year was the Eoin Harty-trained Well Armed and he too should put up a bold show with conditions to suit. Snaafy, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi, is a first runner in the race for his trainer but he too is Shaikh Hamdan-owned and Richard Hills, who combined with the owner to win the race in 1999 on Almutawakel, takes the ride.

He has won his last three starts at the Dubai International Racing Carnival but is stepping up markedly in class. Hills said: “He deserves this chance and is improving at the right time. It is a tough race but he will stay which I am not sure all the others will.”

That does not apply to Happy Boy representing another new trainer to the race in Mubarak Bin Shafya and a first ride for Ahmad Ajtebi. He was second in the last two rounds of the Maktoum Challenge and Ajtebi said: “He has thrived as the campaign has gone on and can hopefully run a big race but it will be a tough contest with such a big, quality field.” The first two rounds of the Maktoum Challenge were won by Godolphin’s My Indy and he was rested from Round III, won by Asiatic Boy.

He is another who seems to be progressing and trainer Saeed Bin Surour said: “We are looking forward to running him. He improved a lot over the summer and was working very well before his first win. He has continued in great form and should put up a bold show.”

YOUR DAY AT THE RACES

2PM Apron Views opens

2 PM-4.45PM BurJuman Style Stakes registration

4.30PM Pick Seven competition closes

5PM RACE 1 DUBAI KAHAYLA CLASSIC ($250,000, sponsored by Emaar)

5.05PM Preliminary judging Style Stakes Lady – Style Arena

5.40PM RACE 2 GODOLPHIN MILE ($1,000,000, sponsored by Etisalat)

5.50PM Dubai International Racing Carnival presentations

5.55PM Preliminary judging Style Stakes Couple

6.15PM RACE 3 UAE DERBY ($2,000,000, sponsored by Al Naboodah)

6.20PM Final Style Stakes judging and presentation

6.55PM RACE 4 DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN ($2,000,000, sponsored by Gulf News)

7.10PM Finest Surprise Draw (Paddock lawns)

7.30PM Dubai World Cup Opening ceremony

7.55PM RACE 5 DUBAI DUTY FREE ($5,000,000, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free)

8.40PM RACE 6 DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC ($5,000,000, sponsored by Nakheel)

8.50PM Skywards ‘Thanks a Million’ Draw (Style Arena)

9.30PM RACE 7 DUBAI WORLD CUP ($6,000,000, sponsored by Emirates airline)

10.15PM Pick Seven and Al Basti Equiworld draw winners announced.

11.30PM Closes

Four ways to win on the big day

There are big prizes on offer at Nad Al Sheba. PICK SEVEN and tricast Pick the winner or 1-2-3 of each of the seven races for cash prizes. Entry forms are free at gates and must be placed in the collection boxes before 4.30pm.

SKYWARDS ‘THANKS A MILLION’

Dh20 (or Dh100 for six) buys you a ticket for a chance of winning a million Skywards miles to use on Emirates flights.

That’s the equivalent of 25 Dubai-London returns! Tickets from Skywards stand.

DUBAI WORLD CUP ‘FINEST SURPRISE’

Dh500 buys you one of just 2,000 tickets into the draw to win a Bentley Continental Flying Spur. al basti equiworlD lucky draw Complimentary ticket can win you up to Dh5,000 cash.

World Cup roll of honour (Year, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, Time)

2008 CURLIN S Asmussen R Albarado 2:00.15

2007 INVASOR (Arg) K McLaughlin F Jara 1:59:97

2006 ELECTROCUTIONIST (USA) S Bin Surour L Dettori 2:01:32

2005 ROSES IN MAY (USA) D Romans J Velazquez 2:02:17

2004 PLEASANTLY PERFECT (USA) R Mandella A Solis 2:00:24

2003 MOON BALLAD (Ire) S Bin Surour L Dettori 2:00:48

2002 STREET CRY (Ire) S Bin Surour J Bailey 2:01:18

2001 CAPTAIN STEVE (USA) B Baffert J Bailey 2:00:47

2000 DUBAI MILLENNIUM (GB) S Bin Surour L Dettori 1:59:50

1999 ALMUTAWAKEL (GB) S Bin Surour R Hills 2:00:65

1998 SILVER CHARM (USA) B Baffert G Stevens 2:04:29

1997 SINGSPIEL (Ire) M Stoute J Bailey 2:01:91 1996 CIGAR (USA) W Mott J Bailey 2:03:84

Dubai: The UAE national soccer team leave Beijing on Thursday to Pyongyang as they get set to meet North Korea on Saturday in the 2010 World cup qualifiers group B.

The team arrived in Beijing last Friday for a six- day training camp which ended yesterday. They trained on astroturf – the surface which will be used for the qualifier.

The UAE team beat Chinese second division club Pengin University on Tuesday 3-0, in their second and last warm-up match.

Mahmoud Khamis opened the scoring for the UAE on 19 minutes with Esmail Mattar adding a second on 37 minutes. Esmail Hammady completed the victory on 66 minutes.

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UAE coach Dominique Bathenay’s line-up included Ali Khaseef, Haydar Allo Ali, Mohannad Salim, Hamdan Kamali, Mohammad Faiz, Abdul Rahim Juma, Abdullah Mal Allah, Sultan Barghash, Khamis, Mattar and Hammady. He made three substitutions bringing on Obaid Taweela, Saif Mohammad and Faris Juma.

The UAE had defeated Penginhonda club, also from the second division, 2-1 on Monday in their first warm-up.

Ahmad Khalil scored first on 18 minutes with Mattar hitting the second in the 84th minute. The Chinese goal came from the spot on 72 minutes.

Bathenay played Majid Naser, Faris Juma, Mohammad Qasim, Hamdan Kamali, Walid Abbas, Mohammad Ebrahim, Abdullah Mal Allah, Nawaf Mubarak, Saif Mohammad, Ahmad Khalil and Mohammad Shehhi. The coach made one substitute in the 78th minute when he brought on Mattar in place of Khalil.

The UAE need to win their remaining qualifying games against North Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Iran if they are to progress, but three of the matches are away.

The UAE have one point from four matches, while South Korea top the group with eight points.

North Korea are second with seven, Iran are third and Saudi Arabia are fourth with four points.

Dubai: With a strong contingent of Japanese media present during Tuesday morning’s track work at Nad Al Sheba, Yutake Take was certainly the star after his workout with Vodka, a strong contender for the Dubai Duty Free (Group 1).

After an impromptu but well-organised media briefing for the nearly 30-strong Japanese media contingent, Take told Gulf News one of his dreams was to ride for Godolphin.

“I have been a regular here and the Dubai World Cup is the biggest event for me. But I also do hope that I get picked to ride for Godolphin Stables. It is a dream to wear the blue silks of Godolphin,” said Take, who has already tasted success three times on Dubai World Cup night.

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In 2001, Take won the Dubai Sheema Classic on Stay Gold for trainer Yasua Ikee. In 2006, he won the Godolphin Mile on Utopia for Kojiro Hashiguchi. And in 2007, he rode Admire Moon to victory in the Dubai Duty Free for trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda.

“Vodka is running in the DDF for the third time and she was spot on during her work today,” Take said.

The jockey is also set to ride the Akio Adachi-trained Bamboo Ere in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Dubai: One of the big hopes for the Godolphin Mile (Gr 2) is American challenger Informed, who made a dramatic entrance on to the Nad Al Sheba track yesterday morning, performing a series of almost Lipizzaner-like leaps before spurting into his 1 ½-mile gallop, approximately 2400m.

But assistant trainer Leandro Mora and exercise rider Tony Romero gave the five-year-old son of Tiznow good grades for the day.

“He was way better this morning than he has been,” Mora said, “and he looks great.” “What can you do?” Romero said with a smile when asked about how he deals with the fractious horse.

“Only a couple of more days to go.”

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Mora said he believes Informed has a big chance to win the Godolphin Mile. He added he would have liked to have seen Informed in the Dubai World Cup as he has improved since being claimed by trainer Doug O’Neill last summer.

“I love him; I really thought he could have fitted with the Dubai World Cup field because he’s competed with some of the best at Santa Anita,” Mora said. Second by only a nose to Cowboy Cal in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Handicap on January 10 at Santa Anita Park, Informed also has raced against Dubai World Cup contenders Albertus Maximus and Well Armed.

Informed clearly is at his best at a distance approximate to that in the Godolphin Mile– all four of his career victories have been recorded at 1 1/16 miles – approximately 1700m.

Local hope Golden Arrow cantered on dirt this morning, watched by his trainer Erwan Charpy, who said: “Golden Arrow did his last piece of fast work on Saturday and I was very happy with him. He’s a light little horse and so he doesn’t need much, especially as he’s been racing all season.”

Stablemate Blue Ksar was meant to be lining up too but the trainer explained: “On Monday his foot just swelled up and this isn’t the kind of race that you can go into any less than 100 per cent.”

Art of War, Lucky Find and Brave Tin Soldier all contest the Godolphin Mile for Mike De Kock but the South African fears the Godolphin duo.

He said: “Two Step Salsa and Gayego are going to be hard to beat but our three are well. Art of War has thrived on his busy campaign and we ran Brave Tin Soldier in a sprint to sharpen him up last time.

“Lucky Find should be staying on at the end and hopefully we can get some prize money from the race but winning it will be tough.”

Dubai: It’s been so long that Tim Poole can’t exactly remember when he began working for trainer Nick Zito.

“I’ve lost count; maybe 22 or 23 years,” Poole said after Zito’s Dubai World Cup hopeful, Anak Nakal, galloped yesterday morning. “I knew Nick when he was working for Johnny Campo and I was riding horses for my dad, who trained.”

Poole, 57, is Zito’s main assistant, and travels the New York, Kentucky, and Florida racing circuits. While working for Zito, a Hall of Fame trainer and the conditioner of two Kentucky Derby winners, Poole has trekked around the United States extensively, but had never gone aboard until this trip.

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For Poole, the Dubai journey was something he looked forward to after a very emotional winter. He recently lost his wife of 34 years following a long illness. Zito, who Poole said is like a family member to him, told his assistant to take as much time away from the job as he needed. But Poole thought work was the best medicine for him.

“Nick told me that I could take a year, two years off,” Poole said. “He did tell me he was planning on bringing [Anak Nakal] to Dubai and said, ‘You’re my first choice to go with the horse, if you feel up to it.’ I thought the trip sounded like a good way to move back in the saddle.”

Poole, a grandfather of two, said the experience thus far has been delightful.

“They do everything first-class here,” he said. “His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s [Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai] passion for horses and racing is evident. Everyone here is making it really easy to not want to go home. Let’s put it this way: if I was 20 or 30 years younger, I might not make the plane going home.”

Dubai: The trainer of Japanese raider Bamboo Ere is hoping for a dream run in this weekend’s Dubai Golden Shaheen during the Dubai World Cup night.

“I’ve been dreaming of competing in Dubai and now this dream is finally a reality,” Akio Adachi told Gulf News at the Nad Al Sheba racecourse on Tuesday.

Prior to travelling to Dubai, Bamboo Ere’s last race was at the February 26 Stakes held in Tokyo. The Japanese horse settled in mid-pack throughout the turf race, but failed to accelerate on the stretch to finish eighth in front of a crowd of 70,000 enjoying the first JRA G1 race of the season.

It was sixth favourite Success Brocken who stole the show that night while holding off Casino Drive by a neck, and Kane Hekili a head behind.

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Since then, the Bamboo Bokujo-owned horse has made the long trip to Dubai in the middle of March and also kept good condition during the build-up to the race.

And trainer Adachi did not see the need for the horse to travel early and take in a couple of prep races.

“The Dubai World Cup is such a big race night and it is a honour to be here,” Adachi insisted.

Saturday will be the first time ever that Bamboo Ere will be racing on dirt.

The Japanese horse’s connections thought this was the perfect stage to launch the aspirations of a champion.

“Since then, the horse has had a great opportunity to prove to us what he is capable of,” Adachi said.

“He likes the warm weather out here and now on it all depends on the horse’s condition,” he said.

Asked to tip the favourite for the Golden Shaheen, Adachi said: “There are some very strong horses and it will be hard to beat them. I think any of them can win.”