STARS OF DUBAI WORLD CUP NIGHT AND SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIPS HEAD ROYAL ASCOT INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

  

STARS OF DUBAI WORLD CUP NIGHT AND SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIPS HEAD ROYAL ASCOT INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

 

No fewer than 11 nations are represented amongst the entries for this year's seven Royal Ascot Group One races, released today.

The Hong Kong-trained winners of both Group One sprints on Dubai World Cup night, STERLING CITY (John Moore) and AMBER SKY (Ricky Yiu), are expected to head the early betting markets for the Diamond Jubilee and King's Stand Stakes respectively.

Sterling City is set to take in the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore before a final decision is made on Royal Ascot but if successful there, he would be racing for the US$ 1 million bonus at Royal Ascot, having already won Dubai's leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

The bonus is payable to the connections of any horse successful in three of ten legs of the Global Sprint Challenge. The next leg is the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore on 18th May, followed by the two Royal Ascot sprints and the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on 12th July.

The USA is represented in the initial entries for the King's Stand Stakes by ANCIL (Joan Scott), who broke the five-furlong track record when winning at Tampa Bay Downs in March. Trainer Joan Scott is expected to be the first lady trainer from the United States to saddle a runner at Royal Ascot.

South Africa's SHEA SHEA (Mike De Kock), was narrowly denied by fellow entry, Ireland's SOLE POWER (Eddie Lynam), in last year's King's Stand and both are expected to line up again.  

Australia, successful four times in the King's Stand Stakes, is represented by last year's champion three-year-old sprinter ZOUSTAR (Chris Waller), although he is more likely to take up his engagement in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes where in addition to Sterling City, international representation could include North American sprinters OCCASIONAL VIEW (Kenny McPeek) and LAUGH TRACK (Mark Casse).

Occasional View won the Grade Three Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland on 12th April with Canadian-trained Laugh Track just under three lengths behind in third, the last named having been beaten just a neck in the Grade One Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in November.

The Queen Anne Stakes has attracted its most cosmopolitan entries ever, with eight countries represented at the closing stage.

Australia's champion miler SACRED FALLS (Chris Waller) heads the international cast having won the Group One Doncaster Mile on 12th April at The Championships in Sydney. He went on to finish second to the retired It's A Dundeel in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, also at Randwick, the following week.

Hong Kong has three entries headed by ABLE FRIEND (John Moore), second in the Hong Kong Derby over 10 furlongs in March and a winner back over a mile at local Group Two level on his next start. He heads next to the Group One Champions Mile at Sha Tin on 4th May where likely opponents could include fellow Queen Anne entries GOLD-FUN (Richard Gibson), second in the Group One Hong Kong Mile in December and BLAZING SPEED (Tony Cruz), who is a regular in the big Hong Kong races between a mile and 10 furlongs.

South Africa's entry is SOFT FALLING RAIN (Mike De Kock), second in the recent Group Two Godolphin Mile in Dubai, whilst the USA could be represented by GOLDEN TICKET (Kenny McPeek), who dead heated in the 2012 Group One Travers Stakes and was second in the Group One Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile last year.

The USA is also represented by proxy in the Queen Anne through VERRAZANO (Aidan O'Brien), who was fourth in that Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile when trained by Todd Pletcher.

Germany (INDOMITO), France (KENHOPE), and of course Ireland and the UK make up the nations with entries. Richard Hannon has entered Sussex Stakes winner TORONADO, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner OLYMPIC GLORY and 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner, SKY LANTERN, although she is likely to start her year in the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

The Prince of Wales's Stakes will be many people's idea of the race of the week this year with French-trained Arc winner TREVE (Criquette Head) an intended runner pending her reappearance at Longchamp this weekend.

Compatriot and Ascot regular CIRRUS DES AIGLES (Corine Barande-Barbe) and OCOVANGO (Andre Fabre), make up a powerful French entry for the race which also includes a fascinating possible runner from Hong Kong in AKEED MOFEED (Richard Gibson).

Akeed Mofeed, winner of Hong Kong's premier race last year, The Group One Hong Kong Cup, has been forced to miss this weekend's QEII Cup at Sha Tin through injury and also been ruled out of the Singapore Cup in May but has nevertheless been entered for Royal Ascot.

Breeders' Cup Turf winner MAGICIAN and Derby winner RULER OF THE WORLD head Aidan O'Brien's entries whilst others of note include last year's Prince of Wales's Stakes runner-up MUKHADRAM (William Haggas), who was second in the Dubai World Cup in March; last year's Irish Derby winner TRADING LEATHER (Jim Bolger), and Yorkshire Oaks winner THE FUGUE (John Gosden).

There is no doubt that the star name amongst the entries for the Gold Cup is The Queen's reigning champion, ESTIMATE (Sir Michael Stoute), although the favourite for the race is likely to be last year's St Leger winner LEADING LIGHT (Aidan O'Brien) in what could be a fascinating clash between the last two winners of the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.

The USA could be represented by FRAC DADDY (Kenny McPeek), a recent winner at Keeneland, whilst entries have also been received from France, Spain and Germany for Europe's long distance championship.

"We are delighted to see so many continents represented and especially pleased with the depth of entries from Hong Kong after their sprinters stole the show on Dubai World Cup night," said Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing at Ascot.

"The entries from North America look high quality this year too and, in addition to a large contingent from Kenny McPeek at this stage, and the very quick Ancil and Laugh Track, we are expecting No Nay Never (Wesley Ward) to try to supplement his Norfolk Stakes win of last year in the Jersey Stakes. Wesley reports that he is putting together his usual string of two year olds for the trip and Todd Pletcher has also shown interest in sending juveniles this year.

"The new Championships in Sydney got off to a flying start over the last couple of weeks and we are very much looking forward to seeing Australia's champion miler, Sacred Falls, in the Queen Anne Stakes and, of course, Zoustar in the Diamond Jubilee.

"All the big names in the QIPCO 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas are entered for the St James's Palace Stakes and Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot respectively and the picture for those two events will become clearer after the Spring Classics around Europe, as ever.

"Arc winner Treve is the best horse in the world on official ratings so to have her headlining the Prince of Wales's Stakes is obviously excellent news and, needless to say, we will all be hoping to see The Queen's Estimate back to her best in the Gold Cup."

VistaJet Bombardier Claims Landmark Julius Baer Beach Polo Title @BeachPoloCup

VistaJet Bombardier  Claims Landmark Julius Baer Beach Polo Title

·        Worldwide Beach Polo Concept in Dubai for 10^th Anniversary

The Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup Dubai 2014 presented by Cadillac, was claimed tonight (Saturday) by an 8-4  VistaJet Bombardier victory over the title sponsors, following two days of furious polo action on the sand, marking the 10^th year since the popular polo event was created.

 

The beach polo concept, which owes its origins to an idea brought into being by Dubai-based mamemo productions in 2004, has travelled the world since the inaugural tournament in Dubai. It now returns to its original host city for a special floodlit anniversary renewal, supported by Dubai Sports Council.

 

The on-pitch drama played out between four select teams over two evenings on a purpose-built arena at Skydive Dubai in front of an enthusiastic polo crowd. There was no lack of on-field rivalry during  the grand final as the results from day 1 pitted brother against brother in a fight for the coveted title.

 

Rashid Al Habtoor, the Dubai Polo Club chairman, had led his side, Julius Baer to victory in 2013, while his brother, Mohammed Al Habtoor, patron of winners,  VistaJet Bombardier is no stranger to Beach Polo triumph, having claimed the first three Dubai-based tournaments from 2004-2006.

 

Julius Baer appeared to hold a strong hand having set up their final round clash thanks in no small part to the prodigious Argentine goal-scorer, Juan Cruz Geuvara, a six-goal handicap, who scored all of his side’s goals in their opening day 8-11 defeat of Lindt Master Chocolatiers.

 

Yet his potency was contained by VistaJet Bombardier in the final. Instead the winning side’s Argentine professional,  Guillermo Cuitino, also rated six, possessed the magic mallet, scoring all bar one of his team’s goals. That performance was good enough to see Cuitino named the Cadillac Most Valuable Player of the tournament.  And it was accomplished Emirati, Habtoor Al Habtoor, himself a stand-out player of the tournament, who notched once in opening chukker for VistaJet Bombardier.

 

The game began evenly enough with scores tied 1-1 after the first chukker, yet VistaJet Bombardier soon lay down the gauntlet, emerging from the second chukker 3-2 up and capitalising on their advantage in the third to go into the final period with a three-goal lead for 5-2.

The fourth chukker saw a flurry of goals from both sides, with the undaunted Julius Baer side refusing to go down without a fight. They clawed back a valuable two goals, but it was too little too late as Cuitino, firmly in attacking mode, scored a further three times to give his side the 8-4 victory.

 

VistaJet Bombardier patron, Mohammed Al Habtoor said: “I was on the winning team for the first three renewals of Beach Polo although we lost it last year in Dubai, so to win against such strong opponents, who were also the defending champions, is a fantastic end to the UAE polo season. It’s great to lift the trophy in the 10 ^th anniversary year. We are very happy with this result.”

 

The Maradiva team won the third-place playoff following a 9-6 victory over Lindt in the early game of the evening.

 

The way Julius Baer saw off the challenge of Lindt on Friday may have persuaded many that they were the ones to watch. They fought back from a first-chukker one-goal deficit in their opening match to finally emerge 8-11 winners.

 

Lindt had started well, going into the second chukker with the score 3-2 in their favour. But Guevara soon made his mark on the game, answering Lindt’s two second-chukker goals with four of his own to add to his brace from the opening period. Going into the third chukker with Julius Baer 5-6 up, Lindt notched once more  and so did Guevara and despite a fourth-chukker goal from Lindt, Guevara put another two balls between the posts for a final score of 8-11 to the title sponsors.

 

Lindt’s goals came from two of their three players, with Piero Dillier scoring once and the prolific Lucas Labat getting his name on the score sheet seven times.

  

Meanwhile VistaJet Bombardier set up Saturday’s grand final meeting with Julius Baer after seeing off first-day rivals, Maradiva in a close-fought 9-7 encounter. VistaJet Bombardier benefitted from a potent combination of Argentine point man, Guillermo Cuitino and Emirati ace, Habtoor Al Habtoor, who each scored five and four times respectively. Every Maradiva player made it onto the score sheet, with Maxi Malacalza notching five while Stuart Wrigley and Mohammed Bin Drai both claimed one apiece.

VistaJet Bombardier always appeared to have the upper hand coming out of the first chukker 3-2 up, but their opponents refused to let them relax. Maradiva  fought back to even the score for 5-5 in the second chukker and both sides scored twice in the third chukker, to go into the fourth and deciding period at 7-7. It was during the concluding chukker that VistaJet Bombardier pulled ahead, scoring two decisive goals to set up path into the grand final clash.

 

The showpiece event, attended by almost 6,000 people across two days, brings the curtain down on the UAE’s competitive polo season. It was supported by the attendance of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Sultan‎ bin Hamdan Al Nayhan, Dr Ahmed Al Sherif, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council as well as visist from actors  Tyrese Gibson and Michelle Rodriguez.

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Sam Katiela, Beach Polo organiser and founder of mamemo productions said:  “We are very ‎proud of the success of this event. Over the last decade this concept has really put Dubai and the UAE on the top of polo world map.

 

“We have been able to stage a world-class event, organised, managed and created by companies in the UAE and this is a formula which has been transported all over the world. We feel that this special 10th anniversary celebration of Beach Polo really does justice to the popular concept and we’d like to thank everyone involved in making this weekend possible.”

 

The two-day extravaganza was officially opened on Friday evening with a spectacular opening ceremony display and the first game began when a member of the Skydive Dubai team parachuted into the arena with the official match ball. The event  also featured an auction in aid of the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs, with much interest generated by team sponsor, Lindt Master Chocolatiers’ donation of a specially-created piece of chocolate art.

 

@BeachPoloCup World class players promise top polo action at season’s final tournament

·         Beach Polo Cup 2014 marks 10th anniversary of unique polo concept

Spectators at this weekend’s Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup 2014 presented by Cadillac will be treated to a feast of furious beach-side polo as some of the world’s best players take to the sand for a two-day spectacle of the sport at its best.

The Beach Polo Cup concept, created ten years ago in Dubai by mamemo productions, takes on a new dimension with teams playing out their rivalries under floodlights for the first time. The tournament is supported by Dubai Sports Council.

Four teams of three players will vie for supremacy on the specially-created Beach Polo Arena, located for the first time at the impressive Skydive Dubai complex, in Dubai Marina on Friday April 11 and Saturday April 12. While international competitors are flying in, many of those on the pitch will be familiar foes, having clashed during the UAE polo season this winter, adding to the underlying sense of rivalry that exists among the UAE’s close-knit polo playing community. 

Indeed, some will even be family members, meeting for the final time in the domestic polo season, further heightening tensions in the arena.

Julius Baer Team, the title sponsors, have it all to play for, having claimed the 2013 Beach Polo Cup. They are led by team patron, Rashid Al Habtoor, the chairman of Dubai Polo Club. A vastly-experienced international player, who plays off a zero handicap, Al Habtoor is joined on the field of play by his son, Khalaf Al Habtoor, also a zero handicapper. The hugely-talented and renowned Argentine professional, Juan Cruz Guevara, rated six, makes up the threesome.

The Julius Baer side’s Al Habtoor duo face hot competition from another Al Habtoor father-and-son combination, representing the VistaJet Bombardier Team. Patron Mohammed Al Habtoor (0 handicap) and Habtoor Al Habtoor (0) are joined by six-handicapped player, Guillermo Cuitino in their bid to wrestle the champion’s trophy from the other branch of their family.

Maradiva Team, made up of patron, Saeed Bin Drai (0), Mohammed Bin Drai (0) also boast the skills of Argentine, Nico Petracchi, a six-goal player and a regular on the UAE polo scene.

Also on the hunt for silverware will be Swiss player, Piero Dillier (0) the patron of the Lindt Master Swiss Chocolatiers Team. He is joined by compatriot, Dr Thomas M Rinderknecht (0) and Lucas Labat (6) from Argentina.

A pre-tournament public parade, taking place at 4pm on Wednesday April 9 will feature some of the ponies and players who will compete over the weekend. Starting at the top of The Walk at JBR and passing the Ritz Carlton, a Cadillac car and the Dubai Police supercars will provide a guard of honour. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

This year’s renewal of the Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup 2014 presented by Cadillac may be staged on a beach, but no expense has been spared in preparing the best possible surface for the equine stars of the show. Twenty truckloads of sand will be shipped to the venue where it will be packed, watered and built up, layer upon layer until it is twelve layers thick to create a suitable playing surface.

“This year’s beach polo venue has been purpose-built to offer our guests a unique polo experience. This is not only show off the skills of the players to the best advantage, but also to provide the best facilities we can to the ponies who are the event’s real athletes,” said founder and mamemo production Managing Director, Sam Katiela. “One of the goals when we developed beach polo ten years ago was to showcase the attributes of Dubai as a destination for premium sporting events like this one. Part of this is to create a stage equal to show we are delivering, making the sport as accessible as possible to the people of Dubai.

Daniel Savary, Head of Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa, Bank Julius Baer, said: “We are once again pleased to return as title and team sponsors for the prestigious Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup. As the leading Swiss private bank with a longstanding heritage of providing the highest quality of services, an important part of our focus has been to support activities globally that mirror the values we have embodied since our inception. Polo symbolises these attributes of tradition, team spirit and excellence, and we have also chosen to support the sport here because we recognise its value to the community in the UAE. To this end, our sponsorship of the tournament for a second consecutive year showcases our continued commitment to the country, and we look forward to another successful event."

Tickets for the full weekend cost just Dh75, while day tickets are Dh50 and are available from www.platinumlist.ae. Tickets are also available on the day.

Guests are recommended to arrive from 4.30pm and to take public transport to the venue.

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For more information on the Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup Dubai 2014 Presented by Cadillac, please visit: www.beachpolo.net .