Athlone is doing some work in The Middle East at the moment so as a matter of course we track all the news coming out of there as well.
This morning I read Howard Wright's article from
The Racing Post - a normal start to the day.
I then checked my news feeds and was suprised to see another article about Dubai written by Rob Burnet that looked remarkably similar to the one I had just read on
The Racing Post site. So where EXACTLY was the mention of Howard and
The Racing Post? And why had
ThoroughbredNews allowed another journalist to take credit for the story?
I am going to reprint both articles here just to show you what the crossover is. I'll leave it to you to determine Mr Burnet's guilt.
Racing Post article:
Runners accepted from 15 countries
by Howard WrightPLANNING for the 11-week Dubai Carnival, which is due to begin in 13 days' time, is going ahead, despite the death of Sheikh Maktoum earlier this week.
A reserve list is already in operation and latecomers are being told that only horses rated 100 or more will be accommodated.
Martin Talty, international manager for the Dubai Racing Club, said on Thursday: "We raised the lowest turf rating for eligibility to the Carnival from 85 to 90 this year, because the standard of horses being nominated had goneup over the first two years. Now we are in a position to impose even stricter conditions for late nominations."
The cost of transport for overseas entries is refunded if they run at least twice during the Carnival, and Talty explained that a further 5lb leeway had been built into the rating qualification to give a better guarantee of horses meeting the incentive requirement.
Runners have been accepted from 15 individual countries, and British trainers will have the biggest numerical representation, with 60 runners confirmed, including six from Jeremy Noseda's yard and four each being sent by Clive Brittain, Gerard Butler, Mick Channon and John Gosden.
Regulars Andrew Balding and Mark Johnston will also be represented, while Barney Curley will join the newcomers, after nominating Cristoforo.
Ireland's 14 nominations - two fewer than from Brazil - are headed by globetrotting mare Alexander Goldrun from Jim Bolger's yard, while the Aga Khan will have his first runner in Dubai in the John Oxx-trained four-year-old Alayan.
Talty said: "We're delighted that the Aga Khan will be represented for the first time, because this is an indication that we are attracting not only the top trainers but also their best owners. It helps us to get the proper mix of the right horses, owners, trainers and jockeys."
The Aga Khan's interest will also be aroused by the Carnival appearance of Linngari, a Listed race winner in his colours, who sold out of Sir Michael Stoute's yard into the South African stable of Herman Brown jnr.
Brown has taken 15 horses for his first visit to Dubai, one short of the latest foray by Mike de Kock, who returns with regulars Grays Inn, Right Approach, Wolf Whistle and Lundy's Liability.
De Kock, whose Dubai exploits have earned him an international reputation, has added Mullins Bay, who won the John Smith's Cup and Strensall Stakes at York for Aidan O’Brien, to his stable. ThoroughbredNews article:Dubai World Cup Canival continues 6 Jan 2006
By Rob Burnet The Dubai World Cup Carnival, which commences in under two weeks time, will go ahead despite the death this week of Sheikh Maktoum.
Martin Talty, international manager for the Dubai Racing Club, said on Thursday: "We raised the lowest turf rating for eligibility to the Carnival from 85 to 90 this year, because the standard of horses being nominated had gone up over the first two years. Now we are in a position to impose even stricter conditions for late nominations."
The cost of transport for overseas entries is refunded if they run at least twice during the Carnival, and Talty explained that a further 5lb leeway had been built into the rating qualification to give a better guarantee of horses meeting the incentive requirement.
Runners have been accepted from 15 individual countries, with 60 runners expected from Britan, 14 from Ireland and 16 from Brazil. The Irish runners include while the Aga Khan will have his first runner in Dubai in the John Oxx-trained four-year-old Alayan.
Talty said: "We're delighted that the Aga Khan will be represented for the first time, because this is an indication that we are attracting not only the top trainers but also their best owners. It helps us to get the proper mix of the right horses, owners, trainers and jockeys."
South African trainer Mike De Kock, who campaigned in Victoria last spring with Greys Inn, returns with the Zabeel horse who was successful last year during the Carnival, along with another four horses for his stable.
The UK will see additional live action from Dubai over the Carnival with a two-hour programme on Sky Sports announced for the ten Nad Al Sheba meetings leading up to the World Cup meeting on March 25th.
The programme is being produced by SIS, which will also provide live coverage for its own betting-shop service, as well as for At The Races and Racing UK.
SIS is also putting together a weekly 30-minute preview and review package, which will go to these outlets, as well as Australia, South Africa and the United States.
