Hubb Tennis Club to open at Dubai Silicon Oasis in 2021
The feature race has atracted a field of 11 runners and carries a prize purse of Dhs100,000. Raakezz and What A Metal are among the top favourites
The Jebel Ali Racecourse will host their third meeting of the season on Friday, with a Shadwell Farm sponsored 1000m Conditions race for Thoroughbreds the pick of the six-race card.
The feature race has atracted a field of 11 runners and carries a prize purse of Dhs100,000. Raakezz, who runs in the colours of Jebel Al Racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and What A Metal, who represents Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, are among the top favourites.
Jebel Ali’s resident trainer Nicholas Bachalard and jockey Ryan Curatolo registered back-to-back victories more than a week ago with newcomer Shamikh winning on home turf and Boerhan landing a solitary prize for the thoroughbreds at Abu Dhabi.
The Conditions event at Abu Dhabi regarded as a major prep for the Listed National Day Cup on the first Friday in December.
The duo will be looking to keep the momentum going on Friday. Bachalard dispatches a total of three runners during the course of the aternoon with Top Clearance participating in the 1400m handicap and 2yo Tamarkuz colt Tahdeed making his first career start in the 1000m maiden that will be contested as the penultimate race.
Pinning high hopes on Raakezz, Bachalard singled out Ghadayer’s charge What A Metal as the one to beat.
“We run three horses this week and Raakezz takes part in the feature which is over a distance he likes. He has a good draw too and if he can break well he should have a chance,” said the French conditioner.
“But What A Metal has won over the course already this year and that’s why he’ll probably have a small edge on us fitness wise. But as long as Raakezz runs well we’ll be happy.
“With regards to the 2yo Tahdeed, we hope he can break well and we hope he can have a good year because our ultimate goal this season is to try and be present on Dubai World Cup night and find runners that can take us there through the Guineas and then on to the Derby.”
Of Top Clearance, Bachalard added: “We are trying something different with him and I hope he will come back and have a beter chance another day because he hasn’t run this distance in over five years.”
Satish Seemar sends out Emblem Sky and Mass Media, with Doug Watson fielding Far Sky. Le Factor runs out for Musabbeh Al Mheiri, while Ali Rashid Al Rayhi dispatches Feriyal.
Rashed Bouresly’s yard is represented by Morrabbi Al Ajjial and You’re My Rock, while Jaber Ramadhan has Raahy and Mohammed Rahman puts his bet on Major Cinnamon.
Speaking during a press conference held at the
Jebel Ali Racecourse on Tuesday, Mirza Al Sayegh, Director of the Office of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE’S Minister of Finance, said: “Sheikh Hamdan is very passionate of racing in the country. He feels proud to sponsor events at Jebel Ali Racecourse and has been a long term supporter of racing activity here.
“His passion combines his interests both as a patron of Jebel Ali through his sponsorship of the races under the Shadwell banner and the participation of his horses.
“Jebel Ali Racecourse has always been a venue that’s very close to his heart and he has had some memorable victories here over the years. Apart from that, this has been a very memorable year for Sheikh Hamdan in Europe with so many major victories and the Owners’ Championship in Britain.
Shareef Al Halawani, Jebel Ali Racecourse Manager, said: “It is a competitive card with six races and a fair amount of prize money on offer.
“Jebel Ali has always been a popular racecourse for trainers and jockeys, but unfortunately due to the Covid-19 situation racing is being held without fans. Jebel Ali will miss the atmosphere that has turned racing here into a very family affair.”
While Shadwell Farm sponsors the Friday’s feature, the remaining five races are sponsored by Commercial Bank of Dubai, Al Reda Insurance Brokers, Arabian Scandinavian Insurance, SIS UK and Dubai Real Estate Centre.
DUBAI: The Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) on Tuesday announced the ground-breaking of an international standard tennis hub at the hi-tech park to be developed by Hubb Global Group, a comprehensive online search engine plaform.
Hubb Tennis Club is scheduled to officially open its doors starting 2021. The tennis club will host tennis tournaments, such as ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors U-18, ITF Seniors Tennis Tour, ITF 15K for men and women, ITF West Asia tournaments, Junior Davis Cup, GCC Tournaments, Junior Fed Cup, and Arab Championships under the umbrella of the UAE Tennis Federation.
With an investment exceeding the budget of Dhs100 million and spanning an area of 100,000 square feet, the facility will have nine hard tennis courts, as well as a 385 m x 1.5 m jogging track featuring a MAPEI surface. In addition, the highest quality of professional lighting ( MUSCO) is being installed. MUSCO lighting is in use around the world at leading facilities including at Flushing Meadows, the venue of the US Open in New York, at Wimbledon, as well as at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, the venue of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and at Zayed Sports City Abu Dhabi.
Hubb Tennis Club will also focus on creating educational opportunities for children and adults. As part of this priority, it will comprise tailored tennis schools for tournament officials, schools for tennis coaches, and schools for ball-kids – each of these is to be certified by the International Tennis Federation, ITF.
Hubb Tennis Club will take shape in three stages. Stage one will include the construction of nine tennis courts. The club will also have 12 high-level Itf-certified tennis coaches, as well as a physiotherapist and a fitness coach available to visitors/players/members.
Dr Juma Al Matrooshi, Deputy CEO of DSOA, Anastasia El Hage, Founder and CEO of Hubb Global Group, and Laith Alani, General Manager of Hubb Tennis Club, laid the foundation stone during the ground-breaking ceremony held to mark the beginning of construction work on the project.
Sarah Baqir, Board Member of the UAE Tennis Federation, Omar Behroozian, UAE national Team Captain and mainstay, and senior officials from the two entities were in atendance.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Matrooshi, said: “DSOA is commited to offering its business partners a conducive environment that allows them to focus on growth locally and globally.”
El Hage said: “We will aim to host annually more than 81 international and local tournaments at the new complex, as well as support athletes of all ages and levels in building their skills and performance.