Shabab Al-Ahli and Al-Jazira to meet in ADIB Cup final

LONDON: Royal Ascot-winning trainer Ed Bethell is set to chase his first international Group 1 victory as his star sprinter Regional lines up for the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night next weekend.

Within just four years of earning his trainer’s license, Bethell has already made a name for himself on the British racing scene, securing a Group 1 victory in the Haydock Sprint Cup with Regional and a Royal Ascot win in the Britannia Stakes with Mickley.

He was also on the verge of another major triumph when Point Lynas crossed the line first at the York Ebor Festival, only to lose the race following a stewards’ inquiry.

Now, Bethell is looking to extend his success beyond British shores, with Regional primed for the prestigious six-furlong sprint at Meydan Racecourse next Saturday. 

Regional has been a revelation under Bethell’s training since being bought as a horse-in-training for just 3,500 guineas ($4,750) at Tattersalls.

Since then, he has finished in the prize money in 16 of his 17 starts for Bethell and his owners, amassing over £575,000 ($744,000) in earnings. His resume includes a Group 1 win at Haydock and a runner-up finish in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2024.

Speaking to Great British Racing International, Bethell expressed his admiration for the sprinter and his confidence heading into Dubai.

“Regional is incredibly special. Any horse to win you a Group 1 is special, but I guess it’s a rags-to-riches story, and I probably will never find another like him. He had a big break, and his work has been really good coming into this race. He has been absolutely great,” Bethell said.

The 31-year-old trainer is no stranger to the Al Quoz Sprint, having previously had Moss Gill contest the race in 2021, though COVID-19 restrictions prevented him from attending.

This time, he hopes to be trackside for what could be a career-defining moment, adding: “Hopefully, it will be a great experience.”

Bethell, who trains from his base in Yorkshire, has enjoyed a rapid rise through the British training ranks.

His 20 percent strike rate on turf in 2024 has caught the attention of leading owners across the globe, with backing from the the US, Asia, and the Middle East.

With Regional set to take on some of the world’s fastest turf sprinters in Dubai, a strong performance on World Cup night could further cement Bethell’s status as one of Britain’s rising training stars.

Reflecting on his progress since taking out his license, Bethell said: “We have improved year-on-year. Our facilities and our team are bigger and better than ever. It’s exciting, but we want to continue to improve and get better.”

MUNICH: Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen doubled down on his criticism of Canada Soccer on Saturday, saying their handling of Alphonso Davies’ injury was “astonishing.”
The German giants had threatened legal action after Davies returned from the international break with a torn anterior cruciate ligament this week.
Canada Soccer initially gave the 24-year-old the all-clear after he went off injured in his side’s 2-1 CONCACAF Nations League play-off win over the USA in California.
But an examination in Munich revealed he had torn his ACL, ruling him out for at least six months and prompting Dreesen to accuse the Canadian federation of “gross negligence” in an interview with tabloid Bild.
Speaking to reporters after Bayern’s 3-2 win over St. Pauli on Saturday, Dreesen said Bayern were in touch with Canada Soccer and would write to them next week demanding an explanation.
“It can’t be that you put a player on a flight without a bandage on his knee and not notice that he has torn his ACL,” said Dreesen.
“It can’t be that you don’t send a scan, when Los Angeles has, I think, the highest density of MRT facilities per capita of anywhere in North America. I find that astonishing,” he added.
In a statement to The Athletic on Friday, Canada Soccer spokesman Paulo Senra defended the federation’s handling of the injury.
“Medical documentation confirms that proper care protocols were followed, and communication records show that our medical staff provided updates to Bayern Munich throughout the entire tournament,” he said.
Yet Dreesen appeared to dismiss this on Saturday.
“They told us he had got a kick in the sixth minute. But I could see that much on TV, that wasn’t very surprising information,” he said.
The Bayern CEO added that the club were considering their next steps.
“What we do next depends on the answers we get to our questions,” he said.
Davies is part of a wider wave of injuries which has ravaged Bayern’s defense in recent weeks.
Manuel Neuer is still yet to return after tearing his calf while celebrating in a Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen last month.
Bayern have also lost center-back Dayot Upamecano to a leg injury, while fellow defender Hiroki Ito had to leave the pitch during Saturday’s win.