Mukhtar Mohammed wins bronze medal in 800m at European Indoor Championships

Posted on March 3, 2013 by adminsports

Mohammed made to fight for bronze medal in feisty 800m final

By
Laura Williamson

PUBLISHED:

11:16 GMT, 3 March 2013

UPDATED:

12:29 GMT, 3 March 2013

Mukhtar Mohammed won a battling bronze in a feisty men's 800-metre final at the European Indoor Championships.

The 22-year-old, who was born in Somalia and moved to the UK in 2002, fought hard to edge his way past Anis Ananenka from Belarus, who appeared to try to push Mohammed wide with his elbows as they grappled for the line.

Mohammed, a former defensive midfielder for Sheffield Wednesday, won Great Britain's fifth medal of these championships following golds for Holly Bleasdale (pole vault) and Perri Shakes-Drayton (400m) and silver medals for James Dasaolu (60m) and Eilidh Child (400m).

Mukhtar Mohammed

Battling performance: Mukhtar Mohammed won a bronze medal in the 800m

Mohammed said: 'It was a tough race between me and the guy from Belarus (Anis Ananenka). He gave me a hard time on the last lap, and I lost the first two positions because of him.

'I had to fight to get a medal but I was really enjoying it as I did with the heat and the semi-final and I didn’t want to mess up in the final.

Flying the flag: Mohammed celebrates his third place

Proud moment: Mohammed shows off his bronze medal after finishing behind Poland's Adam Kszczot and Spain's Kevin Lopez

'At the end of the day it’s the cleverest and bravest guys that win championships and Adam Kszczot did very well to win the race. This is a learning experience for me and hopefully it’ll get even better for the next championships.

'I am very pleased just to get a medal. Gold was going to be good for me but I’ve got to be happy with a medal.'

Frankie Dettori could aim for jockeys" title

Posted on October 23, 2012 by adminsports

Freed Frankie fancies tilt at jockeys' title after parting company with Godolphin

UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 22 October 2012

Frankie Dettori could launch an enthralling challenge for a fourth jockeys’ title riding as a revitalised freelance next year.

The Italian’s agent, former jockey Ray Cochrane, believes the championship is possible for the 41-year-old jockey with his 18-year link to Godolphin ending at the end of the season.

Cochrane said: ‘We will set our sights on winning most of the big races, if we can do, and will have a crack at being champion jockey.

Over and out: Frankie Dettori will cut ties with Godolphin from next season

‘The biggest thing about not being retained by Godolphin is that I can kick on five days in advance and make it my aim for him to ride the best horses.

‘Godolphin don’t let me know what he’s riding until 48 hours beforehand. He rides for a hell of a lot of trainers here in Newmarket and has links all over the world.’

In what looks a statement of intent, Dettori, champion in 1994, 1995 and 2004 but often living off crumbs this summer, is booked for all seven races at Newmarket on Wednesday, his first mounts since his split with Sheik Mohammed’s stable was announced.

The rides include bookings for John Dunlop, Tim Easterby, Brian Meehan, Gerard Butler and, significantly, Charlie Hills, who has rides to offer next year with the retirement of jockey brother Michael.

Big rides: Dettori could be on board the likes of Just The Judge next year

They include exciting Rockfel Stakes winner and 1,000 Guineas prospect Just The Judge. Dettori, already due to ride Godolphin’s Artigiano at next month’s Breeders’ Cup, will now also ride Ralph Beckett-trained Waterway Run.

Meanwhile, David Redvers, racing manager to Sheik Fahad Al Thani and his family’s Qatar Racing interests, confirmed a deal is close to signing Jamie Spencer as retained rider but added it would be ‘barking mad’ not to book the freelance Dettori if he was available and they needed a jockey.

Redvers said: ‘Although we are in negotiations with Jamie, there is no contract signed yet. I expect we will have something put to bed by the end of the week.

‘But if whoever we retain is unable to ride and Frankie is available, you’d be barking mad not to book him. He is still the best jockey riding and with something to prove he will be going all guns blazing.’

Frankie Dettori ends association with Godolphin

Posted on October 22, 2012 by adminsports

Dettori: It's over, Dubai! Jockey quits Godolphin after calculated act of defiance on Coolmore horse

UPDATED:

21:37 GMT, 21 October 2012

Frankie Dettori appears destined for a
freelance career after ending his 18-year association with
Dubai-based Godolphin.

The position of Britain's best known Flat jockey
had looked in serious doubt since he accepted the Prix De L'Arc de
Triomphe ride on Aidan O'Brien's Camelot earlier this month.

Riding a
colt owned by the Coolmore Stud – fierce commercial rivals to Godolphin
and its founder Sheik Mohammed – appeared a calculated act of defiance
which placed the 41-year-old on an inevitable path to Sunday's
conclusion.

Royal Blue: Frankie Dettori will end his association with Godolpin after 18 years

Dettori had lost his No 1 role at Godolphin and, at times,
looked a humiliated figure as opportunities were handed increasingly to
rising 21-year-old French rider Mickael Barzalona, who rode Godolphin's
2012 Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso and St Leger hero Encke.

There
were rumours Dettori was about to quit before the Derby in June,
and on Sunday he said: 'Godolphin has been a major part of everything I
have achieved in racing and I have loved every minute of it.

'I feel the
time has come for a change. My position in the stable has changed a
little bit and I need a new challenge.'

Godolphin racing manager Simon
Crisford said he hoped Dettori would still ride for the stable, but an
era has ended.

On his way: Dettori feels put out by the favouring of his French-born Godolphin team-mate

FRANKIE'S FILE

Rides: 3,422
Wins: 943
Group One victories: 110 (262 victories at Listed level or higher)
Strike rate: 28 per cent
Ridden for Godolphin at 65 courses in 14 different countries, winning at 55 of them.

Rode Godolphin’s first Classic winner in 1994 Oaks on Balanchine.

Landed the Dubai World Cup Three times: Dubai Millennium (2000), Moon Ballad (2003) & Electrocutionist (206)

Won nine British Classics

Other best Horses ridden: Daylami (1998 Eclipse, 1999 Breeders’ Cup Turf & King George), Marienbard (2002 Arc), Singspiel (1997 Coronation Cup & International Stakes), Sakhee (2001 Arc & International Stakes), Swain (1996 Coronation Cup, 1998 King George)

Dettori's last mounts in the Godolphin blue may prove to
be Artigiano at the Breeders' Cup and Cavalryman in the Melbourne Cup
next month.

Suggestions a big job may be in the offing from racing's
growing number of Qatari owners were countered by a strong suggestion
Jamie Spencer is poised to land a major role with Shiek Fahad Al Thani
and his family.

Godolphin’s racing manager, Crisford, added: 'We have had a tremendous association with Frankie over many years.

'However, Frankie is looking for a fresh challenge and we felt that the retainer was not really working so this is the best way forward.

'We have had many great days together and we look forward to working with Frankie in the future and hopefully enjoying more success together.'

Speculation that breaking point had been reached was fired when Dettori accepted the ride on Camelot, the colt owned by Coolmore Stud, in the Prix de L’ Arc de Triomphe on October 7.

The Irish stud and Sheik Mohammed, who pays Dettori a sizeable retainer, are the two giants of the European racing industry and fierce commercial rivals.

Switch: Dettori rode Camelot for Aidan O'Brien in the Arc

Dettori had not ridden for Coolmore
since winning the 2005 St Leger on the O’ Brien-trained Scorpion,
after which he was forced to issue a public apology for his lack of
loyalty to Godolphin.

Barzalona,
on board Encke when the colt provided Godolphin with their one British
Classic winner this season in the St Leger, also rode Godolphin’s most
prestigious winner of the year when partnering Monterosso in the Dubai
World Cup in March.

That
loss of Dettori’s No 1 status, in particular Godolphin’s newest trainer
Mahmood Al Zarooni seeming to favour using Barzalona, was in effect a
public humiliation for Dettori and the Camelot taking ride appeared a
calculated act of defiance.

Both Dettori and Godolphin are expected to say that they will still work together but those situations look likely to be infrequent at best.

The 41-year-old Italian has enjoying massive success with Godolphin.

He was on board their first Classic winner when Balanchine won the 1994 Oaks at Epsom.

In all he has ridden in 3,442 races for them in 14 different countries, won 943 races with 110 at Group One level.

Although he never won the Derby for the Sheik Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai he affectionately calls The Boss, Dettori landed nine British Classics for the stable.

Favoured: Mickael Barzalona will enjoy the pick of Godolphin's runners

The best horse he rode for Godolphin
was the ill-fated Dubai Millennium, who became the first of his three
Dubai World Cup winners for the team in 2000.

Other
top Godolphin horses he rode included Arc winners Sakhee (2000) and
Marienbard (2001), King George winners Swain (1998) and Daylami (1999)
plus Breeder’s Cup Turf hero Fantastic Light (1991).

Dettori finished last on Godolphin’s Colour Vision in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Saturday.

That horse provided what might be his last group one winner for Godolphin when landing the Ascot Gold Cup in June.

A
freelance career now looks to be the future for Dettori, who finished
second on Godolphin's Retrieved in the Gran Premio del Jocky Club
Italiano on Sunday.

There
will also be speculation whether Barzalona, who will be first choice,
yet has the experience for such a hot seat in a worldwide racing
operation.

He is not yet
the finished article but Sheik Mohammed has never been afraid of giving
youth its head, just as he did with Dettori.

Frankie Dettori to end association with Godolphin

Posted on October 21, 2012 by adminsports

Dettori to cut ties with Godolphin after losing No 1 status to rising star Barzalona

UPDATED:

13:32 GMT, 21 October 2012

Frankie Dettori's 18-year association with Godolphin appears at an end with his retainer not being renewed at the end of the season.

It is understood the Italian will continue riding for Godolphin until the end of the year but for 2013 the stable’s rides will primarily be shared between Mickael Barzalona and Silvestre de Sousa.

In a statement released by Godolphin,
Dettori said: 'I have had 18 wonderful years. Godolphin has been a
major part of everything I have achieved in racing and I have loved
every minute of it. I feel the time has come for a change. My position
in the stable has changed a little bit and I need a new challenge.

Royal Blue: Frankie Dettori will end his association with Godolpin after 18 years

'Sheikh Mohammed has been an
unbelievable boss to me. He had the confidence to take me on board when I
was young and we smashed every record together. I will be forever
grateful to him for everything he has done for me and for my family.'

The relationship of the best known
Flat jockey in Britain with Sheik Mohammed’s elite team, which has a
summer base in Newmarket and operates during the winner from its Dubai
home, has appeared increasingly strained with his position undermined
especially by the appointment of rising star Barzalona, the French-born
winner of last year’s Derby on Pour Moi.

The 21-year-old was always seen as Dettori’s long-term successor but has played an increasingly prominent role.

Godolphin’s racing manager, Simon Crisford, added: 'We have had a tremendous association with Frankie over many years.

'However, Frankie is looking for a fresh challenge and we felt that the retainer was not really working so this is the best way forward. We have had many great days together and we look forward to working with Frankie in the future and hopefully enjoying more success together.'

Speculation that breaking point had been reached was fired when Dettori accepted the ride on Camelot, a colt owned by Coolmore Stud, in the Prix de L’ Arc de Triomphe on October 7.

The Irish stud and Sheik Mohammed, who pays Dettori a sizeable retainer, are the two giants of the European racing industry and fierce commercial rivals.

Switch: Dettori rode Camelot for Aidan O'Brien in the Arc

Dettori had not ridden for Coolmore
since winning the 2005 St Leger on Aidan O’ Brien-trained Scorpion,
after which he was forced to issue a public apology for his lack of
loyalty to Godolphin.

Both Dettori and Godolphin are expected to say that they will still work together but those situations look likely to be infrequent at best.

The 41-year-old Italian has enjoying massive success with Godolphin.

He was on board their first Classic winner when Balanchine won the 1994 Oaks at Epsom.

In all he has ridden in 3,442 races for them in 14 different countries, won 943 races with 110 at Group One level.

Although he never won the Derby for the Sheik Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai he affectionately calls The Boss, Dettori landed nine British Classics for the stable.

The best horse he rode for Godolphin was the ill-fated Dubai Millennium, who became the first of his three Dubai World Cup winners for the team in 2000.

Other top Godolphin horses he rode included Arc winners Sakhee (2000) and Marienbard (2001), King George winners Swain (1998) and Daylami (1999) plus Breeder’s Cup Turf hero Fantastic Light (1991).

Favoured: Mickael Barzalona will enjoy the pick of Godolphin's runners

Dettori finished last on Godolphin’s Colour Vision in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Saturday.

That horse provided what might be his last group one winner for Godolphin when landing the Ascot Gold Cup in June.

A question mark now hangs over the future of Dettori, who was in Milan on Sunday to ride Godolphin’s Retrieve who is trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, the man most associated with his biggest wins for the stable.

There will also be speculation whether Barzalona, who will be first choice, yet has the experience for such a hot seat in a worldwide racing operation.

He is not yet the finished article but Sheik Mohammed has never been afraid of giving youth its head, just as he did with Dettori.

Frankie Dettori to ride Camelot at L"Arc de Triomphe

Posted on October 3, 2012 by adminsports

Dettori drafted in to ride O'Brien's Camelot at L'Arc de Triomphe

UPDATED:

14:14 GMT, 3 October 2012

In the saddle: Jockey Frankie Dettori will ride Camelot

Frankie Dettori has sensationally been called up to ride Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot in Sunday’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.

The Italian replaces O’Brien’s son Joseph, who has ridded the dual Derby winner in all his six races, including his first defeat in last month’s St Leger.

The booking is the first time Dettori has ridden for O’Brien and his Coolmore Stud owners since winning the 2005 St Leger on Scorpion.

In the immediate aftermath, Dettori apologised to his Godolphin boss Sheik Mohammed for the perceived disloyalty of riding for their arch rivals at a time when relations between the two superpowers of European racing was at an all-time low.

The booking of Dettori was officially confirmed by O’Brien’s wife Anne-Marie, who tweeted: ‘We were pleased with the work of both St Nicholas Abbey and Camelot this morning in Ballydoyle and hope to run both in the Arc on Sunday.

‘St Nicholas Abbey will be ridden by Joseph and Camelot will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.’

Camelot's participation in the Arc had been up in the air since his defeat in the St Leger at Doncaster, when he was prevented from claiming the Triple Crown by Godolphin’s Encke.

Going for glory: Camelot will look to win the L'Arc de Triomphe

But he convinced Aidan O’Brien to give him the green light to run after a work-out under Joseph on Wednesday morning.

Camelot will be a 25th consecutive Arc ride for Dettori , who has won the Longchamp race with Lammtarra (1995), Sakhee (2001) and Marienbard (2002).

The son of Montjeu adds a much-needed touch of quality to an Arc which has recently seen the high-profile defections of Danedream, Nathaniel and Snow Fairy.

There had been rumours that Danedream could yet be supplemented back into the race at a cost of 100,000 euro owing to some sort of mix-up at Cologne but they have been denied by the German filly’s team.

Swansea to increase bid for Bolton"s Mark Davies

Posted on August 10, 2012 by adminsports

Swansea told they will have to pay 7m to take Bolton's Davies to Liberty

UPDATED:

21:08 GMT, 9 August 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Swansea are to increase their 4m offer for Bolton midfielder Mark Davies. However, they may need to go to 7m with former club Wolves due a cut of any profit Bolton make above the 1m they paid for him.

Davies will replace Liverpool-bound Joe Allen. Swansea are interested in Hoffenheim striker Mohammed Abdellaoue.

Wolves have signed winger Slawo Peszko from Cologne on loan.

Wanted man: Swansea are keen on Mark Davies

Fulham launch new orange away kit

Posted on June 6, 2012 by adminsports

The future's bright – the future's orange: Fulham go Dutch for new away kit

UPDATED:

11:02 GMT, 6 June 2012

Martin Jol’s Dutch influence at Fulham has extended to the colour of the club’s new kit – orange.

The Dutchman will oversee the west Londoners play in an orange and black change kit next season – the same colour as his native Holland’s national strip.

The club launched their new Kappa away kit on Wednesday, replacing the all black home kit from last season, with the slogan 'Oranje is het nieuwe zwart' which translates as 'Orange is the new Black' in Dutch.

Orange is the new Black: Brede Hangeland launches the new Fulham away kit

Holland are famed for their Oranje kit over the years and Fulham will hope with Jol at the helm and the new kit could see the famous Dutch style of Total Football rub off on their performances away from Craven Cottage next season.

It is not the first time the club have been influenced influenced in their kit colours from people within the club.

Green and gold: Fulham wore an away kit that was the same colour as Mohammed Al Fayed's former shop, Harrods

Two seasons ago the club had a dark green and gold change kit – the colours of luxury department store Harrods – which was then owned by the club’s Chairman Mohammed Al Fayed.

The new away kit may be a break from the traditional black and red away kits, but there are no plans to change the traditional white and black home kit – just as Cardiff have done.

Frankie Dettori in danger of missing Epsom Derby

Posted on May 15, 2012 by adminsports

Dettori in danger of missing Derby as Barzalona is handed Mandaean ride for Dante Stakes

UPDATED:

13:05 GMT, 15 May 2012

Frankie Dettori, the nation’s favourite Flat jockey, could be struggling for mounts in both the Investec Oaks and Derby, after his French colleague Mikael Barzalona was handed the ride for Godolphin’s No 1 Derby hope Mandaean in Thursday’s Dante Stakes at York.

Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford insisted nothing should be read into the booking but Barzalona was also the man on board Goldolphin’s main Oaks hope Kailani when she won the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting.

The booking will focus extra scrutiny on the jockey arrangements at Godolphin where long-serving Dettori now shares the mounts with Barzalona, who landed last year’s Derby on Fabre’s Pour Moi as a 19-year-old, plus Silvestre De Sousa.

In danger: Dettori has only missed one Derby in the last 20 years

Dettori, successful in the 2007 Derby with Authorized, has ridden in 19 Derbys and since his 1992 debut in the race only missed out on a ride once in 2000.

If twice-raced Mandaean, now trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni but who won the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud last year when with Andre Fabre, runs a sound Derby trial in the Dante, Barzalona, as the might in possession of the ride, would be expected to retain the mount, as he would be with Kailani.

Crisford said: ‘Sheik Mohammed wanted Mickael to ride Mandaean. There is no reason other than that.’

Dettori’s Epsom options are starting to look limited and opposition to Aidan O’Brien’s hot favourite Camelot equally thin on the ground.

Crisford confirmed that that two other Godolphin hopes prominent in the ante-post betting for the Derby – Encke and Swedish Sailor – miss the race leaving Mariner’s Cross as the stable’s only other possible Derby runner.

Happy memories: Barzalona rides Pur Moi to victory in last year's Derby

Mariner’s Cross won the Wood Ditton Stakes on his debut in April before being beaten a quarter of a length by Frankel’s brother Noble Mission in the Newmarket Stakes.

With trainer Sir Henry Cecil not declaring Noble Mission for the Dante, the focus in the last major Derby trial will be on Andrew Balding’s Bonfire, who was group one placed as a two-year-old, and John Gosden’s 2,000 Guineas sixth Fencing.

The seven-horse line-up also includes Camelot’s stablemate Ernest Hemingway plus Roger Varian’s Ektihaam, who is not entered in the Derby and will be ridden by Tadhg O’Shea in the absence of suspended Paul Hanagan.

The three-day York fixture opens on Tuesday when the focus is on the fillies in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

Six contenders line-up with the focus on O’Brien’s group three-placed Twirl and, particularly, John Gosden-trained The Fugue.

The latter, who was a staying-on fourth in the 1,000 Guineas, runs in the colours of composer and impresario Lord Lloyd-Webber.

Manchester United sell Mame Biram Diouf to Hannover

Posted on January 28, 2012 by adminsports

Flop striker Diouf quits United for Hannover after miserable two years in England

Hannover have confirmed the signing of striker Mame Biram Diouf from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old has signed a contract with the Bundesliga side until July 2014 and will join up with them on Monday.

'I am pleased that we now have another alternative for our attack with Mame Diouf,' Hannover coach Mirko Slomka said.

Over and out: Mame Biram Diouf has quit Manchester United for Hannover

'We are now going to have to integrate him quickly so that he can help us with our upcoming challenges in the Bundesliga and the Europa League.'

Diouf has been capped three times by Senegal but failed to break through at United following arriving at Old Trafford from Molde in 2009.

He spent last season on loan at Blackburn, scoring three goals for the Ewood Park club, but only appeared in Carling Cup matches for United this season.

He will provide competition to Jan Schlaudraff and Mohammed Abdellaoue for a place in the Hannover attack.

Sports pictures of the day: December 14

Posted on December 14, 2011 by adminsports

Sports images of the day: Our picture editor”s selection

Each day, MailOnline sports picture editor Dave Muir will choose his favourite photographs from around the world in the past 24 hours.

Enjoy today”s selection right here…

Santos starlet Neymar is captured leaping high into the air to celebrate his wonder goal against Kashiwa Reysol in the Club World Cup semi-final

Yemen

Yemen”s Mohammed al-Areqi fails to lift 108kgs during the men”s clean and jerk 56kg weightlifting competition at the 2011 Arab Games in Doha

Dark clouds gather over Catterick racecourse but the sun manages to shine through during the racinguk.com Handicap Hurdle

Alexis Thompson has the skyscrapers in the distance as she hits her drive on the eighth during the Omega Dubai Masters on the Majilis Course at the Emirates Golf Club

LA Kings centre Colin Fraser is almost horizontal after colliding with Andrew Ference of the Boston Bruins as referee Dave Jackson tries to avoid getting caught up

Sports Bound Guide

Sports Bound Guide. Fresh Sports News

Tag Archives: mohammed

Mukhtar Mohammed wins bronze medal in 800m at European Indoor Championships

Frankie Dettori could aim for jockeys" title

Frankie Dettori ends association with Godolphin

Frankie Dettori to end association with Godolphin

Frankie Dettori to ride Camelot at L"Arc de Triomphe

Swansea to increase bid for Bolton"s Mark Davies

Fulham launch new orange away kit

Manchester United sell Mame Biram Diouf to Hannover

Sports pictures of the day: December 14