Latest news with #Suliman
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Suliman's win brings joy after deflation: John Jenkins
'Fortunately we were able to put the horses out in a good grass paddock in the middle of the Blenheim racecourse and so they have been able to pick up a bit,' Nelson said. Suliman prevailed in one of the most intense Grand National Hurdle finishes in years, outlasting three others by a bare nose margin at the finish of the 4200m stamina test. The 12-year-old is owned by the I See Red Syndicate and the same combination also races the high-class jumper Dictation. That horse was a dominant winner of the Sydenham Hurdles on the first day of this year's Grand National meeting and would have started one of the favourites for the Grand National Hurdles had an injury not prevented him from starting. The large group of jumping enthusiasts that make up the I See Red Syndicate were left devastated when told that Dictation had suffered a minor tear to a suspensory ligament in winning the Sydenham and would need months of recuperation before he could race again. Many members of the syndicate, which numbers 26, had made bookings to be in Christchurch for Grand National week but were left deflated when, what appeared to be their top chance, wouldn't get to contest the race. But the syndicate still had a representative in Suliman, a horse that had finished only a moderate fifth in the Sydenham on the first day but who Nelson expected to improve dramatically from that run. Nelson felt Suliman wasn't ridden to his best advantage in the Sydenham and probably found track conditions a bit too firm for his liking that day. The expected rain leading up to last Saturday was certainly going to enhance his chances. The rain came and the Riccarton track, although providing loose footing, became extremely heavy and it was always going to be a survival of the fittest. The Nelson/McDougal stable definitely know how to get horses ready-fit for tough jumping assignments and Suliman was certainly up for it after months of preparation over the hills at the Nelsons' Air Hill Stud property combined with six lead-up races. And so it proved, with Suliman prevailing in a four-horse war over the final stages of last Saturday's race to score a nose victory over Quid, with a length back to third-placed Happy Star and only a head back to Mr Fabulous in fourth. 'We got quite a few of the syndicate down here on course for the win and there was plenty of celebrating done on Saturday night,' Nelson said. Suliman has now won eight races from 31 starts and more than $342,000 in stakemoney. The Redwood gelding has both an Awapuni Hurdles (2800m) and Wellington Hurdle (3400m) to his credit along with a Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) victory on the flat but had mixed his form in recent times after resuming following a year off after a bleeding attack suffered during the 2023 edition of the Grand National Hurdles. Jockey Hamish McNeill adopted much more positive tactics in last Saturday's race than in the Sydenham, having the horse tracking the leaders from the outset. Rounding the turn, Happy Star and Mr Fabulous were disputing the pace but Suliman and McNeill were in hot pursuit while Quid and race-favourite Berry The Cash chased gamely, but were several lengths adrift. Mr Fabulous was in front after jumping the last fence but Suliman closed resolutely to hit the lead with 100m to run and managed to stave off the challengers. Nelson thought his charge may have been beaten in the shadows of the post. 'I was a little bit doubtful that he had got there although I got assured he had pretty quickly,' Nelson said. 'That was just great. The track being as bad as it was helped him, as when he won the Wellington Hurdles the track was horrible and he just kept going. 'Any race win is good but a National is just wonderful. 'The syndicate who race this guy have been with me for 20 years. It was a shame for them when Dictation came out but this will have fixed that.' It was Paul Nelson's fifth success in the Grand National Hurdles. He produced Just A Swagger for back-to-back victories in 2004 and 2005 and Just Not Cricket to win in 2008 while he had McDougal as a training partner when they won the race in 2021 with The Cossack. It equalled the modern-day record of Kevin Myers, whose five wins in the race have been with Lucky Tip (2002), Mahanadi (2013), Tallyho Twinkletoes (2015), Ngario (2016) and Happy Star (2022). 'We don't try and break records but we just like to win races,' Nelson said. With the Grand National features run and won, the jumping focus now turns to the newly instated Great New Zealand Jumps Carnival, run at Te Aroha on September 19 and 21. Nelson said he was unsure how many runners the stable will have over the two days, but champion jumper The Cossack and Taika are two likely to be there. Both horses had a run in a 2200m flat race at Rotorua on Wednesday, with Taika finishing seventh and The Cossack ninth. 'I only got to see the race on my phone but they both seemed to go okay so we will see how they are over the next few days,' Nelson said. At this stage both horses are expected to race next at Te Aroha on August 31, The Cossack contesting the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4200m) and Taika in the Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3250m). Waipukurau Cup part of new country series The Waipukurau Cup, the feature race when racing returns to the Waipukurau track on November 16, will be part of a seven-race Country Cups series run during this year's spring and summer months. Known as the Prezzy Card Country Cups Bonus Series, the races will be run between October and December with points attached to each and a $50,000 winner-take-all bonus at the end. The DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup will be the fifth race in the series and will be a Rating 75 race over 2100m. The stake for the race will be $35,000, an increase of $10,000 on the last time it was run. The Country Cups series is a new initiative from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing in conjunction with the Taupō Racing Club with the seven races run on various North Island racetracks. Horses will earn points for a top four finish and are required to contest at least three of the races in the series, including the $100,000 Harcourts Taupō Cup (2000m). Points will be allocated on a basis of five for a win, three for a second, two for a third and one for a fourth in the first six races but will be increased to 12 for the winner, five for second, three for third and two for fourth in the Taupō Cup. Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series races: Saturday, October 4: $80,000 Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) at Matamata. $80,000 Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) at Matamata. Friday, October 10: $60,000 Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupō. $60,000 Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupō. Sunday, October 19: $50,000 Wanganui Steelformers Waverley Cup (2200m) at Waverley. $50,000 Wanganui Steelformers Waverley Cup (2200m) at Waverley. Saturday, November 1: $80,000 Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m) at Awapuni. $80,000 Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m) at Awapuni. Sunday, November 16: $35,000 DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup (2100m) at Waipukurau. $35,000 DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup (2100m) at Waipukurau. Friday, December 12: $30,000 Duncan Dental Tauranga Twilight Cup (2100m) at Tauranga. $30,000 Duncan Dental Tauranga Twilight Cup (2100m) at Tauranga. Sunday, December 28: $100,000 Harcourts Taupō Cup (2000m) at Taupō. Successful trials on Awapuni track A return to racing on Awapuni's grass track is getting closer after it passed its first test for that return following a successful set of trials on the surface on Tuesday. Thirty horses lined up over five heats at the track and RACE's general manager of racing, Brad Taylor, received positive reports at the conclusion of the trial meeting. 'The feedback was very positive from the riders,' he said. 'As expected, with the surface we have, there was a little bit of the sand kicking back but all-in-all it was very positive.' Awapuni's grass track was initially out of commission for 19 months as it underwent an extensive renovation, and it was set to commence racing on Anzac Day. However, that meeting was abandoned following a horse slipping in the opening race. The track has subsequently undergone further remedial work, and the club has called upon the expertise of Flemington track manager Liam O'Keefe to assist in that process. Another set of trials will be run on the Awapuni track within the next fortnight and that will determine whether they can proceed with the planned return to racing on September 6.
NZ Herald
09-08-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Suliman proves perfect replacement for stablemate forced out of Grand National Hurdles
Veteran hurdler Suliman turned back the clock to his former glory days when he proved toughest in a four-horse war at the finish of the Hospitality NZ Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton. The twelve-year-old gelding has both an Awapuni Hurdles (2800m) and Wellington Hurdle (3400m) under his
The Citizen
31-07-2025
- The Citizen
Solly's Supermarket gets fine for selling illegal cigarettes
The illicit cigarette case against the owner of Solly's Supermarket, Suliman Ismail Moolla (67), his wife Fatima Moolla (62) and son Riaz Moolla (42) in their personal capacity was withdrawn in the Evander Regional Court yesterday [July 30]. However, their business was fined with R600 000 and ordered to provide community support by buying 504 durable quality two-seater desks for several schools. A total of 4 710 packets of counterfeit cigarettes with a value of more than R100 000 were seized from the business in September last year. The charge against the business is Contravention of the Tobacco Products Act, Contravention of Customs and Excise Act, and Contravention of Value Added Tax Act. The Hawks arrested Riaz Moolla on September 9 last year and he was released on bail after his court appearance. However, on July 17, another warrant of arrest was issued by the court and Fatima and Suliman were also arrested and warned to appear in court alongside Riaz on July 29 for trail. Suliman, who is the director of the business, known to the community as Solly's Supermarket, but trading as Uptown Superstore Store, entered into a plea agreement with the state and the matter was postponed to July 30 (yesterday). The schools that will benefit from this court order include Chief Ampie Mayisa Secondary School, Sizwakele Secondary School, Thomas Nhlabathi Secondary School, Vukuqhakaze Secondary Shool, Kiriyatswane Secondary School, KI Thwala Secondary School and Kusasalethu Secondary School. The court gave the business three months to comply with this order. The Mpumalanga head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Major-General Nico Gerber, commended the investigation team, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the judiciary for their hard work. Gerber said: 'It is an interesting sentence. Criminals are out of pocket again because of their crimes. The community is benefitting from this sentence, and it will definitely help the next generation in their needs for a better education.'
The South African
31-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Counterfeit cigarettes trader ordered to give back after Hawks bust
A Mpumalanga company, Uptown Superstore, has been found guilty of dealing in counterfeit cigarettes. The owners, Riaz Moolla (42), Fatima Moolla (62) and Suliman Ismail Moolla (67), were initially charged in their personal capacity. The individual cases against the trio were later withdrawn and they were charged as a company. However this decision comes with conditions that Uptown has to comply with, within the next three months. 'Uptown Superstore Store was fined R600 000, on condition that the company also contribute to the community by purchasing 504 durable quality double seater desks for four schools,' said the Mpumalanga Hawks. 'The total of 4710 packets of illicit cigarettes valued at R107 700 were seized from their business,' the Hawks continued. According to the Hawks, Riaz Moolla was arrested on 09 September 2024 for selling counterfeit cigarettes. He was later released on bail. On 17 July 2025, another warrant of arrest against Fatima and Suliman was executed. They all appeared in court for day one of trial on 29 July 2025. 'The company director Suliman entered into a plea agreement,' said the Hawks. The company was sentenced for Contravention of the Tobacco Products Act, Contravention of Customs and Excise Act and Contravention of Value Added Tax Act. The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, congratulated the investigation team for the outcome. 'It is an interesting sentence. Criminals are again out of pocket due to their crimes. The community is benefiting from this sentence, and it will definitely assist the next generation in their needs for a better education,' Gerber concluded. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Star
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Pupils get essential supplies, access to digital tools
Pupils receiving essential school supplies, including new school uniforms and shoes. With them are Gerard (back row, with red sign) and Suliman (back row, in light blue and songkok). OVER 100 pupils at SK Ladang Pendas, Johor Baru, received essential school supplies, including new uniforms and shoes, as part of Sunway Group's Sinar Raya celebration. Sunway City Iskandar Puteri chief executive officer Gerard Soosay said the event was part of the company's ongoing corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts to uplift underserved communities nationwide. 'Sunway's CSR programme has impacted over 17,000 beneficiaries across Malaysia this year through the distribution of bubur lambuk, packed meals, essential groceries and food baskets,' he said. Also present were Johor Baru Education Department School Management Unit deputy director Suliman Kamsor and Sunway volunteers. As part of its aim for digital education, Sunway also contributed 22 laptops to strengthen the school's information and communication technology (ICT) literacy programme. 'This is a collaboration with Sunway University and Pertubuhan Titian Digital Malaysia. 'We want to equip pupils with essential digital skills such as coding, graphic design and robotics. 'By supporting education, digital access and community needs, we aim to create a more inclusive and sustainable future for all,' Gerard said, adding that #SunwayforGood had positively impacted the lives of over half a million beneficiaries. A 75-inch smart TV and a fully furnished ICT lab were also provided with support from the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation.
