Latest news with #Trifecta
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
‘Shrewdies' to make July Quartet pay big
Confederate at 40-1, Atticus Finch at 28-1 and My Best Shot at 25-1 might be decent calls. There is almost always a surprise package among the top four finishers in the Durban July, making winning Quartet, Trifecta, Swinger and Exacta bets pay handsomely. On Saturday at Greyville, the July Quartet is predicted to have a pool of R10-million. Three days before the race, the TAB pool was already nearing R1.5-million, so there's a fair chance it will exceed the target. In 2024, all four horses at the head of the July pack were priced in double figures by the bookmakers: winner Oriental Charm at 10-1, runner-up Cousin Casey at 25-1, third-placed Royal Victory at 10-1, and fourth-placed Flag Man at 14-1. The Quartet on that occasion paid a princely R24,359.60. The year before, third-placed Bless My Stars was a 33-1 shot and fourth Do It Again 16-1; in 2022, winner Sparkling Water and second Jet Dark were both surprisingly good value at 16-1 apiece; and in 2020, fourth-placed Golden Ducat at 33-1 helped swell all dividends. This week's 129th running of Africa's greatest race sees one horse, Eight On Eighteen, dominating the betting, meaning other well-fancied runners are comparative long-shots. Second and third favourites Oriental Charm and Immediate Edge are quoted at 8-1 by Betway. But, of course, they will be included in most Quartet selections and won't be pushing out the dividend. Confederate is excellent value So, in search of the real 'roughie' – or 'shrewdie' – to make Saturday's Quartet pay, we must look to deeper reaches of the betting boards. Confederate at 40-1, Atticus Finch at 28-1 and My Best Shot at 25-1 might be decent calls. In particular, Fabian Habib-trained Confederate seems excellent value on a line of form through Fire Attack, who he beat in the SA Classic but who has since had a Grade 1 win and has attained a merit rating eight points higher than him. The gelding has never been out of the first two in nine starts and has New Zealand champion jockey Warren Kennedy – on a mission back on home turf – to help him overcome a widish draw. Every punter is on a budget of some sort, so, to keep the Quartet cost down below R1,000, say, some runners more fancied than the above three will have to be left out. It's a hard game. Suggested Quartet on the Durban July, Race 7, at Greyville on Saturday 5 July: Floating banker 11; with 1,4,6,9,10,14,16 (R840)
Sky News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Diddy trial latest: Ex-girlfriend 'Jane' reveals basketball themed 'hotel night' nicknames - and says she still loves rapper
Warning: The updates below contain graphic details of alleged sex trafficking. An anonymous former girlfriend and alleged victim of Sean "Diddy" Combs - known only as Jane - is facing cross-examination on day 20 of his trial. 18:37:00 Court is back in session Court has now resumed after lunch, and Jane - which is the pseudonym for an anonymous former girlfriend of Diddy - continues to be cross-examined by the defence. 17:53:11 'Diddy was Michael Jordan': Basketball stars' names used for 'hotel night' pseudonyms Jane says Jane has previously described her part in booking some of the male entertainers or escorts for Diddy's "hotel nights," and on occasion says she objected to having sex with certain men, including one who she said smelled. Going through a list of escorts she used with Diddy, she agrees that Don was "handsome" with blue eyes and Paul was "really nice" with a "warm energy". She agrees that she had a great sexual experience with Paul. She also says the names of Basketball stars were used as "hotel night" nicknames, calling herself Kobe Bryant, Paul was dubbed Shaq after Shaquille O'Neal, and Diddy was called Michael Jordan. She says their collective nickname was the Trifecta, again after the three basketball stars. Jane describes recruiting escorts called Cabral and Anton after watching them on the pornographic website Blacked and contacting them via Instagram. Jane told us yesterday that Cabral later attempted to blackmail her and Diddy over a video which was shot on his phone during a "hotel night" showing him having sex with her. 17:30:17 Jane says she transported drugs for Diddy multiple times Jane says she carried drugs twice for Diddy, and contacted his chief of staff at the time, Kristina Khorram, about how she should pack it in her luggage. While she says she was close to Khorram, she resented the fact that Khorram was always with Diddy, adding: "It was difficult for our relationship. I believe that she had very strong feelings about me which influenced a great deal with how Sean treated me." 17:18:32 'F*** it Friday' was a chance to 'party really hard,' Jane says Discussing their use of drugs together, Jane says she took ecstasy to help her get through "hotel nights" and that Diddy would take it to put him in a good mood when he was "agitated and stressed from the day". She describes a tradition they had called "F*** it Friday" which Jane says is "when he'd let loose and wants to party really hard". Jane says the events would release "pressure from various things in his personal life," adding "we'd party big on Fridays". 16:57:21 'Diddy liked the word voyeurism, I used cuck,' Jane says - as she questions if he was 'bi-curious' Discussing the swinger lifestyle central to Diddy's case, Jane agrees that he was driven by his desires while she was driven by her love for him. In a bid to understand their relationship, Jane says she discovered the word "cuckold" which she describes as "a man being turned on by watching his woman have sex with another man". Jane says the description was "spot on" and gave her a better understanding around Diddy's need for "hotel nights". Jane says she was particularly keen to know what was driving Diddy, and to find a list of reasons. She says one reason she could see was for him to "receive pleasure," adding, "some of the other things were that cucks could have bi-curiosity that they are too scared to do the act themselves". When asked about voyeurism, Jane says: "He liked to use the word voyeurism, I would use the word cuck for myself." 16:29:50 Diddy's drug use led to greying gums and shaky hands, Jane says Jane says she was aware of Diddy's drug habit, and that after just a few dates, she could see he was depressed and had shaky hands. She says that when they were on the plane to the Turks and Caicos Islands, she could see he wasn't taking care of himself. Jane says: "I felt he had jaundice, and his gums were greying from drug use, and his hands were shaking from consuming alcohol." Jane says she encouraged Diddy to go to rehab because he was "overdoing the partying". Jane says that while she noticed "a strong pattern" during their relationship, she "wouldn't label it as a drug pattern". She would now sum it up by saying Diddy was a "really big party guy", she adds. Wanting Diddy to quit the drugs, she says he previously spoke about Ketamine therapy as a way to quit his Xanax habit. 16:14:48 Diddy told me he was polyamorous, Jane says Jane confirms her relationship with Diddy began in late 2020, when she went with him to get drugs. She says she had kept it secret from the father of her child because he did not have a good relationship with Diddy. Jane says Diddy told her he was polyamorous towards the start of the relationship, and says she didn't mind, but admits that as the relationship developed and "emotions grew deeper" she found it hard, particularly when Diddy appeared to be in a monogamous relationship with another woman. She agrees that his ability to easily shift his attentions to another girl hurt his feelings, and she wouldn't hold back in expressing her feelings. Jane says: "I was very colourful. I would call her a hoe. I would use everything. I wanted him to be my man." She says Diddy was also jealous and possessive within the relationship. 15:57:14 Diddy nicknamed Jane 'crack pipe' The court is played a voicemail in which Diddy says he nicknamed Jane "crack pipe" because he had so much fun with her during their trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands. When asked to clarify the nickname, Jane says: "He had an addiction… to my text." Jane replies to Diddy's message, saying: "Crack pipe is so real for the both of us, it's definitely mutual. I just like everything you said. I am so thankful. I had so, so, so much fun, Turks was absolutely incredible, I am so happy." 15:51:11 Dissection of Diddy's financial support for Jane Discussion moves on to financial matters, and Jane says before meeting Diddy she made around $50,000 as an influencer and claimed around $4,700 in child support. She says she also paid her own rent. Jane says that over the course of her relationship with Diddy, he wired her around $150,000 and invested $20,000 in a dress line she launched. When asked by Diddy's lawyer Teny Geragos if she "gravitates to providers," Jane says she finds successful men attractive, adding "my ideal partner is a partner and provider". She says her lease on her home had begun in April 2023, and it had been important for her to "get something bigger" that was also up to Diddy's "taste level". She says privacy also started to become an issue, and she thought that by having the house, they could carry out the "hotel nights" in the privacy of their own home. Jane goes on to describe arguing with Diddy later in the relationship over him using his payment of her rent as "a tool" to control her by asking, "You need three months' rent?" She says she talked back to him, and he later sent her $20,000 unsolicited, with which she bought really nice furniture. In response, Jane sent a grateful text in which she called Diddy "baby", the court hears.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean Group: No near-term liquidity issues
Investment Thesis Royal Caribbean is expected to maintain momentum in travel in 2025 due to robust demand and pricing trends. The company's modern brand and compelling destinations support price improvement and a narrow moat rating. The company's balance sheet has improved by $3 billion since 2022, and it is expected to pay down corporate debt to maintain its investment-grade status. Royal's Trifecta initiative aims to capture capacity-adjusted EBITDA of over $100, double-digit adjusted EPS, and midteens ROICs by 2025. The 2025 forecast builds on last year's improvement, with adjusted EPS of $14.80, EBITDA of $124 per available passenger cruise day, and midteen ROICs of 17%.Customers are still drawn to the company's value proposition, and by year's end, the debt load is predicted to drop below three times. The company's 2025 forecast, which includes midteen ROICs, $14.80 in adjusted EPS, and EBITDA of $124 per available passenger cruise day, builds on the improvement from the previous year. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Sign with RCL. Notable Guru Holdings PRIMECAP Management (Trades, Portfolio) 48 Royal Caribbean Group transactions ( data-href="" style=""/> Steven Cohen (Trades, Portfolio) 40 Royal Caribbean Group transactions (Point72 data-href="" style=""/> There seems to be contradiction in the perception of RCL's stock among the top portfolio managers. Ken Griffin, Cohen, Jim Simmons have bought shares in the past quarter. However, Royal Caribbean's long-time shareholder, Primecap have been off-loading shares for quite a few years running. But even then, Primecap's position in Royal Caribbean is worth $822 million. Investment Upsides Royal Caribbean's loyalty is a significant factor in its market share, with loyalty members booking around 50% of room nights. This level is even higher at Royal, which has a robust market share by berths. The increasing benefits that loyalty members receive as they consistently travel with their preferred brands aid in driving repeat business. Royal Caribbean offers Crown & Anchor Society members priority check-in, exclusive rates, reduced rate upgrades, and a private departure lounge with continental breakfast after sailing three nights with the brand. After 30 nights, cruisers begin to accrue discounts on balconies and suites and invites to exclusive events, offering preferential treatment to those that stick with the brand. Through capital spending initiatives aimed at enhancing the brands by improving the product while in dry dock, raising customer willingness to pay for sailing on modern hardware, and supporting spending on new onboard activities, Royal Caribbean will continue to push higher prices. In order to enhance consistency in the overall experience, Royal intended to spend $900 million in 2018 on fleet modernization projects involving ten ships. Due to its close proximity, purchasing power, and affordable financing, Royal has managed to secure a cost advantage moat source. Royal's brand is more accessible to potential customers as it ports popular ships in more places outside of the conventional Florida market, which should pique the interest of prospective new cruisers. Royal can reach a larger percentage of the population by using its 14 North American port options, which include New York, Seattle, and the greater Los Angeles area. Royal can deliver the product at a lower cost than its smaller peer group thanks to the improved scale benefits that incremental passengers provide. Over time, Royal should remain comparatively larger than many other operators due to limited global shipbuilding capacity, which will allow costs to be spread over a larger base. Since lower relative interest rates compared to the peer set will be made possible by cheaper ship funding through ECAs, debt financing costs below the line will give Royal an additional cost advantage. Significant entry barriers support a moat source at an effective scale. For instance, the cost of ship builds may become more prohibitive for new peers if they are unable to obtain affordable financing through export credit facilities. Export credit organizations assist local businesses (shipbuilders) in reducing the risk of selling goods and services overseas by providing loans, guarantees, and insurance. Lower interest rates are associated with decreased counterparty risk. For comparison, Royal pays well below current market rates4 percent or lessfor the majority of its ship smaller operators frequently do not have access to such low-cost debt. Prior to Silversea's partnership with Royal Caribbean, the company sought to refinance existing debt and new ship builds through a private placement of its $550 million notes, which were priced at 7.25%. Crucially, during the pandemic, these financing partners were accommodating and stopped amortizing payments while the industry was closed. Additionally, there is limited global capacity for new hardware in addition to special financing related to shipbuilding, which makes it challenging for any new peer to ramp up to Seatrade Cruise, Royal currently has six ships scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2027 (excluding river boats), compared to just two for brands like Wide-Moat Disney. could encourage prospective new cruisers to express interest. With 14 North American port options (US plus Vancouver), Royal can reach a larger percentage of the population. For instance, as Royal looks to increase the home ports of its fleet, the combined populations of the greater Los Angeles area (roughly 13 million), New York (20 million), and Seattle (4 million) represent 37 million potential travelers, or more than 11% of the US population. Intrinsic Valuation Royal Caribbean's robust performance in the fourth quarter and optimistic outlook for 2025 have led it stocks's intrinsic value to $161.71 but even then the stock is materially overvalued. The company's strong onboard revenue and improved pricing helped it achieve an adjusted EPS of $1.63, $0.16 higher than the estimate. There is minimal risk of increasing revenues as the wave season begins with comparable load factors from year to year and higher pricing. Better cost control, with flat reported cost growth in 2025 as opposed to 2% increases before the print, is primarily responsible for the forward lift. Supported by new hardware, onboard and excursion opportunities, and expansion into emerging markets, long-term projections have not exchange and possible fuel prices, however, have the ability to sabotage tailwinds. If expenses are kept under control, Royal Caribbean's EBITDA margins could increase to a high 30 percent rate. Over the three years that ended in 2019, the company produced average returns on invested capital of over 9%; however, it is anticipated that it will surpass this level over the next five years, producing ROICs of 18%. Investment Downsides The impact of COVID-19, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's no-sail and conditional sailing orders, and the global geopolitical environment are just a few of the risks Royal Caribbean faces that could affect its enterprise value. When demand declines, the company can manage pricing by redeploying ships or sourcing customers from other areas. However, if fuel prices stay high for a long time, volatility in commodity prices, especially oil, may have an impact on profitability. Changes to the company's tax status under the US tax code are long-term issues that could have a significant impact on profitability. Furthermore, global changes in maritime rules could impact Royal Caribbean's business, especially in relation to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. In the past, cruise operators implemented scrubber technology to comply with global rules, but this retrofitting came at a cost, and Royal Caribbean could face costly environmental compliance if global rules change again. Portfolio Management It is anticipated that the company's projected returns on invested capital, including goodwill, will surpass the weighted cost of capital estimate of 10%. Although the balance sheet is getting better, high operating leverage and revenue cyclicality may still have an impact. The company is expected to pay down or refinance about $1.6 billion of its $20.5 billion total debt load that is due in 2025. By the end of 2025, Royal's net debt/adjusted EBITDA multiple should be less than company has resumed investments to elevate its brands, primarily through the purchase of new ships and refurbishments of its existing fleet. It is also investing in experiences at Paradise Island, Chile, and Cozumel. The management team has returned capital to shareholders when optimal, suspending dividends early in the Covid-19 cycle and halting share repurchases. Recently, the company reinstated its dividend at $0.40 per quarter, raising it to $0.55. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
CairoScene
03-03-2025
- Sport
- CairoScene
Spartan Race Middle East Returns With Dawn till Dusk Challenge
The race will begin in a Colosseum-inspired arena before participants take on a series of obstacles across desert terrain. Mar 03, 2025 Spartan Race Middle East is set to host its Dawn till Dusk endurance event at The Arena, Bab Al Shams on Saturday, April 19th, 2025. Following the success of the Trifecta weekend held earlier this year at Dubai Parks and Resorts, the upcoming race will feature two main formats: a 5 km Sprint and a 10 km Super, along with children's races at 1 km, 1.5 km and 3 km. The race will begin in a Colosseum-inspired arena before participants take on a series of obstacles across desert terrain. Competitors will start in waves from dawn, with the challenge running throughout the day and culminating at dusk. The event will offer a full-day experience that includes entertainment, recovery zones, and food and beverage options from regional brands. Since its inaugural event, which drew over 4,000 competitors and 2,000 spectators, Spartan Race Middle East has continued to expand, securing sponsorships from major brands and making appearances at key regional sporting events.
Arabian Business
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Arabian Business
Spartan Race Middle East unveils ‘Dawn 'til Dusk' at The Arena, Bab Al Shams
Spartan Race Middle East has confirmed The Arena, Bab Al Shams, as the venue for its upcoming 'Dawn 'til Dusk' event on Saturday, April 19. Following the success of its inaugural Trifecta weekend at Dubai Parks and Resorts, the new event will feature two race formats, the 5km Sprint and the 10km Super, along with 1km, 1.5km, and 3km children's races. Spartan Race returns Participants will face a series of challenging obstacles, starting from a Colosseum-inspired arena and navigating the surrounding desert terrain. Races will begin at dawn and continue until dusk, with competitors setting off in waves. The event aims to build on the first Spartan Race Middle East, which attracted over 4,000 competitors and 2,000 spectators. In addition to the races, attendees can expect entertainment, recovery zones, and food and beverage options from regional brands. This announcement comes as Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) gains international recognition, having been added to the Modern Pentathlon for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Spartan continues to lead in the OCR space, attracting athletes of all levels. Dubai's first Spartan Race Trifecta was held at Dubai Parks and Resorts on January 25 and 26. This event took place as part of partnership between Spartan Race Middle East and ITP Media Group. It featured three race types – Sprint, Super, and Beast – with participants able to complete all challenges over two days. Children's races was also held on both days.
