The Weekly A-Z

Posted on October 14, 2022October 14, 2022 | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – AUSTRALIA OPEN

As far as tournament director Craig Tiley is concerned, that very much applies to Russian and Belarusian players for the first grand slam of 2023. Tiley, who also doubles as Tennis Australia’s main man, said he saw no reason to ban players from those countries. But they will not be allowed to represent the flag of Russia, rather feature in Melbourne from mid-January as neutrals.

B – BLUE ARMY

Is there any stopping Godolphin? The manner in which James Cummings’ stable has been identifying and winning the feature races over the past few weeks has been ultra-impressive. Not content with dominating in Sydney, the Blue Army ventured south last Saturday and deadset showed off, winning the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas with Golden Mile, the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes with Anamoe, the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes with Paulele and the Listed Village Stakes with Gravina. You’d think more success will be upcoming as the spring advances.

C – COMFORT FOOD

There could be a few of those in the corner of Comfort Me indulging in some if the Rhys Radford-trained gelding salutes first-up in the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes (1400m) at Ascot tomorrow. Runner-up in last year’s Railway Stakes, Comfort Me has caught the eye in his two trials this time in. He is well suited under the conditions of the race and looks poised to park just behind the speed expected to be set by Excellent Dream and Massimo.

D – DES THE EXIT

The pressure was building on Manly coach Des Hasler all week and yesterday came confirmation — the Sea Eagles had decided to terminate his contract. Hasler, who had agreed to delegate more to his assistant coaches for 2023, could not win the boardroom battle and was shown the door. A dual premiership-winning coach with Manly, Hasler is expected to be replaced by Anthony Seibold.

E – EXTRAORDINARY

To think that after peeling off 16 consecutive wins, highlighted by a public humiliation of Sydney in the grand final last month, Geelong have got better. Considerably better too mind you. Despite the retirement of skipper Joel Selwood, Geelong are perfectly placed to defend their flag. They simply have to be when you trade in former first-rounders Jack Bowes, Ollie Henry and Tanner Bruhn, and also collect Gold Coast’s No.7 draft selection. Remarkable stuff.

F – FAST RESPONSE

Talk about a super sub. Mo Salah was injected into Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Rangers in the 68th minute during the week. He wasted little time getting down to work. Salah needed just over six minutes to net a hat-trick as the Reds blitzed the Scottish giants 7-1. It was the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history.

G – GIRL JUST WANTS TO HAVE FUN

Inspirational Girl was luckless at her most recent run, the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington. She appeared as if she had plenty more to give, only to be caught up in traffic. Will the same apply in tomorrow’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m)? One would hope not. The daughter of Reliable Man is on trial at the distance, but is prepared by Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien and will again have the services of 2020 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jye McNeil.

H – HALE STORM

One of note hit Optus Stadium on Sunday night when England and Australia clashed in game one of their three-match T20 series. Opener Alex Hales, who has proven an effective T20 gun for hire throughout the world, including down here in Australia in the BBL, blasted 84 from just 51 deliveries to lift the tourists to a commanding 6-208. Alongside Jos Buttler, arguably the best T20 batsman in the world, Hales could wreak havoc at the top of England’s order in the World T20, starting Sunday.

I – INTOLERABLE

It is no shock to learn Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is in the crosshairs of the NFL and facing an assault charge after pushing a photographer to the ground in the aftermath of his team’s narrow loss to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this week. It was an act we rarely see in professional sport any more and given America’s litigious society, it was only a matter of time before Adams was slapped with a misdemeanour assault from the individual he shoved.

J – JACKO AND JAEGER

It will be a catch-cry Fremantle fans will be making often in years to come after the Dockers lured Luke Jackson and Jaeger O’Meara home during an active trade period. The Jackson deal had been months in the making, but the news O’Meara was out the door at Hawthorn was a surprise to many. Having effectively 48 hours to decide between Fremantle and GWS as his third club, O’Meara opted for the Dockers, who have clearly recruited for the now in a sign they believe the premiership window is wide open.

K – KARMA TRAIN

It struck big time at Ascot last Saturday … albeit in a great way. Karli’s Karma, the strapping mare prepared by Summer Dickson, made light of a sticky gate to produce a brilliant on-speed display in a 66+ 1400m event. Her turn of acceleration in the straight made everyone sit up and take notice. It was not only impressive to the eye, but also on the clock, with the time of 1:22.45 nearly three lengths faster than the time clocked by Em Tee Aye in winning the 78+ 1400m just over an hour later.

L – LEADING LADY

Group 1 glory is on the line at Gloucester Park tonight with the running of The Trots WA Oaks (2536m). Wonderful To Fly was seen as unbeatable during her 10-win streak, but has been unplaced at her past two outings. Having come up with barrier five tonight, it is fair to assume trainer-driver Shane Young will be patient early on to allow her to be strong at the back end of the $150,000 feature. At $2.65, Wonderful To Fly is being challenged for favouritism by Im Themightylucy ($3.30).

M – MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

Nature Strip’s connections will be rolling in it (if they aren’t already) should the hulking gelding  underline his tag as the world’s best sprinter and claim tomorrow’s $15 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick. Nature Strip already boasts in excess of $19 million in stakes, a jaw-dropping figure that will swell beyond $25 million should he successfully defend the Everest title he won 12 months ago.

N – NOW OR NEVER

The day of reckoning for George Kambosos Jnr is nearly here. Come Sunday he will enter the ring at Rod Laver Arena knowing full well his future goes on the line. If he upsets Devin Haney, the Australian will become the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. But if he is again taken to the cleaners by the slick American boxer, his career is as good as over.

O – OUT THE DOOR

St Kilda and Brett Ratten, a union that started so brightly, is no more. The news of Ratten’s demise broke last night, just months after he signed an extension that tied him to the club until the end of 2024. The Saints, who virtually sat on their hands during the trade period, arrived at the decision to remove Ratten after recently completing a review of their football department. The former Blues mentor guided St Kilda to the finals in 2020, his first season at the helm, but could manage just 10 wins in both 2021 and this year, missing the post-season both times.

P – PRIMED FOR THE PINNACLES

Lindsey Smith might now call Warrnambool home, but he is still a West Australian at heart. It is why he is desperate to have a presence during the upcoming Pinnacles at Ascot, with last Saturday’s victory of Tuvalu in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) a key building block in his planning. Tuvalu will have another run in the Champions Mile at Flemington early next month and then hopefully is on the charter flight west to contest the $1.5 million Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot, a race Smith has won twice previously.

Q – QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr reiterated during the week that Draymond Green had been fined, not suspended, for punching teammate Jordan Poole during a practice session. “We feel like this is the best way after assessing everything for us to move forward … this is the biggest crisis we’ve ever had since I’ve been coach here,” Kerr said. Green is expected to appear in a pre-season game this weekend and be available for selection in the Warriors’ season opener opposed to Denver next week.

R – RHULE OF LAW

The NFL, much like the English Premier League, is an unforgiving environment for coaches who struggle to deliver victories. Nobody needs to inform Matt Rhule of that. The Carolina Panthers this week sent Rhule packing after just five games this season. Carolina’s 1-4 win-loss record came after back-to-back five-win seasons on Rhule’s watch. He was replaced by defensive assistant coach Steve Wilks.

S – SWEET 16

Rarely do we see a set of nominations in the thoroughbreds followed through by all the trainers. By that I mean every horse nommed is still there at acceptance time. That was the case this week when 16 sprinters were entered for the Listed Crawford Stakes (1000m). With the Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) and Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) leading into the $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), all were still there at final scratchings on Wednesday at 10am. And a day out from the Listed feature, that field of 16 remains intact. It promises to be an enthralling race.

T – THREE STRIKES

This applies to the opposition of Anamoe. They have all had a swing and missed. Put simply, they have struck out. The entire returned this preparation with a quality win in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), beating a field of nine rivals, he outclassed eight opponents when successful in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) and then shone the brightest he has this campaign when clinching the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday. It is onwards and upwards towards the Cox Plate for Anamoe, who now possesses six victories at the elite level.

U – UNSTOPPABLE

Short of hitting him over the head with a bat (and we are not advocating violence whatsoever), one has to wonder just how James McDonald can be stopped. The Kiwi-born, Sydney-based jockey chalked up two Group 1 wins at Caulfield last weekend and was back at it again on Wednesday, piloting Madame Pommery to victory in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m). Aged just 30, McDonald has now won 71 Group 1 races … 14 more than Damien Oliver had by his 30th birthday. Oliver sits atop the Group 1 leaderboard here in Australia with 127, but is going to be under siege from McDonald in the not too distant future.

V – V’LANDYS’ BABY

Mention the name Peter V’Landys to racing participants in NSW and they glow with pride. He is a man who represents their best interests and continually provides prizemoney injections and pop-up races that underpin the industry in NSW and beyond. But his baby, his pride and joy, is the $15 million Everest, the richest race in the world on turf. The slot-themed sprint continues to get tongues wagging right around the country and V’Landys was quite open at the barrier draw on Tuesday night that he expected a record crowd for this year’s edition. We will watch on with interest.

W – WORLD ORDER

It has taken a little longer than we had all hoped (thanks COVID-19), but the World T20 is nearly here. Just two more sleeps in fact. Games one and two on Sunday will feature Sri Lanka against Namibia and the UAE opposed to the Netherlands respectively. Australia launch their title defence next Saturday night against New Zealand.

X – X-RATED

Who doesn’t love a grown-man dunk in basketball? If you do, there is every likelihood that you have already seen vision of Sydney Kings star Xavier Cook’s violent throwdown last weekend. Cooks took possession on a fast break just inside the three-point line and leapt over the top of Melbourne United’s Isaac Humphries to send a message that reverberated around the country. It was the highlight in a 91-71 shellacking of their bitter rivals.

Y – YOU JUST KNEW

From the moment Jacquinot swamped his rivals to win the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) last month, inquiries from big studs started. A son of Rubick, who also sired Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, Jacquinot showed flashes of potential in his two-year-old season, highlighted by his placing in the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m). Yesterday was confirmation day. Widden Stud, one of the leading nurseries in the Hunter Valley, had bought into the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-prepared colt ahead of his biggest test to date, tomorrow’s $15 million Everest.

Z – ZAC’S FLEX

Fresh off riding seven winners at Sha Tin last weekend, Zac Purton let it be known why he has been a long-time presence in the Hong Kong jockey ranks. Purton said James McDonald, the No.1 hoop in Australia, would be negligent if he stayed Down Under. “At the end of the day if he looks at his bank account and my bank account, he is stupid for staying in Australia,” Purton said. “It’s as simple as that.”