Sports

The Weekly A-Z

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – AB FAB

All WA eyes, and a few from Liverpool, will be on Moonee Valley tonight when Fabergino makes her Group 1 debut in the Moir Stakes (1000m). The imposing grey mare is confronted by a standard of opposition she has never experienced previously, but will again link up with regular jockey Peter Knuckey, who was injured when she travelled interstate earlier in the year and was successful down the Flemington straight.

B – BART’S BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to all involved in the decision to rename tomorrow’s Birthday Stakes at Belmont the Black Heart Bart Stakes (1200m). One of the most popular WA horses of recent times, Black Heart Bart is well deserving of the honour. As racing tries to identify with the next generation of fans, it is prudent to give them something they can relate to. Well done Perth Racing.

C – CLAY COLOSSUS

The French Open gets underway this weekend and while it comes around at a different time, there remains one constant … Rafael Nadal. A 12-time winner of the clay-court major, it would take something extraordinary if he didn’t prevail in Paris once more. There are high-calibre players on clay and then there is Nadal.

D – DOG DAY AFTERNOON

Will history repeat? All Western Bulldogs supporters will be hoping that isn’t the case when they front up to St Kilda next Saturday. The Bulldogs were ambushed by a physical GWS in an elimination final 12 months ago, leaving many to question their intestinal fortitude. Questions will be asked again by the Saints. How Luke Beveridge’s men respond will be fascinating.

E – EMPTY FEELING

Expectation around fans being back at the EPL early into the new campaign were dashed this week when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed restrictions that could remain in place well into 2021. It was hoped supporters could be back at games next month, but rising COVID-19 numbers have torpedoed that. The bottom line of clubs are going to be seriously impacted.

F – FORTUNE TELLER

Terrific to hear Peter Fortune talk in glowing terms yesterday regarding Cathy Freeman. The long-time coach of Freeman, Fortune opened up on the memorable 400m victory in the final of the Sydney Olympics … 20 years to the day today. Not only did Fortune have a hand in Freeman’s Olympic Games triumph, he oversaw world championship success and a key role in her development as a wonderful human being.

G – GOLDEN DELICIOUS

Can anyone upset brilliant Queensland gelding Rothfire in tomorrow’s Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill? Anyone? It seems not if the smart judges are to be believed. Rothfire was electric in winning the Run To The Rose a fortnight ago and though he has come up with an awkward draw for the $1 million feature, jockey Jim Byrne reported this week that Rothfire had trained on superbly following his first-up victory.

H – HANNAN’S HANDICAP

All roads lead to Kalgoorlie next week for a race round that has always been well attended. The TABtouch Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) on the Thursday will again be a traditional lead-in to the Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) on the weekend, with the COVID-19 restrictions prohibiting interstate travel likely to result in somewhat of a throwback in terms of attendance figures on track and vibrancy in the town.

I – INCREDIBLE IPL

It is time for those who didn’t think the BCCI ran world cricket to reconsider their position. We are witnessing the 2020 IPL season take place in the UAE because of COVID-19 issues in India. It hasn’t stopped the viewership being astronomical. The match between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings attracted 200 million viewers. That is not a misprint. Little wonder the franchises pay massive money for the best talent.

J – JUST REWARD

Cannot get my head around the criticism from some quarters directed at Canberra and Melbourne for resting en masse key players for the last round of the NRL’s home-and-away season. Surely Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and his Storm counterpart Craig Bellamy have, with finals positions assured, earnt the right to prepare best for the pointy end of the season.

K – KANGAROO CULL

Any time you have a season like the one experienced by North Melbourne, it would be foolish to think mass changes aren’t coming. To pinch a Brian Taylor-ism however, boy oh boy wowee!!!! The cuts at Arden Street have been severe and swift, highlighted by the news midweek key forward Ben Brown was told to look elsewhere after a year he would like to forget — on and off the field.

L – LOSS OF A LEGEND

Hearts sunk last night when news filtered through Dean Jones had died after suffering cardiac arrest in Mumbai. It’s easy to forget just how much of an impact the flamboyant Victorian had on the national Test and one-day sides. Nobody can dispute Jones’ numbers stack up. His 210 in stifling heat and humidity in Madras in 1986 is the greatest Test innings produced by an Australian.

M – MEDIA STREET

Shockwave did the unthinkable a fortnight ago when he over-raced first-up and was still able to hold off the challenge of Chicago Bull in the straight. He gets an opportunity to again showcase his wares tonight at Gloucester Park in the Media Guild Cup (2536m) in the absence of Mighty Conqueror, who was scratched this morning by co-trainer Greg Bond.

N – NO TOMORROW

There is nowhere to hide for South Fremantle in Sunday’s preliminary final against West Perth. The Bulldogs coughed up their last home-and-away match against Perth and were held goalless in the opening half by Claremont in last weekend’s second semi-final. Hence, they are fronting up to the spirited Falcons, again before their home crowd, where the losers will have the curtain drawn on their 2020 season.

O – ON THE CUSP

Miami Heat continue to thumb their noses at the experts, advancing to the brink of an NBA Finals appearance. Having spanked the Indiana Pacers 4-0 and eclipsing the No.1 seeds Milwaukee 4-1, they now boast a 3-1 advantage against the more fancied Boston Celtics thanks to a wonderful contribution from tyro Tyler Herro. It is a further feather in the cap of coach Erik Spoelstra.

P – PARMIE, PINT, PUNT

For just $25, you can have a meal and a beverage, along with a $5 betting voucher at Mandurah greyhounds on a Tuesday night and at Cannington 24 hours later. A great promotion as we enter the warmer months.

Q – QUEEN AND THE CAMELOT

Arcadia Queen’s peak performance in her career came over 1800m in the Kingston Town Classic almost two years ago. She gets back to that distance tomorrow in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield. Her assignment of collecting another elite level triumph was made easier when she came up with barrier one, but she is going to need to produce something right out of the top drawer to take down Russian Camelot, who was awesome first-up in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and is a deserving Cox Plate favourite.

R – RELIEF

Hugh Bowman’s spring was seriously compromised when he was suspended for 20 days on a handling charge relating to his ride aboard Farnan in the Run To The Rose. He quickly lodged an appeal, which was heard yesterday, and was sporting a large grin at the end of the hearing when the suspension was quashed. He is now free to ride after tomorrow’s card at Rosehill.

S – SWITCHEROO

The AFL was seemingly locked and loaded and ready to send St Kilda to Adelaide Oval for their elimination final against the Western Bulldogs next week. One wonders whether the measured comments from former Saints champion Nick Riewoldt about the league’s reluctance to apply their own equality and integrity in the finals fixture was a factor in its decision to settle on the Gabba.

T – TREND IS YOUR FRIEND

Ain’tnodeeldun. Remember the name. The three-year-old gelding, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, went to Sale yesterday and won by five lengths in an all-aged 1615m maiden. He will be aimed at the VRC Derby (2500m) at Flemington. A stretch you say? Another Freedman runner, Warning, ran fourth in the same Sale race last year over 1609m and then progressed to a Listed race at his next start en route to the derby which he won by more than three lengths.

U – UNFULFILLED

The Las Vegas Raiders hosted New Orelans this week at their spectacular Allegiant Stadium, a jaw-dropping $2.5 billion venue just off the strip. Raiders owner Mark Davis would have been frothing at the prospect of a sellout crowd at the stadium’s unveiling when the schedule was released late last year, only to see 65,000 empty seats because of COVID-19.

V – VALE, BOB INGHAM

The Australian racing and breeding scene lost a true gentleman on Wednesday with the passing of Bob Ingham. Alongside his late brother, Jack, the siblings enjoyed wonderful success in business and in the thoroughbred scene through the deeds of Woodlands Stud. Bob Ingham was 88.

W – WEATHER WATCH

The bureau of meteorology got a working out all week in the lead-up to tonight’s Moonee Valley card. The forecast at the start of the week resembled Armageddon, but was amended this morning to the point where irrigation was applied to avoid the track being too hard. Who would be a track manager in Victoria?

X – X-FACTOR

Port Adelaide fired a shot across the bow of their premiership rivals when they outclassed Collingwood on Monday night. Their genuine wow factor, especially forward of the ball, was impossible to ignore. You might not get big numbers in the finals from Steven Motlop, Xavier Duursma, Connor Rozee and Zak Butters, but their influence has the capacity to be profound with a capital P. Then there is the small issue of putting the brakes on Robbie Gray, an out-and-out superstar.

Y – YO-YEO

Elliot Yeo’s 2020 campaign came to a predictable end this week when West Coast finally conceded that his osteitis pubis issues were too large to overcome. A dual John Worsfold medallist and dual All-Australian, Yeo was in ripping nick yet again midway through the year before being curtailed. His plight perhaps sums up the rollercoaster season of the Eagles.

Z – ZANY

Bryson DeChambeau is very much that. The American golfer was this week crowned the US Open champion after overpowering the intimidating Winged Foot course in New York. DeChambeau used the COVID-19 break to bulk up like an NFL tight end and has no intention of easing up. He wants to get bigger again and has promised to try a 48-inch driver in a bid to extra even further length from the tee.




Recent Articles