Sports

The Weekly A-Z

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – AU REVOIR ACHERNAR

The curtain came down on the career of this popular WA galloper this week. A winner of the first two-year-old race of the season back in 2016-17, Achernar Star went on to be placed in a Group 2 WA Guineas and Group 1 Kingston Town Classic as a three-year-old, finished runner-up to Gatting in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes at four, won the Listed Bunbury Stakes and Grandstand Cup in successive starts and finished fourth to Regal Power in the 2019 Railway Stakes. He was transferred to Lindsey Smith’s care and finished his career with respectable placings of fourth and fifth in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes and Group 1 Toorak Handicap to bank over $1 million in prizemoney. As honest as the day is long.

B – BOUND TO BE A BULLDOG

Teenage sensation Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has drawn comparisons to fellow Indigenous star Lance Franklin for the way he covers the ground and kicks the ball beautifully off his left foot. Whereas Franklin launched his career at Hawthorn, Ugle-Hagan will be at the Whitten Oval in 2021 if the jungle drums are beating correctly ahead of next week’s AFL national draft. He is a serious talent and Bulldogs fans can be genuinely excited.

C – COVID-19 CHAOS

Can the NFL get through its season without any further delays? I wouldn’t be taking the shorts about that. As we sit, only one of the 32 teams in the league — Seattle — hasn’t had a COVID-19 positive test. The others have had a myriad of positives, with this week’s development that saw all Denver Broncos quarterbacks ruled out against the New Orleans Saints after testing positive, making a mockery of the protocols put in place to protect them and the game. In a country ravaged by the virus, it is probably a minor miracle that the NFL has got this far.

D – DAYLIGHT ROBBERY

Would apply to Mike Tyson … if only his exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jnr wasn’t at night in Los Angeles on the weekend just gone. Anyone in their right mind who has witnessed a fight knew Tyson won, not drew, that contest. And those who aren’t well in the mind … well, they had Tyson winning also. They weren’t fighting for sheep stations and it matters little to their overall records, but Iron Mike was given the rough end of the pineapple.

E – EYE TO THE FUTURE

The racing world will be waiting anxiously for the first foal of Japanese superstar Almond Eye, who ended her glittering career in the most spectacular fashion with victory in a brutal Group 1 Japan Cup (2400m) last weekend. A winner of nine races at the elite level, Almond Eye hails from one of the greatest female bloodlines in the world and her progeny will be monitored like a member of the Royal Family.

F – FLUSHED WITH MONEY

LeBron James was never going to have to work again after he finished his professional basketball commitments. “King James” is in the conversation with Michael Jordan as the GOAT and has been well looked after, as he deserves to be, along the way. That was before he agreed this week to a two-year extension with the LA Lakers worth $114 million. He will be 38 when he completes that deal and could well have another two rings to show for his efforts.

G – GLOUCESTER PARK

Will come alive tonight when Italian fireworks night follows what promises to be an excellent card of pacing, headlined by the running of the $450,000 TABtouch WA Pacing Cup. Chicago Bull is the raging $1.55 favourite despite his narrow loss last week and an awkward draw in seven. Just what price Bully starts at will be intriguing. Likewise the tactics Gary Hall Jnr adopts and just when he pushes the button on the diminutive dynamo.

H – HOME COURT

Is exactly where the Perth Wildcats will launch their championship defence next month. Trevor Gleeson’s men will run on to RAC Arena on Friday, January 15 to oppose the Andrew Bogut-less Sydney Kings before backing up two days, also before the Red Army, against the Melbourne Tigers. It is a mouthwatering start to a title defence that will no doubt once again rest very heavily on Bryce Cotton’s shoulders.

I – IN THE ZONE

Enter Tommy Shelby. Third in last Friday night’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup, the WA chaser ventured to Hobart this week and clocked a sizzling 25.50sec., over 461m on Thursday afternoon as he builds towards next week’s Hobart 1000 heats. It was just 0.06sec., outside the track record and further confirmation that Steve Withers has him flying.

J – JOURNEY OVER

It is highly unlikely Godolphin will venture west again in 2021 with their tough-as-teak sprinter Trekking after he appeared to have every conceivable and still only manage a fourth placing in last weekend’s $1 million Railway Stakes. It was the same spot he finished 12 months earlier, although on that occasion he had legitimate excuses. Not so last Saturday. WA just doesn’t agree with him, much to the chagrin of punters throughout the country who plunged him into $1.75 by jump time.

K – KEEP IT ON THE CUT STUFF

Was the sarcastic catch-cry growing up from the slips cordon to a fast bowler who was more than a little bit wayward with cherry in hand. Distinguishing just what the “cut stuff” was on day one of the first Test between New Zealand and the West Indies in Hamilton yesterday was not easy. The Seddon Park wicket resembled the infield rather than a Test strip, prompting the tourists to quickly put the Kiwis in when they won the toss.

L – LUCKY BOY

That is putting it mildly when it comes to Romain Grosjean at the Bahrain F1 last weekend. The protective halo in the cars these days saved him from certain death. To think he was able to escape the crash at high speed and then the fireball which erupted with relative minor injuries is a miracle of the highest order. He probably doesn’t need the money, but let’s hope he bought a lotto ticket in the aftermath.

M – MAKE NO MISTAKE

The protocols put in place for the Australian Open, pushed back to a start date of February 8, are as restrictive as you can get. And good on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for adopting such an approach. Many of the players converging on Melbourne for the year’s opening grand slam are coming from COVID-19 hot spots and their entourages are huge. The path has been laid. It is up to the players whether they want to walk down it.

N – NO THANKS

Kerry McEvoy had the first right of refusal relating to the ride aboard superstar sprinter Classique Legend in Sunday week’s international sprint at Sha Tin. He exercised that right this week, declaring that he had no intention of making the trip given he couldn’t be guaranteed of a flight back to Sydney and would have to self quarantine upon arrival. Vincent Ho, step right up.

O – ONE TO WATCH

It was impossible not to be impressed by the performance of Vandoula Lass at Sandown during the week. The two-year-old daughter of Vancouver justified the confidence of Team Hawkes and punters Australia-wide with a 2.75-length victory on debut. An imposing specimen, she will meet far stiffer opposition throughout her juvenile season, but she clearly has a motor.

P – PERFECTION

The Pittsburgh Steelers remain on track for that after improving to 11-0 this season with yesterday’s grinding 19-14 victory over NFC North foe Baltimore. In a season full of challenges, you would think long-serving coach Mike Tomlin would be satisfied. Clearly not. “It was really junior varsity, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said. “It was in all three phases … we couldn’t run the ball effectively when we needed to, we dropped too many significant passes, very catchable, makeable passes. We didn’t make significant plays in the special teams game. Our kick-off coverage unit wasn’t good enough. We turned the ball over and we gave up big plays in critical moments on defence. Can’t have it.” Whack!

Q – QUANTUM LEAP

Elite Street definitely took one in the Winterbottom Stakes. The four-year-old son of Street Boss, prepared by Danny Morton, lobbed in a perfect spot and then displayed his customary acceleration in the straight. He made a mockery of the fact he was coming through ratings races and the Group 1 feature was his maiden foray into black-type company. The jaw-dropping victory led to … .

R – RAW EMOTION

Brad Rawiller made the sacrifice to head west and, after completing his required hotel quarantine that well and truly tested his mental strength and placed great strains on his physical capacity, got down to business. His big-race ability has never been in question and it was no surprise to see him beaming as he returned to scale aboard Elite Street after a 10-out-10 steer in the Winterbottom. It was Group 1 win No.25.

S – SOCIAL MEDIA

Will be abuzz before Kementari steps out for the final time in his career in tomorrow’s Group 2 Scahill Stakes at Ascot. Special K has performed solidly in both the Lee Steere and Railway in his WA campaign and will be looking to chalk up a victory for the first time in 1001 days under Chris Parnham. Regardless of how he fares, he is going to be trending in the aftermath. Good luck to all concerned.

T – TRANSPARENCY

It is a word that doesn’t resonate inside the hallways of Cricket Australia. How CA hasn’t been able to give a diagnosis on the groin injury sustained by David Warner last Sunday is mindboggling. Yes, it was quick to withdraw the veteran from the final ODI against India and the three Twenty20 internationals, but he had scans soon after he injured himself and we, the public, are none the wiser. Not good enough.

U – UNBLEMISHED

Sunset Spitfire takes an 11-race winning sequence into tomorrow night’s Anniversary Cup final at Cannington after another stellar display last weekend as a raging $1.10 favourite. Though he isn’t always away cleanly, his ability to muster and then sustain high speed has ensured he hits the feature unbeaten. A rising star with a capital S.

V – VERY PECULIAR

The discontent between members of the Hockeyroos and the board of Hockey Australia over the dropping of former captain Georgina Morgan and Rachael Lynch, the current goalkeeper of the year, shows no signs of abating. Allegations of bullying and a poor culture are a black eye to the sport and come with the rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo fast approaching.

W – WHERE THERE’S A WILL

There is a Test debut just around the corner. That is the scenario awaiting young Victorian Will Pucosvki following David Warner’s serious groin injury suffered in the second one-day international against India last weekend. Pucovski had been in the conversation alongside Joe Burns as a potential partner to Warner at the top of the order for the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval later this month, but with Warner out of the picture, it seems inevitable he will be handed a Baggy Green.

X – XENOPHOBIA

Is alive and well in Argentinian rugby it seems. Having come to the only imaginable conclusion to suspend three players, including skipper Pablo Matera, for racist and discriminatory tweets, the governing body bowed to pressure from the playing group. Matera, Guido Petti and Santiago Socino will not play against the Wallabies today, but coach Mario Ledesma said the trio would be back soon and “great human being” Matera would be reinstated as captain. Wow. Just wow.

Y – YOU GO GIRL

Inspirational Girl underlined her undeniable ability with a barnstorming finish to take out the Railway Stakes. She returns to Ascot tomorrow seeking to become the first horse to claim the Railway-Kingston Town Classic double since Sniper’s Bullet accomplished the feat back in 2009. Her barrier draw is a clear impediment, but her turn of foot is something to be behold.

Z – ZZZZs

If you are walking past AFL House, can you please bang on the front door and wake up some key personnel. Yes, the national draft is on our doorstep and yes there have been the rule adjustments to 2021. But surely the footy-loving fans out there, not to mention those in clubland, would dearly love to see some fixtures for next year. Given rival codes have released their schedules for 2021, it couldn’t be too difficult for the powerbrokers at AFL House to make an announcement.




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