Races

The Weekly A-Z

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – ADELAIDE OVAL

Looked outstanding yesterday afternoon and into the evening when the lights took effect at arguably the prettiest cricketing venue anywhere in the world. Sadly, there wasn’t a full crowd because of COVID-19, but the spectacle was magnificent as it always is when day-night Tests are staged there. Fittingly, the game is evenly poised heading into day two.

B – BAGGY GREEN

Cam Green had a smile like a split watermelon yesterday when presented with his Baggy Green by Pat Cummins. It has been a rapid ascent for the angular West Australian young gun, but he belongs. To see him asking questions of the high-calibre Indian batting line-up with deliveries north of 140km/h was music to the ears of all wanting a genuine all-rounder in the national set-up.

C – COTTON ON

It didn’t take long for Perth Wildcats sensation Bryce Cotton to get rolling ahead of the season opener next month. Cotton poured in the points during the first pre-season game against the Illawarra Hawks as the champions showed their class before a healthy crowd. Cotton has had bigger hauls on bigger stages, but given Brian Goorjian, the Hawks mentor, is now back in charge of the Boomers, it was timely. Cotton was kept under wraps in last night’s second outing, but let’s hope his citizenship application can be expedited.

D – DRINK WHAT YOU LIKE

So says the saying if you back William Pike. It is quite easy to mount an argument that Pike is the most popular jockey in the country. And his willingness to embrace the love is a great thing to see. That much is evident in his decision to say thanks to everyone who supported him during his time in Victoria earlier this year by sponsoring a race at Ascot tomorrow. Terrific gesture.

E – EXTRAORDINARY

Is it just me that is astounded by the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision to halve Russia’s proposed four-year ban for systematic doping? Didn’t think so. It is a savage blow to the World Anti-Doping Agency and clean athletes throughout the world. Russia’s cheating across so many sports deserved the punishment that was handed down, not a reprieve. Staggering.

F – FEBRUARY

It seems a long way away right now, but February 8 is the date you must circle in your calendar if you are a lover of tennis. The Australian Open, to be conducted under stringent biosecurity measures, gets underway on that date after the ATP Tour this week released a schedule for the early part of 2021. Events will be played in Adelaide and Melbourne in the lead-up to the year’s first grand slam.

G – GOOD PADDOCK

Yes, yes, yes … those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. I hear you. But James Harden raised more than the odd eyebrow in the USA this week when he finally rocked up to Houston’s pre-season commitments looking like he had conducted his own training sessions inside a burger restaurant. Harden is never going to have the physique of a LeBron James, but the prolific scoring guard looked like he was in desperate need of a run.

H – HANGING AROUND

Andrew Brayshaw gave Fremantle fans an early Christmas present when he put pen to paper on a new four-year deal. The Victorian was already locked away for 2021, but will now be at Cockburn until the end of 2025. His signature comes not long after Rising Star winner Caleb Serong also agreed to a decent extension with the Dockers. Trending nicely are Fremantle.

I – INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT

Having declared that Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were key planks of the future and adding pieces around them to give Philadelphia every hope of contending in the Eastern Conference, 76ers general manager Daryl Morey is now prepared to blow it all up. The spectre of James Harden, who he saw first hand over a prolonged period as the main man at Houston, is too appealing for Morey it seems. Simmonds has been floated in trade packages to the Rockets, according to reports. Morey says the reports are false. It is a storyline that is going to be closely monitored.

J – JUGGLING

Sports administrators throughout the country will be doing plenty of that over the next week given the latest COVID-19 cluster in Sydney. The figure of 28 confirmed cases this morning caused a stir and will impact the daily activity and livelihoods of many. What does it mean for the BBL? Ditto the A-League. Ditto the NBL. Ditto the ABL. Ditto the SCG Test between Australia and India.

K – KICKING UP

For some strange reason, the NFL community don’t view kickers or punters as skilled positions. That honour is afforded to the quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. However, try telling anyone at the Balitmore Ravens that their kicker Justin Tucker isn’t blessed with an inordinate amount of skill … and ice in his veins. His 55-yard game-winning field goal to end a rollicking affair against Cleveland this week only illustrated he has both in spades. Tucker now boasts 16 game-winning field goals in his career and has converted 174 of 188 attempts at a percentage of 92.5, the best clip in NFL history. He is a stud!

L – LIVING LEGENDS

It didn’t take long for Beauty Generation to be retired and afforded the honour of living out the rest of his life at the Living Legends Farm in Victoria following his fifth placing in last Sunday’s Hong Kong International Mile. An eight-time Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, the son of Road To Rock started his career in Australia with Anthony Cummings. He departs Hong Kong as the equal highest-rated horse up there alongside the revered Able Friend.

M – MESSAGE SENT

Tim Tszyu knew he was on the cusp of earning a world title shot when he stepped into the ring on Wednesday night for his super welterweight bout with Bowyn Morgan. He needed to perform and make those in the sport sit up and take notice. That he did, flooring Morgan with a vicious left uppercut before ending the fight with a devastating right hand moments later. He is the real deal.

N – NOT LONG NOW

The AFL pre-season competition will be upon us before we know it. As much as some players haven’t returned to pre-season training yet, it didn’t stop the league from yesterday releasing the fixtures for the Community Series. Geelong and Essendon will kick it off on Thursday, February 18, a day before West Coast meet St Kilda at Leederville Oval. Fremantle’s opening hit-out is against Melbourne on February 26 before they tackle the Eagles in Mandurah on March 7.

O – OOPSY DAISY

You could almost hear the groans of 1.3 billion Indians last night when Virat Kohli was dead-set barbecued in the middle of Adelaide Oval by Ajinkya Rahane. Kohli had made his way to 74 and looked capable of guiding his country through the dangerous night session when he honoured a call from Rahane, who set off down the pitch after stroking a ball into the off side, only to quickly bark “no”, leaving his skipper stranded. Not Rahane’s finest moment.

P – PROUD AS PUNCH

How good is it to be a Sandgroper? In a challenging year, all of us here in WA have been able to follow the journey of Tommy Shelby with pride. Tommy last night showed his class and claimed what had proven an elusive Group 1 down in Hobart, lighting up social media. Congratulations to Steve Withers for the job he has done.

Q – QUENCHED

The thirst for some meaningful NBA action is about to be catered for. The new season starts next week and what a show it promises to be. The Golden State Warriors against the Brooklyn Nets. Yes, Steph Curry going head-to-head with former teammate, now foe Kevin Durant in game one of a massive double-header. Following that game, the LA Clippers and LA Lakers will do battle inside their Staples Center.

R – R.I.P

Sad news out of the Hunter Valley with the passing of multiple Group 1 winner Danewin at the age of 25. A brilliant performer on the track, he battled fertility issues at stud yet still made his mark in the barn, siring a string of Group 1 winners, including Theseo and Excites.

S – SHOW ME THE MONEY

Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying in Milwaukee. And he is going to be extremely well compensated to do so. The “Greek Freak” signed a max, five-year deal worth $300 million that sees him remain with the Bucks until at least 2025. A two-time reigning league MVP, Antetokounmpo is the heartbeat of the franchise which boasts just one title, achieved way back in 1971. How the club’s hierarchy move the chess pieces around during the season to give them the best chance of capitalising on the rare skill set of Antetokounmpo will be fascinating.

T – TRAP FOR YOUNG PLAYERS

Trap For Fools was rated to perfection by Brad Rawiller in last weekend’s Towton Cup, enabling the pair to combine for a terrific victory in the Listed feature. Lindsey Smith has done a mighty job to have this gelding back in the groove following a lot of high-intensity racing and how he fares tomorrow in the weight-for-age Ted van Heemst Stakes (2100m) could well determine whether he takes his place in the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) on January 2.

U – UNTIMELY

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson knows he cannot oversee another campaign like the one dished up by his side in 2020. But the task of climbing the ladder was made all the more difficult with the revelation that best-and-fairest winner Jack Gunston had undergone back surgery and would miss the first five rounds of the home-and-away season next year. As much as Gunston is an elite talent, not many players springboard off a back operation.

V – VACATING

Eddie McGuire is heading out the door. The long-time president of Collingwood announced this week that he would step down at the end of 2021, ending a tenure that has been as turbulent as it has been successful. He might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but his love for the game, indeed his love for Collingwood, is unrivalled and Magpies fans can be very satisfied with his commitment to the cause.

W – WAITING GAME

Willie Rioli had his day in court (well, sort of) when he faced the AFL anti-doping tribunal this week via video teleconference from Darwin. Rioli has not played any football since late 2019 as he awaits to learn his fate for allegedly tampering with a urine sample and also testing positive to cannabis in a separate incident. It has taken too long to get to this point, but finally Rioli got an opportunity to explain his position. A finding is not expected until early 2021.

X – XMAS SHOPPING

Not sure it really fits in this weekly column, but here goes anyway. If you haven’t got all your gifts, it might be best to avoid the crush of the shopping centres and just get your loved one a TABtouch gift voucher. Gamble responsibly of course.

Y – YES PLEASE

Give me more of Ricky Ponting, please Channel 7. If there is a better sports commentator in any code, I am yet to him or her. Ponting’s ability to see things well before they actually occur in the course of a game is uncanny. You are all the smarter for tuning into any game the former Australian captain is covering.

Z – ZAC’S SPLASH

We made mention of Zac Purton’s efforts in winning the International Jockey Challenge at Happy Valley last week. The Australian superstar was clearly not just content with showing off under the bright lights of the midweek meeting. Purton stood up on the biggest day of Hong Kong racing on the Sunday, winning the Hong Kong Cup on Normcore, his ninth Group 1 victory on that day over his time in the country. Purton them booted home another four winners at Happy Valley this week. Did someone say white-hot?




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