Races

The A-Z of 2020

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – ALL-STAR DEEDS

Sometimes the dominance of William Pike and Bob and Sandra Peters sees Grant and Alana Williams’ undeniable talents as trainers get lost in the wash. It isn’t fair. They are clearly the best grand final trainers in the State and continually peak their horses at the appropriate stage. The All-Star Mile quinella earlier this year was a prime example. Regal Power backed up following a narrow second in the Australian Cup and was given a 10 out of 10 by Pike to snare the $5 million feature, with stablemate Superstorm dashing home to grab second.

B – BURSTING AT THE SEAMS

Cast your mind back to earlier this year before COVID-19 threw the world into a spin from which it is yet to emerge, and there were nearly 90,000 fans on hand inside the MCG to witness Australia claim the women’s World T20 title with a crushing win over India. The goodwill and energy at the iconic stadium was something many who were there speak about with reverence. Oh, having Katy Perry perform on stage wasn’t bad either.

C – COVID-19

Never thought in my lifetime we would be forced to endure a pandemic as devastating as the one that originated from Wuhan late last year. Truly remarkable and truly devastating. Bring on the vaccine that is being rolled out in the USA and UK.

D – DESERVED

Just as COVID-19 was starting to impact our way of life, there was an NBL grand final series to decided. The Perth Wildcats led the Sydney Kings 2-1 in the best-of-five series played in front of a smattering of family and club staff only when it was decided to cancel game four and five (if required). It led to a discussion over whether the Wildcats should be awarded the title and fortunately, common sense prevailed. Trevor Gleeson’s side, not for the first time, enjoyed the spoils that came with being champions.

E – EXTRA TIME

Was what the IOC finally decided on earlier this year regarding the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Games were in trouble a long way out before the IOC relented and took the only step it could and postpone competition until next year. Whether we get to see the Games in 2021 remains a great unknown, however.

F – FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

The more things change, the more things stay the same. Lewis Hamilton pocketed his seventh world title with three races to go after producing a clinical performance at the Turkish F1. The 35-year-old, who admitted he was “destroyed” after contracting the COVID-19 virus, joined Michael Schumacher 16 years after most in the sport thought the German established a mark that would remain out of reach.

G – G.O.A.T

LeBron James’ emotional NBA championship with the LA Lakers, honouring the memory of the late Kobe Bryant, was always going to spark debate over whether he or Michael Jordan is the greatest of of all time. Jordan has the six rings with Chicago to strengthen his claims on the mantle, but James’ ability to win three of his four titles at different franchises is nothing to be sneezed at. Many in Jordan’s era say Michael. The current basketball fan leans towards LeBron.

H – HEARTACHE

It was impossible not to do a double take when, waking up from Australia Day celebrations, we learnt of the helicopter crash just outside Los Angeles that claimed the lives of all on board. Included in the casualties was one of the most popular athletes in the past 25 years, Kobe Bryant, and his teenager daughter Gianna. We didn’t know it at the time, but it would be something that typified the drama of 2020.

I – INTEGRITY IN QUESTION

West Coast Fever are cheats. There’s no dancing around the issue. Earlier this month, the Fever were fined $300,000 and docked 12 premiership points for breaching the salary cap in 2018 and last year by nearly $300,000. If it was any other Super Netball team committing such an offence, we would be up in arms. The refusal to identify who oversaw the payments is just as offensive.

J – JUSTICE

It was a hot topic throughout the world in 2020 after the death of George Floyd in May. Naomi Osaka, who is of mixed Japanese and Haitian heritage, wore a different facemask each time she strode on to the court at the US Open. Each mask carried a name of a black victim of alleged police or racist violence in America. The Milwaukee Bucks took it a step further inside the NBA bubble when they refused to play their match against Orlando following a Wisconsin police officer firing seven bullets into a black man’s back.

K – KOP THAT

In an ideal world, Liverpool would have celebrated their maiden English Premier League success in June before their adoring fans in the Kop. Clearly, COVID-19 put the kibosh on that, but the utter dominance of Jurgen Klopp’s side was rewarded in fitting fashion. When the season was suspended because of the pandemic, there was genuine fear from Liverpool supporters that their team’s brilliance leading up to the New Year and early in 2020 would count for nothing.

L – LOSS OF A LEGEND

Dean Jones, aka Legend, was a hard man to dislike. He was no shrinking violet, but his love for cricket and his friends was strong. That is why the heart attack suffered by him in a Mumbai hotel while working as a commentator for the Indian Premier League left many of us cursing 2020. A proud Victorian, Jones’ 210 in the tied Test in Madras in 1986 is the stuff of legend.

M – MOURNING

The entire football community was doing just that when news broke about the passing of arguably the greatest of them all, Diego Maradona, following a heart attack at his house in Argentina. The diminutive superstar had battled poor health and substance abuse issues in retirement, but his passing was still a hammer blow to one and all.

N – NO JOKE

Novak Djokovic pines to be revered like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. That is unlikely to ever take place. He is also desperate to finish as the most successful of the Big Three in regards to grand slam singles titles won. That is very likely to take place, even though he sits third presently. He would almost certainly have been one slam closer had he not imploded at Flushing Meadows. Dojokovic’s US Open campaign ended abruptly when he was disqualified for accidentally hitting a ball into the throat of a lineswoman.

O – OUT OF THIS WORLD

You will go a long way to find two better sprinting displays than the ones we witnessed from Classique Legend in The Everest and Bivouac in the Darley Sprint Classic. Classique Legend had built superbly before he tracked up behind a ridiculous speed in The Everest and let down like a machine. Behind him on that day was Bivouac, who once again rubberstamped his straight-track credentials soon after in the Group 1 Darley. Let’s hope the two meet again in 2021.

P – PAGAN’S PADDOCK

Denis Pagan’s ability to have Wayne Carey isolated deep in North Melbourne’s attacking 50m led to the term Pagan’s Paddock. His accomplishments as a dual premiership-winning AFL coach need no explanation. His ability as a horse trainer is clearly something very unique as well, preparing Johnny Get Angry to claim this year’s VRC Derby. A proud Victorian with a wonderful appreciation of history, the only disappointment for Pagan was perhaps the space at Flemington, normally at a premium, was plentiful because of COVID-19 restrictions. It was almost as if he had his own Pagan’s Paddock to roam freely in.

Q – QUARANTINE CONCERNS

What to do with Werribee? A quandary remains over the quarantine centre for the international raiders sent Down Under to contest the Melbourne spring features following the fatal injury suffered by the Aidan O’Brien-prepared Anthony Van Dyck during the Melbourne Cup. Sadly, he was yet another overseas galloper who did not leave these shores. A committee has been formed to work out how best to plan for 2021. Cannot stress the importance of getting it right going forward.

R – RESILIENCE

We quite rightly admire what Richmond and Geelong achieved in 2020 in the face of genuine adversity. The same applies to the Melbourne Storm, who claimed another NRL premiership despite spending 127 days away from their homes. The Storm left Melbourne in late June, thinking they would be away for a matter of weeks, yet were still on the Sunshine Coast well into late October.

S – SENSE OF TIMING

Patrick Mahomes has been destined for greatness for some time. Those who had any doubts (not sure why you would to be perfectly honest) became believers in the Super Bowl earlier this year when the Kansas City quarterback led the Chiefs to three touchdowns in the final six minutes to defeat the San Francisco 49ers. As Tom Brady nears retirement, it is clear the baton is in the process of being handed over.

T – TIME FOR PAWS

Tommy Shelby’s profitable 2020 campaign reached a high point last week when he notched his maiden Group 1 victory in the Hobart Thousand. Having raced against the best of the best in a year when connections were so very charitable, it was magnificent to see. The “People’s Dog” didn’t let his legions of fans down despite bouncing around from State to State.

U – UNBELIEVABLY STUPID

Rudy Gobert wins the gong for “Biggest Bonehead of the Year” for his decision to make light of the COVID-19 situation when he messed around with the microphones of NBA reporters in the lead-up to the Utah Jazz’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder back in March. Gobert openly mocked the league’s decision to impose restrictions and then tested positive 48 hours later. We now know what happened regarding the NBA season when the Jazz-Thunder match was postponed and the league suspended the season almost immediately.

V – VULTAN TO VICTORY

Vultan Tin trainer Phil Costello and driver Shannon Suvaljko didn’t get the memo. That much is obvious. This month’s WA Pacing Cup was meant to fall the way of Chicago Bull, who only a fortnight earlier produced a herculean effort to take out the Fremantle Pacing Cup. But a genuine tempo and beautifully timed drive by Suvaljko enabled the eight-year-old to win the feature at his fourth attempt.

W – WIZARD AT WORK

William Pike took the bold step of committing to a Victorian stint during the spring in order to continue his association with the cerise and white team of six horses prepared by Grant and Alana Williams. It was a sign of intent and led to a flurry of winners, headlined by an unforgettable Caulfield Guineas day when he booted home four winners, including two at Group 1 level. On his first meeting back in Perth after completing a fortnight’s quarantine, he claimed the Railway Stakes aboard Inspirational Girl.

X – XAVIER

Duursma and co., are the ones all AFL fans are going to have a keep an eye on in 2021. The Power took massive strides in 2020 and though they were beaten at home by Richmond in a home preliminary final, they were anything but disgraced. The sublimely talented Duursma is one of several young guns at Ken Hinkley’s disposal and the long-time Power coach will have an even stronger hand next year following the acquisitions of Orazio Fantasia and Aliir Aliir in the trade period. The team to beat.

Y – YELLOW AND BLACK

Not surprisingly given the trials and tribulations of getting the season up and going after a lengthy delay, Richmond’s premiership campaign had its share of speedhumps. But their unwavering faith in the system and belief in each other and coach Damien Hardwick led the Tigers to back-to-back flags in an historic night grand final. The Tigers, like their opponents Geelong, spent more than 100 days in a south-east Queensland hub, adding further merit to their success.

Z – ZANY

Tiger Woods knows Augusta National like the back of his hand. The golfing landscape changed forever in 1997 when, as a light-gauged 21-year-old, he stunned his opposition and the entire sport by careering to a 12-shot victory. He has since won the event four more times and went to the iconic course this year as the defending champion. That is why it was so very bizarre to witness him shoot a seven-over 10 on the par-3 12th on the Sunday. It was the highest single-hole score of his career.




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