The Weekly A-Z

Posted on January 29, 2021January 29, 2021 | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – ANOTHER POSTCODE

Is where the ball Hilton Cartwright dispatched off the final delivery of the innings against the Sydney Sixers on Australia Day landed. We have seen some prodigious hits during the 10 seasons of the Big Bash League, but it is easy to mount an argument Cartwright’s blow was bigger than Ben McDermott’s strike at Manuka Oval against the Sydney Thunder earlier in the month and Chris Lynn’s maximum at the Gabba off a Shaun Tait thunderbolt a few seasons ago.

B – BARREN

Is the state of the Melbourne Stars’ trophy cabinet. Despite having a swag of big-name players over their decade-long existence, they cannot get the job done. It’s not that they have been uncompetitive. Three runner-up finishes and multiple top-four placings are testament to that. But their inability to gel and win the important moments in important contests plagues them. The failure to reach the finals this season when they had access to national white-ball performers Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis for the duration makes BBL10 even more galling for Stars fans.

C – CTE

The abbreviation for chronic traumatic encephalopathy came into sharp focus over the weekend just gone when it was revealed that former Richmond midfielder Shane Tuck had a severe case of the degenerative brain injury. It comes after examinations of the brains of Graham “Polly” Farmer and Danny Frawley also revealed cases of CTE. Given the small sample size, the alarm bells are ringing loudly at AFL House. Therefore it was no shock to learn that any AFL or AFLW player who is concussed from now on will miss at least 12 days — double the mandatory six days in place previously.

D – DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF HER SHOES (HOOVES)

Not long now before we get to see boom filly Enthaar back in action. The daughter of Written Tycoon shortened in every Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper all-in market around the country after her devastating display in last spring’s Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick. Co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have prepped her up for her first-up run in the Group 3 Chariman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield tomorrow. Should she perform up to expectations, her quote for the Blue Diamond at the same track in three weeks’ time will be awfully short.

E – EMBIID ELEVATION

Philadelphia stood by Joel Embiid when he couldn’t get on the court for the first two seasons after he was drafted out of Kansas. And when changes were deemed necessary after a disappointing finish to last season, they again held their nerve by pushing back against suggestions he should be traded. They are now being paid back in spades. Embiid’s contribution in the 76ers’ maiden campaign under Doc Rivers has him in the MVP conversation. The 213cm centre is averaging 27.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game and has been the key cog in the Philadelphia (13-6) machine.

F – FITTING TRIBUTE

LeBron James made sure he honoured the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death in appropriate fashion this week, pouring in 46 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers. On the eve of Bryant’s tragic passing in a helicopter accident 12 months ago, James tormented his former side with a display that LA Lakers coach Frank Vogel described as “really awesome” and “ridiculous”.

G – G.O.A.T

It was only a few years ago that the conversation of the Greatest Of All Time in regards to quarterbacks centered around Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Indeed there were many who felt Rodgers, possessed with a skillset of few others, could be THE MAN despite having just one Super Bowl victory. Then Brady won another two rings, giving him a total of six. It put the argument to bed. If that wasn’t enough, Brady engineered a stunning NFC Championship win over Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers on Monday morning in his first season as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

H – HORSEPOWER

The heavy artillery was wheeled out this week for crucial barrier trials in Sydney and Victoria. In an indication that the autumn is fast approaching, Nature Strip, Dame Giselle, Bivouac, September Run, Montefilia, Funstar, Hungry Heart, Verry Elleegant, Samadoubt, Peltzer and Colette were wheeled out at Rosehill, while Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet had a spin around at Geelong yesterday alongside Nonconformist, Fifty Stars, Night’s Watch and Cherry Tortoni. Wouldn’t mind owning a leg in any of them!

I – IRREPLACEABLE

How do we replace Dixie Solly, who lost a lengthy battle with illness yesterday? An outstanding human being with a huge heart, Dixie cared deeply for his horses and the health of country racing and was awarded life membership of the Albany Racing Club last year. His impact in the Great Southern region will never be forgotten. RIP Dixie.

J – JUMP START

The Perth Wildcats had to wait to open the defence of their championship. It was worth the wait though. While the victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix wasn’t slick, it came on the back of two sets of quarantine. They return to RAC Arena tonight for a rematch with the Phoenix and will be looking to bank another win to fully cash in on a favourable stretch of games at home. They also host the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday and again next Friday.

K – KAH SERVICE

Racing returns to Flemington today and Jamie Kah will be out to extend her lead at the top of the Melbourne metropolitan jockeys’ premiership. The South Australian product continues to churn out the winners, with her efforts aboard General Beau and La Mexicana at Caulfield on Australia Day coming after another double at Sandown last weekend. It would be seismic if she is able to hold off the likes of Damien Oliver, Craig Williams and Damian Lane and be crowned No.1 in Melbourne at the end of the season.

L – LEOPARDS AND SPOTS

We all know how the phrase goes … a leopard never changes its spots. Well, we are about to discover whether Nick Kyrgios can buck the trend. The petulant, underachieving Australian has been a voice of reason during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling out his peers for behaviour which has been lacking empathy to put it mildly. It comes on the top of his willingness to go above and beyond during the bushfires on the east coast of the country 12 months ago. A grand slam at Melbourne Park where his every move will be scrutinised shapes as the litmus test.

M – MIGHTY MIATA

It’s only fitting that we get to see a cracking field in the final of the Group 3 The Miata (715m) at Cannington tomorrow night. Victorious in 42 of her 51 starts for more than $700,000 in prizemoney, Miata will be honoured in style with Zack Monelli and the highly exciting Barefoot Tycoon squaring off, whilst not forgetting the very much in-form Wicked Rhythm.

N – NAMING RIGHT(S)

Have to love connections of horses and dogs coming up with clever names. They don’t have to be fancy or long. Just smart. Dosh, a daughter of Rich Enuff, himself a son of Written Tycoon, is a cracker. It helps also when she is very talented, as evidenced on Tuesday when successful in the fillies edition of the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield.

O – OUT THE DOOR

The AFL season is fast approaching. It is a time when all 18 clubs would love stability, on and off the field, and no injuries to key personnel. Unfortunately that isn’t the case with West Coast and Adelaide. The Eagles are looking for a new list manager after the resignation of club great Darren Glass following a 12-month stint in the role, while Adelaide’s link to the flawed pre-season camp on the Gold Coast in 2018 has trimmed up with chief executive officer Andrew Fagan resigning.

P – POISED TO STRIKE

Had the Perth Scorchers been more effective against the Brisbane Heat and the Sydney Sixers weren’t so clinical against the Melbourne Stars on Australia Day, tomorrow’s final against the men in magenta would have been at Optus Stadium. That said, the Scorchers have got no excuses from this point on. Their batting line-up is arguably the most potent in the competition. Ditto their bowling attack, while their big-game experience is plentiful. It’s all about execution from here on in.

Q – QUALITY AFFAIR

A warm summer evening at Gloucester Park with a terrific field assembled for the Group 1 Simmonds Steel 4YO Classic (2130m). It doesn’t get much better if you love your harness racing. Magnificent Storm ($2.30) heads up the TABtouch market from Patronus Star ($3.10), but the likes of Minstrel, Howard Hughes and Henrik Larsson will no doubt make their presence felt.

R – REFRESHING

Serena Williams has some question marks alongside her name when it comes to sportsmanship and reticence in accepting defeat when things don’t go her own way. She is not alone on that front. But her comments this week in regards to the hard quarantine requirements of Australia were terrific. A mother of a three-year-old, Williams said there was no denying the demands were strict, but quite rightly remarked it was hard to grizzle too much when you factored in their success at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic Down Under. Superb leadership.

S – SUCCESSION PLAN

If there was ever any doubt that Alex Carey had been earmarked as Tim Paine’s successor behind the stumps, it was put to bed when the national selectors included the South Australian in the Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa. It was expected Carey would head across the ditch for the T20 series against New Zealand, but with Matthew Wade being omitted, the sweet-striking left-hander earnt a call-up. It is now a matter of when, not if, Carey replaces Paine in the Test side.

T – TIME’S UP

While the skies look nice and bright for Alex Carey, the same doesn’t apply to Matthew Wade and Usman Khawaja. Indeed from their perspective, the skies are gloomy with a capital G. Wade’s Test days appear numbered after he was omitted from the side that lost to India. He will now ply his trade with the T20 side in New Zealand. The saving grace is he has been appointed vice-captain. Khawaja boasts a quality CV at international level, but the Australian selectors don’t even regard him as being in the best 37 players in the country. A staggering fall from grace.

U – UNDER WAY

The fifth season of AFLW took flight in Melbourne last night when Collingwood upset Carlton by six points. A goalless first quarter was a hard watch, but the final three terms were a marked improvement. West Coast launch their season against Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday, one day before Fremantle take aim at GWS on home soil at Fremantle Oval.

V – VANDYKE’S VENOM

David Vandyke is a respected figure in the Australian training ranks, so his decision to inform owners that he wouldn’t be starting any horses at Eagle Farm for the foreseeable future because of concerns over the firmness of the track didn’t go unnoticed. The jewel in Queensland racing’s crown has been problematic for too long now.

W – WAVERLEY WORRIES

There has been considerable scuttlebutt surrounding the immediate plight of Tom Scully. While it appears completely false, the fact he is taking an indefinite break from the game, hot on the heels of Jon Patton’s issues surrounding mental health and allegations of lewd behaviour, are cause for concern. Their expected unavailability in the short term, on top of Isaac Smith’s defection to Geelong and James Sicily’s knee reconstruction, leave Alastair Clarkson pushing manure uphill. The loss of football supremo Graeme Wright to Collingwood is a further complication. The Hawks are not playing finals in 2021.

X – X-FACTOR

The Big Bash League finals have arrived and as much as many think the frenzied nature of T20 doesn’t lend itself to a great deal of strategy, it actually does. As we know, any side can triumph on any given day, making the captains’ decisions regarding leadership and tactics critically important. The X-factor has been used on numerous occasions throughout the tournament and it will be interesting to see if any team pulls the trigger during the finals campaign.

Y – YEARLING SEASON

Nobody has a firm handle on what next month’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale will look like. But big money was spent on the Gold Coast and Karaka performed exceptionally well against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. What is guaranteed however, is the Swan Valley two-day sale offers a wonderful opportunity for local trainers and owners to make their presence felt without the expected foot traffic of interstate visitors. Here’s hoping the breeders and vendors have a good sale.

Z – ZIP IT

Whereas Serena Williams has shown a level of maturity, the same cannot be said about Tennys Sandgren, who has and continues to carry on like a pork chop over authorities enforcing a hard-and-fast lockdown in Melbourne. Given he has tested positive to COVID-19 previously, you would think Sandgren has an appreciation of the stance taken. Clearly not. The sooner you lose at the Australian Open and leave our shores you ignorant flog the better.