The Weekly A-Z

Posted on February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – ASH AND AL

Entering the 2021 Australian Open, the best local hopes were Ashleigh Barty and Alex de Minaur. As we close in on the end of the first week, nothing has changed. Barty had to dig deep to get over the top of Daria Gavrilova yesterday and remains the last Australian woman standing, while de Minaur finds himself in the round of 32 after back-to-back three-set victories. Importantly, de Minaur looks to have strengthened up in the past 12 months, giving him a chance to win more free points.

B – BOX OFFICE

Nick Kyrgios continues to generate enormous levels of attention for his on-court deeds and off-court comments. It’s not the first time we have said that … and it most certainly won’t be the last. The volatile Canberran whipped Australia into a frenzy on Wednesday night with a stirring second-round victory at Melbourne Park and will again be the centre of attention (which he craves) when he runs headlong into Dominic Thiem tonight. Brilliance. Meltdowns. Argy bargy with the umpire. Expect them all to occur from the human headline that is Nick Kyrgios.

C – CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

The Listed Challenge Stakes (1500m) at Ascot tomorrow was robbed of a high-class horse with the scratching of Magical Dream, but the presence of Western Empire and Kissonallforcheeks ensures this is a cracking edition. They have met before, in last year’s Listed Lee-Steere Stakes (1400m), where the Dan Morton-trained filly emerged triumphant. It is a mouthwatering rematch, with Western Empire’s possible presence in a Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) next month hanging on how he performs at headquarters.

D – DELUSIONAL

Bernard Tomic has been called much worse during a career that flashed enormous potential, yet is now close to petering out minus any fanfare. However, if you are off your head and keen to listen to Tomic speak (not sure why you would), you would think he has had a career most can only dream of. “I’ve been there at the top, inside the 20, wasn’t really that serious,” he said this week. “Maybe if I was (serious), I would have been top 10.” Of course you would have Bernie!!

E – EXCELLENT

Ex Sport Man threw his hat into the Karrakatta Plate ring with a brilliant victory in last Saturday’s Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra. You rarely see two-year-olds win like the Steve Wolfe-prepared youngster did — stomping home down the middle of the track after being tardy out of the gates. And just like stablemate Red Can Man, he has a cracking name. All Bush Chook drinkers were tickled pink last weekend.

F – FLOWER POWER

You could argue that this year’s Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) at Ascot doesn’t possess a standout performer. Taking that into account, there will still be a Listed feature to be celebrated by winning connections and if Carocapo holds his form, there is no reason why owner Sam Trimboli, trainer Jim Taylor and jockey Jason Brown won’t be sporting large smiles at roughly 4pm tomorrow. The rising eight-year-old is in terrific form and richly deserves a black-type success after placings in the Summer Scorcher (1000m) and Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m) and a last-start fourth in the Scenic Blast Stakes (1200m).

G – GET SOME OF THAT

Don’t expect James Muirhead and Heritier Lumumba to exchange Christmas cards later this year. Muirhead, a former Australian leg-spinner, took exception to Eddie McGuire’s resignation this week and has clearly laid the blame at Lumumba, who blew the whistle on Collingwood’s racist culture. “F… off @iamlumumba you pest. You’re point has been made,” Muirhead posted on Twitter. There you go!

H – HUMAN NATURE

Tom Brady’s fastidious approach to his holistic lifestyle has been told many times in the lead-up to and following his heroics in Monday morning’s Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Linking up with Tampa Bay this season after a storied career at New England, Brady did what very few thought was possible — steering the Buccaneers to the ultimate glory and in doing so, secured a seventh Super Bowl ring for himself. Rarely do we get a peek behind the blinds in regards to Brady’s every-day existence. That was the case yesterday however when, assisted by a minder after a tequila drinking session on his boat, he made his way through a throng of onlookers with all the surety of a new-born calf. He is human after all.

I – INJURIES

The start of the AFL season must be fast approaching. Every injury sustained by a player is of significance and has them racing that well-known clock to be available for the “crucial” game upcoming. That said, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin will be hoping key forwards Ben Brown (knee) and Sam Weideman (fractured leg) can be back sooner rather than later after coming to grief during the pre-season. The Demons need to spike big time for Goodwin to be around in 12 months’ time. No Brown or Weideman for an extended period would be a cruel blow.

J – JUST WHO EXACTLY

Kyle Mayers. Yes, Kyle Mayers. That is correct. It was he who became the talk of the cricketing world when he bludgeoned an unconquered 210 to help the West Indies chase down 395 in the fourth innings of their Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram. His deeds had thousands entering Kyle Mayers into Google and then surfing the Wikipedia page to garner information on the 28-year-old Bajan. World cricket needs a strong West Indies side. Mayers could well play a part in their resurgence. Let’s hope so.

K – KICK LIKE TAYLA

Gifted dual-sport athlete Tayla Harris is about to become even more popular. The key forward for Carlton’s AFLW side is being tracked by cameras all season as part of a documentary, Kick Like Tayla, which will be shown on streaming giant Amazon. Harris’ profile went through the roof when she was the victim of sexist trolls after a 2019 picture of her kicking a ball at full-stretch, just like the late Ted Whitten, was taken by Michael Willson. Harris will give an insight into her football career, how she remains unbeaten as a boxer and what it is like to live life in the limelight.

L – LIGHTNING STRIKE

Terrific to see that WA will have 25% of the field in tomorrow’s Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington thanks to the presence of Elite Street and Fabergino. Neither have ever met a field dripping in quality like this (think Bivouac, Nature Strip, Pippie and September Run), but it would take a brave person to declare they have no chance of causing a boilover. Elite Street is a last-start Group 1 WFA winner, while Fabergino is a happy little vegemite when running down the Flemington straight.

M – MAGIC IN THE AIR

The Magic Millions Yearling Sale is fast approaching. The start date was last week pushed back to next Thursday and Friday rather than the Monday and Tuesday because of the lockdown enforced by WA Premier Mark McGowan. And kudos to all who arrived at that decision. With restrictions set to end at midnight tomorrow and all yearlings expected to be at the complex over the weekend, all the necessary inspections and preparations from those looking to buy should be able to be completed without rushing.

N – NO CLOSER

Those pining to see Lance Franklin doing what he does best will need to be patient. Having missed all of 2020 with a knee and hamstring injury, the superstar spearhead has suffered another setback over summer, casting doubt on when he will play his 301st game. Franklin’s latest issue is a calf complaint, commonly referred to in the AFL world as an old man’s injury. At 34 and with John Longmire unable to nominate a return date, it is only natural to wonder whether we will get to see Franklin consistently in the twilight of his career.

O – ORR RIGHT

Streets Of Avalon found himself in a very winnable CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday. And win it he did, the son of Magnus claiming a second Group 1 victory to rubberstamp himself as a quality animal. Trainer Shane Nichols identified the feature prior to the campaign knowing full well his charge would be rock-hard fit and coming up against opposition being set for future assignments. He was spot on.

P – PUPPY CLASSIC

The best young greyhounds in the State will be afforded a chance to show their wares at Cannington tomorrow night with the running of three heats of the Puppy Classic. The action will complete a super night of chasing after Zack Monelli flies the flag against the country’s best stayers in the Zoom Top at The Meadows before Tommy Shelby looks to exact revenge on Shima Shine in the Temlee.

Q – QUEEN OF THE TURF

How good was it to see Arcadia Queen going through her paces in this week’s Lark Hill trials? The brilliant mare was never let off the bridle by William Pike in the three-horse heat, but she ambled up alongside Rockon Tommy and comfortably held Serenity Bay in the run to the line to win by 0.75 lengths in a tidy 56.80sec., on a soft 5 track. It is all systems go for her Eastern States campaign, in particular the $5 million All Star Mile at Moonee Valley next month.

R – ROLLING THEM OUT

Chris Waller is a player at the races most weekends. A multiple premiership-winning trainer who oversaw the remarkable career of Winx is evidence of that. It’s not that he hasn’t been active in the early part of 2021 — he took out the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast last month — but he will unleash some heavy artillery at Randwick tomorrow in the form of Group 1 winners Verry Elleegant, Funstar, Toffee Tongue and Kolding in the Apollo Stakes and quality fillies Hungry Heart and Joviality in the Light Fingers Stakes. That’s not taking into account his dual-pronged assault on the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington with Nature Strip and September Run.

S – STORM WARNING

The complexion of the Group 1 Retravision Golden Nugget (2536m) at Gloucester Park tonight changed on Tuesday when raging favourite Magnificent Storm came up with barrier nine. The Ray Williams-trained star remains the testing material for his rivals though after a demolition job in the Group 1 Four-Year-Old Classic. He’s more than up to the challenge that awaits him.

T – TRANSPARENCY

Queensland stewards missed a trick this week when they elected to exclude the media from the inquiry relating to misconduct of two former members of Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable. The racing game needs to be as transparent as possible and anything other than that leads to speculation and suspicion. Queensland isn’t the only State which has adopted a behind-closed-doors approach to stewards inquiries. It is up to officials in senior positions Australia-wide to instruct stewards to open their doors. For those who have transgressed and disagree, remember this … if you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.

U – UPROOTED

Is there a better sight in cricket than seeing a batsman’s stump sent flying? James Anderson achieved the feat twice during the first Test against India in Chennai, knocking over Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane in a double-wicket maiden labelled one of the finest overs in his career. Anderson finished with five wickets in the innings to guide the tourists to a memorable victory in captain Joe Root’s 100th Test appearance.

V – VITRIOL

“A lightning rod for vitriol”. So said Eddie McGuire on Tuesday when he announced he was stepping down after more than 20 years as Collingwood president. A lifelong Magpies supporter, McGuire was understandably emotional as he fronted a media throng and a swag of players and staffers. His bungled response to an independent report into systemic racism at the club could no longer be tolerated. For all his flaws, McGuire made a mighty contribution to Collingwood and the game of Australian Rules football itself.

W – WIZARD AT WORK

Melbourne, you are on notice. William Pike, aka The Wizard, is coming for you. Well, he’s coming for the Melbourne riches on offer after making his bank manager extremely satisfied with a fat spring. Given his previous success for Team Hawkes and the quality of horseflesh he will again link up with for Grant and Alana Williams, it won’t be a shock if Pike returns from another extended Eastern States stint with pockets bulging.

X – X’s and O’s

Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson and his assistants would have slept well last night after watching their charges put on a clinic against South-East Melbourne Phoenix. On a two-game losing streak, the Wildcats were extremely well drilled and unselfish from the opening whistle. The manner in which they shredded the Phoenix defence was clinical. Very few offensive plays called by Gleeson were unsuccessful. That much was obvious in the 31-point spanking.

Y – YACK

Slovenian tennis player Kaja Juvan displayed admirable courage to progress to the third round of the Australian Open yesterday. The 20-year-old slugged it out for more than two-and-a-half hours with Mayar Sherif, the pain of the victory clear for all to see. She vomited twice — once on court during the match — and the other time in a bin near her chair after she had secured the win. Often players are spewing when they lose, not win.

Z – ZZZs

Not sure Rob Gronkowski has had a great deal of them since playing a starring role in Monday’s Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The greatest tight end in NFL history, Gronkowski came out of retirement this season to work closely with his best mate, Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. Nobody in American gridiron can party quite like the Gronk. Vision of the larger than life figure living it up sans shirt post-Monday has been humorous to say the least. And he’s just getting started.