The Weekly A-Z

Posted on February 4, 2022February 8, 2022 | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – ARTILLERY

It was wheeled out big time earlier this week as the headline acts of Sydney racing tuned up for their autumn campaigns. You had Nature Strip, Verry Elleegant, Wild Ruler, Hungry Heart, Think It Over, Montefilia, Espiona, Icebath, Kolding, Duais, I Am Superman and others on display and it was little surprise that some of their efforts had tongues wagging. When you factor in the quality around in the juvenile ranks, the riches of the Sydney autumn carnival look like being hotly contested.

C – COMING HOME

Some welcome news this morning. Our Fremantle and West Coast AFLW sides are about to return home. The Dockers are expected to fly to Perth on Sunday ahead of their clash with Carlton next Saturday, while the Eagles will leave the east coast on Tuesday. It could be an important lead for our other summer sides impacted by Premier Mark McGowan’s border backflip and give the Dockers’ and Eagles’ men’s teams a reason to believe disruptions will be minimal in 2022.

D – DARE TO DREAM

We never like to put the cart before the horse and Ash Barty is understandably still basking in the glory of her Australian Open singles triumph last Saturday night. Consider the following, however. Is it too much of a stretch to think Barty could not dine out big time in 2022? Seriously dine out, that is. Her first of three slams came at the French Open — the next major on the calendar — and she is the reigning Wimbledon champion. Then there is the hustle and bustle of the US Open, a slam like no other. She produced a two-week clinic at Melbourne Park where she proved she was head and shoulders above her opposition. Fingers crossed she cashes in.

E – EVEN

Many of us are guilty of rolling out the adjectives to describe a sporting or racing moment of note. And tonight’s Group 1 WA Pacing Cup (2936m) at Gloucester Park could easily have attracted its share in the build-up. That was until Ross Olivieri said it best when asked to describe this year’s edition. In trademark matter-of-fact fashion, OIivieri labelled it “even” … a word that is apt when a quick glance at the TABtouch market reveals six of the 14-horse field are in single figures. The barrier draw has opened things right up.

F – FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP

That applies to you Pat Cummins. You might well be the darling of Australian cricket fans for helping the men’s side retain the Ashes in emphatic fashion. However, leadership goes beyond what you do on field. And you’re lack of support for Justin Langer is atrocious. It seems soon enough you and your NSW teammates in the national set-up can rest easy and celebrate the appointment of Trevor Bayliss.

G – GOODBYE GOAT

All good things must come to an end. Even all great things. And that was the case this week as Tom Brady, boasting seven Super Bowl rings in his illustrious 22-season career with New England and Tampa Bay, decided enough was enough and the time had come to hang up his cleats. Brady was not everyone’s cup of tea, but boy oh boy he was ultra-competitive, clinical in the big moments and remarkably durable. He is without doubt the greatest player the NFL has seen and remains one of the biggest names of all-time in American sport.

H – HUNTER AND COLLECTOR

King Of Swing knows what it takes to win the Hunter Cup. He did it in 2020 and tomorrow night at Melton will again look to achieve the ultimate success in the $500,000 Group 1 feature. The prospects of King Of Swing soared when he came up with barrier one, enabling Luke McCarthy to drive the race to best suit his charge. There will be many here in WA cheering for the King.

I – INTRIGUE

Grant Williams is not one who goes looking for headlines. As a multiple Group 1-winning trainer achieving elite-level success both here and in Melbourne, he has not really had a choice. The same has applied of late, with many questions being asked about the alteration to the successful training partnership he enjoyed with wife Alana given her reticence to be vaccinated. And yesterday we learnt that the pair were required to front a stewards’ inquiry after Sugar Cain returned a urine sample containing both codeine and morphine. All will be revealed soon, but what isn’t up for debate is Williams’ spotless record over 20 years previously.

J – JOE BLOW

Watching Utah Jazz’s Australian veteran Joe Ingles clutching at his left knee this week in obvious agony was hard to stomach. Incredibly important to the Boomers’ historic Olympic Games bronze medal-winning effort in Tokyo last year, Ingles collapsed to the court and the manner in which he grabbed at his knee suggested he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament. Scans confirmed his worst fears, casting doubt over whether we have seen the last of the 34-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the NBA season.

K – KNIFE ATTACK

Luke Fernie’s assault on the $200,000 Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (1200m) has a real sense of timing about it. He ended Spin The Knife’s profitable spring campaign following the 3YO Classic (1000m) at Ascot in early October, knowing full well that tomorrow’s feature was gettable. And the strongly-built son of Snippetson indicated all was very much on track when he resumed over 1100m at Ascot last Monday week, a performance that saw his quote shorten for the feature. And the price disappeared further after he drew ideally in barrier four. Even the presence of the unbeaten Red Fifty Three is unlikely to dissuade punters from rolling Spin The Knife through a bagful of multis.

L – LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Lucky Street highlighted his undeniable class as a juvenile in 2015 when he clinched the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1100m) en route to Listed success in the Perth Stakes (1100m) and Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m). He would find his home at stud soon after and tomorrow at Pinjarra, Street Parade will be looking to emulate his father when he contests the $250,000 sales-restricted feature. A brilliant winner on debut last November, Street Parade lost no admirers when he battled on for third first-up under a big weight and wide gate. He hasn’t drawn ideally at Pinjarra, but is a massive chance.

M – MARES IN FORM

How often have we heard that saying in racing? And doesn’t it continue to ring true! The best example of late came only six days ago when the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-prepared Marabi obliterated her rivals to take out the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. The daughter of I Am Invincible is now six for six in her career and looms as a massive chance in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m). Her ability to ride the speed and quicken off that strong tempo is a racing pattern every trainer would die for. She is the real deal.

N – NARRATIVE

Didn’t the conversation change direction quickly after Rafael Nadal climbed from the canvas to oust Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set Australian Open final last Sunday night. Nadal well and truly cashed in on Novak Djokovic’s deportation to claim a 21st grand slam singles title, giving him the outright lead over great rivals Roger Feder and Djokovic, who are on 20. And with doubt surrounding Djokovic’s participation in the French Open because of his decision not to be vaccinated, reports emerged over the past 24 hours suggesting he could well have the jab and pursue his place in history as the most successful tennis player of all time.

O – OVER AND OUT

The market reacted to the leader-bias track dished up at Rosehill last weekend, with Anamoe easing noticeably from his odds-on quote ahead of last Saturday’s Expressway Stakes (1200m). With bigger fish to fry during the autumn and the sprint distance of the Group 2 feature, Anamoe was always going to be spotting the pacemakers a few lengths. One of those was Overpass, the Bjorn Baker-trained colt who was bustled to the lead by a trademark Tim Clark ride. Once there, he kept rolling and fought on determinedly for an important win. Overpass didn’t get a lot of luck in the spring, so few could be begrudge his first-up success.

P – PLAY-OFF BOUND

The prospect of a play-off against the third-placed side in Group A is on the horizon for the Socceroos after their disappointing 2-2 draw against Oman midweek. The pain of failing to acquire a result was compounded by Japan, currently second in Group B, netting all three points in their tussle with top-of-the-group Saudi Arabia. Australia will now need to overcome both Japan and the Saudis to round out their qualification campaign and rely on other results to sneak into the top two and be assured of direct entry to Qatar later this year.

Q – QUALITY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

It was always going to be loaded with elite performers, but when the starting five for the Perth Wildcats’ 40th anniversary team was revealed, you couldn’t do anything other than sit back and truly appreciate what we have been fortunate to enjoy here in WA. Ricky Grace, Bryce Cotton, Shawn Redhage, Andrew Vlahov and James Crawford are basketball royalty, Combined, the quintet have amassed 1734 matches, 17 NBL championships and 21 Wildcats MVP awards.

R – RACISM ROW

We haven’t heard the last of the Brian Flores situation. If you are reading this and it is the first time you have heard it, I will do my best to bring you up to speed. African American Flores was recently sacked as coach of the Miami Dolphins, claiming his failure to “tank” in games didn’t endear him to owner Stephen Ross. Flores then alleged discrimination in his 58-page lawsuit filed in Manhattan, declaring he was only a token subject in the eyes of the Denver Broncos and New York Giants as they set about seeking a new head coach. The NFL’s “Rooney Rule” requires teams to interview minority candidates for vacant coaching positions. Messy to put it mildly.

S – SHAMBOLIC

It doesn’t matter that Justin Langer is a West Australian. He could hail from Kabul, Texas or Cairns. He deserves better. Much better. Cricket Australia’s handling of his future and the leaks that are coming out of its headquarters are shameful. Only last week Langer was inducted into Australian cricket’s Hall of Fame. Instead of being feted for fixing up Steve Smith and Darren Lehmann’s Cape Town disaster, he is being treated like a leper.

T – THEN THERE WERE TWO

The Super Bowl will, for the second time in 12 months, feature a side playing in familiar surrounds at its home venue. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers thrashed the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium last season, but were eliminated from the post-season by the Los Angeles Rams earlier this week. That win by the Rams was a scriptwriter’s dream, given it now provides them with an opportunity to chase the Lombardi Trophy at SoFi Stadium, their state-of-the-art facility in Inglewood, California. Standing between the Rams and the ultimate are the Cincinnati Bengals, who continue to sweep all before them at the pointy end of the campaign.

U – UNDERWHELMING

It is 18 months until the Matildas co-host the Women’s World Cup with New Zealand. Let’s hope they fare considerably better on home soil than they did over the weekend in the Asian Cup, bounced out of the quarter-finals by South Korea 1-0. The inability to construct potent attacking moves was damning, contributing to a record in major tournaments by the team that is less than acceptable given the talent and experience available.

V – VICTOR BELONG THE SPOILS

Australian cricketers love beating the Old Enemy. So too, it must be said, do all Australian cricket lovers. Therefore the country was very much in a celebratory mood after the women followed in the footsteps of their male counterparts by retaining the Ashes with their 27-run victory over England in yesterday’s one-day international in Canberra. Australia only needed to draw the series to retain the Ashes and currently lead 8-4 in the multi-format series with two more ODI’s to play.

W – WINTER WONDERLAND

As we roast here in WA, it is understandable if the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing doesn’t exactly float your boat. Australia have sent 43 athletes — 22 women and 21 men — to China, the third-biggest team to have left our shores for a winter Games. We are chasing our first gold medal since 2010 and will be keen to improve on 2014 and 2018 when we collected two silver and one bronze on both occasions. Laura Peel and Brendan Kerry were yesterday named as our flagbearers for tonight’s opening ceremony.

X – X-FACTOR

Witnessing LaMelo Ball go about his business yesterday morning for the Charlotte Hornets was an absolute pleasure. The 20-year-old, in only his second NBA season, dropped 38 points on the Boston Celtics, with his unrelenting energy and vision also allowing him to accumulate nine assists. It’s hard to believe he is the same player that came Down Under a couple of years ago to ply his trade as a teenager for the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL. The Hornets have a beauty.

Y – YOUNG TALENT TIME

A bunch of babies, better known as two-year-olds, will face the starter at Randwick looking to give their connections a quick return on investment. The $2 million Inglis Millenium (1100m) will feature a full field of 16, with some of the biggest stables represented and headline acts in the jockeys’ room also taking key mounts. The prizemoney on offer has even tempted Jamie Kah to forgo a quality book in Melbourne and head north.

Z – ZED’S BLAST

All eyes were focused on Miss Conteki and Clairvoyance in the lead-up to last weekend’s Listed Scenic Blast Stakes (1200m) at Ascot. But the glamour mares were no match for the Lou Luciani-trained Hot Zed, who continually flies under the radar despite amassing a record worthy of greater appreciation. The gelding has now won eight of his 18 starts and been placed on six other occasions for in excess of $400,000 in stakes and bonuses. We often talk about some horses being winners. Hot Zed is just that.