Classy galloper Fifty Stars will start his autumn with another Australian Cup win as his goal but trainers Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig could have five million reasons to add another target to his programme. Fifty Stars broke through for his first Group 1 win in last year’s Australian Cup but went winless in a delayed spring preparation that culminated with a solid second to Arcadia Queen in the Mackinnon
What’s happened to Pat Cummins’ batting? Two summers ago, the paceman made a mockery Australia’s top order by pummelling 63 in the second innings against India at the MCG. He was the only Australian player to pass 50 in that Test match, and cricket pundits began questioning whether he should be classified as an all-rounder. Former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe recently claimed Cummins had the most reliable forward defence in
Herald Sun form analyst Brad Waters runs the rule over the Wednesday card at Sandown BEST BET MEDIEVAL MISS (Race 4 No. 5 – $5) Chased well behind the strong winner Hard ‘N’ Tough on this track last time. Medieval Miss looked as though 2400m would be perfect for her and she gets that distance here. She also drops in class. NEXT BEST SETANTA (Race 3 No. 4 – $4.60)
About 15 months ago, a couple of dozen chief executives and chairs of Australian cricket state associations gathered in a room at Brisbane's National Cricket Centre and discussed a topic not strictly within their jurisdiction but about which they all had a burning interest: the future of the Australian Test captaincy. The state executives and senior office bearers were in Queensland ostensibly to talk balance sheets, budgets and the like,
Cricket: Root says room for improvement after Test win India have embarrassed Australia captain Tim Paine following his comments made to Ravi Ashwin in the third test of the four-match series. India pulled off a stunning three-wicket win at the Gabba on Tuesday to secure a dramatic 2-1 series victory over Australia. Rishabh Pant was the hero with the bat, striking an unbeaten 89 to lead his side home with
Cricket: Root says room for improvement after Test win India should have replaced Virat Kohli as their permanent Test captain, according to former England skipper Michael Vaughan. India take on England in a four-match home series starting in Chennai next month. Kohli returns to the squad after missing the final three Tests of the victorious series over Australia due to the birth of his first child. After being bowled out
Danny O’Brien prepared Absolute Flirt to win at Flemington last Saturday and will chase a family double with her younger brother Shadowheart at Saturday’s Sandown meeting. While Absolute Flirt is adept over short courses, O’Brien will be keen to test Shadowheart as a VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes contender when the colt competes over 1300m on debut. O’Brien welcomed Saturday’s 1300m race as an alternative to starting young horses in high-pressure
NASSER HUSSAIN: Joe Root’s unbeaten 168 was a perfect reminder that he is one of England’s best ever… it was a captain’s performance that will rub off on the rest of the team Joe Root was exceptional as he put on a show with an unbeaten 168 in Sri Lanka England play 17 Tests in 2021, including two series against India and an Ashes It was Root’s first century in
Nicky Henderson’s Buzz is likely to have his next outing in the Betfair Hurdle. The grey finished third on his first outing of the season in the Welsh Champion Hurdle behind Sceau Royal, before bolting up at Ascot in November by seven lengths. Raised 11lb for that success, he went back to Ascot a month later for the Betfair Exchange Trophy and beat all bar a rejuvenated Not So Sleepy,
Sydney Sixers batsman Moises Henriques was the victim of yet another umpiring howler during Friday evening’s clash with the Sydney Thunder in Adelaide. Henriques was a member of Australia’s Test squad this summer, meaning his missed a large portion of the Big Bash League. The 33-year-old made his long-awaited return in Friday’s Sydney derby, and pummelled a quick-fire 56 in the run chase at Adelaide Oval. But his cameo ended
