Colossalbet Blog

Author: Arjun Nair

  • Ozzmosis aiming to uphold family tradition

    Ozzmosis out to become the fourth generation Coolmore winner

    Ozzmosis has the job of continuing his family’s amazing connection with the Coolmore Stud Stakes when the $2 million Group 1 is run at Flemington this Saturday.

    The Bjorn Baker-trained colt is out to become a fourth generation winner of the 1200-metre event that has risen to become the most significant race for three-year-old colts on the Australian calendar.

    Ozzmosis is by Zoustar, who won the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2013, five years after his sire Northern Meteor won the race.

    Back when the race was known as the Ascot Vale Stakes – before it moved to Derby Day, which coincided with its elevation to Group 1 status – Northern Meteor’s sire Encosta De Lago won it in 1996.

    Baker recognises the 19-horse field that contains the Golden Slipper trifecta of Shinzo, Cylinder and King’s Gambit, plus local stars including Stretan Angel, Steparty and I Am Unstoppable, is not going to be easy but is an obvious target for his classy colt.

    “He is a well-bred colt, he’s got a great attitude and I think he can run a big one,” Baker said.

    “It is obviously going to be a very hard race, but he is in good order.”

    Ozzmosis, a $250,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling, is out of the Darci Brahma mare No More Tears, who is a daughter of Ocean Of Tears.

    Ocean Of Tears (Minardi) is from the Centaine mare Procure, which makes her a half-sister to Hips Don’t Lie, the dam of Acrobat, Lake Geneva and Ennis Hill, who is the dam of one of last season’s top two-year-olds Learning To Fly.

    Ozzmosis did not debut until late May, when he won easily at Gosford, before a similarly impressive win at Randwick on June 10.

    He was then put away to be prepared for his three-year-old season and made it three from three in the Listed Heritage Stakes before a third placing in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) won by Coolmore rival King’s Gambit.

    The Darby Racing-owned colt tuned up for the Coolmore with a slick Flemington jumpout win last Friday, leaving Baker and raceday jockey Rachel King happy.

    “Rachel was very happy with him, so that gives us a bit of confidence going into Saturday,” Baker said.

    “He seems to have settled in well down there and we’re very happy with him going into the race.”

    Zoustar is the only stallion represented in this year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes who is a past winner, but three others have supplied winners of the race.

    I Am Invincible, who has King’s Gambit, I Am Unstoppable and Tiz Invincible engaged, is the sire of Brazen Beau (2014), Home Affairs (2021) and In Secret (2022), Cylinder’s sire Exceed And Excel is a two-time winner of the race, while Steparty’s sire Artie Schiller produced Flying Artie to win in 2016.

  • Cummings playing it Strait in Eagle

    What began as a pipedream will become a reality when Strait Acer lines up in the Golden Eagle.

    He might have a famous racing surname, but the effort of Edward Cummings to have a Cox Plate and Golden Eagle runner in the space of eight days has been a notable feat.

    Cummings, the grandson of Cups King Bart and son of respected Sydney trainer Anthony, has a boutique team of just 22 horses in work at Hawkesbury.

    Despite his small numbers, he saddled up Duais to a luckless fourth in the Cox Plate (2040m) last weekend and will start Strait Acer in Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.

    While the latter is a $34 chance in pre-race markets, he arrives at the race in the form of his life.

    Stringing together a hat-trick of wins in Midway and Benchmark grade, Strait Acer stepped up to the Silver Eagle (1300m) and despite a chequered passage in the straight, he motored to the line for an encouraging second to Vienna Princess.

    If Cummings wasn’t certain he had a Golden Eagle contender going into the Silver Eagle, he was after it.

    “Even though it was the plan and we got into the race fair and square, I thought I was half-mad just for trying it because he was so far out of the handicap,” Cummings said.

    “We started his prep a month earlier than we normally do with our horses because he was that forward and because we needed to test him and get him up in the ratings quickly.

    “We had one run where we could be unlucky and the rest of them would have to be runs where he was winning, and that’s basically how it has turned out.

    “He put a few together and the last run in the Silver Eagle was really good.”

    Cummings can see similarities between Strait Acer and a horse he trained in partnership with his father, 2018 Villiers Stakes winner Sky Boy.

    After showing early promise, Sky Boy notched five successive victories during the spring and summer of that year and Cummings has used him as a barometer for Strait Acer.

    “Watching a horse like him reminds me a lot of Sky Boy when he had that prep stringing five or six wins together, culminating in the Villiers,” Cummings said.

    “We have gone on a very similar journey and that experience has informed a lot of what we’ve done with this horse.

    “The horse is in great nick, and he is just learning and improving all the time.”

    Cummings will also start Queenmaker in the TAB Handicap (1900m), the mare continuing to thrive as she prepares to line up for her sixteenth start in a campaign that kicked off in February.

    “We did give her a month freshen-up (in July), she’s had five or six starts since then and it’s only her second racing preparation. She loves it,” Cummings said.

    “Zac Lloyd goes back on and I think he’ll be riding her with a fair bit of confidence.”

  • NRL’s Manly retain Croker, McLean re-signs with Cowboys

    Manly have moved to re-sign Lachlan Croker only one day before rival NRL clubs can begin swooping on players coming into a contract season.

    Hooker Lachlan Croker will remain at Manly until the end of 2026 after the club announced his re-signing only one day before the player market opens.

    From November 1, clubs can begin formal negotiations with players who are out of contract at the end of 2024.

    But by securing Croker, their best-and-fairest player in 2022, Manly have retained their biggest name who had been set to hit the open market.

    Croker, who has played 104 of his 105 first-grade games for the Sea Eagles, has signed a two-year deal.

    Originally a half in Canberra’s junior system, Croker arrived at Manly in 2018 and has been a regular first-grader since 2020.

    He became starting hooker after Danny Levi left the club before the 2021 season and has become noted for his work rate in defence.

    “Lachlan has been one of our most consistent players over the last two seasons. It’s great for us to be able to extend him out for a further two years,’ coach Anthony Seibold said.

    “He has played over 100 games for our club now and is a great team man. You know what you are going to get with ‘Crokes’.”

    North Queensland have re-signed veteran prop Jordan McLean on a one-year contract that could see him through to retirement.

    The former Melbourne middle man will be 33 shortly after next season ends, but has proven he is still up to the rigours of first grade, starting 22 games this year.

    He averaged 111 run metres in 2023 and bolsters a middle rotation that also includes Jason Taumalolo, Reuben Cotter and Griffin Neame.

    Elsewhere, Newcastle have confirmed the signing of Penrith winger Tom Jenkins on a two-year contract from 2024.

    Stuck behind Brian To’o, Sunia Turuva and Taylan May, the Panthers had already confirmed Jenkins would not be at the club next year.

    He looms as a replacement option for Dominic Young, who has joined the Sydney Roosters.

  • Roosters’ tough contract calls with November arriving

    The Sydney Roosters face a big battle to retain their superstars as rival clubs begin pitching to off-contract players.

    Penrith’s triple premiership-winning five-eighth Jarome Luai headlines a list of more than 150 players who are contracted through 2024, but able to field rival offers for 2025 from November 1.

    Other big names include Newcastle’s recent State of Origin debutant Bradman Best, Brisbane’s grand-final standout Ezra Mam and crafty North Queensland five-eighth Tom Dearden.

    But Trent Robinson’s Roosters undoubtedly have the biggest pool of top-level talent hitting the open market as they look to string together a more consistent season in 2024.

    Five-eighth Luke Keary sits top of that list, with the club facing a difficult call over whether he and Sam Walker are the right halves pairing to inspire more premiership success.

    The perennial heavyweights have endured two up-and-down seasons and Keary, who has struggled with concussion in recent times, turns 32 in February.

    Roosters utility Joey Manu is an enticing prospect for rival clubs, able to play fullback at an elite level but stuck behind captain James Tedesco for that spot at Bondi.

    Manu – who has previously insisted he has no preference as to which position he plays – is tied to a Roosters deal worth an estimated $800,000 per season, big money for a centre.

    Roosters edge forward Angus Crichton has repeatedly been linked with a switch back to his boyhood code of rugby union, but talks of an immediate move have broken down.

    He remains contracted through 2024 on a reported $600,000 per year – another potential financial spanner in the works for the Tricolours if he opts against moving to the 15-man code.

    Stalwarts Nat Butcher and Daniel Tupou are also without deals beyond 2024, as is prop Terrell May, whose impact off the bench was vital as the Roosters made a late charge to the 2023 finals.

    Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves turns 35 in January and is off contract at the end of 2024, but appears likely to retire at season’s end.

    The Wests Tigers, Canterbury and St George Illawarra are all set to spring into action from November 1, eager to bolster their stocks following disappointing 2023 campaigns.

    Wednesday will be the first official day on the job for new Dragons coach Shane Flanagan and his Gold Coast counterpart Des Hasler.

    St George Illawarra are poised to make a serious play for Luai to start in the halves.

    The playing future of first-choice five-eighth Junior Amone is clouded following a guilty verdict in his recent assault trial, while halfback Ben Hunt has made no secret of his desire to leave the joint venture.

  • Kovalica Waller’s Golden boy

    Chris Waller has put blinkers on Kovalica to sharpen him up for a slight distance drop.

    The Cox Plate came under serious consideration for Kovalica, but his performance in the King Charles III Stakes convinced connections the $10 million Golden Eagle was the right target.

    The Queensland Derby winner was one of the few horses to make headway from back in the field, coming from last on the corner to finish fifth behind stablemate Fangirl.

    That 1600m effort has proved the determining factor in resisting the temptation to step Kovalica up to 2040m in last Saturday’s Cox Plate and instead fit him with blinkers for a Golden Eagle (1500m) assault.

    “Had he not sprinted as hard as what he did in the King Charles, the Cox Plate would have been the logical race to go to,” trainer Chris Waller‘s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said.

    “But the fact he was reeling in older weight-for-age stars, and that he’s only four once …. the Cox Plate is still going to be there for him next year.”

    Waller won the inaugural Golden Eagle with Kolding, who like Kovalica was raced by Neville Morgan and sported the prominent owner’s blue and white colours.

    But they aren’t the only commonalities the horses share.

    Both are by Ocean Park, both won the Queensland Guineas the previous winter and like Kolding, Kovalica will tackle the Golden Eagle fourth-up and off the back of a Group 1 mile run at Randwick.

    Duckworth can make cases for all of the stable’s runners but says Kovalica’s fast finishing second in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and his King Charles Stakes effort make him Waller’s top seed.

    “He pretty much has to be,” Duckworth said.

    “Despite only running second and fifth, you couldn’t have asked more from any horse in his last two runs.”

    The commitment of jockey Tommy Berry has also been a confidence boost.

    Berry has been retained for the Golden Eagle mount after riding Kovalica last start and hasn’t missed an opportunity to sit on his back since.

    “Tommy has come in and galloped him on the Saturday, Tuesday, (last) Saturday and again on Tuesday.

    “He is putting the hard yards in and he has got bags of faith in the horse.”

    Kovalica ($10) will lead a five-pronged Golden Eagle bid for Waller, although he has been a market drifter since landing gate 16 at Tuesday night’s barrier draw.

    His barn mates fared better with Rediener drawing three, Osipenko and Vienna Princess alongside each other in barriers eight and nine respectively, while Age Of Kings will jump from gate 11.

  • Good signs for Simmons as Nets nab first win of season

    Ben Simmons is impressing coach Jacque Vaughn and his Brooklyn teammates early in the NBA season, falling just shy of a triple-double in the win over Charlotte.

    Ben Simmons is showing shades of his best to begin the NBA season, starring in Brooklyn’s first win of the campaign over Charlotte.

    A run of injuries hampered Simmons after he moved to the Nets last season as part of a highly-publicised trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia.

    But Simmons has appeared undaunted by the prospect of repaying Brooklyn for their faith this season and came within two assists of a triple-double in Tuesday’s 133-121 road win.

    Running the point, the Australian (11 points, team-high 10 rebounds, team-high eight assists) masterminded a 15-2 run that helped the Nets begin the game on the front foot.

    Brooklyn never surrendered their lead, though the Hornets did cut it to single digits either side of halftime and then again in the final period.

    Simmons’ passing game out of trouble was especially effective at setting the Nets up in transition and it was encouraging to see him use his size to take the paint on.

    “I said this to him specifically at shoot-around, ‘I saw progression from game one to game two and I’m looking forward to seeing the progression from game two to game three’,” said Nets coach Jacque Vaughn.

    “He definitely set the tone for us to start the basketball game. I think his physicality, his ability to push the basketball was high-level for us, getting guys open for shots.

    “It’s a joy to play that way. I think this team is built versatility-wise to play that way. We’ll continue to embrace it.”

    Simmons would likely have finished the game with his second triple-double as a Net had he not been shifted to the post late in the fourth quarter.

    Brooklyn, without Nic Claxton due to a left ankle sprain, were down a big man in their rotation.

    Nets forward Cam Thomas (33 points) lauded Simmons on his start to the season.

    “Him playing like this, I wouldn’t say it’s at his full potential yet but him getting back in stride, he’s looking real good. He’s been solid,” Thomas said.

    “We’re getting comfortable with him. Just figuring out how he plays is good, he’s playing fast, up-tempo. He’s going to find us.

    “The harder you run, the more easy baskets you can get from him. Obviously he’s playing well. I’m happy for him.”

  • Rugby Australia accept coach Jones’s resignation

    Rugby Australia have officially accepted the resignation of embattled coach Eddie Jones, who quit following the Wallabies’ disappointing World Cup showing.

    Rugby Australia have officially confirmed the resignation of coach Eddie Jones, who will depart next month.

    RA chief executive Phil Waugh will hold a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon as the search for a new coach begins.

    After signing a five-year deal Jones quit the post after less than 10 months on the back of a shambolic Rugby World Cup campaign in France, where the Wallabies failed to get out of the pool stage for the first time.

    They also endured record losses to Fiji and Wales, with Jones only managing two wins from his nine Tests in charge.

    The 63-year-old had been heralded as the Wallabies’ saviour when he was appointed as a ‘captain’s pick’ by chairman Hamish McLennan after the axing of previous incumbent Dave Rennie.

    Jones coached Australia to the World Cup final in 2003, and took England to the 2019 showpiece before being sacked late last year after a run of poor results.

    But he made a series of confounding decisions on his return to the Wallabies hot-seat, including naming a young, inexperienced squad for the World Cup and leaving out long-serving skipper Michael Hooper and playmaker Quade Cooper.

    Australia’s players were also rocked when Jones was linked with the Japan coaching vacancy. He was forced to deny he’d interviewed for the role just days out from the tournament opener in Paris.

    Two weeks ago, Jones insisted he was “absolutely committed” to overseeing the Wallabies through to the next World Cup, on home soil in 2027.

    But by last weekend he had offered his resignation to the RA hierarchy.

    It’s believed Jones will walk away from his hefty contract without a pay-out.

    He insisted he had no other international role to go to, including the Japan position which has yet to be filled.

    World Cup-winner Stephen Larkham and fellow former Wallabies assistant Dan McKellar are expected to be RA’s top targets to replace Jones.

    Larkham is currently coaching the ACT Brumbies after taking over from McKellar, who is head coach at Leicester Tigers in the UK.

    McKellar was Rennie’s forwards coach, and believed to be viewed as next in line to succeed the Kiwi, but resigned earlier this year when Jones was appointed to the top job.

  • Amelia’s Jewel shining ahead of Golden Eagle

    Simon Miller is confident Amelia’s Jewel can bounce back in the $10 million Golden Eagle.

    His stable star may have been beaten for just the second time in her career last start, but Simon Miller couldn’t be happier with Amelia’s Jewel ahead of Saturday’s 1500m Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

    Beaten 5.5 lengths as a $2.40 favorite in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) last start, Miller is confident the Group 1 winning mare is 100%, working her the Sydney way of going at Flemington on Tuesday morning.

    “Her work was brilliant, really good, strong, weights good, she’s eating up again which is what she always does. I was just waiting for her to get back on her game before I increased her work again and she did,” Miller said.

    Damian Lane will remain on Amelia’s Jewel this weekend, forgoing rides at Flemington to partner her, something Miller takes confidence in.

    “He reverse galloped her last Tuesday… it was her first time proper reverse gallop, she got on the right lead straight away and then Saturday morning she launched onto the right lead straight away and he said “mate, she’s taken to this pretty good,” Miller said.

    “He was glowing in his post-race gallop.”

    Miller puts Amelia’s Jewel’s poor performance in the Toorak Handicap down to the occasion and an “off day”, something he noticed in her demeanour pre-race.

    “We were tickled pink going to Caulfield, and then I got into the pre-enclosure and I thought we’re in a bit of trouble here, it’s amazing how externally they can look brilliant and internally there’s something not right,” Miller said.

    Originally with a tough decision between the Golden Eagle or last Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Miller and owner Peter Walsh effectively had their decision made for them after her ninth placing in the Toorak.

    “We were probably lucky we got three weeks to the Eagle… You can’t hit the Cox Plate like that… that extra week just let us idle her along so the timing was perfect,” Miller said.

    Amelia’s Jewel will travel to Sydney on Wednesday night but won’t get a feel for the Rosehill track before Saturday, set to stable her with John O’Shea.

    “I’m going to stay at Randwick, I’ve got to stay at my old bosses, at O’Shea’s, otherwise he’ll kill me… It’s interesting isn’t it, how will she go with it (Rosehill), I’m not sure. She’s pretty professional, she got around The Valley her first go… I think she’ll be fine,” Miller said.

    Miller will bring Amelia’s Jewel back to Perth after Saturday’s Golden Eagle, for which she is the $4.50 favorite, and hasn’t completely ruled out running in The Pinnacles at Ascot in December.

  • Thirteen Aussies to challenge for 2024 world surf title

    The World Surf League has confirmed the competitors who will challenge for 2024’s elite Championship Tour, with 13 Australians making the cut.

    Thirteen Australians have been confirmed for 2024’s World Surf League Championship Tour and can look forward to staking their claim to be crowned the world’s best.

    Jacob Willcox, India Robinson, Sally Fitzgibbons and Isabella Nichols have added their names to the roster of nine Aussies who qualified through last season’s final Championship Tour (CT) rankings.

    In the men’s competition, Queenslander Ethan Ewing will bid to go one better than his second-place finish in 2023 as he again suits up to challenge reigning world champ Filipe Toledo of Brazil.

    Fellow Australians Jack Robinson and Ryan Callinan finished in the top-10 last time out, while Connor O’Leary was 11th.

    Western Australia’s Willcox qualified for the CT by virtue of finishing third in the WSL’s 2023 Challenger Series, while surfing legend Kelly Slater has been handed a wildcard to take his place among the 36 men contesting the title.

    Tyler Wright was the highest-ranked Australian woman in 2023, finishing third in the rankings behind champion Caroline Marks and No.2 Carissa Moore.

    She will challenge on the CT again next season, where she will be joined by five of her countrywomen, including eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore.

    Victoria’s Robinson topped the rankings in the WSL’s qualifying Challenger Series to return to the CT, with three-time world runner-up Fitzgibbons and Queensland’s Nichols also making the step up.

    The 2024 CT campaign will kick off at Hawaii’s legendary Banzai Pipeline, with the mid-season cut at the season’s halfway point following the Margaret River event in WA.

    The season will conclude at the one-day WSL finals, where the top five men and women will battle for the world title.

    “We’re excited to welcome and officially confirm the new class of Championship Tour competitors,” Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL’s chief of sport said.

    “We’re excited to see the potential of this year’s rookie class and how they will rise to the occasion of competing against the best in the world.”

    AUSTRALIANS QUALIFIED FOR THE 2024 WSL CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR

    MEN

    Ethan EwingJack RobinsonRyan CallinanConnor O’LearyLiam O’BrienCallum RobsonJacob Willcox*

    WOMEN

    Tyler WrightMolly PicklumStephanie GilmoreIndia Robinson*Sally Fitzgibbons*Isabella Nichols*

    (* denotes: qualified through the 2023 Challenger Series)

  • Hong Kong star claims Cox Plate

    Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior has scored a last stride thrilling win in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

    Champion James McDonald’s faith in Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior has been vindicated with the jockey landing a second Cox Plate victory. 

    After guiding Anamoe to success in last year’s Group 1 weight-for-age championship, McDonald had to call on all his strength to get Romantic Warrior home in the 2040m contest at Moonee Valley on Saturday. 

    McDonald never lost faith in Romantic Warrior despite the Danny Shum-trained gelding being beaten at his Australian debut in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7. 

    Starting the $3.60 favourite, Romantic Warrior scored by a nose from Mr Brightside ($9) with Alligator Blood ($6) a short-neck away third. 

    Romantic Warrior returned a win dividend of $2.80 on the World Pool. 

    McDonald made trips to Hong Kong to partner Romantic Warrior to win the lead up to the Hong Kong Cup as well as the Hong Kong Cup at the international meeting last year and was also aboard gelding to win the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April. 

    “This horse is pretty special to me,” McDonald said. 

    “I mentioned if he came to a Cox Plate, he’d be a suitable horse. I meant what I said and credit to (owner) Peter (Lau Pak Fai) and Danny. 

    “It takes a hell of a lot of balls to come out of Hong Kong with all the prizemoney there. It is one of the best racing jurisdictions in the world and they come here and showcase their boy. 

    “I reckon he’s got more to come, too. 

    “He’s been bubbling. He showed a significant amount of improvement like I thought he would, and he loves the bloody Valley!” 

    The first three horses across the line were positioned third, fourth and fifth in the running line behind King Colorado and Zaaki. 

    McDonald elected to ease three wide racing to the 600m mark with Alligator Blood taking up his spot. 

    Romantic Warrior wobbled slightly around the turn, as did Zaaki which allowed Mr Brightside to get up on the fence to hit the front 50m out, only to be grabbed on the line. 

    McDonald said he was comfortable where Romantic Warrior was positioned in the race. 

    “I knew I was on the right horse, and I kept going, ‘he’s the best horse, he’s the best horse’ so I’d ride him like it,” McDonald said. 

    “I took a gamble about the 1000 (metres) or 1200. We elected to come back a spot and to the minute right now I believe that was the winning move.” 

    Shum said it had been a gamble to send Romantic Warrior from Hong Kong to contest Saturday’s race. 

    Romantic Warrior had to adapt to different training conditions in quarantine at Werribee having not raced since late in May in Hong Kong. 

    The gelding had an interrupted preparation before arrival in Australia missing an important trial and initially not taking to a change in feed. 

    But Romantic Warrior was able to overcome that adversity to claim Australia’s best race. 

    “I don’t know how to tell you how happy I am. I am really happy,” Shum said. 

    “I want to thank Peter the owner for giving permission to come here. James Mcdonald, all the team, all the Hong Kong fans, my wife Christine, my son Aaron. 

    “I love you! I love you!” 

    After Romantic Warrior’s first-up Australian defeat, Shum said he was a little deflated, but knew the gelding would improve with the outing. 

    “He was not really ready, but he got better day-by-day,” Shum said. 

    “I was confident he would run a good race, but it is a strong race. 

    “He overcame all of the challenges and the difficulties. James McDonald gave me a very good report.” 

    Shum said Romantic Warrior would return to Hong Kong as early as possible to prepare for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on December 10.