Monee Valley Cup winner jumps to 14th in order of entry.
A penalty for his Moonee Valley Cup win, combined with natural attrition, has Clevelandsafely in the field for next week’s $8.4 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan issued the Kris Lees-trained entire a 0.5kg penalty for Friday night’s win under 55.5kg, taking his Melbourne Cup weight to 52kg.
Placed 24th in the order of entry prior to the win, Cleveland elevated a few spots owing to several higher-weighted runners not being paid-up as third-round acceptors and now sits in 14th position after the penalty.
“Under the set weights and penalty conditions of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, Cleveland was allocated the base weight on Friday night,” Hegan said.
“Thus, he came in well at the weights against some of his opposition on the night and compared to where they are in the Melbourne Cup weights.
“Vow and Declare and Future History will now meet Cleveland 0.5kg and 3kg better respectively in the Melbourne Cup after the penalty. If the luckless Athabascan makes the field it would be a 3.5kg turnaround in his favour against Cleveland too.”
Cleveland becomes the first Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner to receive a Melbourne Cup penalty since 2015 when The United States moved to 52.5kg with a 2.5kg penalty.
Cleveland will be one of two Melbourne Cup runners for six-time winner Lloyd Williams and his partners after Epsom Derby winner Serpentinejumped to 22nd in the order of entry.
In 23rd position is More Felons with True Marvel 24th but those two are not yet guaranteed a run with a ballot exemption on offer to the winner of Saturday’s The Archer at Flemington, while Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup contains two runners – Hasta La War (29th) and Interpretation(31st) – who can elevate their position in the order of entry if they win and receive a penalty.
The three-year-old gelding Give Some Lip raced away to bring up his first win at his fourth start in the 1250 metre opening event on the Parks track at Morphettville on Saturday.
Prepared by Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea and guided to victory by apprentice Ben Price Give Some Lip came from a worse than midfield position with a late run to take the event.
Jason Holder continued his purple patch of form when he rode Free Vino to a win in the 1400 metre second race.
Coming out of the Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle stable Free Vino raced in the rear of the field before flying home to win.
Moving his operation from Morphettville to Murray Bridge trainer Travis Doudle was well pleased with the win of Prince Jofra in the 1550 metre third race.
Having the services of apprentice Alana Livesey Prince Jofra raced in a forward position all the way.
Apprentice Ben Price landed his second winner for the afternoon when Manzala won his first race in 1190 days in the 1950 metre fourth race.
Trained by Ashton Downing Manzala settled in a midfield position before ging in to win.
Anjopin landed his second win in seven days when he took out the 1250 metre fifth race.
Prepared by Sue and Jason Jaensch the well placed Anjopin gave apprentice Maggie Collett her first win since being injured at Ceduna last December.
Coming off a last start second Miss Kermie went one better when she took out the 1400 meter sixth race.
Having the services of Emily Finnegan the Phillip Stokes prepared Miss Kermie raced one off the pace in winning her fourth race from fourteen starts.
Apprentice Sheriden Clarke was all smiles after her win on Trumpsta in the 1950 metre seventh race.
Being under the care of Ron Stokes Trumpsta was another runner to be well placed.
Establishing his base at Gawler in recent times trainer George Dimitropoulos was all smiles with the win of his charge Mouse Almighty in the 1000 metre eighth race.
Having the services of Stacey Metcalf Mouse Almighty came from a midfield position with a strong run over the concluding stages.
Foster Street was one of the few winners to come from well back when he won the 1000 metre final event.
Being under the care of Byron Cozamanis senior and having the services of Ryan Hurdle Foster Street brought up his third win in fourteen starts.
Australia have beaten New Zealand by just five runs in Dharamshala to move closer to a semi-final place at the cricket World Cup in India.
Australia are closing in on a World Cup semi-final berth after a pulsating five-run win over New Zealand, who came perilously close to pulling off the biggest successful run chase in the tournament’s history.
Australia appeared in the box seat after a 175-run opening stand from newly-fit Travis Head and in-form David Warner propelled them to a formidable total of 388 in Dharamshala on Saturday.
But a second World Cup century to Rachin Ravindra (116) kept the Black Caps on track, before their last recognised batter Jimmy Neesham (58 off 39 balls) stepped up for a furious cameo.
Only called in to replace the injured Mark Chapman, Neesham was tasked with scoring 19 from the last over to seal a famous win and once again put Australia’s knockout hopes in doubt.
Mitchell Starc bowled a wide from his second delivery, which slipped past wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for four byes and reduced the target from 18 runs off five balls to only 13 from as many.
But the Australians put their bodies on the line with fine fielding in the final over and the Kiwis were unable to find the boundary.
After hitting Starc’s penultimate delivery to deep mid-wicket, Neesham was made to pay as he attempted to scramble back for a second run, run out by Inglis at the striker’s end.
Paceman Lockie Ferguson could not hit the six required off the final ball and the Australians were home.
“It was very close in the end, a hell of a game,” said Head, named player of the match.
After beginning the India-based tournament with consecutive defeats, Pat Cummins’ side have now won four games in a row and will likely make the knockout stage even if they lose one more.
They will start favourites in their three remaining group-stage games against out-of-sorts England as well as Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
In his first hit-out since breaking his hand six weeks ago, World Cup debutant Head (109) partnered with Warner (81) to punish the Kiwis for sending Australia in to bat.
Their 175-run partnership, posted at a run-rate of 9.13, was the fastest for an opening pair scoring over 150 runs in an ODI.
“We complement each other really well,” Head said.
“It’s just about making sure we react well, making sure we stay connected with each other, stay in the moment and play what’s coming towards us.”
Kiwi quick Matt Henry (1-67) unwittingly kickstarted Head’s superb innings with two back-to-back no balls in the third over.
Head smacked both free hits for six on his way to posting the fastest half-century of the tournament (50 off 25 balls) so far.
Warner, for his part, was 19 runs short of becoming the first Australian in history to notch a century in three consecutive ODIs.
Part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips (3-37) sent both openers packing, first catching Warner from his own delivery and then bowling Head.
He ended up as pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis, who took 5-99 after the opening onslaught to prevent what could have been an astronomical score.
Just as Australia did against the Kiwi quicks, Ravindra took advantage of a wicket that offered little for the world-class Australian pace attack.
He brought his century up by belting Glenn Maxwell over deep mid-wicket for six and was given an extra life shortly thereafter, dropped by a gutted Maxwell from his own bowling.
Red-hot spinner Adam Zampa (3-74) helped ensure Ravindra was never able to form a steady partnership, though.
Zampa removed the dangerous Daryl Mitchell (54) and later soared atop the ladder for most wickets this tournament (16).
Late cameos from Cummins (37 off 14 balls) and Maxwell (41 off 24) reinvigorated the Australians with late runs that were ultimately crucial to holding the spirited Kiwis at bay.
Eddie Jones has quit as Wallabies coach after a disastrous return that included Australia failing to make the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
The Eddie Jones era is over.
Only 10 months after Rugby Australia trumpeted his arrival – and the revival of the Wallabies – Jones has resigned following his side’s shambolic World Cup campaign.
The veteran coach met with RA bosses on the weekend and amicably agreed to his departure.
Jones’ exit cuts short a five-year deal that initially had the 63-year-old in charge of the Wallabies through to the next World Cup in Australia in 2027.
Jones told AAP on Sunday that his resignation “was not far away”, with the paperwork between the parties to be signed off on this week, while RA said they weren’t in a position to comment.
In January, Jones was heralded as the saviour of the national side, with RA chairman Hamish McLennan axing Kiwi coach Dave Rennie, citing poor results.
But under Jones, who coached the Wallabies to the World Cup final in 2003 and England to the decider in 2019, Australia went from bad to worse, managing just two wins from nine Tests.
His World Cup campaign got off to an embarrassing start at a pre-departure press conference when he told journalists to “give yourselves an uppercut”.
In France, the Wallabies failed to make the quarter-finals for the first time, suffered their first World Cup loss to Fiji, and endured further humiliation with a record-breaking 40-6 defeat to Wales.
Australia were also rocked on the eve of the global showpiece when Jones was linked to the Japan coaching vacancy, although he denied being interviewed for the post just days out from his side’s World Cup opener.
He was heavily criticised for his youth selection policy, leaving a number of veterans out of the squad including long-time skipper Michael Hooper and playmaker Quade Cooper.
Just two weeks ago, back in Australia, Jones spoke of his ongoing commitment to rebuilding the team ahead of the in-bound 2025 British and Irish Lions tour and the next World Cup.
He said he was awaiting the result of an RA review of the tournament due in November.
But he has ultimately decided to walk.
Jones told told The Australian he had amicably agreed to the terms of his departure and that there would be no payout.
He claimed he had no international job lined up, in Japan or elsewhere.
Jones also insisted he had no regrets and hoped his departure would be a catalyst for change.
He said Australia needed to improve its capture of youth talent and its high performance environment, notably Super Rugby.
“I feel disappointment about the fact that what we wanted to do in terms of changing the system hasn’t been able to happen in the short term,” Jones told The Australian.
“In the short and medium term, it really affects me personally. I have a major feeling of disappointment. But I don’t feel any grievance towards anyone.
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching the players. The players have been fantastic. They just need a better environment to be training and playing in.”
Jones is currently in the UK co-coaching the Barbarians with incoming All Blacks coach Scott Robertson ahead of their match against Wales on November 5 (AEDT).
Aussie superstar Minjee Lee is back in the world’s top five as she strives to build an everlasting legacy for the future generations of women’s golf.
Minjee Lee has returned to the world’s top five and has more milestones in sight following her second win from her past three LPGA Tour starts.
Lee surged from seventh to world No.4 in the standings released on Tuesday after holding her nerve to win a thrilling, high-quality sudden-death playoff at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea.
Up to as high as No.2 and within striking distance of world No.1 following her stellar major-winning 2022 campaign, Lee slumped to 13th in the rankings less than two months ago.
Now the West Australian is the hottest player on the planet, with a victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati four starts ago opening the floodgates for the ball-striking queen.
Lee followed up that victory with a runner-up showing on the Korea Tour and a tie for 13th at the Buick LPGA Shanghai before joining Celine Boutier, Lilia Vu, Jin Young Ko and Ruoning Yin as a multiple winner in 2023.
But still more landmark feats appear in store for the 27-year-old as the race to season-ending championship glory intensifies.
With four events remaining, Lee has soared to sixth in the season-long standings and seems certain to break into the top 10 on the list of all-time prize money winners in women’s golf.
With Sunday’s triumph, which completed an unprecedented brother-sister double after her sibling Min Woo Lee won the Macau Open the previous week, the Perth prodigy sent her career on-course earnings to $US13,765,643. ($A21.72 million).
She sits 11th on the all-time money list, just $US85,312 behind the 10th-placed Lexi Thompson.
After making the cut in all 17 events she’s contested this season, Lee could surpass Thompson at this week’s inaugural Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, where the total purse is $US3 million.
If she plays in Malaysia, Lee will tee off in the best headspace of her nine-year professional career as she strives to build an everlasting legacy for the future generations of women’s golf.
“I actually have a really great (life) balance now because I know what I like and the routine that I do at the golf course which works for me and my body,” she said.
“So I don’t just go out to the golf course to hit a hundred putts or do practice that is not worthy of time.
“In that aspect, I’m much better at managing my time and my routine.
“But in terms of the person that I want to be, I’ve always had this motto; I want to leave the LPGA Tour or the game of golf better than I found it, so that is my goal after I retire.
“If it is on a golf course or how I am as a role model on TV, or if I’m doing clinics or anything that I can do to give back to Australian golf or LPGA girls’ golf or any junior who comes out to watch us, I’m going to try and do that.”
Glamour mare Amelia’s Jewel is back on track after a shock defeat and will now progress to the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 4.
Amelia’s Jewelran well below her best in the G1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield when ninth to Attrition, but a vet test cleared her of injury.
Her worst performance in an outstanding career followed wins in the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington and the Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley in track record time.
Amelia’s Jewel had a few easy days recovering after the Toorak failure, but there were encouraging signs last week when back on her feed that she’d turned the corner.
A strong reverse gallop at Flemington this morning (Tuesday) with jockey Damian Lane aboard was the clincher for Simon Miller, who said he’s tackling the Golden Eagle with renewed confidence.
“She went super, worked unreal and looks great, looks amazing,” Miller told The Races WA.
“She worked a thousand evens and home 400 and handled the Sydney way of going like a professional.
“I knew last Thursday she’d turned the corner the way she was completely knocking her night and morning feed.
“She’ll have another gallop next Tuesday going the Sydney way and Thursday week will get on a truck to Sydney.
“She’s totally back on board.”
TABtouch has Amelia’s Jewel the $4.40 favourite for the Golden Eagle. Kovalica is next at $4.80, Legarto $6, Hawaii Five Oh$6 and Obamburumai $8.
Miller says he still has an ace up his sleeve for Amelia’s Jewel in the Golden Eagle.
“I’m thinking of a gear change and blinkers,” Miller said.
“I’m leaning to them as she is superior with them on.”
Toeroek is currently enjoying his most successful calendar year of riding, Saturday successes taking his record to 68 winners for 2023.
The Price Bloodstock pair of Deepfloat Diva, who would have been Hong Kong bound if he didn’t fail a vet test, and Aviatress maintaining their unbeaten records, Toeroek confident both horses will find their way into better races.
“He’s a very smart horse,” Toeroek said of Deepfloat Diva.
“I’d say he’ll probably go for a break now but when he comes back in, we’re looking at a pretty nice one,” he said.
Likewise, the leading jockey said there is also plenty of upside with Aviatress who had no problems jumping from a midweek maiden to city success.
“She’s a smart horse, I think she’s black type,” Toeroek added.
“I’m just glad we get to keep these ones,” he said of the pair.
Kayla Crowther had a riding double winning with Sir Kingsford before the talented Sghirippa scored an impressive win in the final race of the big 10-race card.
“He switched off really well and when I popped him out, he had a really good turn of foot,” Crowther said.
“I reckon he had so much more up his sleeve,” she said.
Jason Holder also had a riding double with Lights Of Broadway and Victorian Anilla, while the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea stable had a training double with Silent Surrente regaining winning form before Superior Sam scored impressively.
DOM Tourneur and Justin Potter shared riding honours at Naracoorte on Sunday.
Tourneur combined for a double with the Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor pair of Navy Gold and Midnight Mass while Potter claimed the bookends winning the opening race with Namadji and the last with Archway To Heaven for Scott Whittle.
Star mare local mare Amelia’s Jewel headlines a quality list of nominations from around Australia for the upcoming Carnival in Western Australia – The Pinnacles.
The leading stables on the eastern seaboard of Australia have all nominated horses for the rich five-meeting carnival in Western Australia.
The Pinnacles kicks off on November 18 with Champion Fillies Day and culminates on December 16 with Damien Oliver Gold Rush Day.
Western Australia’s three Group 1 races – the Railway Stakes (1600m), the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and the Northerly Stakes (1800m) will be held on three consecutive Saturday – November 25 through to December 9.
Connections of horses entered in The Pinnacles will chase $10.5 million in prizemoney.
Inaugural Quokka winning trainer Bjorn Baker, has entered his Quokka victor Overpassin the Winterbottom Stakes while runner-up, Amelia’s Jewel heads the local entry for that race along with the Damien Oliver Gold Rush.
A total of 94 horses have been entered for the Railway Stakes, headlined by multiple Group 1 winner Zaaki, prepared by Neasham who has also entered My Oberon.
Chris Waller has entered 13 horses for the race, headed by Atishu, Osipenkoand Kovalicawhile Australian Cup winner Cascadian, a previous Perth visitor for Godolphin, is among entries.
Former WA-based trainer Lindsey Smith has entered Tuvalufor a return to his previous hometown.
Among the 68 nominations for the Winterbottom Stakes includes Asfoora, last week’s Schillaci Stakes winner at Caulfield, Espiona for the Waller stable and I Am Me, a winner of six of her last eight starts for Maher and Eustace.
There are 106 nominations for the Northerly Stakes including last year’s Railway Stakes winner Trix Of The Trade for local trainer Colin Webster while Waller has entered Redienerand Moody and Coleman have three entries, including Stakes winner Pounding.
Local gallopers Red Can Man, Resortman, Startrade, Snowdomeand My Bella Mae join Amelia’s Jewel among the 104 nominations for the Damien Oliver Gold Rush that also sees Nugget, a Cox Plate entrant for Maher and Eustace among nominations.
Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring is delighted with the quality of nominations for The Pinnacles.
“We have worked extremely hard to present The Pinnacles as an Australian racing carnival, not just a West Australian feature and the calibre of horses and trainers that have nominated for our carnival highlights are a testament to our progress in that regard,” Oldring said.
“It’s so important for the standing of our carnival, particularly our Group 1 events, to attract the best horses, trainers and jockeys in Australia.
“We look forward to extending a very warm welcome to everyone that travels from the east coast to take on the best of our home team, who will no doubt be all out to ensure that the bulk of the prize money, and the bragging rights, stay right here in Perth.”
Bevan French has won the Super League grand final with Wigan as they beat Catalans Dragons in an anti-climactic end to Mitchell Pearce’s career.
Australian flyer Bevan French has ended a triumphant week in which he was voted British rugby league’s top player by helping Wigan beat Catalans Dragons 10-2 in the Super League grand final at Old Trafford.
But as French and fellow former Parramatta Eel Jai Field celebrated Wigan’s win in Manchester on Saturday, there was to be no fairytale ending to the career of Aussie playmaker Mitchell Pearce, who couldn’t inspire the Dragons to become the first French winners of the British game’s top prize.
“The celebrations have gone on longer than the game,” beamed the triumphant French, who had started the week by being crowned the Man of Steel as the League’s star performer of the season.
“I’m really proud of getting the win here. Every lesson we’ve come across this year we’ve seemed to come out the other end.
“In the last couple of seasons, when we got challenged in tough grinding games that’s when we seemed to fall off – but not this time.”
The versatile French said his friends and family back home in Tingha, NSW, would have stayed up into the early hours to savour the best moment of his career.
“It’s five or six in the morning there and everyone will be having beers. I hope they’re up enjoying it as much as we are,” he said.
Liam Marshall proved the match-winner, grabbing the only try of an attritional game, as Wigan ran out fairly convincing winners of a sixth Super League crown, and their first in five years.
It was an anti-climactic end to the career of two fine performers – Pearce, 10 years since he won an NRL grand final with the Sydney Roosters, and England star Sam Tomkins, whose dream was shattered by his former club.
Two yellow cards proved fatal for the Perpignan side, who lost their second final in three years.
Australian Adam Keighran was sent to the sin bin midway through the first half for a tip tackle and Tom Davies after the break for an intentional block on Marshall.
Pearce had his moments in his farewell appearance, not least when he produced a remarkable try-saving tackle to hold up Liam Farrell.
But the man whose controversy-riddled career has enjoyed a welcome upturn since moving to the south of France trooped off in the 67th minute having failed to provide the spark the Dragons needed.
French and Field, the pair who have become cult figures at Wigan, nearly combined for a memorable try, but Field’s pass that sent his friend over the try line was clearly forward.
But just two minutes later, Wigan delivered the coup de grace on their French opponents with Farrell setting up Marshall to go over.
Leading 8-2 at the hour mark, another mistake from Keighran – this time a high tackle on Tyler Dupree – gifted Smith the chance to lift Wigan into an irretrievable two-score lead.
Always a great race for every Spring is the Caulfield Cup and 2023 looks no different.
Will the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) go to the locals with the likes of Soulcombe ($5), Gold Trip ($6) and Montefilia ($13) big hopes or will it be those coming from overseas?
Nominations were extended for the G3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) as Derby credentials are on the line. Riff Rocket ($1.70) will naturally be heavily featured but strong stables also run with Gold Bullion ($6) and To Be Frank ($15).
It’s the same situation for the fillies in the G3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m). Tropical Squall ($2.10) brings in G1 form but Autumn Angel ($4.20) now comes out of a strong form race.
Another race where more entries are a chance is in the G2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m). Lofty Strike ($3.50) is the best horse in it as he resumes from a spell.
The G2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) is generally a great pointer to the Empire Rose and good mares are entered like Madame Pommery, Nunthorpe and Skew Wiff.
With the change in the programming, the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) is now on Cup day and we see new blood here like Coeur Volante and Zourion coming from the Moonee Valley race.
Other features on the day include the Listed Gothic Stakes (1200m) for the 3yos and the G3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) for the older sprinters.
