Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a pair of home runs to reach 39 and stole his 67th base as the Atlanta Braves ended a four-game losing streak with a 9-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.
Acuna is one home run shy of becoming the first player with 40 homers and 60 steals in a season, much less 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases.
The Braves' superstar is batting .386 with 11 home runs, 26 RBIs, 23 runs and eight steals in his last 20 games.
Acuna’s first home run was his seventh leadoff blast this season and 33rd of his career. Of his 205 hits this season, 51 have come in the first inning.
His performance overshadowed Spencer Strider’s major league-leading 18th win.
The right-hander allowed three runs and four hits over seven innings with 11 strikeouts to raise his MLB-best total to 270.
Marcell Ozuna drove in three runs with three hits, including a two-run double in the fifth, as Atlanta avoided its first five-game skid since September 2017.
Bryce Harper hit a three-run home run for the Phillies, who hold the top wild-card spot in the NL.
Padres lose combined no-hitter in 9th, walk-off Rockies
Blake Snell threw seven no-hit innings, and the San Diego Padres lost a combined no-hitter in the 9th before Xander Bogaerts hit a walk-off two-run homer in a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Snell struck out 10 with four walks over the first seven innings and threw 104 pitches but was replaced by Robert Suarez, who worked a perfect eighth.
Closer Josh Hader gave up a leadoff single to Brendan Rodgers in the ninth before getting three outs.
Bogaerts homered off Tyler Kinley with two outs in the ninth to give San Diego its season-high sixth straight win.
Hays hits 2 homers as Orioles defeat Astros
Austin Hays went deep twice and Ryan O’Hearn added a two-run shot to lift the Baltimore Orioles to their fourth straight win, 9-5 over the slumping Houston Astros.
Hays hit a three-run shot off starter Hunter Brown in the third inning to snap a 2-2 tie and put Baltimore ahead for good.
O’Hearn’s two-run homer in the first opened the scoring and rookie Heston Kjerstad connected for his second career home run in the seventh, one batter after Hays’ second of the game gave the Orioles an 8-5 lead.
Baltimore maintained a 2 ½-game lead over Tampa in the race for the AL East title, while Houston’s lead in the West was trimmed to one-half game over Texas and Seattle.
Caelan Doris admits to initially being shocked by the sheer size of the South Africa team but insists facing the fearsome might of the so-called ‘Bomb Squad’ will not significantly alter Ireland’s game plan.
Back-rower Doris will take on the Springboks for only the second time in his career in Saturday evening’s crunch Rugby World Cup showdown in Paris.
The 25-year-old helped Ireland register a 19-16 win over the reigning world champions in November following a bruising Dublin encounter in which he was taken aback by the hefty bulk of the opposition.
The Springboks will again look to impose brute strength on Andy Farrell’s men after naming a six-two split of forwards and backs on their bench for this weekend’s pivotal Pool B clash at Stade de France.
Asked what distinguishes South Africa from other sides, Doris replied: “Physicality is the word that comes to mind.
“I remember being shocked at just the sheer size of them, playing them in November.
“They kind of do a six-two or even seven-one sometimes off the bench and have massive reinforcements coming off the bench as well.
“But it’s definitely not the only string to their bow. They’ve got a lot of pace in their backs and their forwards are capable of keeping the ball alive and offloading.
“Obviously the physicality is tied into their set-piece, they’ve got a great maul, great lineout options as well, a very strong lineout and scrum as well, so getting those areas right is going to be big.”
Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, who was then head coach, adopted the stacked bench tactic during his side’s run to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019.
Doris insists Ireland will not be deviating from the approach which has brought 15 successive Test wins.
“It doesn’t actually change too much,” he said.
“We talk about delivering an 80-minute performance regardless of who we are playing and knowing that some teams target the last 20 minutes.
“We also speak of our bench coming on and not just fitting in but actually taking it up a level. That will be important for us this weekend.”
Ireland, who have topped the Test rankings for more than a year, can seal progression to the World Cup quarter-finals with success in the French capital.
Doris feels better equipped to deal with the pressures of performing in front of a capacity Stade de France crowd than during last year’s Six Nations when Farrell’s men suffered a 30-24 loss to France.
“There’s so much belief amongst this group and there’s belief that we can still get a lot better,” he said.
“Delivering that in such a big game in Paris in front of 80,000 people – hopefully there will be a lot of Irish there – is just about constantly getting better as a group and believing that we can improve quite a bit.
“We are always striving for the perfect performance.”
Referring to the 2022 defeat to Les Bleus, he continued: “From the warm-up there was a palpable intensity in the atmosphere from the French in particular, drums banging and stuff like that.
“Having experienced it once, it is an easier thing to visualise and be aware of. It will be a little bit less of a shock for me.”
In the heart of Manchester, the Fusion Gym in Mandeville was buzzing with excitement on Saturday, September 9th, 2023.
Powerlifting enthusiasts from across Jamaica had gathered for the NPAJ/GraceKennedy Money Services Powerlifting Gym League finals. It was a day filled with passion, strength, and determination, but one team stood above the rest - the Irie Gunners.
The crowd watched in awe as the athletes from Team Fit Farm in St. Andrew and Irie Gunners from Manchester gave their all on the platform. The atmosphere was electric, and the anticipation was palpable. It was evident that this year's championship would be fiercely contested.
As the competition progressed, it became clear that the Irie Gunners were on a mission. They started the season as favorites, and they were determined to live up to the expectations. Their dedication to training and their unwavering focus had set them on a path to glory.
The highlight of the event came when the Irie duo of Roxroy Campbell and Aiesha Denton took centre stage. Roxroy Campbell showcased his incredible strength in the squat, bench press, and deadlift, totaling an impressive 703 kilograms. His performance earned him the title of the top male lifter in the competition.
On the female side, Aiesha Denton was an unstoppable force. She demonstrated her prowess in the squat, bench press, and deadlift, amassing a total of 474 kilograms. Aiesha's performance secured her the title of the top female lifter of the competition.
But the victory was not solely attributed to them. The entire Irie Gunners team showed exceptional teamwork and determination. Tashian Wallace, Nadesha Thompson, and Roxroy Campbell all contributed significantly to the team's success, accumulating points that would ultimately tip the scales in their favor.
When the dust settled and the final scores were tallied, it was official - Irie Gunners from Manchester had been crowned the Champion of the NPAJ/GraceKennedy Money Services Powerlifting Gym League for 2023. The Fusion Gym erupted in cheers as the Irie Gunners celebrated their well-deserved victory.
Irie Gunners had scored a total of 249 GL Points, showcasing their dominance throughout the season. Team Fit Farm, the runner-up, put up a valiant effort, amassing 220.80 GL Points. The competition had been intense, but Irie Gunners had proven themselves as the top powerlifting team in Jamaica.
In the end, the individual performances of each athlete from both teams contributed to the thrilling spectacle of strength and determination. Deidre Lewis, Fiona Binns, Jonhio Vaughn, and Desmond Thompson from Team Fit Farm had all showcased their incredible abilities, pushing their limits to achieve greatness.
In an interview with Powerlifting Voice, Mr. Zacariah Thompson, the head coach of the Irie Gunners Gym, shed light on the key moments and strategies that led to their victory in the NPAJ GraceKennedy Money Services Powerlifting Gym League 2023 Championship. According to Coach Thompson, a pivotal moment in the competition was when Aiesha successfully executed a 405-pound squat, a feat that signaled their imminent victory. He emphasized the significance of their rigorous training regimen, highlighting the exceptional dedication of each team member as a crucial factor in their triumph.
Coach Thompson also discussed their unique training approach in preparation for the championship. Instead of following their traditional routine, they began by assessing each athlete's strength and focusing on their core area, a method that seemed to pay off. When addressing the mental aspect of powerlifting, Coach Thompson emphasized the importance of instilling self-belief in his athletes, motivating them to realize their potential and strive for greatness.
When asked about standout performances, Coach Thompson commended all the team members for their outstanding efforts, with a special mention of the female athletes who achieved personal records. He also praised Dane's (Roxroy) consistent improvement in every competition.
Looking ahead, Coach Thompson expressed his determination to maintain and enhance the team's success.
Roxroy Campbell, who was named the top male athlete in the NPAJ Powerlifting Gym League 2023 Final, talked about his journey to success. Campbell mentioned a crucial moment during the competition - his second squat attempt - which he believes was a significant contributor to his victory.
Campbell credited his mental discipline for keeping him focused and motivated. He drew inspiration from those around him and his coach.
Aiesha Denton, who was crowned the top female athlete at the NPAJ Powerlifting Gym League 2023 Final, expressed elation when asked about her feelings regarding the prestigious title.
Ms. Denton credited her achievement to her unyielding commitment and diligent efforts, highlighting the crucial aspects of steadfastness, concentration, and determination that drove her to succeed. She admitted encountering challenges during the competition, particularly about squat depth and bench press strength, but her determination enabled her to overcome these obstacles.
England’s second row giants Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum have told Steve Borthwick they do not want to be rested against Chile.
Borthwick is expected to overhaul his starting XV against the weakest opposition England will face in their World Cup group campaign, taking the opportunity to give some of his stars a breather.
Itoje and Chessum have started the last three Tests together, including the Pool D victories over Argentina and Japan, and are candidates to be given the weekend off given the tougher assignments that lie ahead.
But Itoje is eager to retain his place in the starting XV – even though Chile are placed 22nd in the global rankings.
“I always want to play. I want to put my hand up for selection, I want to play for England. If there is an opportunity to play, I want to play,” Itoje said.
“You can’t take these moments for granted, you never know when the last time is that you’re going to play for England. I want to get as many caps as possible so I definitely would want to play.
“Steve has the big plan and he has to look after the whole squad, not just individuals. He is the final decision maker.”
The challenge facing Borthwick is to ensure his key personnel are battle hardened for the quarter-finals, which England have all but reached after dispatching the Pumas and Brave Blossoms.
Yet the break week each team observes at different stages during the World Cup means that after Chile their next assignment is the final group game against Samoa on October 7.
Itoje could therefore go three weeks without a game if he is omitted from the team that will be named by Borthwick on Thursday.
“A three-week break is neither here nor there. If I play – great,” Itoje said.
“When you’re not playing you do way more fitness. The guys who haven’t been in the squad have been getting flogged – so that’s motivation enough to play,” Itoje said.
“If I’m not playing I’ll be getting flogged. I’d much rather play because I don’t want to get flogged!”
Chessum, Itoje’s partner in England’s first choice engine room, is is also looking to keep his place, although the Leicester lock has a stronger case for inclusion as he is on the comeback trail from a serious ankle injury.
“You want to hold your hand up to play at every opportunity possible,” Chessum said.
“I have not played a lot of rugby at all in the last six months so I want to keep playing.
“It is not up to me, it is up to the coaches so I will hold my hand up in training this week and it is up to them, the selection process.”
Chile are expected to be overrun in Lille on Saturday but Portugal and Uruguay have already demonstrated against Wales and France in this World Cup that the minnows can cause a scare.
The tournament’s last great upset was when Japan toppled Ireland four years ago and Chessum does not want England to be the next big-name scalp.
“If you sleepwalk into games or sleepwalk into anything in this World Cup you will get caught out and exposed,” he said.
“You have seen from the games last week that there is not a big disparity between the teams – the tier-two nations have taken some of the best teams right to the wire.
“We will be firing on all cylinders in training and on the job to take the game to Chile.”
Jamaica's young cyclists Cajur Chue, Khalil Francis and Melaika Russell all registered credible performances during the recently-concluded two-day Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic.
The three were among 56 athletes across 13 countries that participated in the championships, where Jamaica finished second on the medal table with three medals behind host nation which had nine medals. Puerto Rico completed the top three with two medals.
Chue, National Juvenile Time Trial champion, competed in the Juvenile Men 10km Individual Time Trial on the first day of action and claimed silver in 13 minutes and 29 seconds. He just missed out on top spot by 10 seconds, as he finished behind Puerto Rico’s Amauri Santiago (13min 19 sec), while Dominican Republic’s Emir David Nina Garcia (13mins 25sec) was third.
Jamaica's National women's Time Trial champion Russell was also in action on day one, as she competed in the Juvenile Women 10km individual Time Trial, where she also placed second in 16 minutes and 47 seconds. The event was won by Bermuda’s Charlotte Millington, with Barbadian Arielle Greaves taking third in a time of 17 minutes and 40 seconds.
Russell returned on the second day and won gold in the 60km Road Race for Juvenile Women, becoming the first Caribbean Road champion from Jamaica since Marloe
Rodman in 2015.
In the juvenile male 70km road race, Chue took an early solo breakaway and opened a 150 metres gap with 15km to go, but was unable to maintain that tempo and got
caught. Both Chue and Francis missed out on the podium, as they placed sixth and 10th respectively.
One day after it was reported Saquon Barkley would miss the next three weeks due to a sprained right ankle, New York Giants coach Brian Daboll said he's not ruling the star running back out for Thursday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.
"I'm not saying that he's out yet," Daboll said Tuesday on a video posted to the Giants' official website. "He's a quick healer. I'm not saying he's in, he's out. We're gonna take it all the way up with him to Thursday. He feels a lot better today. I just talked to him, so we'll see where we're at."
Daboll said Barkley has made "considerable progress" and expects him to be a game-time decision against the 49ers.
Quite the turnaround from Monday when ESPN had reported the 26-year-old would be sidelined for the Giants' next three games.
Barkley was injured with under two minutes left in Sunday's 31-28 win, in which New York rallied from a 21-point third-quarter deficit. The six-year veteran got his right ankle caught in a pile on his final rushing attempt and needed to be helped off the field with the assistance of trainers.
The 2018 No. 2 overall pick played a big role in Sunday's comeback with both a rushing and receiving touchdown in the second half. The two-time Pro Bowler finished the game with 63 rushing yards on 17 carries and added six receptions totalling 29 yards.
If he can't play, Matt Breida is next man up at running back on the Giants' depth chart.
The veteran backup has just three rushing attempts this season, but did rush for 814 yards in 14 games with the 49ers in 2018.
If the Giants decide Barkley isn't ready to face the 49ers, the team's next game is 11 days later with its Week 4 contest on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks on October 2.
Sports stars and clubs across the world continue to provide an insight into their lives on social media.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the best examples from September 19.
FootballAnt and Dec were ready for Newcastle’s Champions League adventure.
Peter Crouch had a laugh at his own expense.
What a photo.
Jenni Hermoso hit back.
Alan Shearer was buzzing to see Champions League nights back for Newcastle.
View this post on InstagramCallum Hudson-Odoi enjoyed home comforts.
TennisAndy Murray could not wait for Magaluf!
CricketThe wind was causing some trouble.
Stuart Broad and James Anderson enjoyed the City Ground.
KP had a broken night’s sleep.
England batter Danni Wyatt switched sports to take in the Rugby World Cup.
View this post on InstagramGolfTommy Fleetwood turned his attention to the Ryder Cup.
View this post on InstagramThe Rocket was still celebrating.
After being re-elected president of Jamaica Squash Association, Karen Anderson is intent on building on the platform laid from her previous term to ensure the continued growth and development of the sport locally.
Anderson, who took the reins of the sporting body last year, was returned for second one-year term which she said represents an opportunity to achieve certain personal ambitions and, by extension, bring visions for the sports progression, to fruition.
To that end, she hopes to finish the governance process of a name change, among other things by mid-2024, as well as to possibly hire a Technical director to assist in the country’s competitiveness at various tournaments.
“As you know, a few years ago all sporting bodies were encouraged to become charitable entities, which is an arduous process and it's also quite expensive, so we had put off for quite a while. But part of my mandate and my manifesto was to do that aspect of it, to become a charitable entity,” Anderson told Sportsmax.tv.
“So, the first resolution spoke to the association becoming a charitable entity; the second one spoke to a name change from Jamaica Squash Association to Jamaica Squash Limited trading as Jamaica Squash and then the third one was to the approval of current constitution of Jamaica's Association subsumed by Articles of Incorporation, which is what governs charitable bodies. So, all of the resolutions were passed and passed unanimously,” she added.
While Anderson reveled in the success of the country’s junior and senior teams at their respective Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) tournament recently, she noted areas in which the country can improve to become more formidable on the regional stage and the appointment of a technical director, she believes is a key component.
“Based on some of the things we saw last year, we added a strength and conditioning coach as a fitness element. All of the juniors and seniors worked with this strength and conditioning coach to get them up to standard and we saw a marked improvement in that and that's something that we're actually going to continue to do,” Anderson shared.
“We have also seen the success of other Caribbean countries that have technical directors and that’s a significant way to increase our competitiveness within the region. We haven't identified the person yet because we need to identify the money first, but we believe that we can turn some of our silver and bronze medals into gold and maybe start to contend and be part of the top two in the region.
“As I've said to the players, if we can't compete and be competitive in this region which is the Caribbean region, then there's no point even trying to take it outside of the Caribbean. Because you need to be able to do it at home first and home for me is the Caribbean. So, that's really where we're looking. It's expensive, but we believe that is direction that we have to go in,” she reasoned.
That said, Anderson, a former National and Caribbean singles champion, pointed out that starting a school programme is also high on her agenda to not only widen the sport’s reach but also the pool from which players are selected for national duties.
“Currently, if you can hit the ball you almost can he selected. We want the kids to fight for a spot so that they become more competitive and learn how to win. So those are the areas that we're going to focus on to improve on some of those results. I would also love to be able to host a Professional Squash tournament attracting the world’s best players to play in Jamaica,” she declared.
Anderson’s executive committee includes Joey Levy, vice president, Gill Binnie, secretary and Deanne Pryce, treasurer. Committee
members are Douglas Beckford, Nathlee Boreland, and Tahjia Lumley.
Alex King has underlined the importance of Wales boss Warren Gatland’s presence and proven track record heading into Sunday’s Rugby World Cup clash against Australia.
Wales are heading towards a fourth successive World Cup quarter-final appearance under Gatland, and will be odds-on to win Pool C if they topple the Wallabies.
Australia, in contrast, are staring at group stage elimination for the first time in World Cup history if they lose as Gatland goes up against Wallabies head coach and former England chief Eddie Jones.
“I played under him (Gatland) at Wasps and we had some big European games,” Wales assistant coach King said.
“This is his fifth World Cup (four with Wales and one as Ireland head coach), and I don’t think any other coach has done five World Cups.
“He understands when to push the players and coaches, and when to pull back. Then he lets the players lead as the week develops.
“He is a very experienced coach and it is great for us to have him around us.
“It’s a massive game, let’s not shy away from that, and Warren has been there and done it, whether it’s European Cups, Six Nations or British and Irish Lions tours. I am glad he’s in our camp.”
Australia’s 22-15 defeat against Fiji has left them teetering on the brink of an early exit.
Wales, in contrast, have 10 points from two games, which is a record that only Ireland can match among any other team in the competition.
“They (Australia) will be hurting a little bit after the weekend. We understand that it is pretty much do-or-die for them,” King added.
“We understand in a massive game against Australia we have to take our chances.
“If we stick to what we are good at and are accurate, then we will put in a good performance. That is the plan for Sunday.
“We will look to play to our strengths and put as much pressure as possible on the Australia team.
“That is a balance between a kicking game, a set-piece game and a running game, as well as having our defence in place. We want to ask questions in attack, and hopefully over the course of the 80 minutes it will be enough to seal a win.
“We knew we were going to play them (Australia) now, whether they had won two from two or lost two from two. We understand what is at stake and the opportunity ahead of us and what it means to both teams.
“If we get every part of our game absolutely spot-on, we will be a team that is very hard to beat. They (players) are like a band of brothers, and have been since we met up at the end of May.
“The guys have lived together for the last 16 weeks, and you do rely on each other. We are two games down, two to go and hopefully something after that.”
Wales returned to the training pitch in Versailles hoping for a clean bill of health heading into the Wallabies encounter.
Flanker Tommy Reffell withdrew from facing Portugal last weekend in the warm-up after experiencing calf muscle tightness, while prop Henry Thomas, who has a hamstring issue, is the only player among Wales’ 33-strong World Cup squad yet to feature.
“Tommy is nursing a little leg injury and he is being assessed. We will know more in the next couple of days,” King said.
“A lot of guys have their own personal programmes a day or two after games, depending on their rehab needs.
“It is always good to have lots of props to choose from. He (Thomas) is going well and tracking in the right direction.”
Ollie Smith’s first taste of playing for Scotland at a World Cup has left him craving more after he was blown away by the atmosphere inside the “awesome” Stade Velodrome.
The Scots kicked off the tournament with an 18-3 defeat by South Africa in front of 63,586 people in the Marseille arena a week past Sunday.
Although the result did not go as planned, 23-year-old full-back Smith – the youngest member of the Scotland squad – was delighted to savour his first World Cup outing after replacing Darcy Graham for the closing 15 minutes.
“Playing in the game in Marseille was pretty special,” he told the PA news agency. “It was awesome, probably the coolest stadium I’ve ever played in.
“The atmosphere was mental as well. It was really loud and obviously there were thousands of fans across from Scotland to make it that extra bit special. It definitely whets the appetite for the other games in the tournament.”
The defeat to South Africa means Scotland have no margin for error left if they are to reach the quarter-finals.
Gregor Townsend’s side must win all three of their remaining pool matches against Tonga, Romania and Ireland.
Having been idle last weekend, they will return to action against the Tongans in Nice this Sunday.
“We definitely still believe we can get out the group,” said Smith. “We’ve spoken a lot about how we feel we can do something special at this World Cup.
“We believe we’ve got a good group of players, with good strength in depth, and we feel we can go far in this tournament.
“We know we need to bounce back from last weekend and Tonga is a good opportunity to do that.
“There’s still plenty rugby to be played against Tonga, Romania and Ireland so you never know what can happen.
“We’re still focused on getting out of the group and we’re going to have to win all three with good scorelines to do that.”
While the Scottish players were visibly dejected after failing to do themselves justice against the Boks, Smith feels that having a fortnight between matches – a period which included a few days of downtime with family members early last week – has helped them banish any lingering negativity ahead of facing Tonga.
The squad returned to the training pitch last Thursday and are focused on getting the victories they need against Tonga and Romania to ensure their hopes of progressing remain alive going into what could be a mouth-watering qualification shootout with Ireland in Paris next month.
“The last week has been a nice period to reset,” said the Glasgow back. “It’s now just about focusing on that next job, looking forward to Tonga.
“We’ve reviewed where we went wrong against South Africa and we’re trying to improve for Tonga and Romania. It’s about looking forwards rather than looking back.”
Ireland prop Finlay Bealham has been cleared to face reigning world champions South Africa after passing his head injury assessments.
The Connacht tighthead was withdrawn 10 minutes after coming on as a half-time replacement in Saturday’s 59-16 victory over Tonga.
All 33 members of Andy Farrell’s squad trained on Tuesday ahead of the World Cup showdown with the Springboks in Paris.
Speaking of Bealham, Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty said: “He was obviously taken off the field at the weekend and failed his (head injury assessment).
“He’s subsequently passed his tests and he’s perfect, he was in a scrum today and he’s good to go, symptom-free.
“Our medics and World Rugby have cleared him fit to play so we’re delighted to have a full (clean) bill of health.”
Jack Conan and Dan Sheehan also took part in the session at Ireland’s base in Tours, potentially boosting head coach Farrell’s options for Saturday evening at Stade de France.
Number eight Conan has been sidelined since August 5 when he sustained a foot injury during his country’s win over Italy.
“Jack is doing bits and pieces today, he didn’t do a full-blooded one but he’s on the field and he’s going to do a little bit more tomorrow,” said Fogarty.
“He’ll be managed as a returning player would be but yeah, we’ve a full bill of health.
“Jack (will) do more tomorrow and it’s then a decision to see how he is. He’s up for selection, we’re on our feet, it’s been brilliant.”
First-choice hooker Sheehan sprained foot ligaments a month ago in the warm-up win over England.
“I saw him in a scrum today, so I was very excited to see him in scrums,” Fogarty said of the 25-year-old.
“We did some timing in our scrums, some drop-ins, and Dan took part.
“It’s great to see him back involved. He’s a player who’s returning so we’ll do a bit more tomorrow and see how he is.”
Ireland lead the way in Pool B following back-to-back bonus-point wins over Romania and Tonga and could seal progression to the quarter-finals by denting the Springboks’ title defence.
“There’s definitely an edge (in the camp),” said Fogarty.
“It’s an incredibly exciting week to be involved in. Everyone wants to be in the starting 15 and make the matchday 23 so competition for places is right up there. To be playing the world champions in Paris is incredibly exciting.
“We are clear in our heads as a group what the plan is and who is going to carry out that plan.”
Mawj will skip the Sun Chariot at Newmarket in favour of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on October 14.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor had it between those two races for the comeback of the 1000 Guineas winner, and he has plumped for the $600,000 contest over a mile and a furlong.
Mawj has not been seen since beating Tahiyra at Newmarket in early May and subsequently Dermot Weld’s filly has won the Irish Guineas, the Coronation Stakes and the Matron Stakes.
“She worked on Saturday and she worked well, she’s in good form,” said Bin Suroor.
“The plan is we are going to head to Keeneland for the QEII, that’s what we decided, she’s in good form and she’s working well.
“It was Keeneland or the Sun Chariot, but we thought the Keeneland race was a better prep for the Breeders’ Cup. We’ll bring her back in between.
“I’ve been very pleased with her, her condition is good and I’m pleased with everything I’ve seen.
“American racing should suit her, she’s a tough filly, the flat track will suit her better, I think. She beat Tahiyra in the Guineas and no one else has managed that.”
Italy head coach Kieran Crowley believes Uruguay “pose a massive threat” ahead of their meeting at Stade de Nice.
The teams meet in Pool A on Wednesday and Gli Azzurri will be looking to build on their dominant opening-game victory against Namibia, which they won 52-8.
However, Crowley knows just what challenges their South American opponents can pose after they gave France a tough test on Thursday, with the hosts eventually emerging victorious.
“Uruguay pose a massive threat. I was in Canada 15 years ago and they were just starting to get their systems right,” Crowley said.
“They have got a centralised programme in Montevideo. Most of their team plays for a club in the Central American championship. Then you add in the players who play in France and you’ve got a pretty formidable team.
“They’ve got 19 players who have been to one or two World Cups. We are expecting that physical battle. You saw in the France game that their breakdown work was outstanding.”
Italy have made four changes for the game, with Niccolo Cannone, Alessandro Garbisi and Lorenzo Pani all coming into the starting XV along with Saracens’ Marco Riccioni, who starts in the front row. Star player Ange Capuozzo has been moved from the wing to full-back.
Uruguay head coach Esteban Meneses has also made two changes to his team following the France defeat, with hooker German Kessler and winger Gaston Mieres starting.
Kerry native Oisin Murphy bagged a first winner in his home county after a thrilling climax to the Kelleher Feeds & Agri Suppliers Ballymullen, Tralee Handicap at Listowel.
Born and raised in nearby Killarney, the three-time British champion jockey had never previously ridden in County Kerry but did not take long to open his account.
Having been narrowly denied on his first ride aboard Zephron, Murphy went one better in the following race as he and Pat O’Donnell’s 100-30 favourite Dragon Of Malta got up in the final stride to win a pulsating three-way finish by a nose and the same from Mercurial and Brave Troop.
Murphy, whose previous competitive rides in Ireland have been at the Curragh, Leopardstown and Dundalk, said: “I have lots of family here today and they’ll be over the moon. The horse is also trained by an old family friend of ours so it is a brilliant day.
“He had won well at Galway and while he didn’t run so well at Roscommon, today he was perfect and I had a willing partner up the straight.
“The O’Donnell family are from County Limerick and not too far from here and I’ve known them for years so it is great to ride a winner for them.”
He added: “It’s great to be here. I spent lots of time as a child hanging around the weighing room, trying to get goggles off Ruby Walsh and Davy Russell and wanting to be a jockey.
“To ride a winner here is a big relief.”
There was a huge shock in the feature event on day three of the Harvest Festival as Jessica Harrington’s 80-1 shot Maud Gonne Spirit lunged late to secure Listed honours Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes, with Nathan Crosse the winning rider.
“She loves soft ground, Jessie and all the team have done a great job getting her ready for today as she hasn’t had a whole pile of runs this year. It’s very important for her to get a black-type win today,” Crosse said.
“We went a good gallop, her fitness was good and she is a good, honest filly. Everything worked out perfectly.”
Alan King is keen to see Trueshan bid for a second win in the Qatar Prix du Cadran next week following his return to winning ways in the Doncaster Cup.
The seven-year-old had looked a shadow of his former self after being beaten in his first two starts of the campaign, but a mid-season wind operation appears to have done the trick judged on his resurgent performance under Hollie Doyle last Friday.
King said: “He did quite a lot wrong because he was so fresh. Surprised (by the win) I’m not so sure, but it was a certainly a relief more than anything.
“Obviously the wind op has helped big time. In his previous two races he hadn’t finished off at all so we were hoping it would make a difference, but you always want to see them go and do it on the track.
“We were delighted with him, I don’t know how strong the piece of form was but it certainly was a huge step to getting back towards his best.”
King has the option of waiting for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on October 21, a race Trueshan has won each of the past three seasons.
However, the Barbury Castle handler is first aiming to send his seven-year-old back to Paris for a Group One contest in which he memorably defeated Stradivarius in 2021.
He added: “I’m going to try to get him to the Cadran. I’m away this week, but the boys at home seem pretty happy with him. He’s had two or three days on the water treadmill, which he loves.
“He will be back cantering at the end of the week, we’ll be doing a bit of work early next week and if everyone is happy, he’ll head to France.
“We did do the Cadran and Ascot a couple of years ago when there was only a fortnight between them and there’s three weeks this time, which gives me a bit more of a chance.
“We’ll go one stage at a time, but if I’m happy with him he’ll head to Longchamp.”
King raised the intriguing possibility of Trueshan pursuing a career over hurdles following his defeats at Nottingham and Ascot in the spring, but those plans have been shelved for the time being.
He said: “I would hope that if he runs well at Longchamp or Ascot or both then he won’t be going jumping.”
Mister Sketch will be sporting the colours of Wathnan Racing when he returns to Newbury for the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes.
The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained youngster – who is one of 14 confirmed for the Group Two event – was narrowly beaten at the Berkshire track on debut in July before setting the record straight in style at Salisbury last month.
There the strapping son of Territories romped to an emphatic nine-and-a-half-length success which alerted his new ownership team to his potential and they are excited to see him take the leap into deeper waters when he wears their silks for the first time on Saturday afternoon.
“The team is very excited to have one with Eve,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser to the owners.
“He’s a lovely, big horse and I was really taken with him when I went to see him and we’re looking forward to seeing him run in the Mill Reef.
“He’s a big lad and whatever he does this year, I’ll be really surprised if he doesn’t do better next year.”
The Qatar-based ownership enterprise have another smart two-year-old on their hands in Richard Fahey’s Native American, who has impressed in two unbeaten performances so far, and was last seen scooping a valuable sales race at the Curragh earlier this month.
He has a plethora of big-race options both at home and abroad for the autumn with connections keen to test the son of Sioux Nation in Pattern company in his next start.
But with the feedback from jockey Colin Keane indicating Native American would prefer a sounder surface, all options remain on the table for now, with his next outing set to be determined by the weather forecast.
“Richard was keen to take him over there for the experience – travelling overnight and all those things that go with it,” continued Brown, reflecting on Native American’s successful raid to Ireland.
“We were delighted he won and hopefully we can build from here, but Colin said he did not enjoy the ground and I think we’ll be avoiding soft and/or tacky ground, from now on.
“I suppose we just we have to be on weather watch now for the autumn targets and we would be keen to avoid soft ground.
“He’s a big horse and he’s got all the scope to be a better horse next year. We’re obviously keen to run him again, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he didn’t run until next year.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to find somewhere with decent ground before the end of the season to drop him in at stakes level.”
Chris Billam-Smith believes broadcasters would struggle to sell a rematch against “not the most entertaining” Lawrence Okolie but insisted he would stop his rival inside 12 rounds if the pair were to meet again.
Billam-Smith won the WBO cruiserweight title after beating reigning champion Okolie by majority decision during their May showdown at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium, taking the 33-year-old’s record to 18 wins in 19 fights.
Okolie has activated the rematch clause in his contract but Billam-Smith believes the Londoner’s clinch-heavy fighting style which saw him deducted two points in their first meeting may put off television companies.
Billam-Smith, who also has experienced Pole Mateusz Masternak in his sights for his first title defence, told the PA news agency: “Lawrence has activated his rematch clause so we’re trying to sort that fight out, so it would be Lawrence or Mateusz Masternak next.
“It comes down to the broadcasters because they might not want to show Lawrence because he’s not the most entertaining.
“It’s hard for the broadcasters to sell that fight because it’s an entertainment business.
“People pay their hard earned money for TV subscriptions and unfortunately he (Okolie) has not had the most entertaining fights even though the majority of the time he gets the win.
“He’s had criticism his whole career and gets a lot of complaints online so that’s why we knew he’d hold and clinch during the fight so I think the criticism is fair and I think he knows that as well.
“I think I would stop him second time round. It’s been well documented that I was ill on fight week and there were so many things I could of done better.”
The 30-year-old Okolie, who had won all 19 of his fights before the defeat in May, used to train at Shane McGuigan’s gym alongside Billam-Smith before he left to join new coach SugarHill Steward.
And Bournemouth fighter Billam-Smith credited his experience of sparring against Okolie alongside McGuigan’s tactics as to why he knocked his former stablemate down three times before being crowned champion.
“Any other cruiserweight in the world has not got the experience of sparring him and that’s what gave me the edge and that’s why he never got beat before,” he added.
“We knew Lawrence would hold, we knew he’d tire and fall apart at times so it was about staying safe for the first three rounds. I knocked him down in the fourth and from then on I was very much in control of the fight. It felt like he was fighting out of himself and getting desperate to land a big shot.
“We were in the gym together for a few years and I think that gave me an edge because his other opponents haven’t had to deal with him in sparring.
“My coach (Shane McGuigan) knows him very well and that was a determining factor in the fight and that massively helped me to overcome him.
“With mine and Shane’s experience we can figure him out.”
Asked whether the previously-undefeated Okolie had underestimated him, Billam-Smith said: “Possibly, yes, he might have done. I think he thought he was going to catch me in the 10 ounce gloves.
“He lost his way in there because he’s used to hitting people and them going down so when that didn’t happen he reverted back to type which is a lot of clinching and holding.”
The lifelong Bournemouth fan admitted it was a dream to fight at the Vitality Stadium in front of his supporters.
He said: “It was phenomenal and fighting there one day is something I’ve dreamt of since I turned professional.”
Eydon is out to prove the fire still burns brightly when he returns from a long absence in the Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes at Sandown.
The one-time Derby hope created a real impression when winning the Feilden Stakes in the spring of 2022, but has not been seen on a racecourse since finishing fourth in last year’s 2000 Guineas, with a series of injury setbacks keeping him on the sidelines.
Switched from Roger Varian to Andrew Balding prior to the 2023 season, another issue arose in the spring to extend his layoff, but the son of Olden Times is finally ready to make his eagerly-awaited reappearance after 508 days out of action.
Connections had been weighing up a run at Sandown with a trip to Ayr for the four-year-old’s comeback outing, but it is the Esher track that will be graced with the presence of Prince Faisal’s colt on Wednesday afternoon.
“I think Andrew felt that, on reflection, going up to Ayr after such a long lay-off, it was easier to go just down the road to Sandown,” said Ted Voute, racing adviser to Eydon’s owner.
“Andrew seems quite optimistic, Oisin (Murphy, jockey) has ridden him at home and in his work he seems to have stayed in one piece this time.
“I think everyone feels he might be a little bit ring rusty and he is running over a mile rather than a little bit further, but it is a great place to start and it will give us a good indication of whether he progresses to something major this year or stays in training and we tackle it next year.”
Eydon holds an entry for the Qipco Champion Stakes on October 21 with the Ascot contest seen as the perfect spot for the colt to return to Group One competition if passing his Fortune Stakes test.
However, connections are well aware it would take a mammoth effort following such a long layoff and they will simply be satisfied with a run full of encouragement at Sandown.
“Ascot would be the dream, but in reality it is one step at a time and let’s see what happens in the aftermath of this race,” continued Voute.
“We are hopeful, but we are all well aware it is a big ask following the amount of time he has had off.
“While we have that target (Ascot) sitting there, it is not the be-all and end-all, and as long as he came back in one piece and showed he had that brilliance of the Feilden and fourth in the Guineas, then he can build on that in the forthcoming year.
“It’s a credit to Prince Faisal who has kept faith and it means quite a bit to him that he is by Olden Times, who he also raced. It’s a lot of his own breeding on both the female side and the sire which is rare nowadays and I think it is a credit to him as an owner to keep persevering.”
Also on the comeback trail is William Knight’s Sir Busker, who has been off the track since finishing down the field in the Dubai Turf in March.
The evergreen seven-year-old suffered an eye infection while in Dubai and his owners Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds are delighted to see him return in a race which could determine future aspirations.
“We are thrilled to see him back, that will be great and we’re really looking forward to it,” said Sam Hoskins, racing manager for the owners.
“He got an eye infection in Dubai, but he is ready to resume which is brilliant.
“I think Sandown should suit him well, but he’ll improve for the run whatever he does. It’s not all about winning on Wednesday, we just hope he runs a nice race and shapes well for the future.
“If all goes well then he will be kept on the go. There’s races for him at Newmarket and we could consider the all-weather or the Middle East as well, depending on how he gets on.
“We don’t have any grand future entries, but there are plenty of options and it will just be great to see him back and he owes his syndicate members nothing.”
Richard Hannon’s Chindit makes a swift return to action having claimed a Group Three at Haydock recently, while Simon and Ed Crisford’s Celebration Mile runner-up Knight will sport first-time cheekpieces when he lines up at the Esher track.
Roger Varian claimed the Listed event with subsequent Queen Elizabeth II Stakes scorer Bayside Boy 12 months ago and it is somewhat interesting he saddles the half-brother Lord Of Biscay in a bid to do the double.
A total of 10 will go to post including Dylan Cunha’s improving Silver Sword who will compete in Pattern company for the first time.
Sense Of Duty is “ready to roll” ahead of her eagerly-anticipated return at Newbury on Saturday.
William Haggas’ filly climbed the sprinting ranks rapidly and brought up a fourth straight victory when claiming Newcastle’s Chipchase Stakes in June last year.
However, injury curtailed her progress shortly after impressing at Gosforth Park and she has spent over 450 days on the sidelines, as connections opted for a cautious approach with their talented speedster.
Having now shown all the signs she is ready for a return to the racecourse, she is booked to reappear in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes which her handler won with Hurricane Ivor two years ago.
“She’s obviously had a few little niggles – nothing too serious – and we’ve just been very patient with her,” said Richard Brown, racing manager for owners St Albans Bloodstock.
“We think she’s very good and we’ve just given her all the time she’s needed until William is 100 per cent happy with her, which he is.
“Her work has been very good and it looks like she retains all of her ability. She’s ready to roll and is in great shape, working well and bouncing, and we’re very much looking forward to getting her back on track.”
Sense Of Duty will run over the minimum distance for the first time at Newbury where a bold showing could tee-up a return to further and a first shot at Group One glory in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on October 21.
Brown added: “We’re not sure if she is going to be ready to win over that trip, but the idea is to run her with Ascot in the back of our mind.”
St Albans Bloodstock look to have a strong hand in the Group Three contest and as well as the returning Sense Of Duty, they are also poised to be represented by Nymphadora.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the four-year-old claimed the City Walls Stakes at York earlier in the season and, often seen at her best when the mud flies, will head to the Prix de l’Abbaye for one final career outing after her trip to Berkshire at the weekend.
“They will probably both take their chance,” said Brown.
“Nymphadora will almost certainly run and then she will have a swansong in the Abbaye before heading to the paddocks.”
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