Coolmore Stud and master trainer Aidan O’Brien have once again demonstrated why they remain the gold standard in global horse racing — not just in breeding and training, but in branding.

The latest batch of two-year-olds to be named showcases a blend of elite pedigree, clever storytelling, and marketable identity. In a sport where first impressions matter, these names are doing serious early work.

Powerful Pedigrees, Even Stronger Names

Among the standout names is Abraham Lincoln, a son of Wootton Bassett out of a Group-winning daughter of Invincible Spirit. Purchased for €2.3 million, the name carries immediate authority and presence — exactly what you’d expect from a top-tier prospect.

Book of Kells is another striking entry. By Dubawi and out of a Galileo mare, this colt is a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Auguste Rodin. The name cleverly ties Irish heritage with class and legacy — a perfect fit for a horse with serious expectations.

Then there’s Capability Brown, linking art and prestige with racing excellence. As a half-brother to Saxon Warrior, the name reinforces a sense of refinement and stature.

Raging Bull brings a different energy — aggressive, memorable, and built for headlines. Meanwhile, Shakespeare and Opera continue the cultural theme, both reflecting depth, class, and timeless appeal.

Why Naming Matters in Horse Racing

In modern racing, a name is more than a label — it’s a brand. Before a horse ever sets foot on the track, its name shapes perception among punters, media, and owners.

• Memorability: Names like “Raging Bull” stick instantly
• Heritage: “Book of Kells” connects to Irish identity
• Prestige: “Shakespeare” and “Opera” signal class
• Marketability: Strong names drive media coverage and betting interest

Coolmore understand this better than anyone. They consistently produce names that feel like future Group 1 winners — and more often than not, they are.

The Coolmore Formula

The naming strategy aligns perfectly with their overall model:

Elite Pedigree + World-Class Training + Strong Branding = Commercial Dominance

With Aidan O’Brien preparing these horses for Ballydoyle, the expectation is clear — many of these names will soon be seen in Group races across Europe.

What Comes Next?

As the flat season unfolds, all eyes will be on these two-year-olds when they debut. History suggests that when Coolmore name a horse this well, it’s rarely by accident.

Don’t be surprised if Abraham Lincoln, Book of Kells, or Opera are making headlines before long.

Final Word

In an era where branding matters more than ever, Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien continue to set the standard. These aren’t just racehorses — they’re future stars with names to match.

Dave McGinnis, a former Arizona Cardinals head coach and Tennessee Titans assistant coach, died on Monday. He was 74.

The Titans announced the death of McGinnis, who died after being hospitalized for an illness in early March. The Titans’ news release said that he passed away at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital with his family by his side.

“My heart aches with the loss of Coach Mac, who was so much more than a coach and broadcaster – he was family,” Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.

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Head coach Dave McGinnis of the Arizona Cardinals watches from the sideline during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Nov. 9, 2003. The Steelers defeated the Cardinals, 28-15. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell also released a statement on McGinnis.

“As Dave often said, he was a ‘ball coach’ through and through, and no one ever filled that role with more passion, enthusiasm and charisma,” Bidwell said. “Coach Mac truly loved the game and everything – and everyone – associated with it, especially his players. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.”

McGinnis found himself in an interim head coaching role during the 2000 season with the Cardinals, the team for which he served as defensive coordinator in 1996. He was retained in the head coaching post from 2001-03.

KIM WOOD, NFL’S FIRST FULL-TIME STRENGTH COACH AND WEIGHT-TRAINING PIONEER, DEAD AT 80

In 57 career games, McGinnis went 17-40 with the Cardinals, ultimately being fired after a 4-12 season in 2003.

After he was fired, McGinnis landed with the Titans as a linebackers coach under head coach Jeff Fisher. He would become a mainstay in Nashville, holding that role and eventually being promoted to assistant head coach until 2011.

Coach Dave McGinnis of the Arizona Cardinals walks the sideline against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on Nov. 16, 2003. The Browns won the game, 40-6. (Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images)

“Coach Mac gave so much of himself to this organization over the years, and his passion, loyalty and love for the Titans never wavered,” Strunk added. “He cared deeply about the people around him, and that kindness and authenticity left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He held a very special place in our family, and his presence in our lives and within this franchise will never be forgotten. We will miss him dearly, and we will always be grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.”

McGinnis’s coaching career began in 1973 when he was an assistant with TCU. He also held posts with Indiana State, Missouri and Kansas State until the 1986 season when he broke into the NFL with the Chicago Bears.

McGinnis served as linebackers coach for Chicago from 1986-95 before getting a promotion with the Cardinals. He also held roles with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams before leaving coach after the 2016 campaign.

McGinnis returned to Nashville to join Titans Radio in 2017, where he served as a color announcer for games.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis stands on the sideline during a game against the Oakland Raiders at Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Dec. 2, 2001. (Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport)

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“I love Dave McGinnis, and I don’t know that I’ve met anybody who was created for football, and a football life, more than Coach Mac,” said Burke Nihill, president and CEO of the Titans. “He just loved the game. Obviously, he played it for a long time and coached it for longer, and with everything he has done for us over the years as color commentator and a Titans personality. He lived such a special football life. He was such a special guy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Optus Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 6 NRL game between Cronulla Sharks and
Sydney Roosters. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with Sydney Roosters heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Cronulla Sharks vs.
Sydney Roosters
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday April 11, 2026 at 5:30 pm

Where: Optus Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters Odds

Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters Preview

Cronulla enters this contest with renewed confidence after back-to-back wins, pushing back into finals contention. Nicho Hynes continues to steer a dangerous attack, while the Sharks’ recent success against the Roosters — including a finals victory — offers further encouragement. Sydney, however, returns refreshed from a bye and boasts a formidable spine led by James Tedesco and Sam Walker. With both sides evenly matched, this shapes as one of the round’s most intriguing contests, likely to be decided by execution in key moments.

Just like Michael O’Neill, McArdle will be based in Scotland during his tenure as Northern Ireland manager.

McArdle, who took charge of Scotland for four matches last year on an interim basis, will remain in Glasgow – a decision he believes will help NI.

“The benefit is because a lot of girls are playing in the domestic game in the UK, I am in a good position to stay in Scotland and watch some of the girls play,” McArdle said.

17 players of the last NI squad play their football in England or Scotland with just five based in Northern Ireland, four from Glentoran and one from Linfield.

However, he added he will also make effort to watch those who play in the Irish Premiership as well.

“I’ll be around NIFL [Women’s Premiership] quite a lot on a Friday evenings, and also speaking to players a lot in between camps as well.”

If the Vikings had a main man going into the 2026 NFL Draft, then Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman would have to be the clear winner.

The athletic Duck was featured within a recent ESPN update. The premise of the article involves highlighting the “draft risers.” Jeff Legwold, the author, writes, “With the 2026 NFL draft less than two weeks away, we identified seven players who have gained the most ground since the beginning of the 2025 season.” Coming in quite high is the defensive back who boasts insane speed.

ESPN Update: Dillon Thieneman Generating Hype & is Rising

To begin, there’s some clarity about how Thieneman has ascended.

The assessment from Legwold: “There are a few players in every draft with an extensive enough body of work to make league evaluators comfortable. Then there are the players who shake things up a bit at the Senior Bowl or the combine, forcing evaluators to take another look. Thieneman fits into the latter bucket and has likely moved from a mid-to-late Day 2 pick into the first round as part of a sturdy safety class.”

Despite playing plenty of football, a situation that allows for ample room to assess the safety’s abilities, Thieneman’s testing prompted NFL people to reconsider what had previously been thought: “he uncorked a 4.37-second 40-yard dash and a 41-inch vertical at the combine at 6-foot, 201 pounds. That makes folks circle back.”

Not too long afterwards, there’s commentary on Dillon Thieneman having “excellent instincts” alongside being someone who boasts “plus-level athleticism.”

If he had been a sleeper, Thieneman is no longer someone who could be described in those terms.

Sitting at No. 18, the Vikings appear likely to offer Brian Flores a new player to work with from 2026 onward. Basically all levels of the defense could use an infusion of young talent, but few would quibble with opting for a corner or safety. The days of Mike Zimmer’s elite 2017 secondary feels like a very long time ago.

Thieneman looks like somebody who could get worked into the mix quite easily. He’s not huge but is wicked fast, is only 21, and coming out of a major college program. Most commonly, Thieneman has either been a deep safety or a box safety, meaning he blends some of Camryn Bynum with some of Harrison Smith.

Connecting the dots between Dillon Thieneman and the Vikings isn’t very difficult. Simply note that missing on another 1st-Round selection would be a brutal gut punch for a franchise that is desperate for draft success.

The concern is twofold.

Maybe Thieneman is good but not great, bumped up late in the process even though he didn’t fully deserve it. That’s not a catastrophic scenario since he’s still a good player, but he would bring back memories of Garrett Bradbury. Once upon a time, a highly-athletic center got looped into the Minnesota mocks so commonly that anyone and everyone could predict the future. Close to a decade later, the pick looks average or below average. He, too, got drafted at No. 18.

Worse yet, there could be another Lewis Cine scenario. A young, physical, and highly-athletic safety coming out of a major college program would be perfect, especially with Harrison Smith on the cusp of retirement. Does that rationale sound at all familiar?

Add it all together and the argument isn’t that Dillon Thieneman is a bust waiting to happen. Nor, for that matter, is the argument that he doesn’t deserve the hype that has arrived late in the evaluation process. Rather, the idea is to take a sober look at what’s taking place. Doing so helps us to understand that the spotlight is shining brightly on the Oregon defender but that it’s not a foregone conclusion that he will become a success story.

Everyone will get clarity on how things unfold in less than two weeks. Reality will arrive, allowing the rumor and speculation to cease. Afterwards, analysis will take place to assess how the Vikings (and the league more broadly) did in the high-stakes event.

Opting for Dillon Thieneman appears quite likely at No. 18; seeing him morph from a Duck into a Viking has plenty of common sense appeal. Whether all of the late hype has been justified remains to be seen.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Following a defeat to Shakur Stevenson back in July, Teofimo Lopez looked set to move up to the welterweight division and land a world title fight upon his debut.

Lopez famously dethroned Vasyl Lomachenko to become the unified lightweight world champion back in 2020, but he lost all three of his titles upon his next outing in a shock defeat to George Kambosos Jnr.

‘The Takeover’ then set about super-lightweight, where he claimed Josh Taylor’s WBO crown in another statement victory and made three title defences, before being thoroughly outclassed by Stevenson at the beginning of the year.

Once again, defeat for Lopez has encouraged him to move up in weight and he had been linked to a challenge for Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight world title, with the champion even saying that he was convinced the fight would take place this July.

Speaking to The Ring on Saturday night, Lopez confirmed that there have been talks for that fight and that he is ready and willing to face Garcia without a fight at 147lbs to his name.

“There has been talks, for sure, but that’s the thing. If Shakur and these other guys don’t want to take the risk, we are willing to do it and step up to the plate. That is what we are all about, it’s why we talk about making boxing great again, for that reason.

“You never know, maybe [it happens] in the summer.”

However, Conor Benn’s victory over Regis Prograis looks to have spoiled those plans, with Benn being the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s belt and publicly demanding the fight during the aftermath of his win.

As a result, Benn could take Lopez’s place, especially if the WBC opt to strictly mandate the fight. As a final option, Garcia could push for a rematch against old rival and current WBO champion Devin Haney, with the sanctioning bodies often approving unifications ahead of mandatories.

It felt like the Minnesota Vikings found a revelation in 2025 with return man Myles Price. But did you ever wonder why the speedster barely played on offense? Well, Price wants to change that.

Minnesota still needs WR depth, and Price has at least earned a longer look.

Needing more WR oomph in 2026, Minnesota may look in-house for reinforcements.

The Case for Expanding Price’s Offensive Workload

Why Price as a WR4, huh?

Price Clip Makes the Rounds on Social Media

Take this with a grain of salt because the footage came from a renowned aggregator, but Price has evidently been putting in the work this offseason to be a contributor on offense.

This video showed up on social media last week:

Of course, it takes much more than a single video clip to earn an enhanced role in an offense, but the clue is there nevertheless, suggesting that Price’s contribution as a pass-catcher could be elevated this summer. His desire is there.

The 2025 Rookie Performance

Price played 17 snaps on offense as a rookie, which averages to an even one per game. In short, it’s safe to say he was not used at all as an offensive playmaker, despite speed that kills.

As a returner, the guy turned into an undrafted gem for the 2025 Vikings. Price earned both punt and kick return duties during training camp and the preseason, carrying that momentum into the regular season. Although several impressive returns were called back due to penalties, his potential was clear. Minnesota may have found its return specialist for years to come.

Price also received one All-Pro vote, which no one envisioned at all during 2025 training camp. Best of all, they acquired him as an undrafted free agent. All told, he averaged 9.9 yards per punt return and 25.9 on each kickoff.

Vikings’ Need for WR Playmaking Talent

The Vikings have shown considerable interest in Day Two wide receiver prospects in the upcoming draft, a trend that often signals their intentions. Leading up to the draft, the Vikings have met with Antonio Williams (Clemson), Ted Hurst (Georgia State), and De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss), pointing at a clear strategy to address the position.

The roster composition supports the theory. Jalen Nailor’s departure to Las Vegas in March left the WR3 position vacant, and while Tai Felton is another option, his limited playing time as a rookie last season creates uncertainty.

Considering head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offensive preferences, it would be surprising if Minnesota does not select a wide receiver by the end of Round 4 later this month.

The wildcard here is Price, at least in theory. If his social media montage translates into regular season reality, well, the Vikings wouldn’t urgently need a WR3 or WR4. They have Felton and Price as in-house options.

Generally speaking, Price’s plan to achieve WR snaps is fantastic in spirit, but some guys are just better as returners.

The Viking Age‘s Nik Edlund noted on Price last month, “Myles Price is another pass catcher on Minnesota’s roster who could provide that depth. The undrafted rookie proved to be a dynamic punt returner who sparked the Vikings plenty of times in 2025 with his ability to bust off a long return. It’s a little surprising that Minnesota didn’t work him into the receiver rotation, but the poor quarterback play could’ve been a reason.”

“Price isn’t the biggest guy out there, standing just 5-foot-9 and weighing 183 pounds, but he’s quick, shifty, and much tougher than his frame would appear. He also has shown up when the lights are on him. He is someone who could battle to be that third option in the passing game, and the Vikings would be wise to see what he can bring to the table.”

The College Production and Scouting Report

At Texas Tech and Indiana, Price posted these numbers from 2020 to 2025:

So, he was at least trusted a little bit in college as a pass-catcher, a decent omen.

Price said at his Pro Day before last year’s draft: “I put on a show and just did me. I know I made the play. Running great routes and catching the ball, that’s what I do for a living. I’m a smaller guy. I punt return, kick return, kickoff, whatever you want me to do. I can kick the ball if that’s what you want. That’s who I am. I can do everything. Whatever the task is, Myles Price can do it.”

The guy very obviously wants to be a factor on offense; maybe the Vikings will let it happen. He’s got the speed.

Although Tony McEvoy acknowledges the daunting opposition for Half Yours in the upcoming Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick this Saturday, the trainer is thoroughly pleased with the condition of his prominent stable runner ahead of the comeback.

The five-year-old makes his racing return since claiming the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double on November 4 at Flemington, lining up versus names like Jimmysstar, Giga Kick, Fangirl, Briasa and Angel Capital in the 1400-metre $1.5 million showdown.

It represents Half Yours’ first outing at the distance since March 19 of the previous year, when he fell short to Tumbling in Sandown’s benchmark 64, but the end of 2025 saw him emerge as a top stayer, and McEvoy indicated the work has targeted a snappy initial run.

“We’re training him a bit different at the moment; we’re keeping him really sharp to run in this 1400-metre race,” McEvoy said on Monday morning.

“He’s telling us that he’s loving it. He’s bouncing off the track, he’s eating maximum feed and I think he looks very, very well.

“He had his second trial under Jamie Melham at Flemington last week and we were all pretty with him and Jamie said he felt great.

“We’re really pleased. He’s travelled up to Sydney and he’s settled into Rosehill really well. He’s just going to have a sharp little piece of work tomorrow and then he’s going to run in the All Aged.

“It’s probably a hurdle too far for him to win that race if you look at who’s running, but it’s good kick off for him and it sets him up nicely.”

Next after the All Aged Stakes comes the $500,000 Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on May 9 for Half Yours, with the $1m Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) a couple of weeks later and $1.2 million Group 2 Q22 (2200m) on June 13.

As a weight-for-age program, McEvoy and son Calvin, the co-trainer, want to gauge his prowess in such races, potentially en route to Melbourne Cup repeat via the 2040m Cox Plate at Flemington this year.

“That’s where he has to be now, weight-for-age, and he’s got to prove to us that he’s a weight-for-age horse,” McEvoy said.

“But, I must say, his run in the Turnbull was pretty good, finishing alongside Via Sistina, and from that moment I thought this horse is going to be able to handle himself at weight-for-age level.”

Half Yours is listed in 19 acceptors for the All Aged Stakes, paired with the $1m Champagne Stakes (1600m) as Randwick’s dual Group 1s this Saturday, starring ATC Sires’ winner Campione D’Italia.

Discover leading betting sites offering racing odds for the All Aged Stakes.