Matt Cumani, trainer from Ballarat, recognises the Stakes-winning potential in colt Deal Done Fast, but the stable’s main aim is to notch up a maiden victory first.

Both goals might materialise this Saturday at Flemington in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m), provided the colt mends his slow starts from the barriers.

With seven starts behind him yet winless, Deal Done Fast’s sluggish departures have led to specialised barrier drills by Cumani’s crew since his Australian Derby (2400m) effort at Randwick on April 4.

Earlier in the season, he secured third position in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

“He threw his race away right at the beginning last time and I’m still trying to work out exactly what he did, but it’s starting to look like a pattern now,” Cumani said.

“I gave him a pass mark for the first two runs of the prep.

“In his first race, it was a short distance, and he got squeezed as he came out of the barriers, in his second race he wasn’t concentrating and for him to come out slowly for the third race of his prep, it was a worrying pattern.

“We’ve done a bit of barrier work, and he seems to be breaking well enough, and he has no issues in the gates but is just a bit slow into stride.

“I’m hoping over 2800 metres at Flemington, that shouldn’t be a problem and if he happens to do it again, he’ll have plenty of time to make up the ground.”

Cumani’s prior St Leger success came in 2023 with Dunwoody at Sandown’s 3000m distance, postponed four days after Dean Holland’s deadly incident at Donald on Anzac Day’s eve.

“When we won it, it was with a horse that probably had no rights to win a Stakes race, but having said that it was 3000 metres and now it’s back to 2800 metres,” Cumani said.

“It’s a tougher race this year than when we won it.”

By skipping a nomination for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville next Saturday week, Cumani removes one dilemma.

A potential next step could be the Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm the following month.

“There is another Derby left if we want to go down that path, but I just want to see him win a race,” Cumani said.

“He’s been an unlucky maiden.

“He should have won his first race, he was beaten a bob of the head, so he’s still got that tag, and it would be nice to get that sorted first.

“If he could do it in the St Leger, that would be fantastic and if not, we might look at other options before we put him away for a break.”

Te Taniwha will represent Cumani in the Saturday contest as well.

“He’s been crying out for ground, and this has been a bit of a long-range plan for him,” Cumani said.

“We would have liked to have seen him do a bit more in his last race, but it’s got such a long tail this race that its always worthwhile having a horse in it for the prize money and it gives everyone a nice day at Flemington.”

Discover leading betting sites offering racing odds for the VRC St Leger.

Sara Tendulkar and sister-in-law Saaniya Chandhok (Screengrabs)

NEW DELHI: Sara Tendulkar turned heads in Mumbai this week as she stepped out alongside her sister-in-law, Saaniya Chandhok, marking another high-profile appearances together since Saaniya’s marriage to Arjun Tendulkar. The duo’s effortless style and easy camaraderie quickly caught the attention of onlookers, adding a fresh layer of public curiosity around the Tendulkar family’s next generation.While Sara has long been in the public eye for her fashion choices and social presence, Saaniya is gradually finding her own footing in the spotlight. Their joint appearance signaled a growing comfort with public life, as well as a glimpse into their bond beyond the cameras.Watch: Away from the buzz of Mumbai’s social circuit, Arjun Tendulkar is focused on a different kind of stage. Now part of the Lucknow Super Giants squad for IPL 2026, the 26-year-old cricketer is navigating both professional expectations and personal milestones. In a recent candid conversation with podcaster Shubhankar Mishra, Arjun opened up about his life beyond cricket, offering a rare peek into his grounded routine.Speaking about Saaniya, Arjun was clear and understated. “She never said anything. She has been supportive,” he shared, brushing aside any speculation about personal pressures affecting his career decisions. His remarks reflected a calm, steady partnership, one that thrives quietly despite the constant public gaze.Arjun also revealed a simpler side of his life, far removed from stadiums and scrutiny. He spends much of his downtime in Goa with his five dogs, valuing moments of normalcy. Interestingly, he noted that most of his close friends are not from the cricketing world, highlighting his preference for a balanced, low-key social circle.

Andre the Giant, the legendary wrestler and actor known for his formidable ring presence and gentle screen roles, has been honored with a roadside marker in his beloved adopted small town in North Carolina.

Officials unveiled the marker on Thursday in Ellerbe, a community of about 1,000 people where the wrestler, born Andre Rene Roussimoff, lived on a ranch just outside town.

Roussimoff was billed at 7ft 4in (2.24 metres) and 520 pounds (236 kilograms) during his time wrestling for the WWE in the 1970s and 1980s. A larger-than-life villain, he was touted as unbeatable until he faced Hulk Hogan in a match in 1987 at WrestleMania III, an event that launched the once regional wrestling company into a nationwide entertainment force.

Later that year, Mr Roussimoff appeared on film as the giant Fezzik in The Princess Bride. Fezzik was the gentle-hearted muscle for the antagonist and needed rhymes to remember his instructions.

Born in France, Roussimoff fell in love with the American South as he wrestled across the region, buying his North Carolina ranch and raising cattle on his land about 60 miles (97 kilometres) east of Charlotte.

He became a critical part of the Ellerbe community. In 1990, he taped TV and radio spots against a possible low-level radioactive landfill nearby. A pair of his size-26 cowboy boots are kept at a museum.

Roussimoff died in 1993 at age 46 in France, where he was visiting for his father’s funeral. They had a service for him there, but his body was cremated and his ashes spread at his beloved ranch.

Wrestler Vladimir Koloff, who befriended Roussimoff as he helped him get into the business, said his friend deserved the marker because he turned wrestling from a regional pastime into a huge international business. “The world of professional wrestling has given us a larger than life icon,” Koloff said just before helping take the cover off the marker.

The Richmond County marker at NC Highway 73 and Old NC Highway 220 simply says: “Andre The Giant. 1946-1993. Actor and professional wrestler. Was born Andre Roussimoff. Known for role in The Princess Bride in 1987. Lived nearby.”

Jack Grealish joined Everton on loan from Man City during the summer transfer window – but his long-term future at the club remains uncertain

Former Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry believes Jack Grealish won’t be short of interest this summer.

Grealish joined Everton on loan during the summer transfer window after falling out of favour with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. One of the main reasons the 30-year-old moved to make the move happen was so he could have a chance to feature in England’s World Cup squad.

Although Grealish impressed for David Moyes’ side, scoring twice and claiming six assists in all competitions, his campaign was cut short in January after he suffered a stress fracture in his foot, which required an operation. A £50m option to buy was included in the loan agreement by City, but that valuation was placed upon him for accounting purposes.

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And while Grealish’s time at City looks to be over, Everton are keen to extend his stay into a second season, preferably on loan, and the plan is to formally explore that at the end of the current campaign. But Barry believes the attacker won’t be short of offers from other clubs this summer as he prepares to make a decision on where he goes next.

“I remember speaking last summer when all the noise was about and I thought it would be a great move for both the club and Jack,” the former midfielder told the Manchester Evening News, via BetMGM.

“I knew he would be desperate to win a World Cup space and that is why he started on fire, but unfortunately injuries stopped that happening.

“He is the type of player that Everton fans love. He is going to get the fans off their seats, he is going to give 100% and he brings that little bit of X factor as well.

“Jack is going to have a big decision to make and see what options he has, but with my Everton head on, I would love to see him at Everton next season, but I’m sure there will be interest from elsewhere as well.”

Barry, though, is in no doubt that former club Everton should be doing all they can to ensure that Grealish returns to the club next season.

“Yeah, if I’m involved with Everton and making these decisions, then I am trying to keep Jack Grealish, as I think he has brought a lot to the club this year,” he said.

“He started on fire and brought excitement to the fans; between him and Iliman Ndiaye on the opposite wing, you can’t ask for much more entertainment.

“If the numbers work, then I think Everton should try and keep Jack. He seems really happy there, and the transfer would improve Everton as well. They need to keep taking forward steps like they have since David Moyes came in.”

Minnesota Vikings fans sat in their living rooms — some attended the draft party at U.S. Bank Stadium — expecting interim general manager Rob Brzezinski to select safety Dillon Thieneman, defensive tackle Peter Woods, or tight end Kenyon Sadiq. Instead, Brzezinski picked Florida defensive tackle Caleb Woods.

The pick raised eyebrows right away. Minnesota clearly sees long-term upside.

The selection inspired mixed reviews among fans, as Banks was considered a firm 2nd-Round pick entering the draft.

Flores Gets a New Interior Piece for His Defensive Front

A Gator is now a Viking.

It’s Banks for MIN

After careful deliberation by fans, the Vikings announced the pick on Thursday, and it was not who they expected.

Vikings.com’s Lindsey Young wrote, “The Vikings added extra length and a whole lotta power to their defensive line group Thursday. Minnesota opened the 2026 NFL Draft by tabbing former Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, Banks boasted the longest wingspan at the NFL Combine, measuring a whopping 7 feet, 1.75 inches.”

“That wingspan landed in the 99th percentile for defensive tackles and is the longest recorded at the combine since 1999. Banks is the third player ever drafted from Florida by Minnesota in the first round, joining Percy Harvin in 2009 and and Sharrif Floyd 2013 and 12th Gator ever selected by the Vikings.”

Banks began the draft cycle a few months ago as a sure-fire 1st-Rounder, but injury concerns sank his stock to Round 2. He recently sent a letter to all NFL general managers, reassuring them that his medicals were in good shape. Banks broke a bone in his foot at the NFL Combine at the end of February. From there, he became a no-brainer 2nd-Rounder — before the Vikings came knocking.

The Scouting Report

At 6’6″ and 330 pounds, 23-year-old Banks is a dominant force who already appears NFL-ready. His immense size is immediately evident on tape, where he explodes off the line with explosive burst, frequently bypassing interior blockers at the snap. Leveraging powerful hands and strength, he drives into the backfield, collapsing the pocket early.

His statistics fully support these impressive on-field traits. Across 34 games at Louisville and Florida, he accumulated 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, demonstrating consistent pressure and robust run defense.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid ranked Banks as the No. 46 prospect in the draft and noted, “After a breakout 2024, Banks entered last season regarded as one of the country’s top interior defenders, but foot surgery in September limited him to only two games. Despite the injury, Banks is a potential-laden defensive tackle who shows quick hands and disruptive ability.”

“He reminded many evaluators why he was once viewed as one of the top interior prospects in this year’s class at the Senior Bowl, consistently showing his ability to win quickly against interior blockers. Banks underwent foot surgery for an injury that he suffered the day before the combine. He is expected to make a full recovery and return to full football participation in June.”

If Banks remains healthy, he has the ceiling to be an All-Pro and not too far down the road. If the injuries emerge, all bets are off. It’s as simple as that.

Yes, This Was a Reach

Banks, in the end, fell to No. 44 on the Consensus Big Board. Based on that ranking, the Vikings could’ve traded their No. 18 pick to a team for the 44th pick and also grabbed a selection in a similar range. The discrepancy between Picks No. 18 and No. 44 is the equivalent of the 46th overall pick.

Therefore, if the Consensus Big Board means anything at all — it apparently does not for the Vikings — Brzezinski left meat on the bone to the tune of a 2nd-Round pick.

Ultimately, one must ask herself if trusting community, media-driven draftboards is smarter than Brian Flores’s personal scouting. Who knows more? A guy at Bleacher Report? Or Flores? Because there’s just no way that Flores didn’t have his fingerprints all over this pick.

The New-Look Defensive Line

Once fans get over the shock of the Banks pick, they’ll warm up to this defensive front:

Former NFL quarterback and NBC Sports pundit Chris Simms tweeted about the pick, “Whooaaaa Caleb Banks to the Vikings this is crazy!!! This is Chris Jones Part 2 #skol Hey Pro Football Talk baaaroooooooo.”

The Vikings have eight picks remaining on Friday and Saturday, with three lined up on Friday night, barring trades.

Banks turned 23 last month.

Cameras showed former New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch in the team’s draft room Thursday night during the first round.

At one point, Tisch was seen standing near Giants head coach John Harbaugh. Despite no longer holding a majority stake in the NFL franchise, Tisch remains the Giants’ chairman of the board.

ESPN obtained an NFL memo last month detailing plans by Steve Tisch and his siblings to transfer their stake in the Giants to trusts for their children.

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New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch warms up before the NFL game between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 28, 2018. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

“Prior transfers to these Trusts were completed pursuant to 2023 and 2024 Finance Committee approvals,” the memo stated. “The Sellers now propose to transfer their entire remaining interests, totaling 23.1% of the Club, to the Trusts. … Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club.”

GIANTS CO-OWNER STEVE TISCH, SIBLINGS LOOK TO TRANSFER EQUITY STAKE TO CHILDREN’S TRUSTS, NFL MEMO SHOWS

It was not clear if the transfer requests were in any way related to Tisch’s name appearing in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January. Tisch’s name came up more than 400 times in the files. Tisch at the time said he knew Epstein but denied visiting Epstein’s island.

As for draft night, the Giants made what some viewed as an unconventional pick at No. 10, selecting offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.

Francis Mauigoa of Miami celebrates after being selected as the tenth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Before that, the Giants added another piece to their pass rush, selecting hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5.

Reese earned All-American honors at Ohio State and finished his first season as a full-time starter with 6.5 sacks.

Arvell Reese of Ohio State celebrates after being selected as the fifth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

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Reese is set to join a pass rush that includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and, likely, Kayvon Thibodeaux.

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The Olympic cricket stadium for LA 2028 could host Indian Premier League teams in the future as part of its global expansion plans, says Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive Venky Mysore.

Construction has now started on the site at the Fairgrounds, officially known as Fairplex, in the southern Californian city of Pomona in readiness for cricket’s return to the Games.

The stadium will become the home to KKR’s US franchise, Los Angeles Knight Riders and will host Major League Cricket (MLC) matches this July.

It will be a modular venue built in three phases with capacity for 5,000 fans this year, rising to 8,500 in 2027 and then up to 15,000 for the six-team T20 tournament for LA 2028.

Mysore also hopes the ground could eventually stage IPL exhibition fixtures as the competition looks to expand into the United States.

“Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” he told BBC Sport.

“The challenge is always player availability. Once the IPL season is over, everyone’s calendars are packed and they’re running in different directions.

“But the BCCI has talked about a couple of teams going out and playing exhibition games to grow cricket… so that’s always on the agenda.”

The USA is widely regarded as the world’s largest sports market and seen as a key growth area for cricket.

Mysore said there had been “concrete proposals” from both the US and Canada to host IPL teams in the past, although neither have come to fruition.

“This is my 16th season with the IPL and we’ve tried every year, but somehow it hasn’t happened,” he explained.

“There’s a real opportunity to piggyback on what’s happening with MLC to grow the market further.

“When viewership goes up, it has a positive effect on things like media rights. It makes a lot of sense. But first things first – we have to deliver what we’ve started here.”

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the books. The night got off to a predictable start with the Raiders using the first overall pick on Fernando Mendoza, but that was about the only predictable thing that happened. 

The Rams got a little crazy, the Bills decided not to make a pick in the first round and the Steelers thought they were drafting someone only to find out that he had already been drafted. That’s what kind of night it was for some teams. 

There were plenty of winners during the opening round and there were also plenty of losers and we’re going to cover them here.

2026 NFL Draft essentials

Winners 

Jeremiyah Love

The Cardinals new running back hasn’t even played a down yet and he’s already the highest paid running back in NFL history. At least in terms of guaranteed money. Love will be getting a fully guaranteed four-year, $53.9 million contract, which is the most guaranteed money ever given to a running back. Love’s total tops Saquon Barkley, who held the previous record at $36 million. Love will also make an average of $13.47 million per year, which ranks seventh in the NFL. Love is already getting top of the market money at his position and he hasn’t even attended his first practice. That definitely makes him a winner. 

Howie Roseman and stealing from the Steelers

The Eagles general manager seems to come away as a winner every year and this year is no different. Not only did the Philadelphia land one of the best receivers in the draft in Makai Lemon, but the Eagles swiped him away from the Steelers in some Pennsylvania on Pennsylvania crime. At one point on Thursday night, Lemon was actually on the phone with the Steelers, who had the 21st overall pick, and he thought he was going to Pittsburgh. 

Let’s let Lemon explain what happened. 

What the Steelers didn’t know is that the Eagles were in the process of trading up from 23rd overall to 20th overall. Once the trade was finalized, that put the Eagles on the clock and they were able to take Lemon one pick ahead of the Steelers. By adding Lemon, that makes it seem like A.J. Brown is all but done in Philly. The Eagles have been busy adding receivers this year. Not only did they draft Lemon, but they traded for Dontayvion Wicks while also signing Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore. That’s four receivers in six weeks that Philly has added. With those additions, the Eagles have put themselves in a spot where they now have more than enough depth on the roster to withstand the potential loss of Brown.

John Harbaugh

In his first draft with the Giants, Harbaugh hit a home run. First, the Giants had Arvell Reese fall into their lap at fifth overall. Reese was widely expected to be a top-three pick, but he dropped to the Giants, and now, he’ll be joining a suddenly scary defense in New York that also includes Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Giants also got Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at 10th overall. When you have a young QB, you have to do everything you can to help him and getting him some protection definitely qualifies. 

Robert Saleh

The new Titans head coach got the best of both worlds on Thursday night by adding one solid player on both sides of the ball. With the fourth overall pick, the Titans added an offensive weapon for Cam Ward by drafting Carnell Tate. The Ohio State receiver will now join a Titans receiving room that also includes Wan’Dale Robinson and Calvin Ridley. After the Tate pick, the Titans traded back INTO the first round to grab Keldric Faulk. Saleh is a defensive-minded coach and it’s no shock that he ended up getting a defensive player in the first round. With the addition of Faulk, the Titans now have a totally revamped defensive line that should be able to bully opposing offenses. Faulk will be joining Jeffrey Simmons along with fellow Titans newcomers John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson. 

The Browns

Look, we don’t really get to use the words “winner” and “Browns” in a sentence very often, so we’re going to do it here. The Browns front office, which has made plenty of questionable decisions over the years, continues to do an impressive job when it comes to drafting. Not only did they get their tackle of the future in Utah’s Spencer Fano, but they got him after trading down with the Chiefs, so they also added a few extra picks in the deal. The Browns then turned around and got a receiver at 24th overall in KC Concepcion. Last season, this team didn’t have a single wide receiver finish with more than 605 yards, so adding a top tier player at that position was a must.  

Geno Smith

We’re about to find out if Smith actually has anything left in the tank because the Jets just surrounded him with some talented weapons. Not only did they grab the top tight end in the draft at 16th overall (Kenyon Sadiq), but they traded BACK into the first round so that they could take Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. at 30th overall. If you throw in the fact that this team already has Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, this is a Jets offense that could be sneaky good if Smith can still play at a high level. 

Losers 

The ‘F them picks’ philosophy

Now we know why the Rams don’t ever keep their first-round picks, it’s because they don’t know what to with them when they actually have one. OK, that’s a bit harsh, but the Rams definitely made the most puzzling move of the night when they selected Ty Simpson at 13th overall. The problem with this pick is that the Rams are a team that’s trying to win now and Simpson simply isn’t a player who’s going to help them win this year. This is a solid spot for Simpson, who will get to sit behind Stafford and learn from Sean McVay, but again, this feels like a pick where the Rams should have taken a player who will be able to contribute during the upcoming season. And call me crazy, but I think McVay might agree with me.

Since you mentioned it, let’s watch the presser.  

Oh. That’s interesting. 

Cardinals front office

The Cardinals have a lot of holes on their roster, but they ignored them all to draft Jeremiyah Love. When the Cardinals tried to call Love to draft him, they actually had the wrong number and I’m starting to thikn that maybe they should have just taken that as a sign not to take him. 

Love’s definitely one of the most talented players in the draft, but he’s just not what the Cardinals need right now. When a bad team uses a high pick on a running back, it almost never works. Love 12th running back over the past 20 years to be taken with a top 10 pick. Of the previous 11, none of them won a Super Bowl with the team that drafted them. As a matter of fact, none of them even played in a Super Bowl.  The Cards also gave Tyler Allgeier a two-year, $8 million deal. They have James Connor returning from injury. They have 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson, who has averaged 4.9 yards per attempt on 92 carries. And they also have Bam Knight. This team went 3-14 last season and they have holes all over the place. Adding a running back who will be getting $50 million in guaranteed money is not going to put them over the hump. 

JJ McCarthy/Vikings

How did JJ McCarthy find himself in the losers section? Well, the Vikings used their first-round pick on Caleb Banks and before the draft, Banks said that McCarthy was the one QB in the NFL that he wanted to hit the most. That should make for a couple of awkward moments in the locker room. Minnesota is in this section as a team because taking Banks comes with some serious risk. The Vikings are getting one of the most talented defensive linemen in the draft, but he’s been injury prone. He suffered a foot injury at the combine in February that’s expected to sideline him until June, so he won’t be on the field for OTAs. Banks has been dealing with foot issues for more than a year now. The University of Florida star only played in three games last season after having surgery on his left foot, which is the same foot he injured at the combine. 

Bills fans

The Bills weren’t scheduled to pick until 26th overall, so their fans had to wait all night until the team’s first selection, but then the pick didn’t happen because Buffalo traded back to 28th overall. After that, the wait continued for Bills fans, but then, they didn’t get to see a pick at 28, because the Bills traded back to 31. At that point, the patient Bills fans probably thought they were going to be rewarded with a pick, but then the Bills traded ENTIRELY OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND. That’s right, Bills fans sat through the entire first round got to see nothing. 

Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs had two first-round picks, so it would have made sense to add a weapon for Mahomes, but instead, they decided to use both picks on defensive players in cornerback Mansoor Delane and defensive tackle Peter Woods. That’s not to say that these picks won’t work out, but when you’re offense has been struggling and you have a starting QB who will be coming off a torn ACL injury, it would be nice to get him some help, but the Chiefs decided not to go that route. 

Neutral

Jerry Jones

The Cowboys owner is both a winner and a loser. For their first pick, the Cowboys traded up one spot — from 12th overall to 11th — to grab Caleb Downs. The Ohio State safety was viewed by most as one of the best players in the draft and he fell into the Cowboys’ lap. Getting Downs was a great pick, and for that, Jones is a winner. At 23rd overall, the Cowboys got UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence, but to make that pick happen, they had to make a trade with the Eagles. In the deal, Philadelphia moved up from 23rd overall to 20th overall to get Makai Lemon. 

To rehash: The Cowboys made a deal with a DIVISION RIVAL, who then used the pick to get one of the best receivers in the draft. There is now a 100% chance that Lemon is going to put up huge numbers against the Cowboys every time he faces them. As we noted earlier, if the Eagles had NOT made the trade, then Lemon would have ended up going to the Steelers at 21st overall. So Jerry handed Lemon to the Eagles and now Philly is going to make lemonade out of the Cowboys. The moral here is that you should never make a trade with a division rival.