The rising sprinter Golden Straand maintained his momentum surge and is crafting a strong argument for stakes racing after a stylish conquest at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

Golden Straand tracked the leaders from behind early, with jockey Nash Rawiller carving the inside run as the potent four-year-old entire surged to the front in the Blakes Marine Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).

Handler Matthew Smith could opt to advance Golden Straand methodically through the ranks, though the speedster’s talent far exceeds the norm.

“Golden Straand is building a very good record and he’s winning his races with authority,” Smith said.

“He’s run fast time again (1m 02.82s) and he’s carried a big weight (60kg). I’ll talk to Nash to see what we should do next but he’s a promising sprinter.

“Do we keep working through the grades or maybe look at a race like the (Listed $200,000) Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone in two weeks? It’s a good problem to have.”

As the $1.80 favourite, Golden Straand earned his second success in as many runs this prep, defeating Wanaruah ($13) by a half-length to secure Snitzel’s quinella. Couples Retreat ($9.50) trailed by just over a length for third.

A four-year-old entire in Gerry Harvey’s colours, Golden Straand has five wins from 10 career starts, and stakes glory would markedly increase his commercial breeding appeal.

He has won four of six this season and set a Warwick Farm record of 1m 08.3s over 1200m in the spring last year.

Smith explained that Golden Straand always had the potential but is developing his racing smarts.

“He did a few things wrong early in his career,” Smith said. “But he’s starting to settle better in his races and he’s finding the line.

“There’s still improvement to come with this horse – he’s got a future, that’s for sure.”

Discover betting sites offering the best racing odds for Golden Straand in upcoming stakes events.

If you want to develop a great short game, it starts with building a consistent foundation — and that begins with calibration. As Kellie Stenzel, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, explains, it’s one of the simplest ways to bring structure and predictability to your chipping.

When you know exactly how the ball will react to a consistent set up and swing, suddenly nerve-wracking up-and-downs start to carry less weight. Instead of guessing, you’re operating with a plan — and that’s where real confidence comes from.

Ready to build that system? Below are the two keys you need to calibrate your chipping.

Start with a consistent setup

If you want to maximize control around the green, it starts with a consistent setup. To get there, Stenzel says to begin by choking down on the club.

“You always want to grip down, almost to the bottom of the handle,” she says.

From there, build your base. Take a narrow stance — about a clubhead-width apart — and position the ball in the middle of your stance. Settle into good posture, then get your weight forward by leaning toward the target. 

“When you lean toward the target, that’s going to do two things. It’s going to de-loft the clubface slightly and it’s also going to drop your lead shoulder,” Stenzel says.

Lowering the lead shoulder is crucial because the club naturally returns to the ground in the right spot. This adjustment encourages ball-first contact and helps you make clean, center-face contact every time.

Stenzel adds an important checkpoint here: As you shift your weight forward, don’t let the club shaft get too far ahead of your body.

“If you start to lean the shaft too much the club can start to dig,” she says. 

Instead, she recommends moving your hands and body together so the club doesn’t outpace your center. Think of it as everything working in sync, so the handle stays aligned with your belly button as you make your swing.

Build distance control with your backswing and equipment

The next step in calibrating your chipping is identifying a motion you can repeat. 

“Hit a few chips and define what is your most comfortable backstroke size,” Stenzel says, “And if you can identify that, you can repeat that with different clubs.”

This backswing baseline will become your go-to swing for every chip shot, making distance control much simpler. Instead of guessing how far to take the club back each time, you keep the motion the same and adjust your club selection. By switching clubs rather than changing your swing or tempo, you maintain consistency while also producing a variety of distances — making your chipping more predictable.

Ultimately, calibrating your chipping is about combining a consistent setup with a repeatable motion. As Stenzel emphasizes, you don’t need a bunch of different swings — just one reliable system. Stick with it, and even nerve-wracking shots will start to feel routine, giving you a short game you can trust when it matters most.

The Champions League semifinals are considered one of the best moments of the European soccer season. Four teams, the best ones around the world, meet to reach the most important match of the year at club level, and every single season there are surprises, stunning goals and unforgettable days of soccer. Over the past decades, since the Champions League adopted its modern format in the early 2000s, fans have witnessed historic matches, unforgettable comebacks, extra-time drama, and last-minute goals that shaped the history of soccer, and this season proved it once again with the unforgettable first leg between PSG and Bayern Munich. 

But where does it rank in the best Champions League semifinals?

10. AS Roma vs. Liverpool (2018)

The 2017-18 Champions League campaign was widely remembered for the incredible comebacks of AS Roma, especially the one in the quarterfinals against Barcelona, with the unexpected 3-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico in the second leg. After that win, AS Roma faced Liverpool in the semifinals and after losing 5-2 the first leg in England, they nearly made another comeback and won 4-2 in Rome, not enough for the team then managed by Eusebio Di Francesco to bring the semifinal second leg to extra time. With 13 goals across the two legs and a thrilling second match in Rome, it was a tie to remember.

9. Inter vs. AC Milan (2023)

The 2022-23 Champions League semifinals saw the comeback of the Derby della Madonnina for the second time ever at this stage of the European competition. The first time, in 2003, two draws (0-0 in the first leg and 1-1 in the return leg) brought the Rossoneri to the final, where they met and won on penalties against Juventus. Twenty years later, they met again, and this time the Nerazzurri, led by Simone Inzaghi, won both legs to reach their first final since 2010. In the final, however, they were narrowly beaten 1–0 by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Two ties that will live long in the memory of both fanbases, for very different reasons.

8. AC Milan vs. Manchester United (2007)

There was a time when AC Milan were dominating in Europe. AC Milan won the Champions League trophy seven times, the last one in 2007 against Liverpool in the final played in Athens. That game was only possible thanks to two-legged semifinals played against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, with a 3-2 win at Old Trafford in the first leg before the deciding second game played at San Siro and won 3-0 by the side coached by Carlo Ancelotti, with the goals scored by Ricardo Kaka, Clarence Seedorf and Alberto Gilardino. 

7. Ajax vs. Tottenham (2019)

The 2018-19 semifinals saw Ajax and Tottenham facing each other for the first time in their history, and it was an incredible one. The Dutch side, after knocking out Real Madrid in the round of 16 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus in the quarterfinals, faced the English team led by current U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino in the last round before the final. After winning the first leg away in London, Ajax were 2–0 up at halftime in Amsterdam. However, a stunning hat-trick from Lucas Moura, with a dramatic 96th-minute winner, denied Ajax a place in the Champions League final. The outcome of that semifinal was decided by the now-abolished away goals rule.

6. Barcelona vs. Chelsea (2012)

The late goal scored by Fernando Torres in the last minute of the return leg played in Barcelona at the Camp Nou was one of the most iconic moments in the history of the tournament. After winning 1-0 in the first leg played at Stamford Bridge, Roberto Di Matteo’s Blues drew 2-2 away at the Camp Nou and then faced Bayern Munich in the final played at the Allianz Arena in Germany, which they won on penalties after a last-minute goal scored by Didier Drogba that brought the final to extra time. 

5. Barcelona vs. Inter (2010)

The 1-0 return leg played in Barcelona was an unforgettable moment in the history of the Champions League, as Jose Mourinho’s Inter had to defend the unexpected 3-1 win in Milan of the first leg. One week later, the Nerazzurri faced the best team in the world and were forced to play over 70 minutes with 10 men after Thiago Motta was sent off. Despite the disadvantage, they defended well, conceding just once in the second half in what remains one of the greatest defensive performances in the history of the sport. A few weeks later, Inter lifted their first Champions League trophy in 45 years, defeating Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to a brace scored by Diego Milito.

4. Liverpool vs. Barcelona (2019)

Barcelona’s 3-0 win at the Camp Nou in the first leg seemed to end the dreams of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool to win the Champions League again. However, the miracle happened at Anfield as the Reds won 4-0 thanks to the goals scored by Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum, leading the English team to one of the best comebacks in recent years. Barcelona couldn’t do much against Liverpool that day at Anfield, a game that led Liverpool to the final, later won vs. Tottenham in Madrid. 

3. Bayern Munich vs. PSG (2026)

Let’s now talk about the semifinals of this season. The first leg was clearly one of, if not the, best matches of recent years. To be fair, the second game in Munich did not reach the same level as the unforgettable night in Paris. However, that first one, with nine goals scored in 90 minutes, constant twists, and incredible drama, will live forever in the memory of soccer fans. 

2. Inter vs. Barcelona (2025)

Last year’s semifinals between Inter and Barcelona were just incredible. There were 13 goals scored between the first and second leg, and so many emotions. The two sides drew 3-3 in Barcelona and then the second leg was just impossible to forget. Inter struck twice in the first half through Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Çalhanoglu, but Barcelona roared back after the break with three goals from Eric García, Dani Olmo and Raphinha, seemingly ending the Nerazzurri’s dream. However, a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer from Francesco Acerbi forced the tie into extra time, where Davide Frattesi scored the deciding goal to send the Italian side into their second final in three years.

1. Real Madrid vs. Manchester City (2022)

And then, the most memorable semifinals of recent years, the one between Real Madrid and Manchester City in 2022. After losing 4-3 in the first leg in Manchester, Real Madrid had to make another comeback in the semifinal return leg, after doing it against PSG and Chelsea in the previous rounds in an unforgettable run of the side coached by Ancelotti. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City scored first with Riyad Mahrez in the 73rd minute, seemingly putting the tie beyond Real Madrid and ending their hopes of another final. But at the Bernabeu, it is never over. Rodrygo scored twice in the dying moments of regular time to force extra time, where Karim Benzema converted the deciding goal for a 3–1 win. Another astonishing comeback, and another chapter written in the books of Champions League history.

Nikita Shulchenko.—TOUR OF LUZON PHOTO

PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte—After getting a much-needed recharge, Filipino riders in the MPTC Tour of Luzon will enter the second half of the fabled summer odyssey on wheels on Thursday, trying to chop down the formidable lead the Russian Nikita Shulchenko has built after the first seven stages.

The remaining 77 out of the original field of 89 will leave this scenic beachfront for a 142.6-kilometer journey towards another landmark in this province, Paoay’s San Agustin Church, with the local aces seeking to put a dent in an imposing gap of more than four minutes Mervin Corpuz is staring at in third spot.

While admitting that the odds are stacked against him and the rest, Corpuz vowed to give a determined fight to the end nonetheless. But a former champ knows that Corpuz won’t be able to do it alone.

“It’s going to be tough taking that yellow jersey [from Shulchenko] because they already have the advantage,” Corpuz said in Filipino during a mid-race press conference here. “But if given a chance plus some added luck, I don’t think it’s an impossible task.”

While Corpuz acknowledged the giant task ahead, MPT Drivehub coach and former Tour winner Mark Galedo wants something to happen so that local pride is toasted at the end of the 14-stage event in Baguio in a week.

“I’ve said before [this] started that our riders won’t win if they go their own ways instead of helping each other,” Galedo said in Filipino. “Sometimes we need the cooperation of each rider in order to beat these foreign riders.”

Corpuz talked in plural form when he referred to the lead, as Shulchenko’s LCW UAE Cycle teammate and main protector, Ibrahiem Alrefai, is running second, more than two minutes ahead of Corpuz.

The two foreign aces have thwarted all challenges thrown at dislodging them, with Shulchenko padding his overall lead to this formidable figure after winning the 23-km individual time trial here on Tuesday with a lot left in his tank.

“I do believe that I can keep my lead and stay on top,” Shulchenko, the five-day leader with a total time of 19 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds, said before cooling his heels on Wednesday.

Galedo, a former national team mainstay, was the 2014 Le Tour de Filipinas champ after a successful climb to Baguio via Ambuklao. He definitely knows what he’s talking about.

“In the end, it’s every man for himself towards the finish line,” he added. “But if there’s cooperation in order to catch up on the overall standings, everyone will benefit from it. So why don’t [the Filipino riders] do it?”

Corpuz had his opportunity in Stage 6 when he was part of a lead pack that held a nine-minute lead over Shulchenko and the rest of the peloton going from Tuguegarao to here, only to fade in the final 40 km.

In mid-March, five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins point-blank admitted that he wanted to join the Minnesota Vikings’ roster for the 2026 campaign. Six weeks later, though Hopkins has signed nowhere, CBS Sports still believes he’s the right man for the Vikings’ vacant WR3 job.

Minnesota skipped March and April wideouts, leaving the veteran market open for one more pass-catching swing.

Minnesota curiously didn’t draft any wideouts in April, making men like Hopkins applicable for May free-agent theories.

Hopkins’ Murray Connection Keeps Vikings Rumor Alive

As a redzone target, Hopkins could move the needle.

CBS Sports: Vikings Are a Landing Spot for Hopkins

In addition to the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Rams, the Vikings made the cut on Jordan Dajani’s list of Hopkins’s destinations.

He explained, “The Minnesota Vikings have a new quarterback in Kyler Murray, whom Hopkins is very familiar with. The two players spent three seasons together with the Arizona Cardinals from 2020-2022.”

“Hopkins’ first season in Arizona was one of his best, as he caught 115 passes for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns. The Vikings have a talented wide receiving room headlined by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but adding a WR3 like Hopkins who has established chemistry with Murray would be ideal.”

Most would consider Hopkins an upgrade over current WR3 Tai Felton, who barely played on offense as a rookie in 2025.

Hopkins’s Numbers Over the Years

Hopkins now appears to be more of a complementary receiver than a top-tier WR1. In his prime, Hopkins was a dominant force, consistently serving as the Texans’ undisputed focal point on offense. He was a go-to target who delivered season after season, overwhelming defenses.

However, his recent performance tells a different story. In 2025, Baltimore targeted Hopkins only 39 times — a significantly low figure for a player of his past caliber. This reduced usage, suggesting a WR3 role rather than that of an offensive centerpiece, mirrored his 2024 statistics with Kansas City and Tennessee.

This context makes a potential fit with the Vikings logical. With Justin Jefferson firmly established as their primary target and Jordan Addison playing a significant role, Minnesota doesn’t require another top receiver. Instead, Hopkins could fill a valuable niche lower on the depth chart, contributing veteran experience, refined route-running, and situational playmaking without the pressure of being the primary option. It’s what aging WRs do.

It’s unrealistic to expect Hopkins to revert to his previous elite form. The Vikings would likely view him as a WR3 or WR4 who can provide supplementary support to an already talented offense.

These are Hopkins’s career-long numbers:

Hopkins’s Words in March

A reporter from TMZ asked Hopkins in March if he’d like to sign with the Vikings and reunite with Murray. He said, “Kyler — that’s my boy, man. Kyler is like family. I talked to Kyler throughout the year last year. I talked to Kyler after, you know, his situation in Arizona. Kyler’s like family, man.”

“I would always, you know, embrace that journey with him. He’s on a one-year deal? Whatever I can do for what someone like that — if Kyler need me he know I’m there, if the Vikings need me they know I’ll be there.”

That was then, and this is now, but the state of play remains. Hopkins is unsigned, and the Vikings did not draft a WR3 replacement in April. So, the Hopkins angle remains.

The Murray Angle

If Hopkins does sign in Minnesota, the front office can thank Murray. He’s the drawing attraction right now, the luring factor that could make the Vikings a fringe Super Bowl contender. Players around the business respect Murray, his skill set, and his possibly untapped ceiling.

There’s also the defense. Brian Flores has created the NFL’s second-best defense on his watch since taking over in 2023. In fact, Hopkins played for the Ravens last year, and on paper, they had the same formula: a proven quarterback, a usually good defense, and playoff aspirations.

The Hopkins-to-Vikings talker will stay afloat until he signs somewhere for the 2026 campaign. Murray’s presence on the depth chart allows it.

Hopkins also stated recently that he wouldn’t mind playing alongside Joe Burrow in Cincinnati.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Carson Wentz led the Minnesota Vikings at quarterback for five games in 2025, guiding the club to a 2-3 record and helping to keep the season afloat when J.J. McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain. In two of those games, Wentz played through a torn labrum, and thanks to Wentz personally, there’s a new injury update.

The veteran passer now sounds ready for whatever backup role Minnesota has planned.

In short, the man claims he’s ready to roll.

Wentz’s Shoulder No Longer Sounds Like a Concern

Wentz will likely slide in as Minnesota’s QB3 this autumn.

Wentz: I’m Healed

Speaking to KFRY-TV’s Luke Gamble on Tuesday, Wentz said he was ready for 2026: “Physically, I feel great. Shoulder’s more or less behind me now. It wasn’t fun by any means, but surgery went well, and rehab’s gone really well too. So for me, it’s behind me. I’m healthy, and I’ll be ready to roll.”

Wentz injured his shoulder in October, so it makes all the sense in the world that he would be ready by May. And here we are.

If the Vikings need Wentz this year — ideally, they will not — he’s ready to get under center.

The 2025 Output

The Vikings’ offense demonstrated significantly more stability with Wentz at quarterback, as reflected in their scoring. Minnesota exceeded 20 points in four of Wentz’s five starts, including a 48-point performance against Cincinnati. In contrast, McCarthy reached the 20-point mark only four times across his 10 starts. While Wentz’s offense wasn’t consistently explosive, it generally sustained drives and maintained a steady pace.

This consistent play was particularly crucial given the challenging circumstances. Aaron Jones appeared in only one of Wentz’s five starts, and the offensive line experienced several injuries throughout the season. Wentz adapted by making quick decisions, favoring shorter passes, and playing efficient football to minimize negative plays.

McCarthy, however, exhibited a more inconsistent performance. The rookie occasionally showcased big-play potential by being willing to take on riskier throws, but he often lacked the rhythm needed to sustain drives. This disparity is evident in advanced metrics: among quarterbacks with at least 200 dropbacks in 2025, Wentz ranked 25th in EPA per play, while McCarthy was 37th.

Wentz concluded his tenure with a 65.1% completion rate, 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. While the Vikings may not have anticipated such stability from him, his performance was a notable aspect of the 2025 season.

These two quarterbacks could compete for the backup position behind Kyler Murray this summer if McCarthy has not taken his next developmental step.

Earning Fans’ Respect

Because Wentz displayed supreme toughness, he won the hearts of Vikings fans. In his final 2025 game, a loss at the Los Angeles Chargers, Wentz was in visible agony but told head coach Kevin O’Connell to leave him in the contest, hell or high water. O’Connell recognized the importance of the feat to Wentz and allowed it. It also helped that the alternative, Max Brosmer, wasn’t very game-ready as a rookie.

Overall, fans loved Wentz’s grit, so when he re-signed this offseason, nearly all Vikings fans applauded the transaction, naming Wentz as the perfect candidate to hold down the fort at QB3.

Wentz’s Role in 2026

O’Connell talked about Wentz’s role this season, making it clear that Wentz is in Minnesota for a second act because of insurance.

He said, “I just think it’s about depth. It’s about the fact that, without too much of a rearview-mirror-looking backward, you see where the final standings were; where we were at 9-8 and ultimately maybe the one or two or three plays or sequences of games where you find your way into the dance.”

“That’s really all you ever want at the beginning of every year is to punch your ticket to compete in that one game to continue moving on. We’ve played three guys in one year. We’ve played four in another.”

After Wentz re-signed, some fans strangely claimed that he would take McCarthy’s job or that McCarthy could be traded. Instead, there’s a world for all — Murray at QB1, McCarthy at QB2, and Wentz at QB3. McCarthy has not been traded.

O’Connell added, “We just feel like having the ability to get quality quarterback play throughout the circumstances we do not control throughout the season gives our team pretty historic data that says if we get quarterback play to a certain line, we win a lot of football games.”

“So, we wanted to ensure we are able to do that, but also make it a very, very competitive room, and that’s regardless of who’s taking reps with what group. We want the quarterback position to elevate our team, and with the talent we have around that position, we feel pretty good about it also working vice versa, the other way around.”

Vikings training camp is about 12 weeks away.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker