The $2.7 million investment in St Gotthard paid handsome dividends as he powered to an emphatic success in Saturday’s Group 3 $200,000 Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast.

Trained by Chris Waller, St Gotthard notched his second start and maintained an unblemished record by distancing his opposition.

Jockey James McDonald, riding the colt for the second time, has emerged as his foremost admirer.

“He cost a lot of money but he has a beautiful temperament, killer looks and incredible acceleration – he’s a beauty, he’s all class,” McDonald said.

Starting at $2.40 on course, St Gotthard raced rearward, took the wide path on the corner and surged clear with a devastating burst to win by four expanding lengths from Silken Salute ($8.50), Boomelli ($8.50) third, a length away.

Bred in the purple as a Snitzel colt from imported dam Ms Bad Behaviour at Arrowfield, he is a full-brother to Group 1 conqueror Switzerland and fetched $2.7 million from a Coolmore syndicate at last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Waller, successful with Switzerland too, took a patient stance with St Gotthard rather than forcing him into autumn majors like the Golden Slipper.

He began modestly at Warwick Farm with a strong win, then peaked at the Gold Coast meeting.

Not present at Gold Coast, Waller’s foreman Darren Beadman called the impressive St Gotthard a “classic looking colt”.

“He could have easily lined up in some of the bigger races over the autumn carnival but Chris, being the trainer he is, treats them all as individuals and gave this colt time and it is getting dividends now,” Beadman said.

“It was just nice to see him add another dimension to his race pattern today. They went quite quick up front but he sat back ‘curling the mo’ behind them then let loose in the straight.”

His electric win compressed St Gotthard’s odds from $8 right into $3.50 joint fave with The Next Episode for the Group 2 $1 million BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 30.

Find the leading betting sites offering racing odds for key events like the Ken Russell Memorial Classic.

Roberto De Zerbi believes Tottenham’s fight for survival in the Premier League will go down to the final day after they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Leeds.

Spurs were set to move four points clear of 18th-placed West Ham when Mathys Tel curled wonderfully into the top corner after 50 minutes, but he went from hero to zero in the 69th minute.

After Tottenham dealt with the initial ball into the box, Tel’s attempted overhead kick clearance struck Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu in the face and Dominic Calvert-Lewin tucked away the resulting spot-kick after a lengthy VAR check before a frantic finale failed to produce a winner following Antonin Kinsky’s stunning save to deny visiting substitute Sean Longstaff.

“I think we are in the right way,” De Zerbi insisted.

“It will be tough until the last minute against Everton, for sure but after the Sunderland game, it was a difficult to imagine ourselves before the last two games to stay up two points of West Ham.

“I remember very well the game in Sunderland was my first game and we can’t forget what was the situation just 15 days ago. We can’t forget after four games in a row we made eight points.

“And West Ham they have to also play Leeds at home. I think Leeds they will play like today with the same spirit, with the same qualities.”

After a tense first half where Tel contributed towards the nervous energy inside the stadium with a dangerous ball across the face of his own penalty area, the young French attacker raised the decibel levels in the 50th minute.

Pedro Porro’s corner was cleared to Tel, who took a touch and curled sumptuously beyond Karl Darlow and into the top corner, but his last telling action was a misguided clearance on Ampadu in the 69th minute.

Asked what he would say to Tel, De Zerbi insisted: “A big hug and a big kiss. Nothing more because he is a young player, he is a big talent and he score a great goal.

“He made a mistake for the experience because he has not the right experience and he has not played too many games in his career and we have to accept, but I am proud and I am happy for the mentality we show.”

James Maddison made his first competitive appearance in 12 months and almost provided late drama when he went down inside the penalty area, but referee Jarred Gillett and a quick VAR review ignored spot-kick appeals.

“Great news for us. He is a different player as a quality, as a guy and he will be I hope crucial for us,” De Zerbi added.

The Spurs boss did not want to be drawn on the penalty decision, but took aim at referee Gillett and questioned if the controversial VAR call in Arsenal’s 1-0 win at West Ham on Sunday had influenced the officials.

“I didn’t see and I didn’t watch it again,” De Zerbi reflected.

“The first minute until the end of the game the referee went to me, ‘if you go out, yellow card,’ and I think they were not calm today. Maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday the West Ham-Arsenal game and VAR.”

West Ham’s defeat on Sunday guaranteed Leeds’ safety, but Daniel Farke promised Tottenham they would give everything on the final day at London Stadium.

Farke said: “We have played an unbelievable season, with an amazing outcome.

“It says a lot about this team to already be on this amount of points and safe with three games to go, it is massive.

“We will fight until the end for each and every point.”

Fifteen years ago, a dollar bet on Keegan Bradley would’ve won $125.

Ten years ago, a buck on Jimmy Walker would’ve earned the same return.

Five years ago, that wager on Phil Mickelson would’ve brought home $250. 

Hmm. 

Could the underdog-winning-every-five-years trend continue this week at the PGA Championship? The odds are, well, long. For various reasons, players aren’t favorites, and what’s happened here is very likely coincidental. 

Then again, who doesn’t like a good story line?

Should you have some buy-in to that thought, members of our staff have each made a long-shot selection to assist you. It’s an enjoyable endeavor for us. Deploy it as you wish. 

On to our analysis.

2026 PGA Championship sleeper picks to watch 

Josh Berhow 

Sleeper pick: Kristoffer Reitan, +8,000. Don’t overthink it — he just won on Sunday and is still a long shot! All of these guys are good — but it’s hard not to like the one who was just better than everyone through 72 holes.

James Colgan 

Sleeper pick: Daniel Berger, +22,500. I probably wouldn’t take him to win this golf tournament, but it wouldn’t shock me if he delivered a surprisingly competitive performance in Philly.

Dylan Dethier   

Sleeper pick: Matt McCarty, +15,000. McCarty is playing really, really well. Don’t sleep on him! And let’s plunge much deeper for Ben Polland (+200,000), a talented club pro who could clock a top 40 here if all goes well.

Jack Hirsh 

Sleeper pick: Jordan Spieth, +8,000. Let’s have some fun, shall we. Grand slam, here we come.

Jessica Marksbury

Sleeper pick: Min Woo Lee, +6,000. Aronimink feels like a course where Min Woo can shine and play to his off-the-tee strengths. Plus, he’s been trending up recently, finishing tied for 18th at the Cadillac and tied for 14th at last week’s Truist.

Nick Piastowski 

Sleeper pick: Gary Woodland, +10,000. This would be one of the better stories in golf — but Woodland has also played solid golf this year. He’s posted four top 25 finishes, including a win. 

Josh Schrock

Sleeper pick: Rickie Fowler, +5,000: I’m just going to go back to the sleeper well with Fowler. He has been playing consistently good golf this season and has rediscovered the feel with his putter. Carded top-10s at the RBC Heritage and Doral. Could easily see him contending in Philly with his iron game.

Josh Sens

Sleeper pick: Keegan Bradley, +9,000. His heart might still be broken from the Ryder Cup, but his game has been coming together nicely lately. And we know he relishes the big stages. 

Johnny Wunder  

Sleeper pick: Patrick Cantlay, +4,500. Great ballpark for him, especially if the scores are low, which I’ve heard they might try to encourage. Pat is still the quiet assassin he’s always been. If he can get into the top of the board early in the week, my hunch is he stays there till the end. 

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Accidental Bid is bound for Queensland seeking a berth in the Queensland Derby.

Ciaron Maher’s charge is programmed to tackle the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) this Saturday at Doomben, building towards the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on May 30 at Eagle Farm.

The three-year-old was all the rage for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 2 but drew no start as the top emergency.

There’s a nagging doubt in the Maher camp that Accidental Bid could be balloted out of the Rough Habit Plate again, putting his Queensland Derby hopes at risk.

A product of UK breeding, this unbeaten-in-Australia three-year-old captured a 1600m maiden at Pakenham and then went on to win over 2000m at Pakenham last month.

National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull of Ciaron Maher Racing revealed Accidental Bid had a gallop at Ballarat last week, proceeded to Sydney, and is due in Brisbane this week.

Turnbull commented that Accidental Bid will be fully tuned up for Saturday despite no start in a month, having journeyed to Adelaide and back to Ballarat.

“We’ve been able to get work into him, factoring in the travel,” Turnbull said.

“He did well, condition wise, without running in the South Australian Derby, so we were happy to gallop Wednesday, knowing that he was going to travel twice in a six-to-eight-day period.

“I don’t think we will be using fitness as a problem, but he will need the run to be fully prepared for the Derby.

“We galloped him the reverse way, and he was very natural, which was helpful and I think he will be spot on for his next race and then he will improve again for the Derby trip.”

The Maher team rolled the dice by transporting Accidental Bid to Adelaide despite low odds of contesting the South Australian Derby.

“He was ready to be led across the road,” Turnbull said.

“We were waiting right until the death with him.

“Ciaron was happy to have the travel as it does bring them on and he’s a placid colt.”

Check racing betting markets for the latest on the Queensland Derby.

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi says his players are good enough to stay up after their draw with Leeds United leaves them two points clear above the relegation zone with two games to play.

MATCH REPORT: Tottenham 1-1 Leeds United

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Desmond Mason is back in the news, but this time for legal trouble instead of basketball. The former NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner was arrested in Oklahoma last week on a felony warrant linked to a Texas case, according to News 9 and local police reports. Police said Mason was taken into custody in Bricktown on Thursday before being transported to a local hospital because of a medical issue. 

After treatment, he was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center, where he remained in custody as of Monday morning. Reports from News 9 stated Mason is currently being held on a “flight to avoid” charge, which is often used when someone crosses state lines to avoid prosecution. The case has quickly gained attention because of Mason’s history as a former NBA player and public figure.

According to News 9, the felony warrant connected to Mason comes from Collin County, Texas, and involves an alleged theft of sports memorabilia. Officials said a couple claimed they paid Mason more than $9,000 in March 2025 for custom framing work involving several sports collectibles.

The couple reportedly told investigators they never received the framed memorabilia back after handing the items over to Mason. They also claimed Mason became difficult to contact afterwards and often gave reasons for delays instead of delivering the finished products to them.

Officials later confirmed the missing memorabilia involved in the case is valued at nearly $40,000. Mason was eventually arrested in Oklahoma following the investigation. The former NBA player also faced legal trouble in 2024 after being jailed in Oklahoma City on a contempt of court charge linked to his divorce case.

Desmond Mason Built A Second Career In Oklahoma After His NBA Retirement

Before this latest incident, Desmond Mason was widely known for his athletic NBA career and deep connection to Oklahoma basketball. The former Oklahoma State player entered the NBA as the 17th overall pick in the 2000 draft and later won the 2001 Slam Dunk Contest.

Mason spent nearly a decade in the NBA playing for teams including the Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Sacramento Kings. After retiring in 2009, he stayed in Oklahoma City and slowly built another public career outside basketball through artwork and business projects.

According to News 9 and Oklahoma City civic records, Mason operated an art studio in Midtown and participated in several community and downtown projects over the years. Authorities have not yet confirmed when Mason could potentially be transferred to Texas as the legal process continues moving forward.