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Chris Waller weighing up 2026 Expressway Stakes team

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For the $300,000 Expressway Stakes at Randwick this Saturday, Chris Waller has nominated three standout stablemates, yet it’s doubtful they’ll all line up together.

The 1200-metre Group 2 race, featuring 10 entries including Joliestar, Angel Capital and Lady Shenandoah, provides a platform toward Group 1 objectives on the following run, while Waller assesses his options.

“We have got three ace cards for the Expressway, including Angel Capital and Joliestar, so I don’t want to run all three,” Waller said.

“I want to try to hold one back. I don’t know which one, possibly Lady Shenandoah.

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“She could run in the mares’ race, the Triscay (Stakes), or run the following week in the Millie Fox.”

That said, Waller is set to send out three contenders for the Expressway Stakes, spearheaded by Lazzura, a four-year-old eyeing the Coolmore Classic, starting her autumn campaign.

“She’s had a couple of Group One placings and hasn’t had a lot of luck with a couple of them. She jarred up a bit in Melbourne with the firm tracks in the spring,” Waller said.

Last Saturday at Randwick, Lazzura and Lady Shenandoah, who are in the 13-horse nominations for the $250,000 Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m), completed 1000m exhibition gallops.

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Aeliana, Autumn Glow, Lindermann and Trinity College also engaged in those workouts, which Waller described as helpful for sharpening their condition.

“The day out, the hot weather, the trip home, they’ve been away from the freed bin for six hours. It’s all part of tightening them up,” Waller said.

“It just saves the hard workouts and it saves getting behind. It’s easier to be well ahead. You just can’t play catch up with horses, so being well prepared and exhibitions gallops show everything has gone to plan and there have been no setbacks.

“If I don’t give them an exhibition gallop, it’s either a rushed prep or I just didn’t have time to do it how I wanted to do it.

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“It gives them a chance to have a bit of a sweat, break the skin. Then next week they’ll come back and they’ll be picture perfect.”

In the $300,000 Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Waller lists nine entries such as Autumn Glow, Aeliana, Lindermann and Trinity College, possibly alongside Antino, Ceolwulf and Stefi Magnetica.

Visit the racing betting markets for competitive offers on the upcoming Expressway Stakes.

The post Chris Waller weighing up Expressway Stakes team first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

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“Who’s taking such decisions?” – Fans fume as in-form Indian batter ignored in BCCI’s annual central contract for 2025-26 season

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Team India star opener Ishan Kishan failed to make a cut as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the annual central contract for the 2025-26 season (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026) on Monday, February 9. The wicketkeeper-batter was ignored despite being part of the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup.

After making his T20I comeback last month, the 27-year-old emerged as the leading run-getter against New Zealand in the last bilateral T20I series, amassing 215 runs in four innings, including a century.

On the other hand, Sanju Samson was included in Grade C of the annual retainer list. With Samson out of form, Kishan opened alongside Abhishek Sharma against the USA in India’s opening game of the ongoing T20 World Cup.

Fans on X were unhappy as Ishan Kishan failed to make a cut in the 30-member players’ list named in the BCCI’s annual central contract this season. One user wrote:

“Seriously? No Ishan Kishan? Who’s taking such decisions?”

Another user commented:

“How Ishan Kishan is not given the Central Contract? He is in our world cup XI & also has avg of 42 in ODIs & definitely gonna be India’s backup opener & wk at 2027 ODI WC. Don’t say, it is given on basis of previous year. He should have been included!”

A third user added:

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“Ishan Kishan still without a central contract! Strange.”

Here are a few more reactions:

@Vikas662005 Why No Ishan Kishan is big surprise

@BCCI where is Ishan Kishan?! is this a joke or wt

From the roar of domestic grounds to the grand stages of international cricket, Ishan Kishan has been nothing short of electrifying with both bat and gloves. Yet, in a move that has raised many eyebrows, the BCCI has left him out of its annual contract list.

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Ishan Kishan was previously ignored in the 2023-24 central contract, while he was not part of international cricket during 2-24-25 season. The southpaw was included in Grade C during the 2022-23 season. He will next be seen in action as the Men in Blue will face Namibia in their next 2026 T20 World Cup game in Delhi on Thursday, February 12.

BCCI scraps Grade A+ as 30 players included across three grades in annual central contract; Ishan Kishan notable absentee

The BCCI scrapped Grade A+ as 30 players, including three and 11 players, were categorized in Grade A and B, respectively, for the 2025-26 season. India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja were included in Group A. Interestingly, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were demoted to Grade B. Meanwhile, T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav retained his spot in the same grade.

Click here to check out the full list of players retained for the 2025-26 season.