After six years of being on ESPN, the Bundesliga has a new home in the United States of America.

A combination of USA Network and Fandango has reportedly struck a deal through the 2030-31 season to be the English-language broadcaster of Germany’s top flight in the USA. The deal is reportedly worth $20 million (€17.4 million) per year, which is noticeably less than the $34 million per year paid by ESPN.

USA and Fandango are part of Versant, a media company in the country that is trying to develop itself as a home for broadcasting rights below the top leagues of the NFL and NBA. Fandango is predominately an app to buy movie tickets, but Versant is looking to diversify its offering by including live sports. All 300-plus Bundesliga games will air on either channel, with USA requiring a subscription and Fandango being free and ad-supported.

The reaction from US-based Bundesliga fans on social media was mostly negative.

“This will only make the Bundesliga even more obscure,” posted @skierpro on X. “Any momentum the league had in the US and growing viership will be destroyed. The folks in Germany signing this agreement have no idea about the US it seems. They just shot themselves in the foot with this deal.”

“This is bad. The simplicity of having every game on ESPN that already has a lot of other sports was perfect. Fandango, a company with nearly no sports streaming experience, may be free, but the games on USA will require an expensive YT TV, Fubo or similar package,” posted Corbin Williams on X.

“SAD!  USA is OK but Fandango is not a popular streaming app.  ESPN was easily accessible. Games on Fandango is going to be like going to the bike shop to buy a BMW,” wrote Eric Smith on social media.

New Bundesliga deal in the US a case of less money, but more reach

Some believe the drop in financial return is a sign of the times for the Bundesliga. Others see it as an opportunity.

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“From the outside, the new agreement appears to deliver less media-rights income per season but broader distribution, greater discoverability, and a better chance of reaching viewers beyond the Bundesliga’s existing fan base. In essence, the reported financial return appears lower, but the potential reach is greater,” Dominik Schreyer, a professor of sports economics at Germany’s Otto Beisheim School of Management, told DW.

While Schreyer admits that the reported fee being less than the previous deal is disappointing from a business perspective, it is also important to consider its context.

“The DFL is facing a difficult market reality. The media-rights market has become more selective, while competition for audience attention is intensifying. Maximizing the cheque from each individual cycle may therefore no longer be the only sensible objective,” Schreyer said. 

“The new distribution model could still prove strategically valuable if its broader reach helps build a larger and more commercially attractive audience over time.”

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ESPN’s coverage in terms of reporters and commentators was praised by most fans, but the new deal suggests that perhaps it wasn’t the ideal place for Germany’s top flight.

“My best guess is that the previous model provided insufficient prominence within ESPN’s crowded sports portfolio, potentially limiting audience growth. The Bundesliga may now be more important to a partner seeking to establish and differentiate its own live-sports offering in an intensely competitive market, although we cannot know from the outside which considerations ultimately drove the change,” Schreyer said.

Is the Bundesliga really growing in America?

“The 2026 World Cup has highlighted the tremendous growth potential of soccer in the U.S.,” Robin Austermann, Bundesliga Americas Executive Vice President, said in a Bundesliga statement. “We’ve seen that momentum firsthand, with the number of Bundesliga fans in the U.S. growing by 43% over the past five years.”

While that may be true, German football’s struggle more generally cannot be helping the Bundesliga’s position in the market. Bayern Munich have long been dominant domestically, removing both the feeling of competition and suspense in the league. The number of star players in the league isn’t high compared to other leagues, and Germany’s poor showing at recent World Cups have also weakened the standing of German football globally.

It is clear that the Bundesliga faces an enormous task when it comes to improving its position at the negotiating table for broadcasting deals, much of which is beyond their control. Nevertheless, there is hope that, as mentioned by Austermann, the football momentum provided by the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico can be harnessed to the Bundesliga’s advantage.

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“It now needs to use prominent scheduling, strong promotion, and localized storytelling to build consumption capital,” Schreyer said. “Once viewers discover the product, repeated exposure helps them learn about the clubs, recognize the stars, understand the rivalries, and gradually turn occasional viewing into habit, fandom, and ultimately commercial value.”

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal (Image credit: Joan Monfort)

Some stories are too unbelievable to be written. Yet, football has produced one. Nineteen years after Lionel Messi first met Lamine Yamal during a charity photoshoot in Barcelona, the two will stand on opposite sides in the FIFA World Cup final. Argentina and Spain will battle for football’s biggest prize on Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium, turning an unforgettable photograph into one of the sport’s greatest full-circle moments. Back in 2007, Messi was already a Barcelona star. Yamal was just a baby. During a charity calendar shoot organised by Sport newspaper and UNICEF, photographer Joan Monfort captured Messi bathing the infant Yamal in a plastic tub. At the time, it was just another assignment.No one could have imagined that the baby in Messi’s arms would grow up to become Spain’s biggest football star.The journey since then has been remarkable. Messi became one of the greatest players in football history before leaving Barcelona in 2021 after the club’s financial troubles forced his exit. Just two years later, Yamal burst onto the scene at the same club, becoming Barcelona’s next global superstar.Now, the story has come full circle. The 19-year-old Yamal will face Messi, who is 20 years older, in the biggest match in football.

A coincidence that feels like destiny

The famous photographs remained largely forgotten until Yamal’s father shared one on social media during Euro 2024, when the teenager led Spain to the title. The image quickly went viral, and ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final, it has once again become one of the most talked-about pictures in football.Photographer Joan Monfort admitted even he struggles to explain how everything has unfolded.“I have never been a believer or thought that anything was destined to occur, but I am beginning to have my doubts. This is beyond all reasonable explanations,” Monfort told The Associated Press from his home in Barcelona on Friday.Monfort had taken the photographs in 2007 as part of a charity calendar. Yamal’s mother had won a raffle for families from Mataró, near Barcelona, to participate, and by chance her baby was paired with Messi.

‘Better than any film script’

With Messi and Yamal now preparing to meet in a World Cup final, interest in the iconic images has exploded once again.“This has exploded all over the world, and the fact that the final is in the U.S. has given it the extra push,” Monfort said. “And now this has culminated with the final between Messi and Yamal. It is better than any film script.”The Barcelona-based photographer said media organisations across the world have requested the images, while they have also been widely shared on social media without credit.

A difficult choice for a Barcelona fan

For Monfort, Sunday’s final is emotional. Like many Barcelona supporters, he feels connected to both players.“My heart is split. I don’t know if I want Messi or Yamal to win,” said Monfort, a lifelong Barcelona supporter.He explained why both players mean so much to him.“I have an everlasting love for the best player of all time (Messi),” he said, but “Yamal has broken the mold here” and represents a new, diverse Spain, thanks to his parents from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. “Maybe they can both win. I wouldn’t rule it out after everything we have seen.”From a charity photoshoot in Barcelona to the biggest stage in world football, Messi and Yamal’s journey is the kind of story that feels stranger than fiction. On Sunday, it will have one final chapter at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Eli Griffith sat in a green room in the bowels of the Javits Center in Manhattan on the first day of Fanatics Fest waiting anxiously alongside his family.

The Griffith family – father Joe, mother Jamie, and sister Ava – had been waiting all day for Eli to meet his favorite athlete, the one whose name rested atop their Michigan Wolverines and New England Patriots jerseys.

Tom Brady.

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Eli Griffith got to meet his idol, legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady, at Fanatics Fest as part of the Fanatics and Make-A-Wish partnership. (Fanatics/Make-A-Wish)

Fox News Digital was able to speak with Eli and his family prior to meeting Brady as part of Fanatics and Make-A-Wish’s partnership, which continues to deliver once-in-a-lifetime moments. Eli was “totally” nervous after being asked about meeting his idol, but he also felt like there is a “mutual connection” due to their roots in Ann Arbor, Michigan – where Brady’s stardom rose with the Wolverines before reaching the “G.O.A.T” status Eli pointed out in the NFL.

“As the day has been going, it’s just more and more surreal. It’s like this is the time it’s happening, and I just imagine him walking in the door,” Eli said.

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The moment finally came where Brady opened that door, and the family shared the quality time together they’ve been looking forward to all day.

Brady caught up with Fox News Digital after the meeting, where Eli, who’s already showing his journalist chops in high school, had some questions to ask the legendary quarterback.

“He didn’t want to be a journalist. He said, ‘I am a journalist!’ I said, ‘Absolutely, you keep going,’” Brady said, smiling. “He had seven questions for me, and a lot of fun ones. He definitely put a lot of time and thought into it, and he asked a lot of good questions. A few of them I’ve never been asked before.”

Tom Brady attends Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center in New York City on July 16, 2026. (John Nacion/Getty Images for Fanatics)

A candid interview, some autographs, and having a catch with the whole family, Brady made Eli’s wish come true in the best way. But the Griffith family should know that Eli’s story serves as inspiration for Brady as well.

“When I was a player, we did a lot of it around football training camp and we had a lot of great wishes over the years,” Brady explained. “Just love being able to impact people’s lives in a positive way. A lot of these people are dealt with challenging situations – families and kids. But they have the brightest spirts and the biggest hearts, and it’s just amazing to meet them, draw inspiration. They think they’re drawing inspiration from us – I think it actually goes the other way.”

At 14, Eli was diagnosed with an unusual heart condition. He had a dilated cardiomyopathy on one side of his heart, and ventricular non-compaction on the other side. It was a rare genetic mutation that went undetected until he was a teenager.

As a result, Eli needed a heart transplant at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Eli Griffith received a heart transplant after a genetic mutation was found at 14 years old. Eli, in good spirits in the hospital, shows off his Tom Brady Michigan cards. (Joe Griffith)

During his time in the hospital, Brady was shown a picture of Eli with a bunch of trading cards from his Michigan days spread across his chest, which Brady called “pretty awesome.”

And while Brady was an inspiration, so was the entire Wolverines football team as Eli and his family battled through their situation.

“The Michigan football team actually stepped up a lot when he was in the hospital. Players came and visited him,” Joe Griffith said. “Charles Woodson gave a shoutout. We had a connection somehow through Jim Harbaugh, and we got a phone message from Harbaugh as well as the punter from the Chargers [JK Scott]. In the [Michigan] locker room, the players did a little voice message to Eli. All of this, kept his spirits high. Kept us excited about things, like after he had surgery, these three freshmen were going to come from the team and visit him afterwards. The whole thing had a lot of ups and downs, but relative to experiences a lot of people have, our lows were not as low as they could’ve been.”

It was the ultimate high for the Griffith family as they spent time with Brady, but it only continued on the Fanatics Fest floor after their introduction. Eli was right next to Brady tossing out trading card packs at CardVault by Tom Brady, while they all had a front-row seat to Brady dunking one of his favorite teammates of all-time, Rob Gronkowski, in a dunk tank filled with Raising Cane’s sauce.

Todd Graves, Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady attend Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026, in New York City. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Fanatics)

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The experience of a lifetime for a family that has been through struggle, but never wavered in spirit and hope.

“There’s a lot of people digging deep in life, and we all face our own unique challenges and he’s a great kid. What a great spirit,” Brady said.

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Thomas Tuchel wants to carry on as England manager. The FA want him to continue. They can try and portray it as part of a journey. His contract lasts for another two years and a home European Championships could always be more winnable than a World Cup on the other side of the Atlantic. In 2028, England need not fear defeat to Argentina.

But it was not merely the semi-final setback in Atlanta that underlined the need for England to be different in two years’ time. Tuchel’s Plan B – retreat and hang on for dear life – backfired against Argentina, but his broader style of play may require refining. If Spain win the World Cup, it will underline the sense that possession matters. England’s share in this tournament – 54 per cent – is far lower than Spain’s 63.

Yet it is also notable that Tuchel began with an 18-month contract; perhaps that brought a short-termism. It was shown in the emblematic selections of Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson. Much as the Newcastle vice-captain became a cult hero with a couple of cameos, surely each cannot be in the squad in a summer when the midfielder turns 38 and the defender 36. Although if Tuchel wants a Bellingham whisperer and a very large north-eastern object at the back, he could always pick Denise Bellingham and the Angel of the North.

But if Henderson and Burn were taken to the United States as squad players, there could be issues with the ageing in the starting 11. Harry Kane will turn 35 soon after Euro 2028. He will not disappear into international retirement yet; indeed, he could get his 100th England goal in the next tournament. Yet if the lack of a natural successor is one concern, so could be the possibility that this World Cup was the time to win something when Kane and the much younger Jude Bellingham were both near their respective peaks.

It might prove the last chance to win something with one of England’s greatest defenders. Over the last five tournaments, they have been fortunate John Stones has tended to be fit when it mattered. Stones is now 32 and club-less; he spent some of this World Cup on the bench. England will probably be down to two constants from 2018 to 2028: Kane and Jordan Pickford.

If Tuchel did not look beyond this World Cup, in a way it liberated him to be bold in omitting players. It nevertheless means he may need to rebuild bridges if he is to recall and reintegrate Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The galaxy of No 10s means tough decisions continue there; the ridiculousness of the right-back situation and the suspicion Reece James will be injured again mean that, even when Tino Livramento is fit, there is no excuse for ignoring Alexander-Arnold.

But if there are reasons for Tuchel to be less stubborn, there are players who offer the potential for change. A back-up central midfield double act of a veteran taken for his off-pitch influence and who then broke his wrist falling over an advertising hoarding, plus Kobbie Mainoo, who was not given a minute on the pitch, did not work.

Whether Mainoo, Adam Wharton or Alex Scott, Tuchel has to look to the next generation to find some deputies or alternatives to Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson. Two Bellinghams could enter the mix: Jobe, if he kicks on, and Jude, if he drops deeper and one of Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White, Palmer or Foden plays as the No 10; it may be unfair to Eberechi Eze to omit him from that list, the Arsenal man felt a case of Tuchel picking his players, rather than the greater talents.

Levi Colwill might have been someone who came into both categories, until injury ruled him out of most of the season. The Chelsea man may be primed for a return; if, Stones and Marc Guehi aside, England are short of ball-playing centre-backs, the left-footer could form part of the future.

The left-back spot should occupy some of Tuchel’s thoughts. Djed Spence became one of his successes, partly for his pace; yet rewind to the start of his reign and the very different Myles Lewis-Skelly was his choice. Now there is the question if Lewis-Skelly plays for Arsenal, and if it is in midfield, if Nico O’Reilly plays for Enzo Maresca at Manchester City, and if it is in midfield, if Tuchel picks right-footers, such as Spence or Livramento. He could do worse than recalling Lewis Hall, a left-footer who should get plenty of games at left-back for Newcastle.

England can be blessed with a production line of attacking talent in some positions, if not among emerging centre-forwards (Kane’s understudies Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney are both in their thirties). Rio Ngumoha’s encouraging debut in the friendly against New Zealand suggested he could be fast-tracked for more opportunities. Max Dowman is still younger. Ethan Nwaneri, who has been leapfrogged by another Arsenal prodigy, could be another to come into contention, even if Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, in particular, should be prominent in the plans and, after looking for wingers who operated nearer the touchline, it will be intriguing if Rogers and Palmer are allowed to operate as nominal wide men who come infield more.

Beyond the personnel and the tactical, however, part of the issue for 2028 is the psychological. Players such as Kane and Guehi are diplomatic but still queried the approach after England led Argentina. In turn, that reflected on Tuchel. And he will be charged with galvanising the group in 2028 and the continuity needs to be combined with some change.

Squad for 2028? Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford; Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tino Livramento, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Lewis Hall, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, Levi Colwill; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Alex Scott, Adam Wharton; Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford; Harry Kane, Liam Delap.

Cricket fans around the world were left stunned after reports of Rohit Sharma’s international retirement began circulating on Thursday. During the second ODI against England in Cardiff, which India lost by four wickets, Rohit once again failed to make a significant impact with the bat, scoring just 26 runs. However, a report by The Indian Express claimed that the third and final ODI between the two teams at the iconic Lord’s on Sunday could be Rohit’s last match for India.

Rohit, who has already retired from Test and T20I cricket, had reportedly set his sights on playing the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, the report stated that the selection committee had informed him that he was no longer part of their plans for the tournament.

While the reports left fans heartbroken, several subtle moments during the second ODI against England fuelled speculation about Rohit’s possible farewell. One picture, in particular, went viral on social media, showing a visibly dejected Virat Kohli seated between Rohit and pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

So just like Aswin in Australia with Virat Kohli then disappointed look of VK similarly before 1 match of Rohit Sharma retirement Vk siting with Ro and looking disappointed

So it’s 100 confirmed Rohit Sharma going to retired pic.twitter.com/RwhDbOYJt6

— Satya¹⁸ (@duary_satyajit) July 16, 2026

The image was captured shortly after Kohli was dismissed for 65 by Jofra Archer, and many initially assumed his expression reflected disappointment over his wicket. However, as reports of Rohit’s retirement gathered momentum, fans began viewing the moment differently, adding to the emotional reaction online.

Another poignant moment came during India’s fielding innings, when renowned commentator Ravi Shastri repeatedly highlighted Rohit’s achievements as both a captain and a batter. His remarks on Rohit’s leadership qualities and contributions to Indian cricket further intensified speculation that the ODI series finale could mark the end of an illustrious international career.

“He’s been on the side for a long time. Won the T20 World Cup but missed out on the 50-over World Cup. He’s got the record for the most hundreds in the World Cup. Five of them in the UK in the 2019 edition,” said Shastri.

The commentary panel is talking about Rohit’s retirement, with Ravi Shastri praising his incredible journey as a captain and a player. pic.twitter.com/iPeLVPgDYm

— Waqas (@THEFREEHITHQ) July 16, 2026

The Indian Express reported that Rohit met with BCCI officials during the ongoing three-match ODI series against England, and the opener ‘wasn’t happy’ with their decision.

The report further claimed that the BCCI selection committee has informed Rohit that they have decided to ‘move on’ from the former India captain after the ODI series. The selection committee reportedly spoke with Sharma, along with coach Gautam Gambhir, last week.

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The Minnesota Vikings haven’t had much luck with individual rankings “lists” this summer, but Pro Football Network recently came along to change that just a bit. PFN annually ranks the Top 100 players in the NFL, following the lead of NFL.com, ESPN, CBS Sports, and others. For PFN, wide receiver Justin Jefferson and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel got the nod.

Jefferson and Van Ginkel will headline their sides of the ball in September, and ranking them inside the Top 100 just makes sense.

Two Vikings Selections Reward Star Power on Both Sides of the Ball

PFN on Jefferson — No. 16

Jefferson checked in right behind Patrick Mahomes — good company — as Jason Katz scribed, “You know you’re on a Hall of Fame track when a 1,048-yard season is considered a down year for you. Such was the case with Justin Jefferson last year, who managed to crack the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth year in a row, in spite of the Vikings’ quarterback woes in 2025. He still has the most receiving yards of any NFL player through the first six seasons of their career.”

“Though Jefferson dropped to No. 38 in the PFN WR Impact Score rankings in 2025, he’s been a top-four finisher four times since joining Minnesota in 2020. We chalk the down year up to bad quarterbacking, as he’s proven he’s one of the best route runners, pure athletes, and ball-trackers in the entire league.”

Houston Texans outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. found a home at No. 17 right beneath Jefferson.

Van Ginkel at No. 99

One spot for Dallas Cowboys guard/tackle Tyler Smith, who rounded out the Top 100, Van Ginkel wiggled onto the list.

Katz on Van Ginkel: “During his first five seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Andrew Van Ginkel was a reliable, incredibly efficient rotational edge rusher.”

“Since signing with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, he’s blossomed into a star. He was a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro in 2024 with 11.5 sacks, 18.0 tackles for loss, six pass deflections, and an NFL-high two interceptions returned for touchdowns.”

The 31-year-old missed five games last season due to a neck injury, but that did not deter PFN’s ranking process.

“Van Ginkel missed some time due to injury in 2025, which sees him drop slightly on this list. However, he still finished with 7.0 sacks in 12 games last year, and he broke up a career-high ten passes for the Vikings. If he can stay healthy this season, it’s a safe bet to assume he rises up these rankings in 2027,” Katz concluded.

Katz included 12 EDGE rushers on the list. Notably, former Vikings EDGE Jonathan Greenard did not make the cut.

Who’s Left Off?

Snubs? Minnesota perhaps could’ve had an extra name or two on the list, including these players:

• Jordan Addison (WR)
• Blake Cashman (LB)
• Christian Darrisaw (LT)
• Byron Murphy Jr. (CB)
• Brian O’Neill (RT)
• Jalen Redmond (DT)

That doesn’t mean all those players should’ve been included, but you get the point. It’s also worth noting that based on 2025 production alone — not career achievement — veteran linebacker Eric Wilson arguably produced at a Top 100 clip.

Katz did not include Kickers. If that were the case, Will Reichard would’ve had a strong claim.

Josh Allen as the Standard Bearer

The Bills quarterback took home the top prize, with Katz explaining, “Josh Allen has been a top-ten quarterback by PFN QB Impact Scoring every single year since 2020. He was the MVP in 2024, and he’s been a Pro Bowler in three of his last four seasons.”

“He ended 2025 with a career-high 69.3% completion percentage, and his 102.2 passer rating was an upgrade over his MVP season. In addition, his 25 passing touchdowns also ranked ninth in the NFL last year. Where Allen really dominated in 2025 was the ground game.”

Heading into 2026, Allen will be featured at the top of most individual player lists and is favored to win the MVP award (+600).

Katz added, “His elite athleticism can sometimes be overshadowed by his hulking frame and elite arm strength, but his dual-threat ability might be the best in the NFL after Jackson slowed down athletically last year.”

“Allen is at the peak of his game and is a bona fide game-changer, making him worthy of the top spot in the 2026 PFN NFL Top 100.”

Rounding out the Top 5 (in order) were Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL), Myles Garrett (OLB, LAR), Penei Sewell (OT, DET), and Puka Nacua (WR, LAR).

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

The Ciaron Maher stable is counting on the addition of blinkers to help French import Zabiari rediscover his European form in the final stakes race of the Sydney season.

Zabiari, who has two Group 3 wins over a mile in France, made his Australian debut in the Civic Stakes (1400m) last month, finishing in the midfield.

He has since had a trial to maintain his fitness, and Maher’s assistant trainer, Jo Gerard-Dubord, reports that the gear change has had a positive impact during trackwork, with the hope it will translate to race day performance.

“He’s still an entire and he’s very casual,” Gerard-Dubord stated. “The best of his trials here was the one with the blinkers on. He’s a lot sharper in them at home and on his best, he is certainly up to a race like this. Now he’s had the run here, blinkers going on, we want to see something from him.”

Gerard-Dubord, who cut his teeth in his home country’s racing industry before moving to Australia, is well-equipped to assess Zabiari’s European form. In addition to Group wins at Longchamp and Chantilly, Zabiari placed twice in Listed grade at Deauville during his 12 overseas starts, and any rain would not be detrimental to his chances in Saturday’s Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.

Maher has also accepted with Eliyass, a recent acquisition to the stable, but will assess the weather and scratchings before deciding on his participation.

The horse made an immediate impact, winning his initial three Australian races during the spring of 2024 before his form waned.

After undergoing fetlock surgery and a stable change post-ninth place in last year’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), Eliyass was well beaten in the Civic Stakes (1400m) first-up. Gerard-Dubord expects him to need another start to reach his best.

“He was wide with no cover, and raced a bit fresh, so to the eye it probably looked plain, but it was just a starting point,” Gerard-Dubord commented. “He’s improved since, but he’ll take a couple of runs until he gets back to his best. We’ll probably work towards the Premier’s Cup Prelude. He’s a horse we need to have right for the spring, and it’s just finding the best path leading into it.”

The Winter Challenge has attracted a full field, led by the Winter Stakes trifecta of General Salute, McHale, and Midnight Dynamite, as well as the rejuvenated seven-year-old War Eternal, who has won three of his last four starts in Queensland.

Check out the latest online bookmakers for the Winter Challenge odds.