By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Ranking the Top 10 CFB Head Coaches in the West for 2026
The West is filled with talented coaches.
From Dan Lanning at Oregon to Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State, the young talent is undeniable.
But just how exactly do all the coaches in the West stack up?
Here’s my ranking of the Top 10 Coaches in the region.
1. Dan Lanning, Oregon
There is no one in the West on Dan Lanning’s level. The Oregon coach is a mastermind.
From the actual X’s and O’s to the philosophical mindset of each week, his skill and execution are unmatched.
There’s a reason why the Ducks have been so good over the past few years. It’s because of Lanning.
2. Kalani Sitake, BYU
A program-builder. That’s the best way to describe BYU’s Kalani Sitake.
The culture he has instilled in the program is uncommon. Sitake has the Cougars positioned to compete for the Playoff for years to come.
The administration at BYU deserves credit for finding a way to keep him over the offseason.
3. Lincoln Riley, USC
Lincoln Riley is dangerously close to being labeled a bust at USC. This season is critical for his reputation.
The underperformance in LA makes it easy to forget his 55-10 record at Oklahoma.
Who is the real Riley? The one that can’t get it going at USC or the one that dominated at Oklahoma?
4. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
One of the top young coaches in college football, Kenny Dillingham has a high ceiling.
He led Arizona State to the Playoff in his second year as a coach. The Sun Devils are 19-8 over the past two seasons and have momentum.
Another strong year in Tempe could draw more interest from Power 2 schools.
5. Jedd Fisch, Washington
There’s no doubt that Jedd Fisch is a talented coach. He resurrected Arizona with a clear vision and recruiting prowess.
Yet, the results at Washington have yet to turn heads. This year could determine the narrative of his legacy in Seattle.
The time to put it all together is now.
6. Dan Mullen, UNLV
Four. That’s the number of 10-win seasons (or better) that Dan Mullen has, including a 10-win campaign at UNLV last year.
Now after another round of conference realignment, the Mountain West is open for the taking.
Mullen could realistically have UNLV competing for a spot in the Playoff every year.
7. Brent Brennan, Arizona
Brent Brennan regained credibility due to last season’s success. But nobody has forgotten about the disastrous four-win year in 2024.
This season becomes the rubber match for Brennan’s early legacy in Tucson.
Keeping both coordinators on staff was a strong first start. Let’s see if they put it together on the field.
8. Jason Eck, New Mexico
If there ever was an up-and-coming coach, it’s Jason Eck.
He has embraced the community in Albuquerque and resurrected New Mexico’s program. The momentum is tangible.
By the end of the year, Eck could be pursued by several power conference teams. Enjoy it while you have it, Lobos.
9. Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State
Utah State is at an interesting spot in the new Pac-12. The reformed league presents an opportunity for Bronco Mendenhall.
The former coach of BYU has five 10-win seasons (or better) over his 19-year career. In a wide-open conference, this year will be one to watch.
Keep an eye on what happens in Logan.
10. Ken Niumatalolo, San Jose State
After spending 16 seasons at Navy, Ken Niumatalolo is 10-15 at San Jose State. Last year’s 3-wins were tied for the fewest he’s ever had in a single season.
The expectation is to get back on track in the revamped Mountain West.
Look for SJSU to establish itself in the Conference’s new pecking order.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
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Joe Root has been reappointed as England’s permanent Test captain with Stephen Fleming confirmed as the new head coach.
Root England’s greatest-ever Test run-scorer, previously served as captain from 2017-2022 but gave up the role after winning just one of his final 17 Test matches as skipper. The 35-year-old also lost when filling in for Ben Stokes, who has since retired from international cricket,in the second Test against New Zealand earlier this summer.
Yet given all the furore around vice-captain Harry Brook’s ill-discipline off the pitch over the winter in New Zealand, alongside a dearth of other candidates, Root will return as permanent captain for the three-match series against Pakistan later this summer.
Fleming, meanwhile, replaces fellow New Zealander Brendon McCullum as Test head coach. However, he will not start his role until after the start of the series against Pakistan, with Marcus Trescothick serving as interim boss.
The 53-year-old led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles over 17 years in charge and is one of the world’s most highly-rated coaches, though this will be his first international job. He will start his England tenure in September to allow him to spend time with his family in New Zealand, before flying to the UK later this summer to begin preparations for December’s tour of South Africa.
Beyond that, Root and Fleming look set to be the partnership to lead England into the 2027 Ashes series against Australia next summer.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining England as Test Coach,” Fleming, who was New Zealand’s longest-serving Test captain as a player, said. “It’s one of the most prestigious coaching positions in world cricket and I am honoured to be appointed.
“Of course, the ambition is always to win now. But equally, it’s about ensuring the team is well placed for the medium and long-term future. There is a lot of young talent in and around the team and our aim is to help them fulfil their potential as world-class cricketers.
“I’m particularly looking forward to working with Joe Root as captain – a generational talent who has achieved so much already. There is still plenty more to come from him, and I’m excited to support him so he can enjoy and thrive in the role in what is a different context to his first stint.”
Root, who won 27 of his 65 Tests in his first stint as captain, added: “It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to be England Men’s Test captain again. The Test captaincy is a difficult but hugely rewarding job and, after enjoying a brief taste of it again working with Baz McCullum last month, I am excited to lead this next generation of players forward.
“The opportunity to do that alongside Stephen is also a huge motivator. He has proved over a long period of time that he is an exceptional leader with a great knowledge of the game, and I am looking forward to working with him and helping to build a winning environment.”
The ECB insisted they followed a “rigorous process” involving “numerous high-quality candidates” as they looked to replace McCullum, who was sacked earlier this month after the series defeat to New Zealand, which came off the back of a damaging 4-1 Ashes series loss to Australia.
Rob Key, managing director of England Men’s Cricket, said: “Stephen Fleming is one of the most highly respected figures in cricket, and we are very fortunate that someone of his calibre is willing to take on the challenge of being the England Men’s Test Head Coach.
“I believe he is the best person to guide a team stacked full of potential and turn that talent into a world-class outfit that can not only achieve success but sustain it.
“I am excited by the prospect of him working with Joe Root who will get the opportunity to lead free from the Covid restrictions that the Test team faced at the end of his first stint as captain. Joe is undoubtedly an England great and he is passionate about leading this team into a new era.”
Root’s first match back as captain will be the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley, starting on 19 August.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino wants to open the commercial capital of the World Cup to private investors. International investors, including figures close to US President Donald Trump’s family, are reportedly among the potential candidates. The initiative has sparked strong reactions from various confederations and football federations.
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New York Giants fans were enthralled to see one player in particular participating in practice on Wednesday.
Malik Nabers, who suffered a serious knee injury in Week 4 of last season, “looked good,” according to his new head coach John Harbaugh, as he went through a full practice much to the delight of everyone involved with the organization.
While there is no commitment on a timeline for the 2024 first-rounder, seeing Nabers out on the field was quite the surprise for many.
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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers practices during NFL training camp Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Nabers’ injury wasn’t a simple knee tear, as he had to wait for swelling to go down before undergoing surgery. Then, in the spring, Nabers had to get scar tissue removed from the same knee, while eliminating stiffness he felt.
After undergoing two surgeries and remaining sidelined, Nabers’ status for Week 1, or the first few weeks of the season, was up in the air.
But general manager Joe Schoen also enjoyed seeing him running around at The Greenbrier in West Virginia to start off camp.
“We’ve got a really good plan for him,” Schoen said. “The medical staff has a really good plan for him, and we’re going to always say listen to the patients. So, we’re going to see how he reacts. We got a good plan in place, so as long as everything goes as planned, we’ll listen to Malik and his body. And, again, hopefully he’ll be ready and we’ll see how it plays out. But no predictions right now, just because we have a long way to go. Still a lot of camp.”
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) catches a pass as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kaiir Elam (20) defends in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)
Nabers tore his ACL and suffered a full meniscus tear after jumping for a pass in quarterback Jaxson Dart’s first career start. He immediately clutched his knee, silencing the MetLife Stadium crowd as fans feared the worst while he was carted off the field.
Nabers remained in New Jersey this summer, though, working alongside the Giants’ medical team on his recovery. The injury occurring early in the season gave the team hope he would be back healthy for Week 1, and after not being put on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp, Nabers was on the right track.
“It was great. You saw him. He looked good,” Harbaugh said after watching Nabers. “He’s got a process going. Thought he looked good.”
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers looks on before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sept. 21, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
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Dart, who said happy birthday to his top receiver on Instagram as Nabers turned 23, loved being able to throw to him on day one.
“He definitely has a presence about him,” Dart said of Nabers. “There’s an aura that he has on the field that is exhilarating. It makes me happy. It makes everybody happy just to see him out there. I think for him, he’s had a lot of positives. We’re just going to continue to get him in slowly. He’s doing a great job with how he’s attacking his recovery. I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him and his approach to the game, how much he’s missed being out there with the guys. I think it’s definitely, for him — I don’t want to speak for him too much, but I just think it’s a really good feeling for him to just be out there with the team and to be involved.”
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The 2026 AIG Women’s Open begins Thursday with the opening round at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in England. You can find full AIG Women’s Open tee times for Thursday’s first round at the bottom of this post.
AIG Women’s Open Thursday tee times: What to know
As we head into the AIG Women’s Open, the final women’s major of the year, World No. 1 Nelly Korda is in the midst of a bit of a cold spell. Before June, Korda hadn’t finished outside the top 8 a single time. But now she’s finished T16 or worse in three of her last four starts, including a missed cut at the Evian Championship, the most recent major.
However, Korda’s recent play only looks bad when compared to her torrid streak to start the season. Korda has captured four LPGA victories this year, including two major titles at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open.
Now she has a chance to right the ship and capture an incredible third major win of 2026 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
You can watch Thursday’s first round of the AIG Women’s Open from 4-8 a.m. ET on Golf Channel and then 8 a.m.-2 p.m. ET on USA. Additional streaming coverage will be provided by Golfchannel.com, the Golf Channel App and the NBC Sports App.
You can check out the complete Round 1 tee times for the 2026 AIG Women’s Open below.
2026 AIG Women’s Open tee times for Thursday: Round 1 (ET)
Tee No. 1
1:30 a.m. – Alice Hewson, Amanda Doherty, Chloe Williams
1:41 a.m. – Amelia Garvey, Leonie Harm, Smilla Soenderby
1:52 a.m. – Wei-Ling Hsu, Aditi Ashok, Darcey Harry
2:03 a.m. – Anna Nordqvist, Cassie Porter, Sayaka Takahashi
2:14 a.m. – Minami Katsu, Yealimi Noh, Stephanie Kyriacou
2:25 a.m. – Carlota Ciganda, Karis Davidson, Maria Jose Marin (a)
2:36 a.m. – Ina Yoon, Alison Lee, Yunseo Yang (a)
2:47 a.m. – Jiyai Shin, Auston Kim, In Gee Chun
2:58 a.m. – Linn Grant, Jin Young Ko, Kiara Romero (a)
3:09 a.m. – Sei Young Kim, Rio Takeda, Yuna Araki
3:20 a.m. – Hyo Joo Kim, Minjee Lee, Mao Saigo
3:31 a.m. – Lottie Woad, Aki Iwai, Andrea Lee
3:42 a.m. – Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Haeran Ryu
3:58 a.m. – Hye-Jin Choi, Grace Kim, Mimi Rhodes
4:09 a.m. – Somi Lee, Esther Henseleit, Ayaka Furue
4:20 a.m. – Lindy Duncan, Amy Yang, Julia Lopez Ramirez
4:31 a.m. – Sophia Popov, Jenny Shin, Perrine Delacour
4:42 a.m. – Yan Liu, Shannon Tan, Yuka Saso
4:53 a.m. – Yani Tseng, Nastasia Nadaud, Alexandra Forsterling
5:04 a.m. – Arpichaya Yubol, Cara Gainer, Minji Kang
5:15 a.m. – In Kyung Kim, Manon De Roey, Carolina Chacarra
5:26 a.m. – Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Anna Zanusso, Justice Bosio
5:37 a.m. – Sara Kouskova, Soo Bin Joo, Annabell Fuller
5:48 a.m. – Pia Babnik, Anna Foster, Bel Wardle
6:14 a.m. – Jing Yan, Agathe Laisne, Lauren Walsh
6:25 a.m. – Kelsey Bennett, Weiwei Zhang, Kajsa Arwefjall
6:36 a.m. – Erika Hara, Chiara Tamburlini, Melanie Green
6:47 a.m. – Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Kana Nagai, Esme Hamilton
6:58 a.m. – Shiho Kuwaki, Helen Briem, Lucy Li
7:09 a.m. – Anna Huang, Jenny Bae, Paula Martin Sampedro (a)
7:20 a.m. – Lilia Vu, Shuri Sakuma, Rose Zhang
7:31 a.m. – Ariya Jutanugarn, A Lim Kim, Casandra Alexander
7:42 a.m. – Hinako Shibuno, Georgia Hall, Valentine Delon (a)
7:53 a.m. – Gaby Lopez, Chizzy Iwai, Celine Boutier
8:04 a.m. – Ruoning Yin, Nasa Hataoka, Jennifer Kupcho
8:15 a.m. – Miyu Yamashita, Jeeno Thitikul, Lauren Coughlin
8:26 a.m. – Charley Hull, Hannah Green, Brooke M. Henderson
8:42 a.m. – Maja Stark, Jin Hee Im, Allisen Corpuz
8:53 a.m. – Minsol Kim, Patty Tavatanakit, Megan Khang
9:04 a.m. – Pajaree Anannarukarn, Youmin Hwang, Leona Maguire
9:15 a.m. – Ashleigh Buhai, Fuka Suga, Dewi Weber
9:26 a.m. – Min Sun Kim, Mi Hyang Lee, Nicole Broch Estrup
9:37 a.m. – Chanettee Wannasaen, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Yu Liu
9:48 a.m. – Ryann O’Toole, Robyn Choi, Charlotte Naughton (a)
9:59 a.m. – Nataliya Guseva, Noora Komulainen, Lauren Crump (a)
10:10 a.m. – Carla Tejedo Mulet, Diksha Dagar, Yana Wilson
10:21 a.m. – Daniela Darquea, Polly Mack, Gina Kim
10:32 a.m. – Aunchisa Utama, Ana Pelaez Trivino, Vanessa Bouvet
Sports
Harvey Elliott eyes ‘second chance’ at Liverpool under Andoni Iraola after Aston Villa loan nightmare
Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is hopeful that the arrival of Andoni Iraola will help him secure a “second chance” at establishing himself within the squad, following a challenging loan spell last season.
The 23-year-old endured a difficult time at Aston Villa, where he featured in only nine games, totalling 277 minutes. His limited appearances were due to a specific clause in his loan agreement, which would have obligated Villa to sign him for £35 million had he made a tenth appearance.
Elliott returned to Liverpool’s midfield for their 1-0 pre-season friendly victory over Wrexham in New York on Wednesday night. Despite ongoing speculation linking him with another move away, the player expressed his deep connection to the club.
“Everyone knows how much I love the club,” Elliott stated after the match. “I’ve supported them from a very young age so the feeling never goes of putting the shirt back on and representing the club. It’s a childhood dream. Every time I put the shirt on I want to give it 100 per cent.”
Reflecting on his previous season, Elliott acknowledged the difficulties but is now focused on getting his career back on track.
“Unfortunately it didn’t work out but the way I see it, that was last season. Now I’m here, it’s kind of a second chance, if you want to call it that, especially with the gaffer and new coaching staff coming in, it’s a chance to impress… I’m here now and I’m trying to cement my spot in the team or within the squad.”
Last season marked a significant setback for Elliott, who last summer had been named player of the tournament as England under-21s clinched the European Championships. Instead of pushing for a place at the World Cup, he spent weeks training with the knowledge he wouldn’t be involved in weekend fixtures.
Despite the frustrations, Elliott holds no ill will towards Aston Villa, insisting the club treated him well and kept him fully informed of his situation. He views the year as a valuable learning experience, which also saw him achieve success in the Europa League.
With Leeds, Sunderland, and RB Leipzig among the clubs reportedly showing interest, Elliott remains pragmatic about his future.
“I’m wanting to be selfish, doing what’s right for me,” he explained. “Whether that’s staying here and fighting for my place or whether that’s potentially going elsewhere I’m still unsure at the moment.”
He concluded by emphasising his desire to enjoy his football: “Putting the shirt on, I don’t want to take these moments for granted because last season I thought it was the last opportunity to do it. Now I’m back here wearing the strip again. I just want to be free and play as much as I can and enjoy it because sometimes it feels like I don’t do that enough.”
Newcastle spent in the region of £240m on new players 12 months ago, but Howe was left frustrated by the departure of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool.
Howe has lost two key players this summer – Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, while Arsenal are chasing captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Howe replaced Steve Bruce as manager in November 2021, and ended Newcastle‘s 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the 2025 Carabao Cup.
He led the Magpies to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025.
Last season, Newcastle reached the last-16 of the Champions League before losing 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona.
Their EFL Cup defence ended in the semi-finals, but their league performance was severely underwhelming after finishing fifth in 2024-25.
Newcastle won 84 of their 179 Premier League games under Howe, drawing 38 and losing 57.
He oversaw more Premier League wins than any other Newcastle manager. His Premier League win percentage of 46.9% at the club is bettered only by Kevin Keegan.
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NFL training camps are opening across the league, and the countdown to the latest edition of “Madden NFL” is officially underway.
“Madden NFL 27” is still a little more than two weeks from release, but the ratings debate will likely start now. EA Sports unveiled its latest player ratings Wednesday, releasing the top 10 players at quarterback, running back and wide receiver.
Reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford and Buffalo Bills signal caller Josh Allen led the quarterback group ratings and earned a spot in the coveted 99 Club.
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of an NFC wild-card playoff game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 10, 2026. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Stafford and Allen tied for the top quarterback rating, but the Los Angeles Rams signal caller was listed ahead of the Buffalo Bills star in the category.
Joe Burrow was third with a 97, followed by Baltimore Ravens standout Lamar Jackson. Patrick Mahomes received a 93 rating and was slotted fifth, while Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff rounded out the group’s top 10 with an 88.
The other 99 Club members were wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, defensive end Myles Garrett and tight end Trey McBride.
CALEB WILLIAMS LANDS ‘MADDEN NFL 27’ COVER, BUT INFAMOUS CURSE LOOMS OVER PIVOTAL THIRD SEASON
After winning the franchise’s second Super Bowl title in February, the Seattle Seahawks reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension with Smith-Njigba that made him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history. Chase has eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in every season since entering the league in 2021.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) reacts after picking up a first down against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Dec. 28, 2025. (Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
After Chase and Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson rounded out the top five wide receivers. Mike Evans, who left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, came in at No. 10.
Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs led all running backs with a 98 overall rating. Christian McCaffrey followed at 97 after a bounce-back season, with Jonathan Taylor third and Bijan Robinson fourth at 95. Rams standout Kyren Williams rounded out the top 10.
Caleb Williams may be the face of “Madden NFL 27,” but the Chicago Bears quarterback is still eyeing a higher rating. Earlier this week, he said his goal is to climb into the 99 Club before the end of the year.
A detailed view of NFL Madden 2026 items at Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, on Feb. 4, 2026, before Super Bowl LX. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
“If I get my completion percentage up, I’ll be a 99,” Williams told “Up & Adams” on Monday. “That’s how everybody feels about it. I don’t throw picks, I’m not a pick guy, never been a pick guy. Throw a few more touchdowns, keep the picks down and then just get the completion up.”
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“Madden NFL 27” is scheduled to launch worldwide Aug. 13, with MVP+ members receiving early access up to seven days ahead of release.
On the team side, the Rams earned the game’s top rating with a 93 overall.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Allisha Gray scored five of her 25 points in the closing seconds and the Atlanta Dream overcame a 15-point deficit to beat the Dallas Wings 82-81 on Wednesday night in the first game for both teams since the all-star break.
Angel Reese had 22 points and 12 rebounds for her 18th double-double of the season for the Dream (17-10). They have won four in a row and five of six following a five-game losing streak.
Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas (18-10) with 24 points. Azzi Fudd scored 20 points, Paige Bueckers had 16 points and Jessica Shepard had 16 points and 14 rebounds for her WNBA-leading 19th double-double of the season.
Ogunbowale was called for a Flagrant Foul 1 on Gray’s 3-point shot with Dallas leading 81-77 and 18.7 seconds left. Gray hit all three free throws, then took the ensuing inbounds pass and hit a contested jumper in the lane to give Atlanta its first lead of the second half with 15 seconds remaining.
Awak Kuier missed a corner 3-point shot before Shepard’s putback attempt at the buzzer missed.
The Dream were 1 of 16 from 3-point range.
Dream: Host Seattle on Friday night.
Wings: At Washington on Friday night.
Jockey James McDonald is optimistic about the prospects of two exciting horses making a significant impact during the spring carnival, as he prepares to ride Columbus and Enviable again at Rosehill this Saturday.
All eyes will be on the Les Bridge-trained Columbus and Chris Waller’s Enviable as they contest separate races, having both returned with impressive victories at Newcastle earlier this month.
McDonald made the notable decision to ride Columbus in a midweek Hawkesbury meeting when the gelding broke his maiden last October. He believes the talented four-year-old could have been a player in the major three-year-old races had injury not interrupted his progress.
Enviable also lost valuable racing time after sustaining a paddock injury following a spring campaign that included a fourth placing in the Flight Stakes and a Group 2 placing during the Melbourne Carnival.
Both gallopers returned to winning form at Newcastle on July 14 and are heading to Rosehill as leading contenders.
Enviable is the $2.60 favourite for the Congratulations Chris Waller Handicap (1400m), while Columbus is the $2.20 favourite for the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1500m).
“I was gutted when he had a bit of time off,” McDonald said of Columbus.
“I thought he was a perfect Rosehill Guineas type of horse, so he’s got huge talent. He’s got a lovely record, unexposed. A bit like the filly as well.
“She has been exposed to the top level, but what she was doing at three – she was so unfurnished – the time off has done her the world of good, and that confidence win would have done her the world of good.
“They’re two lovely horses.”
Saturday’s meeting also marks the commencement of another Sydney jockeys’ premiership campaign for McDonald, who secured his tenth overall title and eighth consecutive crown during the 2025/26 season.
McDonald finished with 91 Sydney metropolitan winners, 12 clear of Zac Lloyd, but anticipates that defending his title will become increasingly difficult.
“It will get harder, that’s for sure. There is really good young talent,” McDonald stated.
“As the years have gone by, the landscape has changed a little bit in terms of my travel and engagements. It will be similar to this year when I had so much time away and I was lucky to hang on.”
Despite spending more time interstate and overseas, including his ongoing association with Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior, McDonald remains the benchmark among Sydney riders with a winning strike-rate of better than 25 per cent.
He will be hoping to begin the new season in the same fashion as the last, when Amusing gave him a winner at his opening metropolitan ride, with Columbus set to launch his 2026/27 campaign at Rosehill.
The upcoming Rosehill meeting presents opportunities for those interested in exploring betting markets for the race.
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