The Lindsay Park team, comprising Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, saw their faith in Hard Kick rewarded as the three-year-old gelding returned to winning form at Caulfield.

Having won on debut down the Flemington straight in February, Hard Kick was the overwhelming favourite for his return race down the Flemington straight last month, but could only manage sixth.

Ben Hayes admitted that he and his brothers were disappointed by that run but decided to take Hard Kick back to the jump-outs and add a tongue tie to his gear.

The change proved effective, as Hard Kick led throughout and won the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) on Saturday.

Ridden by Damian Lane, Hard Kick ($7) held off Organised Crime ($26) by a short neck, with Confederation ($18) a length away in third. Punters seeking competitive racing betting markets had plenty of value to consider with the favourite beaten.

The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival is a significant target for the Lindsay Park stable.

Hayes stated that the stable would have no hesitation in returning Hard Kick to the Flemington straight and nominated the Group 3 Poseidon Stakes (1100m) on September 12 as a potential next outing.

“We were very flat after his first-up run,” Hayes said.

“He got a big bump, he over-raced and everything didn’t work out, so to come out, second-up and win a Group 3, to relax and do everything right, it’s a big thrill.

“We wouldn’t hesitate trying him back down the straight, but there are plenty of options.

“We had high expectations first-up and he just got it wrong first-up.

“Out the back he was too fresh, he sweated up when he paraded and even today, he was still on his toes, but he wasn’t sweating and in a better mood.

“We took our time, took him back to the trials and made the little gear change.

“These are some of the more satisfying wins that you can have.

“We think he’s got a very good future, and we can’t wait for the rest of his prep.”

Keep up with the latest developments by checking out Australian betting sites for future races.

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines reacts during a match against Amanda Anisimova of the United States on day seven of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines–Riding a five-match winning run against top-10 players, Alex Eala couldn’t keep her hot streak going after a 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 loss to World No. 10 Amanda Anisimova in the Cincinnati Open third round at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

The Filipino star faltered when it mattered most after she squandered a 2-0 lead in the deciding set.

Anisimova scraped past Eala and advanced to the round of 16 against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova after overcoming an error-prone performance.

The 24-year-old American found her rhythm in the third game of the final set and never looked back, but the turning point of the match came in the sixth game of the second set, where she managed to pull through and hold serve despite committing three double faults.

“Alex is such a great player and such a fighter, so I knew it was really going to be a tough match,” said Anisimova in the post-match interview.

“I’m really proud of this performance for being able to find a way and kind of push myself there in the middle of the match,” she added. “I’m really happy with the way I was able to find my tennis and start fighting. It was a really, really tough match and credit to her, she was really playing some great tennis.”

Serena was playing her first match since Wimbledon, while Venus has played singles and doubles at three hard-court events in recent weeks.

The pair made a poor start against Ukraine’s Kostyuk and American Stearns before shaking off what Serena called “a little rust” in the second set.

They quickly went down 6-0 in the deciding 10-point tie-break but fought back impressively.

Serena produced two service winners to force the tie-break back on serve, but Kostyuk and Stearns held firm before securing victory on a double fault from Venus.

“I thought it was fun, it was special, it was good,” Serena said.

“We were starting to feel it. It was really cool to be able to do this again.”

The sisters would need wildcards to play either singles or doubles at the US Open, which begins on Sunday, 30 August.

Serena – who described her knee injury as “a little traumatic experience, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” – has only played one singles match since her return.

Venus has lost her past 13 singles matches but has had more success in the doubles, reaching the quarter-finals of the women’s tournament in New York last year.

At their peak, they won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together and three Olympic gold medals.

In the singles, world number two Elena Rybakina beat Magdalena Frech 6-4 7-6 (7-2) either side of a lengthy rain delay to reach the fourth round.

Australian Open champion Rybakina could replace Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the world rankings in Cincinnati.

Rybakina must reach the final, external to have a chance at surpassing Sabalenka. If Sabalenka reaches the quarter-finals, Rybakina would need to win the title to become world number one.

Canadian Open champion Iga Swiatek shook off a poor first set to beat Greece’s Maria Sakarri 4-6 6-1 6-1, while third seed Jessica Pegula beat fellow American Emma Navarro 7-5 6-2.

PFF stepped away less than impressed. Does that matter at all?

Vikings 1st-Round pick Caleb Banks has huge potential to match his huge size. Being hurt for so long, though, has undermined his ability to get the valuable reps he needs to further refine his game. Getting into game action against the New York Giants to begin the preseason showed some of those rough edges that are still being sanded down.

Vikings 1st-Round Pick Gets Tepid PFF Grade

The analytics website lists 41 defensive players for the Vikings. Sitting in last place is Mr. Banks, who sees a 30.4 grade attached to his effort.

Recent years have involved the Vikings scooping up some sizzling athletes very high before seeing them struggle. Safety Lewis Cine stands out here as somebody who is essentially unplayable in the NFL despite oozing physical ability. Pivoting off Kyle Hamilton is an all-time miss in Vikings draft history.

More recently, the draft picks sunk into J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner inspire concern, though of a much lesser intensity. Both are at least NFL players who boast ample upside due to promising abilities. Neither, though, have come close to fulfilling the cost of acquisition.

As a result, there’s some concern about Caleb Banks that aren’t entirely fair. He’s his own man and should be judged as such, but the well-worn path of prioritizing elite traits on a raw talent hasn’t gone well in recent seasons.

Check out a poor rep from the Giants game that got shared on social media by Will Ragatz:

Smart offensive linemen are going to recognize that wrestling with Banks from directly across from him just isn’t going to go well. Even in the NFL, Banks is unusually large and strong. Part of the solution rests in getting low (as Ragatz points out in his pad level observation). Another part of the mix is cutting him in half.

Circle back around to the clip to see what I mean. The guard gets underneath Banks, doing so on half of the DT’s body. Getting that side angle is aided by the offensive tackle crashing down on Banks, pushing the hulking rookie inward so the guard can get a better half-body angle.

In an earlier comment online, I emphasized Caleb Banks losing his balance early in the rep as a major factor in getting pushed back: “The LoS is a leverage and balance battle. Had asked Kevin O’Connell about concerns with Caleb Banks being raw on the night of the draft. KOC pushed back but this is the sort of thing that needs to get polished up. Not the end of the world, but something to note.”

A single poor game (much less a single poor play) is no reason for panic. The defensive lineman is still getting his feet underneath him as he bounces back from consecutive foot injuries that have undermined his development time. Quite possibly, all the kid needs is more opportunity to soak up coaching.

Nevertheless, there are a pair of factors that are both true. First, the Vikings picked Caleb Banks with the goal of having a great player for a decade, not a single preseason game. Second, the Vikings picked Caleb Banks to immediately help fill the openings at defensive tackle created by the departures of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.

Sort through the nuance with the push and pull of these factors in a manner that you see fit.

Per PFF, several of the Vikings who played the best ball were rookies. Undrafted safety Jacob Thomas tossed an elite 92.5 onto the grading board, second among all Vikings defenders. Jake Golday came in at sixth with an 81.6.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

A standout three-year-old in Ciaron Maher’s stable, Unit Five, is scheduled to return to competitive racing this Saturday at Sandown.

Following a challenging tenth-place finish in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) in February, the 2026 Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) champion has benefited from an extended break and two successful trial runs, preparing him to elevate his profile further this spring.

The ultimate objective is a start in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes over the same distance, slated for the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“We’ll give him the opportunity,” stated Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher.

“He had three months out to prepare for this time of the year and I think that time has done him the world of good.

“He’s strengthened but he hasn’t grown tall. He is a bit bigger but he’s a magnificent looking animal and he looks fast and athletic.

Unit Five is among the nominations for the 1000m three-year-old handicap, having completed two trials at Cranbourne.

“I was stoked with his trials,” Turnbull commented.

“He had one on the grass and one on the poly. We kept him on the bit on the poly being an artificial surface, but he is very sharp and he looks good and he’s in a good place.

Turnbull confirmed that the Sandown appearance would be followed by a test down the Flemington straight in the Group 3 Poseidon Stakes (1100m) on September 12.

“He just a racehorse and we saw that when he won on debut at Caulfield Heath,” Turnbull said, referring to the colt’s debut win on December 20.

“He’s one of our top tier three-year-olds and it is good to have him back.”

Irrespective of future results, Unit Five has already proven to be an excellent acquisition for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, having secured nearly $1.9 million in prize money after being purchased for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2025.

The Sandown race presents a great opportunity to assess the colt’s current form with the latest racing odds available on Australian betting sites.

Shakur Stevenson has been urged to face a “bigger and stronger” version of William Zepeda, who arguably gave the slick southpaw his toughest fight in July 2025.

Still, Stevenson emerged with a unanimous decision victory but, sure enough, was made to work tremendously hard in each of their 12 rounds.

This year, the unbeaten American moved up to 140lbs and became a four-division world champion, dethroning Teofimo Lopez with a near whitewash in January.

But despite holding the WBO super-lightweight title, Stevenson has expressed an openness to face opponents in either his current division or back down at 135lbs.

Either way, the 29-year-old is expected to make his Zuffa Boxing debut before long, having signed a multi-fight deal with Dana White’s promotional outfit.

In terms of potential opponents, top trainer Robert Garcia has suggested Raymond Muratalla, who defended his IBF lightweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Robson Conceicao earlier this month.

With the 29-year-old now looking to campaign at 140lbs, though, Garcia has told FightHype that, besides Devin Haney, he believes his unbeaten charge represents the most obvious option for Stevenson.

“If [the Haney fight] doesn’t happen, what other fight is there [for Stevenson]? I think Raymond is the perfect [opponent] – great [clash of] styles.

“I think Raymond is much bigger and much stronger than Zepeda. If Shakur gets the Haney fight, we can’t argue. We can’t say he’s ducking [Muratalla].

“But if he’s saying [the Muratalla fight] has to be at 135[lbs], then he’s ducking a little bit.”

While there has been loose talk of a clash between Stevenson and Haney, it would seem that the WBO welterweight champion is currently targeting a unification match with Liam Paro.

Trainer Tony Gollan is reuniting a winning combination at Randwick for the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes this Saturday, with James McDonald scheduled to ride Pembrey.

The dominant Brisbane trainer has no hesitation in expecting a strong showing from the three-year-old filly as she begins her spring campaign, moving straight up to the 1200-metre distance first-up.

“She’s improved and we’d like to see her show her worth and pick up from where she left off,” Gollan said.

McDonald was aboard the filly when she won the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in February. However, he chose a different mount for the Golden Slipper, resulting in Tim Clark partnering Pembrey for a difficult run that saw her finish near the back in the Group 1 feature.

“We got to give her a really nice break off the Slipper and we’ve had plenty of time to bring her up,” Gollan stated.

“She has had jumped out and trialled well both times. She has been at Randwick for a week now.”

Gollan lamented Pembrey’s widest barrier draw in the Golden Slipper and the subsequent interference she experienced during the race.

“She did a lot of work and worked the whole way,” Gollan recalled.

“She got tightened up over the last furlong but it was also the end of a first racing prep.”

The trainer already held a high opinion of the filly before her debut victory, a view that was confirmed during her initial race at Eagle Farm.

Pembrey achieved a Racing and Sports rating of 105 in her two-year-old Magic Night Stakes win. Current trends indicate a general improvement in the Silver Shadow winning rating for horses after they turn a year older.

The 2022 winner, Zougotcha, improved by 15 ratings points, while the 2023 and 2025 victors, Autumn Ballet and Savvy Hallie, maintained their marks of 106.

The Silver Shadow Stakes is shaping up to be a competitive affair, and the betting markets for the race are expected to be active.

Frenchman Kevin Lamour has left his role as FIFA‘s chief operating officer after criticising president Gianni Infantino‘s scrapped private investor plan, world football’s governing body confirmed Monday.

Lamour was the third highest-ranking FIFA official.

“FIFA can confirm that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA’s chief operating officer has ended on August 17, 2026,” a FIFA spokesperson told AFP, confirming a report in The Athletic.

“FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future.”

A former employee of European governing body UEFA, Lamour had served as FIFA COO since November 2024.

He was one of the highest-ranking FIFA figures to speak out against Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

Lamour described the plan as “the project of one person”.

Read moreInfantino’s future at FIFA should be decided by election, African football chief says

“The time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions,” he said in a statement sent to the Associated Press (AP) and published on July 31.

“If that means I lose my job, then so be it,” he added. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”

Secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, considered Infantino’s number two, and chief of global football development Arsene Wenger both later welcomed the decision to ditch the proposal.

Former Arsenal manager Wenger said it was “absolutely necessary” to scrap it.

The controversy has left Infantino’s position under threat for the first time since he was first elected in 2016.

European football’s governing body UEFA, North and Central America’s CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation released a joint letter earlier this month declaring “football belongs to no individual”.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Manchester United are just a few days away from their Premier League opener but Michael Carrick’s side continue to be shrouded in transfer speculation

Manchester United are still active in the transfer market with their opening Premier League match against Hull City on the horizon. But two of Michael Carrick’s first-team players have become subject to shock speculation.

Having supplanted Ruben Amorim in January, Carrick performed miracles at United’s helm last term, guiding them to a third-place finish and Champions League football. Pre-season ended, though, with a 4-2 defeat to Amorim and his AC Milan side, suggesting there is still work to be done in the market.

Only three senior signings have been completed this summer, with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans arriving to bolster the midfield and Karl Darlow signing as a backup goalkeeper. Youngster Tynan Thompson has also joined from Tottenham for £4m.

Yet the majority of the rumours surrounding United concern outgoings, with Marcus Rashford reportedly offered a surprise transfer lifeline and an audacious approach for Bruno Fernandes in the works. The Manchester Evening News brings you all the latest transfer updates from Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes bid

In a surprising development, Galatasaray are trying to lure club captain Fernandes to Turkey. Reports suggest they are prepared to double his wages and table an offer of £43m.

However, it is understood that United will promptly reject any such approach, viewing their skipper as completely off limits. His £55.6m release clause for overseas clubs expired in July.

Club sources have gone so far as to say that Fernandes is not available at any price this summer and that offers will simply not be considered. Fernandes’ current deal runs until 2027, with the option of a one-year extension.

Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.

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Marcus Rashford U-turn

Rashford’s future has also remained a constant talking point throughout this summer’s transfer window, following the English forward’s return to United after a loan stint at Barcelona.

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The 28-year-old impressed in La Liga, but the Catalan club chose against making his temporary move permanent for £26m, opting instead to recruit Anthony Gordon from Newcastle for £70m and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund. Rashford was left in an uncertain position, with suggestions he could be fully reintegrated at Old Trafford ahead of the new campaign.

However, fresh reports indicate that Barcelona have not yet given up the chase. TEAMtalk claims Barcelona remain in dialogue with Rashford’s representatives and, despite completing a string of attacking signings, continue to weigh up their options and could yet attempt to engineer a dramatic return.

Rashford rejoined United’s training setup on August 9 following an impressive stint with England at the World Cup, and featured in their 4-2 defeat to AC Milan.

Hamzah Sheeraz has been called out for a “huge” British stadium showdown, but only if he retains his WBO title by the time next summer rolls around.

The 27-year-old became a world champion in May, scoring a second-round finish against overmatched challenger Alem Begic for the vacant super-middleweight belt.

Since then, Sheeraz has successfully defended his WBO strap – via points victory over Simon Zachenhuber last month – and is now set to face mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly.

The pair have been ordered to collide in due course, with former unified champion Alimkhanuly moving up to 168lbs after testing positive for banned substance Meldonium in December.

It is therefore uncertain that Sheeraz will retain his title but, if he does, a domestic dustup with Callum Simpson could suddenly become realistic.

The Barnsley man exacted his revenge over Troy Williamson last Saturday, unanimously outpointing his man after suffering a 10th-round stoppage defeat in their first encounter.

But while pleased to reclaim his British and Commonwealth belts, Simpson is now targeting a world title shot and a return to Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium.

Speaking with talkSPORT, the 29-year-old explained that Sheeraz represents his most desirable opponent for the summer of 2027.

“It might be Hamzah Sheeraz at Oakwell – he’s the one that’s got the [WBO] title. If we do Oakwell, it would have to be in the summer. That would be a huge fight.”

While the Simpson fight could materialise, Sheeraz will likely be targeting a unification match – possibly against the winner of Christian Mbilli vs Canelo Alvarez – if he proves successful against Alimkhanuly.