The VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes offers the juveniles their first genuine test at extending their stamina.

Victorian racing’s marquee two-year-old contest, the Blue Diamond Stakes, concluded last month, redirecting the sprint-oriented youngsters toward Sydney’s Golden Slipper.

From the outset of her preparation, Robbie Griffiths earmarked the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday for his filly Almost An Angel.

Her debut success came over 1000m at Caulfield Heath, but the trainer has maintained that Saturday’s 1400m would prove perfect for her.

Intending a third-up run in the target race, Griffiths saw Almost An Angel diverted to the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 21 due to campaign dynamics.

“She’s a So You Think and she surprised us on debut winning over the 1000 metres, as well as being a juvenile with enough speed to be competitive in the sprints,” Griffiths said.

“We ran her in the Prelude, and she was super and ran fifth and then in the Diamond, it didn’t work, they went too steady up front and sprinted and she couldn’t match it.

“Going to the 1400 metres and being by So You Think, you would imagine it should be a nice race for her.

“It has always been a target, it was how we got there, whether it was a soft option going to it. We didn’t, we took the biggest option, which just didn’t suit, but the distance here will.”

In 2019, La Tene under James Cummings became the last filly to win the Sires’ Produce Stakes, preceded by Jameka in 2015.

Griffiths pointed out the emphasis on speed in all prior races for Almost An Angel, though many such horses head north to the Slipper.

“The different race structure, differently run, better journey, it gives her a chance to get into the race without having it over and done in a split second,” Griffiths said.

“We always intended to target this race third-up, so I’ve always felt she has had enough fuel left, but we’ll wait and see how she goes on Saturday whether we then go to Sydney.”

For the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, punters should review racing betting markets available now.

Dustin Rhodes was lifted onto the shoulders of his pro wrestling colleagues when he won the vacated All Elite Wrestling (AEW) TNT Championship at All In, outlasting Sammy Guevara, Daniel Garcia and Kyle Fletcher.

But Rhodes’ reign only lasted 19 days as he dropped the title to Fletcher on July 31 and later revealed that he needed double knee replacement surgery. He was also forced to vacate the Ring of Honor Six-Man and Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championships.

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Dustin Rhodes enters the ring during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling – Wrestle Dynasty at Tokyo Dome on Jan. 5, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

As Rhodes nears the eight-month mark since he’s been in an AEW ring, he suggested to Fox News Digital in a recent interview that his return is close.

“I just had double knee replacements. So, they’re brand-new knees. They’re feeling pretty good. It’s a little tired today from all the walking – this is such a huge venue,” he said after his dog, Beast, finished in third place at a dog show competition in the United Kingdom. “But probably two weeks, three weeks I’ll be back – TBS, TNT, HBO Max.”

Rhodes will be returning to an AEW that’s been on fire since the start of the year and is speeding into its Revolution pay-per-view.

Dustin Rhodes celebrates the AEW TNT Championship win at All In: Texas on July 12, 2025. (Ricky Havlik/AEW)

AEW has solidified itself as one of the top promotions in North America, let alone the world, due to the talent on the roster and the wrestling that goes on in the ring.

“I think it’s the fact that we’re just not all entertainment,” he told Fox News Digital. “We are about wrestling, about putting on the best matches that we possibly can. It’s the alternative to WWE. I was with WWE for 24 years, and I’ve been with AEW for seven now, going on eight. I’m gonna finish here and retire in the next couple of years. And then there’s still work behind the scenes as a producer.

“I love it. It’s great. My boss, Tony Khan, and Shad Khan, the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulton Football Club over here, we’re doing amazing. We’re growing year by year. It’s where the best wrestle. We do have entertainment segments but the majority of it is just all wrestling. That’s what’s different than the WWE product.”

Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara celebrate the victory during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling – Wrestle Dynasty at Tokyo Dome on Jan. 5, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

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Revolution is set to take place on March 15 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

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Man Utd have announced a change to the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand for the beginning of the 2026/2027 season.

Manchester United will relocate a small number of season ticket holders in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand due to the installation of additional hospitality seats. The change follows last summer’s decision to relocate around 500 fans who were sitting behind the dugouts to install premium hospitality seats.

Last season, season ticket holders behind the dugouts in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand were informed their seats would be converted into hospitality seating, which meant they would be relocated.

On Friday morning, United confirmed a further ‘small number’ of fans would be relocated to accommodate more premium hospitality seating. The club have made the change due to the ‘high value’ of the location, as well as being required to undertake dugout works ahead of their next European campaign.

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United have said the fans will be relocated to the best possible lower-tier location, but the club will be braced for further backlash, following protests from supporters in the same area last season.

Last year, the Manchester Evening News were told a supporter in his 60s struggled to sleep after being informed he would be required to move, while another in his 80s expected to give up his season ticket due to concerns over access.

The decision triggered protests from the impacted fans, who aimed banners at the directors’ box. Despite the controversy, the changes to convert the area into premium seating went ahead last summer.

The seats are near the pitch and offer easy access in and out of the stadium. They also offer a close view of the managers on the touchline, while the players on the bench are almost within touching distance.

Defending their decision, United previously explained it was made to ‘reflect the high value of this unique location.’ They also claimed that they “Appreciate the disruption this will cause those fans who currently sit there and we will be contacting them individually to ensure a suitable alternative seat is found.”

Man Utd announced a welcome update for European away games when season ticket prices for 2026/2027 were confirmed.

Manchester United will re-introduce ticket collections for European away games, subject to qualification. United made the unpopular decision to scrap European away ticket collections in 2024.

United fans had previously picked up their match tickets in the country where the fixture was being played, meaning club staff would be sent to designated collection points to hand out tickets to fans with valid identification.

It was viewed as a successful system that prevented fans from buying tickets to inflate their credits without actually attending the match. It also stopped supporters from buying tickets with the intention of immediately selling them for credits. But United scrapped the system in 2024/2025 as a direct result of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s decision to axe 250 jobs at the club.

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On Friday morning, United revealed season ticket prices for 2026/2027. Along with the announcement, club sources confirmed European away ticket collections will be reintroduced.

United fans were deeply unhappy with the scrapping of away collections and challenged representatives from the club on the issue at fans’ forums, where it had been a prominent discussion point.

Club chiefs have announced that European away collections will be restored following supporter feedback. United have also confirmed they will share ticket allocation and ballot data on their website.

United are well-placed to secure Champions League football thanks to Michael Carrick’s impact. The Reds are third in the Premier League, and fifth place is expected to be enough to qualify for Europe’s elite competition.

United failed to qualify for Europe for this season and were knocked out of both domestic cups at the first hurdle, which means they will play just 40 games, their fewest in a campaign since 1914/15.

Trish Stratus has dropped a bombshell about a WWE finale. Despite not being an active member of the roster and having retired years ago, Stratus hasn’t had a proper farewell in WWE.

She has continued to make part-time appearances in the company and even competed in the women’s Royal Rumble match in 2025.

Last year, she teamed up with Tiffany Stratton during her feud with Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. The Hall of Famer also faced the Buff Barbie for the WWE Women’s Championship at Evolution 2.

Since the loss in that match, Stratus hasn’t made any in-ring appearances in WWE. In a recent interview with Wrestlezone, the veteran revealed that there were more plans for her following the Title match.

However, after her mother got sick and then tragically passed away, those plans had to be dropped. Stratus mentioned that she is still looking for closure to her WWE career and teased one more run.

“So, I do think there should be a bit of a finale moment. I’m very much about closure. So I feel like that I would need a little bit of closure. And I think maybe you guys need some closure on your Stratusfaction as well. Maybe,” she said.

Trish Stratus set for big appearance on the Road to WrestleMania

While it remains to be seen when Trish Stratus gets her WWE finale, she is set to make a major appearance during WrestleMania weekend in April.

A few weeks ago, it was announced that she will be at the Flanker restaurant from April 13 to 20 to meet fans.

The restaurant made the announcement on Instagram, and the former WWE Women’s Champion responded to the news in the comments section of the post.

She noted that she was looking forward to the occasion and reminded fans to keep their calendars open.