Melbourne Cup-winning trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon are finally seeing a turn of fortune.

The training duo has experienced a challenging twelve months with Knight’s Choice, who has only competed in four races since his celebrated 2024 Melbourne Cup triumph.

Initially, a strangles infection sidelined the Cup champion from defending his title the previous year, and subsequently, damp tracks in Queensland throughout the winter dashed any aspirations for Knight’s Choice to recapture his winning form.

Following a period of clear weather in Melbourne recently, Knight’s Choice managed to display a hint of his former prowess, securing a win in a jump-out at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday morning.

This event prompted Symons to state, ‘I don’t think I’ve seen him trial better than that’.

“We couldn’t be happier with where he is at,” Symons commented.

“He’s had a mixed way of life since he won the Cup.

“He’s always had the ability to do it, (but he’s a) wet track duffer, (but) dry track, like today, you see what he can do.”

Symons relayed that jockey Dylan Dunn observed that Knight’s Choice could have decisively defeated his rivals with greater ease.

Knight’s Choice must now qualify for contention in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups this year, having missed the spring racing season last year.

“Three months we were locked up for,” Symons recounted.

“We couldn’t do anything with him, and he actually got strangles and was the last horse to get a clearance and he didn’t get cleared until December.

“He’s back now, on all cylinders. We were happy with him up in Queensland, but it just kept on raining.

“His work was compromised up there, but the good thing is he’s had that time away in the sun.

“I don’t think I’ve seen him trial better than that. Dylan said he could have put them away easily, so I’m pretty happy with where we’ve got him.

“I wouldn’t expect too much from his first couple of runs, but after that I would expect to see what he can do.”

Symons mentioned that he and Laxon would return home to devise a racing strategy.

“We’ll look for a mile race, wherever that may be, but it’s probably got to be a quality handicap or a weight-for-age race,” Symons advised.

“We’ve entered him for the Caulfield Cup, and we’ll probably look to take a similar path as the one we took in the year he won the Melbourne Cup.”

Check out betting sites for the latest racing odds.

Jose Mourinho sees Trent Alexander-Arnold as a major part of his Real Madrid project and could even experiment with the Englishman in midfield as he looks to get the best out of his passing ability.

According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, Mourinho and his coaching staff view Alexander-Arnold as a highly versatile player who can offer Real Madrid far more than a traditional right-back.

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The England international is expected to be a regular starter under Mourinho, but the Portuguese manager is also keen to explore whether he can use Trent in more central areas.

The idea is not expected to become Real Madrid’s main tactical plan, although Mourinho believes Alexander-Arnold’s vision and range of passing could give his side another way of creating chances for attackers.

Mourinho wants to explore Trent’s midfield potential

Alexander-Arnold built his reputation as one of the most creative full-backs in world football, but his ability on the ball has often raised questions about whether he could play permanently in midfield.

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Mourinho is willing to test that possibility at Real Madrid.

As reported before, the Portuguese coach wants to see how Alexander-Arnold can operate from right-back before moving into midfield during certain phases of play.

Alexander-Arnold will play an important role under Mourinho. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

That would allow him to create an extra player in central areas while still beginning attacks from his natural defensive position.

From Mourinho’s point of view, Trent’s passing range could help Real Madrid progress the ball and find their attacking stars in dangerous areas. 

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With Vinicius, Mbappe and Diomande providing pace and movement ahead of him, Alexander-Arnold could have several high-level targets for his deliveries.

It is important to note that the Real Madrid manager does not appear to see the midfield experiment as a complete positional change, but it could become a tactical tool within his system.

According to a source cited in the report, Mourinho and his staff see Alexander-Arnold as a “player who will be very important, with a highly versatile profile who can fulfil various roles from his position as a right-back.”

That versatility could make Trent one of Mourinho’s most interesting tactical pieces this season.

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Trent expected to start despite new competition

Mourinho’s plans for Alexander-Arnold are also a clear sign of how highly he rates the former Liverpool defender.

Mourinho has tried Alexander-Arnold in midfield. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

The Real Madrid manager asked for another right-back after arriving at the club, not to replace Trent but to give him serious competition.

That competition has arrived in the form of Denzel Dumfries, giving Mourinho another strong option on the right side of his defence. However, the England international is still expected to be an important starter.

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Meanwhile, it has been reported that Trent has also enjoyed his early life under Mourinho despite the unusual connection between a former Liverpool player and a manager so closely associated with Manchester United.

In fact, sources describe Alexander-Arnold as “a very focused individual who works hard off the pitch and is very ambitious”, while noting that he has remained “low-key and shy” since joining Real Madrid.

Furthermore, Alexander-Arnold has also benefited from an extended summer of rest and preparation as he was not in England’s squad for the World Cup. 

During this time, he worked with specialists to ensure he returned in the best possible condition and subsequently started two of Real Madrid’s four pre-season friendlies.

The 2026-2027 Serie A season is about to start and everything has changed at AC Milan — a new manager, a new sporting director and a new strategy behind the summer transfer business. After the failure at the end of the 2025-2026 season when the Rossoneri ended up not clinching a Champions League spot and will be part of the Europa League this season, AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale shook up the club and completely changed the hierarchy, starting with a new coach and new CEO. 

Coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, and technical director Geoffrey Moncada, as well as club CEO Giorgio Furlani, all left their positions following the disappointment and Cardinale himself led the process to appoint a new coach alongside RedBird advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic and club director Massimo Calvelli. 

While the new season is about to kick off, Brand Finance underlined some positive aspects of the cycle led by Cardinale, as the Italian giants are the fastest-growing football brand in the world between 2021 and 2026, with a 236% increase in brand value, ahead of Aston Villa, Porto, Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal. 

The new coach: Ruben Amorim 

While Cardinale held talks with different managers ahead of the new season, the American businessman ended up appointing former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach seemed immediately eager to start his Serie A adventure after the disappointment of the Premier League spell, as he was sacked by Manchester United following a poor start to the 2025-26 season, and replaced by Michael Carrick. Amorim is ready to embrace a new challenge in a new country after a successful spell at Sporting CP, where he won two Portuguese league titles, three League Cups and one Portuguese Super Cup before moving to Manchester United in November 2024. 

Speaking to the media in his last press conference ahead of the new season, he said: “We have a squad capable of winning every match, in any competition. So, if we go step by step, we can achieve something significant. In the Europa League, we must believe and we must want to win the competition. Then there’s Serie A: We know we’ll face many teams who have been working with their coaches for a long time, so it will be difficult, but I can’t come here and say we can’t or don’t want to win the league. There’s a lot of work to do given there’s a new manager and changes to the squad, but when you’re at a club of Milan’s stature, you have to aim for the title”. 

AC Milan’s financial transformation 

Brand Finance underlined how AC Milan continued its strong financial and commercial growth under RedBird and Gerry Cardinale, with its brand value rising 28% year-on-year to a record €514 million. That increase moved the club from 16th to 14th among the world’s most valuable football brands, overtaking Juventus, while its 236% growth since 2021 makes it the fastest-growing football brand globally over that period.

The club’s wider financial performance has followed the same trend. Milan returned to profitability in 2022-23 after 17 years and has remained profitable for three consecutive seasons, while recording record revenues for three straight years. In 2024-25, revenue reached €494.5 million, more than 66% higher than in 2021-22, the final season before RedBird’s acquisition.

Deloitte’s figures further highlight Milan’s growth, with the club ranking first in Europe for commercial revenue growth (+28.1%) and stadium revenue growth (+39.6%), while sponsorship revenue surpassed €100 million for the first time in 2025/26. Overall, the numbers underline the significant financial transformation of the club under its current ownership and provide greater resources for its sporting ambitions.

The veteran and the new signings 

The Rossoneri have invested heavily in the summer transfer window to strengthen the squad ahead of the new season. With just a few days remaining before the market closes, Amorim can count on three major additions: defender Mario Gila, signed from Lazio for around $25 million; Gonçalo Ramos, who arrived from PSG for approximately $75 million, making him the most expensive signing in the club’s history and Diego Moreira, who is about to join from Strasbourg for around $70 million.

Apart from the new signings, AC Milan will also count again on Luka Modric, who will turn 41 in September. Despite the chances to see him retire after the 2026 World Cup, the Croatian legendary midfielder decided to keep going for another season at AC Milan, as he said in a recent interview to Milan TV: “I played for the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid, but I feel like Milan is at the same level. Those who talk about Milan do so differently than other clubs. And when you come here, you understand why: it’s one of the top clubs in the world, the people who work there make it great, the fans. I understood why Milan is so great. I have the feeling of having been here for so many years and this makes me give everything I have. It’s wonderful to have experienced these feelings. The fans’ love is the most important thing for me: if that’s there, it’s easy to make other decisions. You feel like everyone wants you, that you keep playing. This is the place I want to be and it’s the reason why I’m here.”

Texas Tech is the overwhelming favorite to win the Big 12 this year with the best roster on paper in the league.

What’s their most likely record with a workable schedule?

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin makes his 2026 record prediction for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Will a reset at QB lead to a noticeable drop-off?

In the new age of the transfer portal, those coaches who don’t use it well or don’t have the right players pop can be at a disadvantage.

Spencer and Brian Smith discuss many portal players that must thrive for their teams to succeed.

00:00 Big 12 football season expectations
05:03 Analyzing Texas Tech’s Home Game Advantage
08:55 College playoff criteria discussion
12:20 Predicting Alabama’s season record
16:49 Strategic scheduling for Alabama football
18:12 College football playoff predictions
22:52 Importance of Koi Perich’s Performance
25:51 Texas Tech football discussion
29:53 Reed Harris boosting ASU football
32:35 South Carolina’s QB protection concerns

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

Premier League CEO Richard Masters has responded to recent criticism of Manchester City’s case in relation to 115 alleged breaches of financial rules

Premier League CEO Richard Masters has responded to criticism of the ongoing wait for an outcome from an independent commission into Manchester City’s alleged 115 breaches of financial regulations, stating the panel “need time and space to do their work.”

Masters admitted the process was “taking longer than expected” earlier this week, yet maintained the verdict remains firmly in the hands of the independent commission. It’s now more than three-and-a-half years since City were first charged, with the club having always denied any wrongdoing.

The Premier League is facing mounting pressure to bring the “hugely complex” case to a conclusion with the new Premier League campaign just days away. Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick is among the latest prominent figures to demand clarity.

It’s now been over 18 months since the disciplinary hearing was brought to a close. When asked on Wednesday whether the case risked simply fading into the background, Masters said: “It will resolve itself, but as you know, I literally can’t say anything about it.

“There’s only one available option, which is to allow the process to reach its natural conclusion and I can’t talk about the substance of the case, I can’t talk about the timing of the case.

“Our rules are very clear about that. Yesterday, I accepted that it would take longer than perhaps anyone had expected. The knowledge that people wanted to know – what the outcome was – needed to know what the outcome was. But the process was the process. I literally can’t answer beyond what I’ve already said.”

Masters denied that other clubs are pressing for a verdict, at least, that isn’t the impression he gets from his conversations. He said: “I obviously speak to clubs all the time. It’s not necessarily a topic of conversation that is top of the list.

“(There are) lots of other things to talk about and do. As you say, the Premier League moves on. It’s starting (again) on Friday evening.”

Masters was also challenged on whether the Premier League could do anything to speed things up, to which he said: “We’ve always said that the commission needs time and space to do their work, and in the end, as you know, it’s the league’s job as the regulator to provide the evidences there, to put serious allegations in front of the independent commission, the independent process, to establish the truth.”

He was also transparent about the frustration that has plagued the case, explaining: “I just have to accept the fact that people are frustrated and want to know and I can’t add anything further.”

Earlier this week, Arsenal CEO Garlick told the BBC that “everyone” around the Premier League was eagerly awaiting an update.

“He said: “It has gone on for a while. Everybody, the league and the teams, would want the clarity around what’s going to happen next.

“But it’s not something that I can control. It’s not something that I can speculate on. And I just hope that there is a solution very quickly.”

Manav Suthar left everyone impressed with a sensational bowling performance as India registered a commanding 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series in Galle on Wednesday. The 24-year-old spinner, playing only his second Test for India, picked up six wickets in the second innings to finish with a remarkable 10-wicket match haul. Having made his Test debut against Afghanistan in June, Suthar had already announced his arrival on the international stage with a five-wicket haul. He followed it up with another outstanding display in Galle, playing a key role in India’s victory.

With India taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara urged Suthar to remain focused on red-ball cricket rather than chasing an IPL contract. Pujara also appealed to the Indian team management to “preserve” the young spinner for the longest format of the game.

“Try to preserve him. We have had this discussion in the past that, yes, all the young players might want to play the shorter format, but India should be looking to preserve him for the Test format. Yes, he might want to play the IPL, but don’t go there. I mean, yes, if he gets the opportunity to play the IPL, that’s fine, but don’t change your strength,” Pujara said on the Sony Sports Network.

“I think he doesn’t need to change his bowling much. Just when it comes to white-ball cricket, you need to have that flatter trajectory, and I don’t mind him playing in the IPL. If he plays in the IPL, if he’s successful in the IPL, that is fine, but don’t change your strength,” he added.

Pujara further stated that Suthar does not need to alter his bowling action, as his natural ability and skill set are already helping him thrive in red-ball cricket.

“For someone like Manav Suthar, who is flighting the ball, who is willing to go a little slower, when it comes to red-ball cricket, you don’t need to change that. Don’t change yourself just for the IPL. I can understand, but don’t change your natural ability, which is to flight the ball,” said Pujara.

Speaking about Suthar’s T20 credentials, the Rajasthan-born spinner has featured in five IPL matches and picked up two wickets. He is currently a member of the Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans squad.

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“Winning World Cup Most Beautiful thing”: Golden Ball Winner Rodri

With former MVP Nneka Ogwumike announcing her retirement following the 2026 WNBA season, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has spoken about her incredible career.

Once she retires following the 2026 WNBA season, fans will be able to truly appreciate Nneka Ogwumike’s impact on women’s basketball as well as the league.

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Following the 36-year-old’s announcement on Wednesday, there was an outpouring of appreciation and tributes from the WNBA world for the former champion.

The first overall draft pick in 2012, Ogwumike has enjoyed an exceptional career. And with her peers showing her love, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert wasn’t far behind.

Cathy Engelbert praises Nneka Ogwumike’s ‘grace and conviction’ in heartfelt tribute

The Los Angeles Sparks legend has achieved much more in the W than just her exploits on the court. As the WNBPA President for 10 years, Ogwumike has been instrumental in shaping the league.

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In her role and as an extremely prominent voice in the league, Ogwumike has interacted a lot with Engelbert. Thus, it is not surprising that the latter’s statement about the retirement seems very heartfelt.

“There is no telling the story of the WNBA’s recent growth and evolution without Nneka Ogwumike,” Engelbert’s official statement read. Her extraordinary career has been defined not only by excellence, but by the way she has led and lifted those around her.

“She is a champion and MVP, one of the most accomplished players of all time, and a fierce competitor who has represented the very best our game has to offer.

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“For 15 seasons, Nneka has led with grace and conviction, competed with an unmistakable spark, and carried herself with a generosity and thoughtfulness that have earned the admiration of everyone across our game.

“Nneka will retire at the end of this season leaving the WNBA much better than she found it — a testament not only to the player she has been, but to the person and leader she is.

“I have been fortunate to work closely with Nneka over the years and have been inspired by her passion and unwavering commitment to the players.

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“It has been a privilege to watch her remarkable journey, and while there is still more basketball to be played this season, we congratulate her on an extraordinary career and look forward to celebrating her in the months ahead.”

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The 11-time All-Star’s retirement will leave a definite gap in terms of leadership among the league’s players. Hopefully, she has inspired enough of the younger stars to follow in her footsteps.

Read more:

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As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our series on the records of each top CFB program in the West against all others in the region.

Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.

For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.

We continue with UNLV, which has played 409 games against regional foes, winning 151, losing 256, and recording 2 ties, for a winning percentage of .372.

The Rebels have recorded the most wins (23), played the most games (51), and lost the most games (28) against Nevada.

Here is a breakdown of UNLV’s records vs. the region’s teams.

Former India player Mohammad Kaif has expressed concern about Kuldeep Yadav’s place in the playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka. He pointed out that the visitors had to use Devdutt Padikkal with the ball in the first Test because they lacked an off-spinner.

India registered an emphatic 165-run win in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The second Test will be played in Colombo from Sunday, August 23, onwards.

During a discussion on Sony Sports, Kaif opined that Saransh Jain might replace Kuldeep in the playing XI for the second Test.

“I am worried about one player – Kuldeep Yadav. He might not play the next match. That’s also possible. Whenever he was given bowling, he was given short spells. He didn’t get long spells. Saransh Jain is an off-spinner. Why did Padikkal come to bowl? It was because the lack of an off-spinner was seen in the middle,” he said.

The former India batter pointed out that an off-spinner’s absence was felt in Galle and Kuldeep wasn’t used effectively either.

“When the two left-handers were batting, they were searching for an off-spinner. If they get a turning track and a slow pitch, considering that the absence of an off-spinner was felt and the way Kuldeep was used, I feel that decision might have to be taken. I feel Kuldeep Yadav might not get a chance in the XI. Saransh Jain might get an entry in Colombo,” Kaif observed.

Kuldeep Yadav registered figures of 1/65 in 14 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings of the Galle Test. He went wicketless and conceded 38 runs in 11 overs in the second innings.

“I want Team India to back Kuldeep Yadav” – Ajinkya Rahane

In the same discussion, former India batter Ajinkya Rahane urged the team management to persist with Kuldeep Yadav if the second Test is played in similar conditions.

“If the wicket is like this, I want Team India to back Kuldeep Yadav because he is a high-quality bowler. He is a match-winner and a wicket-taker. He will have to be played here because he has come into the team after a long time. So he will have to be given a chance again,” he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the left-arm wrist-spinner needs to be backed to boost his confidence.

“How do you build a player’s confidence? Replacing someone is very easy. When there are three spinners, one guy will bowl fewer overs. Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja bowled very well here, but if the conditions are the same, I feel Team India should back Kuldeep Yadav and increase his confidence,” Rahane observed.

Manav Suthar (4/76 in 21.4 overs in the first innings and 6/55 in 23.4 overs in the second innings) was the visitors’ star performer with the ball in the first Test. Ravindra Jadeja registered figures of 3/57 in 21 overs in the first innings and 1/71 in 23 overs in the second innings.