The jockey Thomas Stockdale wants to keep the high of becoming a dad for the first time going by landing a major prize at Flemington.

Partnering Simon Zahra’s Onavuitton in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Stockdale recognizes the difficulty of the three-year-old event, which is known for occasional shocks.

Stockdale, married to Lily (daughter of ex-rider Peter Mertens), had son Ronnie born Sunday, with fatherhood’s energy rush lingering.

“They got home on Tuesday, and I’ve been pretty much running on adrenalin since,” Stockdale said.

Family joys notwithstanding, the priority is Saturday’s ride for Stockdale’s greatest career success to date.

This year he won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Unit Five at Gold Coast, though a Group 1 in his newborn’s birth week would top that.

Onavuitton sits at $26 betting against favourites Observer ($2.30), Sixties ($2.90) and Planet Red ($4.80), but past Australian Guineas results feature Lunar Fox ($301, 2021) and Feroce ($14 last year).

Onavuitton’s four outings include third in Flemington’s Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) last March.

He claimed a Cranbourne maiden recently, then placed fourth behind Observer in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield February 7.

“We were happy with his run,” Stockdale said.

“He was a month between runs, and they never sat up in the race. They ran along at a good clip the whole way and Observer, he’s a class horse.

“I thought he did a good job to keep rolling along on the hot speed like he did, especially off the gap between runs.

“He would have benefitted off it, and if you take the top three out and it’s a very even race.

“He always puts his best foot forward and his run in the Sires’ at Flemington was good and I think getting back to the bigger track at Flemington is only going to help him, especially stepping up to the mile.

“It’s a race that can throw up a rough result and Simon’s team is flying, they’re getting result after result and I’m confident they will have him in tip-top order on Saturday.”

For the best value, visit betting sites with racing betting markets for the Australian Guineas.

Shivam Dube, left, captain Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: The uncertainty surrounding India’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has finally cleared. After a dramatic round of Super 8 matches, the defending champions now have a straightforward path to the knockouts.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!South Africa’s commanding nine-wicket win over West Indies in Ahmedabad confirmed the Proteas’ place in the semi-finals from Group 1. Later in the day, India strengthened their position with a resounding 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chennai.With Zimbabwe eliminated and South Africa already through, the final Group 1 clash between India and West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday has effectively turned into a virtual quarterfinal.

India Semifinal Qualification Scenario

The equation is simple: India must beat the West Indies to qualify for the semi-finals.Both teams currently sit on two points from two matches. The winner of Sunday’s encounter will join South Africa in the last four.There is, however, one small caveat. If the match is washed out due to rain — and there is no reserve day — West Indies would advance on the basis of a superior net run rate, knocking India out of the tournament. At present, though, there is no forecast suggesting weather disruption in Kolkata.In short, the calculators are back in the bag. For India, it is purely a win-and-progress scenario.

India’s qualification push gathered serious momentum after a batting masterclass against Zimbabwe. Posting 256/4 — the second-highest total in men’s T20 World Cup history — India entertained home fans with a barrage of sixes.Abhishek Sharma returned to form with a blistering half-century, while Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma provided a thunderous finish. Zimbabwe fought back through Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 97, but India’s bowlers ensured a comfortable victory.Earlier, South Africa’s clinical chase of 177 against West Indies reshaped the group. A rapid opening partnership between Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock made light work of the target, underlining why the Proteas remain unbeaten in the tournament.

Manchester United have a busy summer ahead, regardless of whether they clinch qualification for the Champions League

It has been a busy week for several Premier League sides thanks to European responsibilities, but Manchester United have had the luxury of observing from the sidelines. Weekend opponents Crystal Palace faced Zrinjski Mostar in the second leg of their Conference League play-off on Thursday, giving them only a few days’ recovery time ahead of their visit to Old Trafford.

Should Michael Carrick’s side capitalise and claim all three points, it would bring them a little closer to making sure they end the season in the top four. Nearest rivals Chelsea and Liverpool will be looking to ramp up the pressure, though, with Arne Slot’s reigning champions welcoming West Ham to Anfield on Saturday and Liam Rosenior’s Blues taking on league leaders Arsenal in Sunday’s 4.30pm kick-off.

Carrick’s own position may well depend on his ability to build upon the foundations he has already laid. United have accumulated 16 points from a possible 18 under the interim manager, and appear to have reaped the rewards of a lighter schedule whilst their competitors contend with a more congested calendar.

In today’s round-up, attention shifts to the summer transfer window and the business the club will and won’t be pursuing. Here’s the very latest from around Old Trafford.

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Onana may not get his wish

Manchester United have no plans to reintegrate goalkeeper André Onana next season, according to TeamTalk. The Cameroon international is currently on loan at Trabzonspor but is not anticipated to remain with the Turkish side beyond the conclusion of the current campaign.

United are reportedly eager to remove Onana’s wages from their payroll, with Senne Lammens now firmly established as the number one keeper at Old Trafford. Reports suggest they will dismiss Onana’s request to prove his worth back at Old Trafford, instead seeking to offload him this summer, whether that’s on another loan or in a permanent deal, which would surely force them to take a hit on the £47m they paid Inter Milan to acquire him in 2023.

Mainoo contract risk

United face the prospect of allowing Kobbie Mainoo to enter the final year of his contract without a new deal in place. The Sun report that neither party has yet resumed negotiations over an extension, with the midfielder currently still on the deal he agreed around the time he made his debut for the club in 2023.

Mainoo turned down an offer from United towards the close of the 2024/25 season and struggled for regular game time under Ruben Amorim in the first half of the current campaign. There was talk of a departure in January amid interest from Napoli but he has re-established himself as a first-team regular under interim manager Carrick.

United do retain a one-year extension clause on Mainoo’s contract, which currently runs until the summer of 2027. However, the club are said to be planning further discussions over a lengthier deal when the time comes to reopen talks with his representatives.

Ronaldo’s new investment

Former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Spanish side Almeria. The promotion-chasing club was bought by Saudi consortium SMC Group and has now seen Ronaldo invest via CR7 Sports Investments.

“It has been a longtime ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch,” Ronaldo said in a statement as the investment was confirmed. “UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth.”

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Man Utd are seeing commercial revenues fall and are without a training kit sponsor this season, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments on immigration are also a challenge.

06:00, 27 Feb 2026

The fallout from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s claim that the United Kingdom is being “colonised by immigrants” might have died down now, a couple of weeks after the Manchester United co-owner made the controversial claim in a TV interview that angered club staff, players and fans.

Its after-effects might be felt for a little longer yet, however. Ratcliffe has been quiet since his half-hearted apology the following day, and United will be hoping the issue blows over, but it could still cause complications, especially at a time when the club’s commercial team are trying to raise revenues and attract new partners.

“I’m not sure they will be forgotten, that kind of thing sticks, and that is something that if he’s well advised, he will be thinking about,” sport marketing expert Tim Crow told the Manchester Evening News.

“It’s not every day that a football club owner makes a comment that the Prime Minister then says you should apologise for and withdraw. That’s not tomorrow’s fish and chips wrapper, that sticks because Google has got a long memory.”

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United’s latest financial results, released this week, spelt it out in black and white, reporting a 13.5% drop in revenues compared to the same three-month period last year. That is almost all down to the absence of a training kit sponsor this season, with the £24million-a-year Tezos deal expiring at the end of last season.

The partnership with DXC Technology is also set to expire at the end of this season, but United insist they are relaxed about both situations and would rather wait for the right partner at the right time, rather than rush into a deal that doesn’t provide value.

They aren’t alone in finding the market more competitive now, and Chelsea haven’t had a permanent shirt sponsor for the last three seasons. But at a crucial time for United, having their co-owner voice his opinion on such a controversial topic is unlikely to be helpful.

“Sponsors don’t like risk,” said Crow. “You can imagine the sponsorship managers of the various companies wake up in the morning and they see that comment. And they’re thinking, ‘right, okay, I’m gonna have a chat with the CEO now, explain what’s going on, they’ve got to call the club’. It creates a lot of work, a lot of angst, and it’s unnecessary.”

How much of an impediment it is to attracting new sponsors will only become clear in the months ahead. United still set the standard with many of their deals, signing industry-leading partnerships with Adidas (£90million a year) and Snapdragon (£60million a year) recently, and sources insist there is still plenty of interest from brands in partnering with the club.

“Whilst the marketing department would have probably listened to that interview with their fingers covering their eyes, I don’t think it will make a significant difference, because Manchester United are looking for an international or global brand to partner with,” said football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

“For a long-term relationship, they’re more concerned about getting value for money. It’s not helped, but I genuinely don’t think it will have hindered things either.

“If somebody wants to partner with United, they can separate Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s role as the golf club bore from the benefits that partnering with a brand as strong as Manchester United.”

Anecdotal evidence certainly suggests United aren’t finding it as easy as they once did to attract sponsors. There has been upheaval in the commercial department and the days when Ed Woodward could claim playing performance was irrelevant to the club’s commercial success appear to be over.

United fell to their lowest-ever position in the Deloitte Football Money League recently, sliding four places down to eighth, and they are likely to fall further next season, although it will primarily be down to a lack of European football and a season that will include just 20 games at Old Trafford.

“There are larger issues that have been holding United back, and continue to hold them back, which are what you might call standard commercial issues,” explains Crow.

“On the pro side, what they’ve got is they’ve a very good reputation for their partners. They handle partners very well and have done for a long time.

“The other is that because of an extraordinary period where the Premier League was growing globally and United was doing so well, they benefited from the growth of each other, and United generated this enormous worldwide fan base.

“But they are being caught up, and the signs are that when it comes to the contest for new fans, they are not acquiring new fans anywhere near as quickly as they used to be

“That’s down to two things: one is success on the field and the other is the type of football United have been playing. Something that a lot of people forget is that the reason United were such a commercial phenomenon was not just about the fact that they were good; it was the type of football they played. United forgot that for a while.”

Returning to the Champions League, which United are on course to do, will be a significant boost to their ability to attract new partners. It is transformative in terms of global eyeballs on the club. Something else which could help is if the club’s new signings continue their own impressive impact at Old Trafford.

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“What have Manchester United prepared to throw into the deal?” asks Maguire. “Which players are going to be doing the advertising? That’s always important. With no disrespect, you don’t want the Under-21s left-back, and Manchester United at the present perhaps don’t have, with the exception of Bruno. They don’t really have that many faces where you would really like your product aligned with the brand.

“At the end of the season, if Bryan Mbeumo continues to play as well as he is doing, if Cunha is going well, then United might be in a stronger position, especially if they qualify for the Champions League, when they go to the market holding a much stronger hand.”

But one issue they can’t escape is the market’s competitive nature. Crow tells a story of one of his clients receiving 11 separate commercial proposals from Premier League clubs in the space of a week.

“It’s a tough market at the moment. The global economy is very volatile, very patchy, a lot of turbulence and it is not easy to find that kind of money,” he said.

“You can see examples all over the place, not just in top football but in top sport everywhere, where people are finding it hard to retain and find new sponsors. It is just a tough marketplace and it’s incredibly competitive.”

United have found form under Michael Carrick, edging towards a return to the Champions League, and what Crow referred to as the club’s DNA has also been restored recently.

They will be two major advantages as they seek at least two new partners this summer, when they hope Ratcliffe’s comments are long forgotten and the positives on the pitch are the biggest selling point.

“Well, the further away it gets from Old Trafford, the less of an issue it is,” said Crow. “What effect does it have on United over time from a PR perspective? I think there are a lot of other things in the mix when it comes to sponsorship. This is an unwelcome one, but I suspect it’s just a short-term issue, which would not have endeared him to any of United’s sponsors.”

The weightlifting events at the 2nd Niger Delta Games showcased immense strength and determination from all participants. Every category featured thrilling contests for bronze, silver, and gold medals, with athletes demonstrating top form across snatch, clean & jerk, and total lifts.

In the 88kg Men Total, Duru Destiny (Bayelsa) claimed bronze, Francis Onaifo (Edo) took silver, and Joseph Obinna (Abia) won gold.

For the 88kg Men Clean & Jerk, Duru Destiny (Bayelsa) earned bronze, Francis Onaifo (Edo) took silver, and Joseph Obinna (Abia) claimed gold.

In the 88kg Men Snatch, Duru Destiny (Bayelsa) finished with bronze, Joseph Obinna (Abia) took silver, and Francis Onaifo (Edo) secured gold.

In the 79kg Men Total, Chukwu Chibuike (Abia) won bronze, Mayowa Olajide (Ondo) took silver, and Thankgod Sunday (Edo) claimed gold.

For the 79kg Men Clean & Jerk, Chukwu Chibuike (Abia) earned bronze, Mayowa Olajide (Ondo) took silver, and Thankgod Sunday (Edo) secured gold.

In the 79kg Men Snatch, Mayowa Olajide (Ondo) finished bronze, Chukwu Chibuike (Abia) took silver, and Thankgod Sunday (Edo) won gold.

In the 69kg Women Total, Nwichi Ngozi (Abia) claimed bronze, Joy Godbless (Bayelsa) took silver, and Peace Osagie (Edo) won gold.

For the 69kg Women Clean & Jerk, Nwichi Ngozi (Abia) earned bronze, Joy Godbless (Bayelsa) took silver, and Peace Osagie (Edo) claimed gold.

In the 69kg Women Snatch, Nwichi Ngozi (Abia) finished bronze, Joy Godbless (Bayelsa) won silver, and Peace Osagie (Edo) secured gold.

In the 63kg Women Total, Asogwa Promise (Delta) took bronze, Abiola Olajumoke Islamiat (Edo) won silver, and Chinasa Chukwu (Rivers) earned gold.

For the 63kg Women Clean & Jerk, Asogwa Promise (Delta) earned bronze, Chinasa Chukwu (Rivers) took silver, and Abiola Olajumoke Islamiat (Edo) claimed gold.

In the 63kg Women Snatch, Asogwa Promise (Delta) finished bronze, Abiola Olajumoke Islamiat (Edo) took silver, and Chinasa Chukwu (Rivers) won gold.

In the 65kg Men Total, Okon Goodnews (Akwa Ibom) claimed bronze, Victory Mmadubuchi (Imo) took silver, and Goodnews Jacob (Edo) won gold.

For the 65kg Men Clean & Jerk, Okon Goodnews (Akwa Ibom) earned bronze, Chibuzur Emeka (Bayelsa) took silver, and Goodnews Jacob (Edo) secured gold.

In the 65kg Men Snatch, Okon Goodnews (Akwa Ibom) finished bronze, Victory Mmadubuchi (Imo) took silver, and Goodnews Jacob (Edo) won gold.

In the 53kg Women Total, Mboutidem Etim (Akwa Ibom) claimed bronze, Marvelous Chidirim (Abia) took silver, and Beauty Akpore (Edo) won gold.

For the 53kg Women Clean & Jerk, Mboutidem Etim (Akwa Ibom) earned bronze, Marvelous Chidirim (Abia) took silver, and Beauty Akpore (Edo) claimed gold.

In the 53kg Women Snatch, Mboutidem Etim (Akwa Ibom) finished bronze, Marvelous Chidirim (Abia) took silver, and Beauty Akpore (Edo) won gold.

In the 60kg Men Total, Obodomadu David (Delta) claimed bronze, Eze Vitalis (Abia) took silver, and Iniubong Ita (Akwa Ibom) won gold.

For the 60kg Men Clean & Jerk, Eze Vitalis (Abia) earned bronze, Obodomadu David (Delta) took silver, and Iniubong Ita (Akwa Ibom) secured gold.

In the 60kg Men Snatch, Obodomadu David (Delta) finished bronze, Iniubong Ita (Akwa Ibom) took silver, and Eze Vitalis (Abia) won gold.

In the 48kg Women Total, Moyinoluwa Adebusuyi (Ondo) claimed bronze, Christiana Ollorma (Rivers) took silver, and Esther Adebola (Edo) won gold.

For the 48kg Women Clean & Jerk, Odivwri Jennifer (Delta) earned bronze, Christiana Ollorma (Rivers) took silver, and Esther Adebola (Edo) claimed gold.

In the 48kg Women Snatch, Moyinoluwa Adebusuyi (Ondo) finished bronze, Christiana Ollorma (Rivers) took silver, and Esther Adebola (Edo) won gold.

The 2nd Niger Delta Games will end today, February 26, 2026, with the closing ceremony at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

Does an authentic video show Hilary Knight, captain of the 2026 gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team, saying she was “mortified” for the U.S. men’s team? No, that’s not true: There is no evidence that Knight ever said that, but she did call President Donald Trump’s invitation to the White House a “distasteful joke.” Also, the creator of the original video labeled it as AI-generated.

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on Facebook on February 25, 2026, and features a fake Knight saying:

I’m honestly mortified for the men’s hockey team. They won one gold medal and laughed like that in the locker room. I get why they’re excited. Their last Olympic gold was in 1980, basically as old as their parents. But us women, we won in 1998, 2018, and now 2026.

Gold medals don’t lie, but some people really think laughing in the locker room counts as strength. Since women’s hockey became an official Olympic event in 1998, we’ve made the finals every single time, winning eight Olympic medals, three gold, four silver, and one bronze. And them, they’ve been playing since 1920 and only managed to get three gold medals in more than 100 years. We did it in 28 years. What took them a century?

Honestly, I feel a little embarrassed for them. We’ve been on the championship stage for so long that we’re used to focusing on the ice, not on whatever someone says on a phone call. We won gold and had to deal with school, training, and work the next day. Meanwhile, they were busy flying around and snapping photos, like that was harder to get than the medal itself.

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We don’t have time to be mad. We’re too busy winning again, because the future of hockey isn’t going to wait for anyone.

This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing:

The full Facebook video can be watched here:

The US women have not made the finals every time, as the video claims. Their lone bronze medal means they lost once in the semifinals. In total, the U.S. men have won a dozen Olympic hockey medals since the sport started in 1920: three golds, eight silvers, and one bronze. The U.S women have medaled in all eight Olympic appearances since the sport was added in 1998 (archived here). In addition to gold in 1998, 2018, and 2026, the team won silver in 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2022; bronze in 2006 (archived here).

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Original video

The original video (archived here) was posted on TikTok on Feb. 25, 2026. A screenshot of the post below shows where it is tagged: “Creator labeled as AI-generated.” It’s circled in yellow with a red arrow pointing to it.

“Distasteful joke”

A Google News search (archived here) found no evidence that Knight ever used the term “mortified” in connection with the U.S. men’s hockey team.

Knight did, however, respond to questions on ESPN Sports Center about President Donald Trump’s phone call with the men’s team following their gold-medal victory on Feb. 22, 2026. During the call, Trump said he “probably would be impeached” if he didn’t invite the women to the White House, too. The women’s hockey team won gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics, too, just three days earlier, but didn’t get a call from the White House (archived here).

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“I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke and unfortunately that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats,” Knight said on Feb. 25, 2026.

Wigan: Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Farrell, Marshall; French, Smith; Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis.

Replacements: Mago, Partington, Eseh, Forber.

Leigh: Hodgson; Senior, Niu, Brand, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Ofahengaue, Horne, Mulhern, Halton, Trout, Liu.

Replacements: Hughes, Davis, Alick-Wiencke, O’Brien.

Referee: Liam Moore.