Proxima Dea displayed impressive tenacity, leading from the outset and successfully fending off a persistent challenge from Defensemen to achieve a narrow victory in the Elite Sand And Soil Handicap, run over 1400 metres.

Despite being the outsider of the field at odds of $51, Proxima Dea’s tough performance was not a surprise to trainer David Payne.

“I think she’s going to make a good horse, she’s my Oaks filly for the spring,” Payne explained. “The plan was to lead today and make them try and run her down. She’s tough and she will stay – her stamina kicked in when the other horse came at her.”

Ridden by Reece Jones, Proxima Dea ($51) appeared to be under pressure as Defensemen ($4.60) drew alongside and took the lead midway down the straight. However, Payne’s filly fought back on the inside to secure a deserved win. Woodenbridge ($8.50) encountered interference at the top of the straight and performed well to finish third, two-and-a-half lengths adrift, while the favourite Rumdabar ($3.10) struggled on the heavy track and finished fifth.

Jones remarked that Proxima Dea showed great determination when Defensemen made his run.

“She fought hard and really wanted to win,” Jones told Payne. “She’s only going to be better for the experience, too.”

With a pedigree suited to staying, Proxima Dea is by Tarzino from Invisible Coin, making her a full sister to the 2022 Queensland Oaks winner, Gypsy Goddess.

Payne manages a small string of horses at Rosehill, but the champion trainer always has quality stock, and he may now boast three highly promising three-year-old fillies in Proxima Dea, Krasina, and the exciting sprinter Bangkok Hottie.

“I will have a think about what we do with Proxima Dea but ultimately she’s out Oaks filly,” Payne stated. “Bangkok Hottie is back in work and we will aim her at the Princess Series (Silver Shadow Stakes, Furious Stakes, Tea Rose Stakes and Flight Stakes) in the spring. “And don’t forget about Krasina, she’s another very talented filly. It’s nice to have some good ones going into the new season.”

For the latest Australian Betting Sites, check out our guide.

Michael Carrick still needs one crucial addition ahead of the start to the new season

Manchester United mustn’t let a slow start in the transfer market stunt their intent.

The Reds came into the transfer window knowing they were in urgent need of midfield reinforcements, given Casemiro’s departure. Manuel Ugarte’s recent injury has only added to that sense of urgency.

They have been proactive in their various pursuits – and the results are now starting to show. Atalanta and Brazil star Ederson’s £38.8million transfer is expected to be wrapped up shortly.

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Ederson is set to partner his fellow new arrival and compatriot, Andrey Santos, in midfield, with United having secured the 22-year-old from Chelsea in a £50m deal. Alongside his revamped midfield, head coach Michael Carrick is expected to benefit from a third signing, goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who is set to join on a free transfer from Leeds United.

Yet, despite the dopamine rush of three new players being landed in quick succession, it’s fair to say none of those exactly scream ‘Premier League title-winning quality’. As such, there is still a feeling of expectancy among the Old Trafford faithful, who are awaiting a star-calibre signing.

Fortunately, United are not expected to stop just yet. An elite central midfielder remains a top priority, just as it has been all summer. The Reds have been linked with several big names, including Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, in that position.

But they lost out on all three players to rival Premier League clubs after being priced out in a heavily inflated market. Now, they need to ensure that doesn’t happen again by moving quickly for their third midfield signing of the transfer window, with Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount being the only options Carrick has at his disposal with the exception of the two Brazilian signings.

Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is who United should pursue next as their marquee addition. The 22-year-old future England international has been on the club’s radar for some time and would take Carrick’s midfield up a level with his quality.

The roaming box-to-box playmaker would pair well with one of the new additions or Mainoo. He showed his reliability by making 37 Premier League appearances last term, where his ball retention and duel-winning impressed several of the league’s bigger clubs.

The Cherries do not want to sell him this summer and are hoping to secure him on a new contract. But that’s all the more reason for the Old Trafford hierarchy to act fast and match the £80m price-tag Bournemouth have slapped on him.

Reports suggest the Guernsey-born player would welcome a transfer to Old Trafford, giving United bosses all the fuel they need to ensure they do not miss out on another potential world-class player.

If they successfully land Scott, they might then turn their attention to the forward line. United have already shown an interest in signing a left winger, notably Crysencio Summerville, but Marcus Rashford’s future will need to be resolved first, given the United veteran’s astronomical wages.

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Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis put in a performance of the year candidate to become a unified super-welterweight world champion last month. Now, the Philadelphian is being linked to a host of major fights in the 154lb division, but promoter Eddie Hearn believes that there is one clear frontrunner. 

Ennis dethroned Xander Zayas in style, halting the Puerto Rican inside six rounds to capture the WBA and WBO super-welterweight marbles and announce himself as the man to beat in the super-welterweight scene.

Since then, Ennis has been mentioned for meetings with WBC world champion, Sebastian Fundora, and long-term rival, Vergil Ortiz Jnr – who is yet to fight since November due to an ongoing lawsuit with Golden Boy Promotions.

Although, Fundora is now expected to take on mandatory challenger, Ermal Hadribeaj, who claimed the WBC Silver title by outpointing Bakary Samake in May.

However, one man that will presumably be available is IBF world titleholder, Josh Kelly, who is also promoted by Hearn. Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn unveiled that there is a ‘very good chance that Kelly will fight Ennis in November’, if he successfully retains his belt in a well-rumoured maiden title defence later this month.

“Boots wants all of the belts, he is desperate to become undisputed. Josh Kelly is fighting [on the Anthony Joshua undercard], I know it’s the worst kept secret in the world, there will be an undercard announcement soon.”

“When he [Kelly] comes through that fight, there is a very good chance that Josh Kelly will fight Boots in November. Yes, [in America].”  

It is understood that Kelly will face off with Belfast’s Caoimhin Agyarko on the Joshua-Prenga undercard on Saturday, July 25, with a victory seemingly teeing up a major unification affair between he and Ennis, which would likely take place in Philadelphia.

Manny Pacquiao attempted to break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history last year, but had to settle for a draw against Mario Barrios. He may now get a second chance.

Pacquiao returned to professional action in July 2025 to challenge then-WBC champion Barrios. Had he won, he would have extended the record he first set by defeating Keith Thurman in 2019 at the age of 40.

The majority draw was enough to keep ‘PacMan’s comeback alive, and he subsequently booked a rematch with Floyd Mayweather. That bout has since been postponed due to the American’s ongoing legal issues, leaving Pacquiao open to another fight before it is eventually rescheduled.

Should he decide to challenge for a world title at 147lbs again, Australia’s Liam Paro – who claimed the IBF belt last month with victory over Lewis Crocker – appears ready and willing.

Speaking to The Australian before Paro’s win over Crocker, the Australian’s promoter George Rose of No Limit Boxing made it clear that Pacquiao was his dream opponent.

“Manny is the one fight we want to make for Liam. Imagine Manny coming back to Australia.

“Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Rolly Romero all hold world titles at welterweight, but we don’t have to do a unification fight.

“When Jeff Horn fought Manny, he didn’t have the belt. It would be unreal. Imagine doing a card with Manny, Paro and possibly the two Tszyus. It would be sensational.”

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Paro was Jeff Horn’s chief sparring partner ahead of the Australian’s upset victory over Pacquiao in 2017, one of the most controversial decisions of the Filipino legend’s career.

Fighting in front of more than 50,000 fans at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight title via unanimous decision despite many observers believing he had done enough to retain it, particularly after nearly stopping Horn in the ninth round. Pacquiao later accused Horn of repeatedly using headbutts and elbows throughout the contest.

A return to Australia with the chance to make history once again could therefore prove an attractive option for Pacquiao, although mandatory challenger Paddy Donovan may have something to say about whether Paro is free to pursue such a blockbuster.

British King Charles III will attend the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on July 23 along with Queen Camilla to inaugurate the scaled-down multi-sport event, the organisers said on Friday.

Charles III will read out the message he had placed into the King’s Baton on Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 at Buckingham Palace, marking the official opening of the Games which will continue till August 2.

“Their Majesties The King and Queen will attend the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Thursday 23rd July, at The Hydro in Glasgow,” the Commonwealth Sport said in a statement.

“During the Ceremony, The King will read aloud the message he placed into the King’s Baton on Commonwealth Day, 10th March 2025, at Buckingham Palace, when he launched the Relay with Sir Chris Hoy as its first Baton bearer. The reading of the message by His Majesty will mark the moment that Glasgow 2026 is officially declared open.” 
The 23rd Commonwealth Games will see over 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories compete for 215 gold medals across 10 sports over 11 days. The Games will feature only 10 disciplines for the able-bodied and six for para-athletes. India is sending 124 athletes to the Games.

To save cost, the city would have the entire event play out in an eight-mile (12.8km) radius.

Sir Hoy, one of the United Kingdom’s most decorated athletes, will also take part in the Opening Ceremony, marking a special moment in the celebration of sport, city and Commonwealth spirit.

Across 500 days, the Baton has visited all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories — the longest relay in the Games’ history — with each nation crafting and decorating its own Baton to reflect its culture and identity. 

Alongside its journey, the Relay has carried forward the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Plastics Campaign, run in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society, which has brought communities together for coastal clean-ups and awareness events across the Commonwealth in support of its goal to keep a million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waters.

In Glasgow, all 74 Batons will be reunited for the first time, and the Scotland Baton, handmade in the city from sustainably sourced ash, will be presented to His Majesty so that the message hidden within it can be read aloud.

Taking place in one of the world’s leading entertainment venues, The Hydro, the Glasgow 2026 Opening Ceremony, is set to be a stunning show that reflects the city’s warmth, enterprise and pride in welcoming the Commonwealth to Glasgow, the Commonwealth Sport said.

Dr Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport, said: “We are honoured that Their Majesties The King and Queen will join athletes, fans, delegations and communities from across the Commonwealth for the Opening Ceremony of Glasgow 2026. As the first Commonwealth Games of His Majesty’s reign, and the culmination of the first King’s Baton Relay, it will be a special occasion for everyone involved in the Commonwealth Games.

“Glasgow 2026 marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Commonwealth Sport Movement. As athletes from 74 nations and territories come together, the Opening Ceremony will set the tone for a Games that celebrates world-class sport, friendship and the unique ability of the Commonwealth Games to bring people together.

Felix Auger-Aliassime has announced the end of his long-standing partnership with coach Frédéric Fontang, bringing to a close nearly a decade of working together.

The Canadian revealed that Wimbledon was their final tournament together, ending a coaching relationship that began when he was just 16 years old.

In a heartfelt statement shared on social media, Auger-Aliassime thanked Fontang for the role he played in both his career and personal development.

“After nearly ten years of working together, it has recently been decided that Wimbledon would be my last tournament with Frédéric by my side as my coach.”

The world No. 28 reflected on the many highs they shared, as well as the difficult moments Fontang helped him overcome.

“He has also been by my side during the toughest moments of my career. In those difficult times, I always found in him the calm, composure, and wisdom I needed to overcome those challenges.”

Auger-Aliassime said Fontang was more than just a coach.

“Looking back today, I can say that beyond being an outstanding coach, he has been a true mentor throughout my journey into adulthood.”

He ended his message by thanking Fontang for everything they achieved together.

“Fred, thank you for leading by example throughout all these years together. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without you.”

While Auger-Aliassime has yet to announce who will replace Fontang, the decision marks the end of one of the ATP Tour’s longest-running player-coach partnerships.