Astronomix continued his impressive ascent through the grades with a powerful wide run to win the Happy Retirement Lynne McLean Handicap (1300m).

James McDonald, who is on the cusp of claiming a record-equalling eighth consecutive Sydney jockeys’ premiership and his 10th overall, had not competed in a Sydney Saturday race meeting since All Aged Stakes Day in mid-April.

His last appearance in Sydney was actually at a Canterbury midweek fixture on May 27, due to interstate and overseas commitments.

McDonald was seen to great advantage on Astronomix ($3.90), with the emerging three-year-old finishing strongly under 59kg to run down the determined front-runner Nullarbor Jane near the line, winning by a length. Aisle Two ($10) finished a further two-and-a-quarter lengths behind in third.

Lady Invictus, backed into $3.30 favouritism, appeared to have every opportunity but could only manage to finish fifth.

Astronomix has now amassed a record of three wins and three placings from six career starts, with the promise of more to come, according to McDonald.

“He’s a young horse with a lovely presence about him,” McDonald stated. “He has been so well handled, so well educated, and he was strong to the line today. I don’t think he’s any world-beater but he tries very hard in his races.”

The victory for Astronomix provided trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton with the second leg of a successful double, following the earlier win of two-year-old Scintillation.

“We like him, he’s a very genuine young racehorse,” O’Shea commented on Astronomix. “He’s only lightly raced, he gives his all but we feel he can only keep improving.”

Earlier, Leovanni also continued her impressive form surge, securing her third consecutive victory in the TAB Highway (1800m).

Leovanni had initially struggled to break her maiden status, accumulating eight minor placings. However, after finally breaking through with a win at Tamworth, she has now won successive Randwick TAB Highways over 1600m and 1800m.

The Cameron Crockett-trained Leovanni ($7) settled on speed, took the lead on the turn, and went on to score comfortably by three-quarters of a length from Maples ($5.50), with Moon Sweeper ($2.35 favourite) a long neck away in third.

“I thought she probably should have been favourite today,” Crockett said. “But when you have an Arrowfield horse (Maples) and one of Matt Dunn’s (Moon Sweeper) then I don’t mind being third favourite. If we win it doesn’t make any difference.”

“As soon as Alysha Collett got up outside the leader I was worried that maybe she might over-race. But when she relaxed and half switched off then I thought she won’t let any of them pass her as I know how tough she is.”

Consider the Australian betting sites for future races after this exciting performance.

After putting on an incredible performance in his debut World Cup at 40-years old, Cape Verde’s star goalkeeper Vozinha has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to join Chilean club Colo Colo.

The transfer follows a breakout campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Vozinha helped lead Cape Verde to the round of 32 in the country’s first-ever appearance. The signing was teased by the club on social media.

Named to FIFA’s team of the tournament, the veteran goalkeeper recorded 18 saves across four matches, 15 of which came against the two teams that reached the final, while helping Cape Verde without a loss in 90 minutes.

His tournament highlighted a seven-save clean sheet in a scoreless draw against eventual World Champions Spain, making him the oldest goalkeeper to record a shutout in a World Cup debut. 

In the round of 32, Vozinha registered eight saves during a 3-2 extra-time loss to Argentina, garnering praise from Lionel Messi and other legends of the sport.

Born Josimar Jose Evora Dias, the goalkeeper entered the World Cup as an unattached free agent after his contract expired with Portuguese second-division side Chaves.

He adopted the name Vozinha early in his career to avoid sharing a name with a teammate, referencing a childhood nickname given to him while being raised by his grandparents.

Off the pitch, Vozinha’s tournament performances generated widespread international attention, expanding his social media following from 50,000 to over 29 million followers after the tournament, alongside reported transfer interest from MLS side Inter Miami prior to settling on terms with Colo Colo.

At Colo Colo, Vozinha will play under Argentine manager Fernando Ortiz as the Santiago club builds its roster for the upcoming Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent to the UEFA Champions League. 

Second placed Red Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates with champagne on the podium after the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring racetrack in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on July 26, 2026. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP)

Max Verstappen continued to complain about his car and put pressure on his Red Bull team on Sunday despite securing his second consecutive podium finish and a third in four races.

The four-time champion came in second behind McLaren’s world champion Lando Norris in the Hungarian Grand Prix while grumbling about his car’s gearbox and aerodynamic performance.

He had earlier described the car as “undriveable” a comment repeated by teammate Isack Hadjar, who finished sixth.

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“I didn’t expect to be on the podium today, but we worked hard for it,” said Verstappen. “The start was decent, you know, to get through turns one and two, and then after the first stop to get back ahead of Lewis, under braking into Turn One.

READ: F1: Max Verstappen swerves around future questions

“Then, I was just trying to survive on the compounds, trying to make the right calls with the strategy as well. So, yes, I’ve very happy, considering everything, to be second here.”

He added that his lunge to pass Lewis Hamilton – the move of the race – was his chance to regain the position he had lost when Ferrari pitted the Briton to create an undercut.

“I saw that opportunity as my only one and so I just went for it. We were good on the brakes so that helped! But, it was all under control.”

He was enigmatic about the quality of his car on Sunday after criticising it severely on Saturday when, after spinning in qualifying, he said it was “a big problem.”

READ: Despondent Max Verstappen questions his F1 future

“The weekend in general has been difficult, but when instead of the tyres degrading your car is degrading, then you have a big problem.”

“The car just kept getting worse and worse, lap after lap. So the more laps I did, it was just more and more difficult. We have to fix it because the car is undriveable like this.”

The team had abandoned an experimental ‘Macarena’ rear wing at the Belgian Grand Prix a week earlier when Verstappen described it as “super-dangerous” after crashes in Austria and Britain.

His descriptions of the car during Sunday’s race were laced with profanities.

The New York Mets have been dealt yet another blow on the injury front, this time with star Juan Soto exiting the game.

The Mets hosted the defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers — fresh off a White House visit — on Friday evening.

It was an eventful evening at the ballpark, as actress Emma Stone was there filming a movie and took some time to chat with Soto before the game.

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However, that may have been the highlight of the night for Soto.

The 27-year-old drew two walks, but partway through the sixth inning, the Mets took Soto out of the game.

The calf injury has been lingering for a while and has been on the Mets’ radar. In fact, it first surfaced on July 16. Soto was even given time off earlier this week to address it.

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Mets star Juan Soto left Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with left calf soreness. ((Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images))

Before the game, interim manager Andy Green even addressed it.

“It’s improving for him,” Green said, per MLB.com. “Hopefully after today, we don’t have to talk about it anymore.”

Unfortunately, they will, and on social media, Mets fans were trying to handle the latest bit of injury news.

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Soto was the only All-Star for the Mets this season, which underscores what a problem it is if he’s not in the lineup.

Juan Soto of the New York Mets walks back to the dugout after striking out in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 16, 2026. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Through 84 games this season, Soto is batting .283 with 83 hits and 21 home runs. He is in the second year of a 15-year, $765 million deal that he signed with the Mets in December 2024.

Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi are set to write the final chapter of one of WWE’s biggest rivalries of 2026. After splitting victories in their first two encounters, the two powerhouses are set to collide inside Hell in a Cell at SummerSlam. Thus, raising the stakes for what has already become a career-defining feud for the rising Nigerian star.

Oba shocked the WWE Universe by defeating Lesnar at WrestleMania 42, proving he belonged in the main-event scene. However, The Beast Incarnate bounced back later at Clash in Italy. Thus, ensuring that the score remains tied heading into SummerSlam. With everything on the line, Triple H could book another unforgettable moment that firmly establishes Femi as WWE’s next dominant attraction.

That said, in this article, we look at three shocking ways Oba Femi could defeat Brock Lesnar at WWE SummerSlam 2026.

#3. Oba Femi survives multiple F-5s before finally putting Brock Lesnar away

Brock Lesnar has built his legendary career by overwhelming opponents with unmatched explosiveness. Many of his biggest victories have come after a single F-5. Meanwhile, only a select few competitors have managed to survive repeated finishers from The Beast.

Thus, SummerSlam could present an opportunity for WWE to elevate Oba Femi into that exclusive category. The Ruler could simply refuse to stay down. Lesnar might connect with one F-5 after another, growing increasingly frustrated as his opponent continues kicking out. The Minneapolis crowd would likely become more invested with every near fall, sensing that they are witnessing the arrival of a new superstar.

The turning point could come when Brock Lesnar attempts a third or fourth F-5, only for Oba Femi to counter it into a devastating Fall From Grace before immediately following up with another crushing power move for the victory.

This ending would accomplish two major objectives. The Beast Incarnate would lose nothing because he had clearly dominated large stretches of the contest. Meanwhile, Femi would earn enormous credibility by surviving an assault that very few WWE Superstars have ever endured.

If Triple H wants fans to believe Oba belongs alongside Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Cody Rhodes as one of WWE’s elite attractions, having him overcome Lesnar’s most devastating offense would make the perfect statement.

#2. Oba Femi embraces the brutality of Hell in a Cell and outlasts The Beast

Hell in a Cell has always rewarded competitors who can adapt to extreme environments.

Although Brock Lesnar has participated in several violent stipulation matches throughout his career, Oba Femi has consistently shown that he thrives when physicality reaches another level. Their rivalry has already featured intense confrontations since Femi’s WrestleMania 42 upset victory. Thus, making a Cell match the ideal setting for the rubber match.

Instead of trying to wrestle The Beast Incarnate conventionally, The Ruler could fully embrace the unforgiving nature of the structure.

Imagine Oba repeatedly driving Lesnar into the steel walls, countering German Suplexes into crushing spinebusters against the Cell wall, and surviving every comeback attempt through sheer determination. The match would evolve into less of a wrestling contest and more of a war of endurance.

Late in the encounter, Brock Lesnar might even lock in the Kimura Lock, appearing moments away from forcing a submission. However, Oba Femi could use his incredible strength to power out, perhaps slam Lesnar through a table positioned inside the Cell, and hit one final Fall From Grace to secure the biggest victory of his career.

This ending would not only complete one of WWE’s most compelling rivalries of the year but would also symbolically mark the passing of the torch.

Defeating Brock Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell would instantly become the defining moment of Oba Femi’s career. It would validate his WrestleMania triumph and settle the trilogy once and for all. Also, it would establish him as one of WWE’s most dominant stars heading into the remainder of 2026.

Considering the company has invested heavily in presenting Femi as the company’s next breakout powerhouse, there may be no bigger stage or more convincing way to cement his arrival than by conquering The Beast Incarnate in one of the most brutal matches in WWE history.

#1. Paul Heyman betrays Brock Lesnar and helps Oba Femi score the biggest win of his career

Few moments in WWE history have been as shocking as Paul Heyman turning on one of his longtime clients. Although Heyman and Brock Lesnar have shared one of the most successful partnerships in wrestling history, SummerSlam 2026 could provide the perfect stage for an unexpected betrayal.

As the match reaches its climax, The Beast Incarnate could be moments away from victory after delivering an F-5 inside Hell in a Cell. However, instead of celebrating, The Oracle could create a shocking distraction.

Whether he pulls the referee out of the ring during the count or even strikes Lesnar with a low blow while the official is distracted, Heyman could leave the WWE Universe stunned. The betrayal would give Femi the opening he needs to deliver a thunderous Fall From Grace and pin The Beast clean in the middle of the ring.

Such a finish would instantly become one of the biggest moments of SummerSlam 2026. Also, it would open several intriguing storylines. Lesnar would seek revenge against his former advocate while Heyman introduces Oba Femi as WWE’s next unstoppable force.

For Femi, defeating Brock Lesnar with the backing of one of wrestling’s greatest masterminds would elevate him into the main-event scene. Also, it would cement him as one of Triple H’s biggest success stories of the year.