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Cote Atlantique primed for 2026 Aurie’s Star Handicap as trainer plots spring campaign

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Close-up of a man wearing a gray cap and jacket, speaking outdoors.

Trainer Henry Dwyer is counting on Cote Atlantique’s retained fitness to ensure a strong first-up performance in Saturday’s Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

The Irish-bred import is returning after a series of races in Victoria, New Zealand, and Brisbane, with Dwyer believing the gelding has progressed optimally through his winter preparation.

Dwyer observed Cote Atlantique’s final workout at Ballarat on Tuesday prior to his own departure for the United Kingdom, where his stable’s prominent runner, Asfoora, is slated to compete in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on Friday night (Melbourne time).

Cote Atlantique delivered several commendable performances during his initial Victorian season, finishing second to the future Group 1 winner Sepals at Caulfield. He followed this with a fourth-place finish behind Evaporate and Transatlantic at Sandown, a duo that subsequently claimed the quinella in the Toorak Handicap.

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He also secured a notable victory in the Seymour Cup, defeating the highly-rated Saint George.

Dwyer felt the gelding experienced some ill fortune during his Brisbane campaign but noted that the primary advantage was escaping the harsh Ballarat winter climate.

“He’s fully acclimatised now and he’s had the winter up in Brisbane just to get him out of the cold at Ballarat,” Dwyer remarked. “He was a bit unlucky in a couple of runs up there and he probably should have won a couple with even luck. He’s a good, genuine, honest sort of horse. I think about Listed, Group 3 class. He had those runs up there, he’s had a really light four weeks between runs. He had a gallop on Tuesday, which was pretty much his only gallop in four weeks, but he has good residual fitness.”

“We thought we’d give him a run down the straight and then there’s a nice 1400-metre Listed race, the Leon Macdonald Stakes, in Adelaide three weeks later. It’s a weight-for-age race, he’s rated 100, so it’s a bit hard to place him, but he seems in good order.”

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Dwyer stated that the stable intends to carefully select races for Cote Atlantique throughout the spring, aiming for events that best suit the consistent galloper.

“It’s a long spring ahead and there’s plenty of options for him,” Dwyer said. “We’ll find the weakest races we can. He’s been very consistent without winning a lot of races in his time here. I think he’s best at 1400 metres with the blinkers on, so I don’t know if we’ll stretch him out to the mile again. He just gets the mile, but he wants soft tracks too.”

In other news, Dwyer has joined Asfoora in England after the mare arrived in Newmarket on Wednesday, preparing for her Group 2 assignment at Goodwood. This marked the trainer’s initial opportunity to see the mare since her last-place finish in a Group 3 race at Sandown on July 4.

“She seems good,” Dwyer confirmed. “She had 10 days in the paddock after Sandown and is 10 days back in work. She looks terrific. She’s sound, there’s nothing wrong with her. She can run on Friday and hopefully run well and then most likely go to stud.”

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Myles Garrett and Will Anderson Jr. turn LA Rams and Houston Texans into space eaters in our weekly top-5 NFL defensive line tiers

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30 July 2026

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Welcome back to our summer tracking series, where we take an in-depth look at some of the best talent in the NFL before the 2026 regular season begins. After ranking the best offensive lines last week, we turn our attention toward the defensive lines this week.

An defensive line’s key role is to stop opposing offense’s running plays and rush the quarterback on passing plays. They serve as the first line of defense and are a critical group for ever team. Here, we rank the five best defensive lines in the NFL for the 2026 season.

Tier 2: The Elite Operators

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#5. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers boast a solid defensive line heading into the upcoming season. We have them at No. 5 on our list.

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The Steelers’ defense will be led by veteran T.J. Watt. The eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end has recorded 115.0 sacks since the team drafted him in 2017.

Moreover, with Keanu Benton, Cameron Ward and Alex Highsmith, the Steelers have forged a formidable rearguard.

#4. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos‘ defensive line has garnered some attention in the past few seasons. They are ranked at No. 4 on our list.

Denver’s star defensive end Zach Allen, who has been with the team for three seasons, is expected to play a key role for the franchise in the upcoming season. He has posted 32.0 sacks since being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019.

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Moreover, Denver also has Eyioma Uwazurike, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach as a defensive line that works well in a group.

#3. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have arguably the most balanced defensive line in the league for the upcoming season. We’ve ranked them at No. 3.

The Eagles’ defensive will be led by two-time Pro Bowler Jalen Carter. The defensive tackle has recorded 108 tackles and13.5 sacks in three seasons with the franchise.

Philly’s defensive line is also boosted by Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo and Nolan Smith Jr., all of whom played key roles in helping the team win the Super Bowl in 2025.

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Tier 1: The Gold Standard

#2. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have become a force in the past few seasons due to their defensive line. We’ve ranked them at No. 2 on our list.

Will Anderson Jr. has grown into a key player for the franchise since Houston drafted him in 2023. The defensive end has racked up 136 tackles and 30.0 sacks in the past three seasons.

The Texans also have Logan Hall, Sheldon Rankins and Danielle Hunter that operates in a solid system.

#1. LA Rams

The LA Rams appear to have the most dominant defensive line in the NFL as we enter the 2026 season. We have ranked them at No. 1.

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The Rams acquired defensive end Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade this offseason. Garrett, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time Pro Bowler, set the record for the most sacks in a season (23.0) when he played for the Cleveland Browns last season.

With Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner and Byron Young filling up the defensive line, the Rams are considered on of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl.

Garrett and the Rams lead this week’s defensive line efficiency rankings. However, our list could change in the coming weeks, depending on the preseason performances and other factors. Stay tuned for our next edition, in which we will shed light on a different position on the gridiron.