The training duo of Gary and Nichole Searle from South Australia, joined by daughter Brianna Callanan, have Melbourne Cup aspirations for their stayer Sir Kingsford.

Winning the Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) on Saturday at Flemington provides the champion with a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption for the prestigious November race.

During Sir Kingsford’s previous Flemington visit, Nichole Searle witnessed the Andrew Ramsden vibe when The Map won the Melbourne Cup qualifier in 2024.

Searle made the journey alongside co-trainer Oopy MacGillivray for The Map and shared in the post-victory joy, despite not seeing the mare cross the line on track.

“Sir Kingsford ran earlier in the day, so I travelled over with Oopy and I know a few of the owners that live out Mallala way,” Searle said.

“There was this hype around her, and everyone was so excited, that she was going there, and then when she won, the hype in South Australia was just fantastic.

“I wasn’t there when the horse won, but when Oopy got back, we were out at Ballarat, we had a pretty good night of celebrations.”

Sir Kingsford’s team was fired up by The Map’s achievement to seek their own major target.

The stayer claimed victory in last year’s Port Adelaide Cup before being spelled after a tough preparation.

Sir Kingsford now heads into his sixth race of this season.

“We all want to try and emulate something like that, getting to a nice big race,” Searle said.

“Sir Kingsford is probably the sort of horse that can take that step, take us to a nice race.

“Hopefully, the Andrew Ramsden is that on Saturday.”

Sir Kingsford was runner-up to Alainge, another Andrew Ramsden contender, in the Port Adelaide Cup held at Morphettville on May 2.

Searle indicated Sir Kingsford has bounced back strongly since then, including a recent gallop under Saturday rider Teegan Voorham.

“He’s had a few trips across now, so the travel shouldn’t bother him,” Searle said.

“He always eats pretty well, so fingers crossed all goes well with him.

“We thought we’d have a throw at the stumps and see where we land.”

Discover competitive racing odds for the Andrew Ramsden Stakes among top betting sites.

Aaron Rodgers is indeed coming back for a 22nd season in the NFL. The future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year contract, according to CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. The deal includes $22 million guaranteed and is worth up to $25 million, per NFL Media.

Rodgers is expected to participate when the team kicks off its organized team activities (OTAs) on Monday.

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The Steelers, who recently placed the rare right of first refusal tender on Rodgers, were optimistic he would eventually join them, despite it taking him until May to formally decide. 

Rodgers, 42, signed a one-year deal with the Steelers last season following a tumultuous two years with the Jets. During his first season in Pittsburgh, Rodgers proved he is still capable of playing at a high level. He went 10-7 as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback (including the postseason) while helping the Steelers win their first division title since 2020. 

Aaron Rodgers return may frustrate fans, but Steelers made right call for 2026 and beyond

Bryan DeArdo

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This Steelers team is vastly different. For starters, there’s a new coach in town: Mike McCarthy, who won a Super Bowl with Rodgers in 2010. McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin, who stepped down one day after Pittsburgh’s season-ending loss to the Texans in the AFC wild card round. 

Pittsburgh also underwent some notable roster turnover. Gone is team MVP Kenneth Gainwell (and a Rodgers favorite) after the veteran running back signed with the Buccaneers in free agency. The Steelers replaced him with Rico Dowdle, who just compiled his second-straight 1,000-yard rushing season.

The Steelers acquired former Colts receiver Michael Pittman and rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard, who was Alabama’s leading receiver each of the past two seasons. Both players should make life infinitely easier for Rodgers and DK Metcalf in the quest to limit double teams in pass coverage. 

During the draft, the Steelers added another quarterback into the mix when they selected former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round. Pittsburgh’s quarterback room, for now, also consists of 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard and veteran Mason Rudolph. 

Despite Pittsburgh’s lack of weaponry at receiver last season (a weakness further magnified by Metcalf’s two-game suspension), Rodgers played well enough to help the Steelers go 10-7 during the regular season. He opened the season with a four-touchdown performance while leading Pittsburgh to a win over his former team, the Jets. Rodgers ended the regular season by throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III against the Ravens that ultimately sealed a division title and playoff spot for Pittsburgh. 

Rodgers’ lowlights last year included a Week 13 loss to the Bills, during which he sustained at least three fractures in his non-throwing (left) wrist. Despite the injury, Rodgers missed just one game. The injury appeared to make Rodgers even more wary of getting hit, leading to quicker passes and questions about his reluctance to let Myles Garrett break the single-season sack record at his expense during Pittsburgh’s Week 17 loss in Cleveland. 

Rodgers passed former teammate Brett Favre for fourth all-time in touchdown passes. Rodgers is just 13 touchdown passes away from passing Peyton Manning for third on the all-time list. He is fifth all-time with 66,274 passing yards, which is 5,564 yards behind Favre, who is fourth all-time. 

Rodgers won four MVP awards from 2011-21 while cementing his status as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. He has yet to get back to a Super Bowl, however, which is the biggest blemish in an otherwise remarkable career. In 2026, Rodgers will try to climb the mountaintop once again. 

Most runs vs an opponent in the IPL

1189* – Virat Kohli vs PBKS (Avg: 37.15)

1174 – Virat Kohli vs CSK (Avg: 37.87)

1172 – Virat Kohli vs DC (Avg: 48.83)

1161 – Rohit Sharma vs KKR (Avg: 40.03)

1134 – David Warner vs PBKS (Avg: 49.3)

1126 – Virat Kohli vs KKR (Avg: 45.04)

The Grand Finals of the Free Fire Max Asia Invitational (FFMAI) 2026 Spring is all set to be played on May 17, 2026. The top 12 teams from the Group Stage will be seen fighting in this high-octane clash for the trophy. The tournament features a total prize pool of $50,000, of which $15,000 will be awarded to the winners of this phase.

The Group Stage of the FFMAI 2026 was hosted from May 14 to 16. A total of 18 teams, divided into three groups, competed in 12 matches each. The first-to-12th ranked squads on the overall points table entered the Grand Finals. The 13th-to-18th-placed teams faced elimination from the Asia Invitational 2026.

Qualified teams for FFMAI 2026 Spring Grand Finals

Here are the names of the 12 finalists:

1. Dewa United Horus (Indonesia)
2. Team Hind (India)
3. Expand (Malaysia)
4. Autobotz Esports (India)
5. Straw Hats Esports (Bangladesh)
6. NXT Esports (India)
7. Team Akkee (Thailand)
8. Total Gaming Esports (India)
9. Horaa Esports (Nepal)
10. GodLike Esports (India)
11. Revenant XSpark (India)
12. Extreme Ex (Bangladesh)

How to watch

Fans can enjoy all matches of the Grand Finals live on the YouTube channel of Free Fire Max Esports India Official from 6:30 pm onwards on May 17, 2026.

Indonesia’s Dewa United displayed its supremacy in the Group Stage of the FFMAI 2026 Spring, scoring more than 250 points in 12 matches. The squad won three Booyahs and clinched 181 eliminations in the previous stage, reflecting their dominance. Dewa United will be one the top teams to follow in the Grand Finals.

India’s Team Hind was the second-best performer in the Group Stage of the FFMAI. The squad recently clinched the FFMIC 2026 Spring after an astonishing run. This team will now try its best to secure another tittle.

Expand from Malaysia and Autobotz from India also had a decent run in the Group Stage, as they came third and fourth in the overall standings. Both teams have played well in their respective regional events in the past.

Straw Hats from Bangladesh displayed commedable performances in its last six matches of the Group Stage and managed to finish into the top-five. Notably, the team recently came out victorious in the Free Fire Bangladesh Pro Season 2.

Popular Indian organizations Total Gaming and GodLike saw a mediocre run in the Group Stage. Revenant XSpark, who’d played remarkably in the SA Play-Ins, struggled in the Group Stage of the FFMAI. These squads will aim to find their rhythm in the Grand Finals.