From the moment of her debut win, trainer John McArdle has envisioned Group 1 glory for capable filly My Gladiola.

Twice those visions were disrupted, initially by a bad draw in the Blue Diamond Stakes and then an inside post in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Flemington’s straight last spring.

Prospects look bright for My Gladiola in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington this coming Saturday.

My Gladiola takes the wide gate in the eight-horse field while McArdle seeks a third Group 1 success, his first after more than 20 years.

“The outside draw suits her better than being inside,” McArdle said.

“In the Coolmore she was drawn down on the inside and had to follow Tentyris, this time she should be in clean air all the way and he will need to chase her down.”

She has three prior runs up the straight, triumphing in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) and runner-up on the other occasions.

My Gladiola debuted successfully at Sandown but was defeated first-up at Caulfield last campaign, her trainer emphasising her preference for the Flemington straight over Caulfield’s turns.

This played into the decision for Saturday’s race rather than the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield next Saturday, plus Jamie Mott riding My Gladiola 0.5kg over her limit at 54kg.

Last seen third in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield mid-November, after a three-week let-up she geared up for these two prominent Flemington sprints, following with the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 7.

A further trial was ideal for McArdle’s liking for My Gladiola, yet a Tuesday gallop at Mornington indicated preparedness.

“Jamie galloped her on Tuesday morning and was happy with the way she went,” McArdle said.

“We put a mate out in front of her to give her something to chase and all the data was good.

“She’s probably a touch above her racing weight, but I think that’s because she’s matured and strengthen up a bit more.

“She’s a powerful girl, but we can’t be unhappy with the way she’s got to the races, so we’ll see if she’s good enough and if she is, and runs well, then we’ll head to the Newmarket.

“Jamie’s happy with her and he’s getting down to 54 kilos to ride her.

“That gives us some confidence.”

Fans looking to back My Gladiola can find competitive prices via online bookmakers for the Black Caviar Lightning.

The post my-gladiola-in-search-of-maiden-g1 first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

A top-5 showdown on Monday’s college basketball schedule has the Houston Cougars visiting the Iowa State Cyclones. The No. 3 Cougars (23-2, 11-1 Big 12) are riding a six-game win streak, sit atop the Big 12 standings and knocked off Kansas State, 78-64, on Saturday. No. 5 Iowa State (22-3, 9-3) has won six of its last seven and is coming off a double-digit Saturday win over No. 9 Kansas. These programs have split four all-time meetings.

Tipoff is at 9 p.m. ET from the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Iowa State vs. Houston odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 134.5. Before making any Houston vs. Iowa State picks, check out the men’s college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

New users can target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $200 in bonus bets if your $5+ bet wins:

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times and it enters Week 15 on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on an 11-5 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.

Now, the model has simulated Iowa State vs. Houston 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted men’s college basketball picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball betting lines for Houston vs. Iowa State:

New users can also target the latest Underdog promo code, good for $75 in fantasy bonus entries when you play $5 with the promo code CBSSPORTS2 in select states.

How to make Houston vs. Iowa State picks

SportsLine’s model has simulated Iowa State vs. Houston 10,000 times and is going Over on the total (135.5 points). Houston takes its offense to another level when facing a ranked opponent as the Over is 4-2 in Cougars games versus ranked squads. The Coogs offense, overall, is among the most efficient in the nation as no team commits fewer turnovers, which leads to more scoring opportunities.

As for ISU, there are few better shooting teams in all of college basketball. The Cyclones rank seventh 3-point percentage and 13th in field goal percentage, which allows it to possess the No. 12 offensive rating in the nation. With the potency of two proficient offenses, each team is forecasted to allow seven or more points than what it gives up on average. Thus, the Over hits with plenty of points to spare with simulations calling for 146 combined points. The total is eclipsed 80% of the time.

The model also says one side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Houston vs. Iowa State, and which side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Iowa State vs. Houston spread to back, all from the advanced model that has simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.

The second year pf the new format of the UEFA Champions League, brought plenty of chaos on the final day of the league phase as 18 matches kicked off at the same time. Storylines can get muddled along the way during a jam-packed period of action but one stood out above the rest, fully embodying the drama of the day.

Real Madrid started the day well-positioned to finish in the top eight and book a direct spot in the round of 16, a favorable match against a Benfica team who were poised for elimination awaiting them. The script fully flipped, though — Benfica came out with an improbable 4-2 win, rounded out by a red card for Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio and the final goal of the game coming from shot-stopper Anatoliy Trubin. Benfica, coached by ex-Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, snuck their way into the knockout phase playoffs while Los Blancos were doomed to play another two games in the hopes of booking a spot in the last 16.

It makes for an unusual but perfect set-up for a rematch three weeks later, a painful reward for Benfica despite their hard work and a golden opportunity for Real Madrid to fully put that Matchday 8 defeat behind them.

How to watch Benfica vs. Real Madrid, odds

• Date: Tuesday, Feb. 16 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Location: Estadio da Luz — Lisbon, Portugal
• Live stream: Paramount+
• Odds: Benfica +280; Draw +290; Real Madrid -115

Get ready for the Knockout Stage like never before with the UEFA Champions League Bracket Games! Create a pool to compete against friends or enter our Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a dream trip to London, including 2 UCL tickets and a tour of the UCL Today set! Plus, see how you stack up against UCL Today’s own Jamie and Micah. Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 draw, or play on the CBS Sports App!

“They are wounded,” Mourinho said in his pre-match remarks on Monday, “and a wounded king is dangerous. We will play the first leg with our heads, with ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League … Real Madrid is Real Madrid, with history, knowledge, ambition. The only comparable thing is that we are two giants. Beyond that, there is nothing else. But football has this power and we can win.”

The circumstances could see Mourinho change his approach from the teams’ last meeting, too. Benfica were more forward-thinking than usual in their win over Los Blancos, in large part because they simply needed to score to even have a shot at advancing, but the calculus is usually different over a two-legged tie. A team can attempt to grind the opponent down in an attempt to lock their attack out, something Mourinho teams have done time and time again. Benfica’s attack-focused approach on Matchday 8 was atypical to their Champions League experiences since Mourinho took over after a Matchday 1 loss to Qarabag – they performed well above their average of 14.1 shots per game and 1.5 expected goals, instead taking 22 shots and generating 3.01 expected goals. Even with the 3-2 defeat to Qarabag factored in, Benfica are a solid defensive side – they have conceded just 10.1 nonpenalty expected goals against in eight games.

The question, then, is if this imperfect version of Real Madrid can find a way to break through a tough defense. Even in a season full of ups and downs, it feels hard to bet against the Spanish giants. They rank inside the Champions League’s top five for goals with 21 and expected goals with 18.99, their sheer ability to score papering over a handful of cracks. That is especially true since Xabi Alonso’s January ouster as the coach, his mission to build a more balanced Real Madrid abandoned despite the progress he made. Since Alvaro Arbeloa took charge, Los Blancos have fully switched to a strategy in which Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior share the field at the same time, kicking the can down the road on the longstanding question about the pair’s compatibility.

Both in Spain and in Europe, Real Madrid’s inherent attacking might is enough to survive their own inconsistencies and notch enough wins to keep them in the conversation for silverware. Mbappe himself is on pace for a career-best season with 39 goals across all competitions so far, while Vinicius has delivered since Arbeloa took charge with four goals and two assists in his last seven matches. Individually, the pair are a cheat code as Los Blancos continue to sort through their issues and will be enough of a challenge for Benfica’s defense over the next week and change.

The team, though, has received a boost in the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who notched his first start since December in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday. He will provide some attacking balance for a team that is at times overly reliant on Mbappe, already providing a preview of what’s to come with an assist over the weekend. The England international is a uniquely creative player as a right back, though his range of passing and positional awareness means he can kickstart an attack from just about every area of the pitch.

For all their flaws, Real Madrid have a perfect opportunity to put a sizable loss behind them, even if they are still unwilling to answer the big problems that plague their squad – and their pursuit of trophies, for that matter.

Jaron Ennis has been presented with an alternative option, against a former undisputed champion, while his potential clash with Vergil Ortiz Jr hangs in the balance.

The two super-welterweight contenders have been deep in negotiations for several weeks, hoping to finalise a deal for their showdown to take place in April.

Such a desirable outcome, however, has become increasingly unlikely, with Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya having seemingly thrown a spanner in the works.

It was reported by Uncrowned last week that a Nevada judge has granted Golden Boy Promotions’ emergency motion for a temporary restraining order against Ortiz, preventing the boxer from entering into third-party contracts.

The 27-year-old exercised his right to terminate their promotional agreement last month, though it appears that Ortiz – amid Golden Boy’s ongoing negotiations with DAZN – is still expected to uphold the terms of his contract.

While this situation continues to develop, former unified world welterweight champion Ennis could be on the hunt for a new opponent.

One man who is angling to face the 28-year-old at 154lbs is Jermell Charlo, who has not fought since his points defeat to Canelo Alvarez in September 2023.

But despite his inactivity, ‘Iron Man’ has sent a message to Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, via a recent interview with Cigar Talk.

“Hello, Eddie. Please answer my DMs [direct messages] if you see this message: I want you to set up something between me and your best fighter, ‘Boots’.

“Business-wise, we’ve got to make it happen. I’m not a friend to none of these motherf***ers.”

Charlo became an undisputed super-welterweight champion in 2022, following his victory over Brian Castano, which preceded the American’s wide unanimous decision defeat to Alvarez.

Ennis, meanwhile, has had just one outing at 154lbs, a first-round finish over Uisma Lima in October, since unifying the IBF and WBA welterweight titles against Eimantas Stanionis earlier last year.