Hockey fans on social media reacted as Team USA booked its spot in the gold medal game at the Olympics.
On Friday, the United States delivered a dominant performance, defeating Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinal. Team USA will now battle for gold against rival Team Canada, which edged Finland 3-2 in a thrilling comeback victory.
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This will be the second straight high-stakes final between the USA and Canada after the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. Here’s how fans on X (formerly called Twitter) reacted.
One tweeted:
“Let’s go team USA! We need this win, so we can make Canada cry for a second time in a matter of a few days.”
“USA vs Canada for a gold medal is a travesty for the sport of hockey.”
Here are some of the other top reactions on X:
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“Women’s hockey just ain’t for me. All due respect to these lovely ladies but this USA vs Canada gold medal match has been BRUTAL. Are they skating with cement filled boots or something?” a third fan wrote.
“Watching the Canadians cry after losing is satisfying now. I never would have felt that way before Trudeau & Carney,” one X user wrote.
“And against Canada….Wouldn’t want it any other way. Go get the gold, boys!!” another chimed in.
“All that for Midtthews to lose another winner take all game,” added another.
Team USA advanced to the gold medal game after defeating Slovakia 6-2 in semifinal at Olympics
Dylan Larkin opened the scoring for the United States after putting them ahead 1-0 at 4:19 of the first period. With less than a minute remaining in the period, Tage Thompson scored on the power play to make it 2-0 before heading into the second period.
Jack Hughes scored at 12:14 of the second period to increase the lead to 3-0. Jack Eichel made it 4-0 at 12:33, before Hughes scored his second of the night to make it 5-0 for Team USA before the final period.
Juraj Slafkovsky scored for Team Slovakia, cutting the deficit to 5-1 at 4:55 of the third period. Brady Tkachuk scored at 10:52 to make it 6-1 for the United States. Pavel Regenda scored for Slovakia at 13:17 for the final scoreline of 6-2.
Team USA will be up against Team Canada for the Olympic gold medal game on Sunday.
KKR defeated SRH to win the IPL 2024 title (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
NEW DELHI: Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have revealed their new jersey ahead of the IPL 2026 season.Speaking during the jersey launch, Venky Mysore, Chief Executive Officer of Knight Riders Sports, said: “The Lines of Legacy captures the essence of KKR’s storied history and celebrates the journey of the team over the years. Each line represents a pivotal moment of brilliance, reflecting the energy and spirit that weaves together to form our identity. We are proud of this legacy that we have built and want to carry it into the upcoming season while creating more memories for our fans to cherish.”
EXCLUSIVE: Rahul Dravid on iconic Eden Gardens win against Australia in 2001
Talking about the campaign film built around the new kit, Binda Dey, Chief Marketing Officer of Knight Riders Sports, said: “Through our ‘Kya Line Hai?’ campaign film featuring actor Rajat Bedi and comedian Anirban Dasgupta, and other popular creators from Kolkata, we wanted to bring the idea of the ‘Lines of Legacy’ to life and celebrate the iconic moments that define KKR’s journey. The campaign invites fans to be part of that story as we head into a new season. By collaborating with local Kolkata influencers and creators, we’re bringing the legacy of the team to fans in a fun and authentic way.”KKR have lifted the trophy on three occasions — in 2012, 2014 and 2024.
In a touching moment that brought warmth to the entire wedding party, Sara Tendulkar shared a heartfelt message for her sister-in-law, Saaniya Chandok, as she married Arjun Tendulkar. Speaking amid cheers and claps from the guests, Sara expressed just how much Saaniya means to her, saying, “Saaniya, you are the sister I always wanted but never had.” She went on to explain that their bond goes beyond traditional titles, adding that Saaniya is “truly more like a sister to me than a sister-in-law.”
This sense of belonging has clearly been around for a long time. Sara mentioned a beautiful thought from her mother, telling Saaniya, “Like my mother said, I cannot welcome you to the family because you have already been a part of this family for so many years.”
Since Saaniya is already such a loved member of the inner circle, Sara felt certain that the future would be bright. She continued her emotional speech by saying, “I am sure your transition is gonna be extremely smooth because everybody loves you and showers you with all the affection in the world.”
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The most moving part of the speech focused on the deep love Sara has for her brother Arjun. Recalling what she had mentioned previously, she told the crowd, “As I said at your engagement, my brother is my whole entire heart. And now, my heart belongs to you, Saaniya. So please look after him, love him, cherish him, take care of him, and I am sure he will do the same for you.”
Sara ended her tribute with a shower of good English wishes for the couple’s new life together. She concluded by saying, “I love you both. I wish you all the love, abundance, happiness, and everything in the world.”
Sara Tendulkar Emotional speech for Arjun Tendulkar and Saaniya
Another day, another improbable win by No. 15 seed Ole Miss. That’s been the main storyline of the SEC Tournament qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqNashville this week. The Rebels pulled off yet another upset on Friday, this time over No. 2 seed Alabama, to become the second SEC team to win three games to reach the semifinals.
The 80-79 win over Alabama marked Ole Miss’ third win and three days after winning just four games against SEC competition during the regular season. Ole Miss doesn’t have a case for an at-large bid, but two more wins and the Rebels are in the Big Dance.
No. 1 seed Florida began the day with a 71-63 win over No. 9 seed Kentucky, which was followed shortly after by No. 4 seed Vanderbilt advancing to the semifinals with a 75-68 win over No. 5 seed Tennessee.
The semifinals are now set. Ole Miss will face Arkansas after the Razorbacks pulled off a 82-79 win over No. 11 seed Oklahoma behind another standout performance from star guard Darius Acuff Jr. Florida will play Vanderbilt on the other side of the bracket.
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The winners of those games will play for the SEC title on Sunday.
Get up-to-date results, plus what they mean for the NCAA Tournament bubble and seeding with our CBS Sports Bracketology LIVE BLOG.
2026 SEC Tournament bracket, scores
Location: Bridgestone Arena — Nashville, Tennessee Live stream:fuboTV (Try for free) | Follow live:CBS Sports App
All times Eastern; some start times approximated
Quarterfinals — Friday, March 13 Game 9: No. 1 Florida 71, No. 9 Kentucky 63 | Recap Game 10: No. 4 Vanderbilt 75, No. 5 Tennessee 68 | Recap Game 11: No. 15 Ole Miss 80, No. 2 Alabama 80 | Recap Game 12: No. 3 Arkansas 82, No. 11 Oklahoma 79 | Recap
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Semifinals — Saturday, March 14 Game 13: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt | 1 p.m. on ESPN Game 14: No. 15 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Arkansas | 25 minutes after Game 13 on ESPN
SEC Tournament Championship Game — Sunday, March 15 Game 13: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner | 1 p.m. on ESPN
2026 SEC Tournament scores, results
First round — Wednesday, March 11 Game 1: No. 9 Kentucky 87, No. 16 LSU 82 | Recap Game 2: No. 12 Auburn 77, No. 13 Mississippi State 61 | Recap Game 3: No. 15 Ole Miss 76, No. 10 Texas 66 | Recap Game 4: No. 11 Oklahoma 86, No. 14 South Carolina 74 | Recap
Second round — Thursday, March 12 Game 5: No. 9 Kentucky 78, No. 8 Missouri 72 | Recap Game 6: No. 5 Tennessee 72, No. 12 Auburn 62 | Recap Game 7: No. 15 Ole Miss 76, No. 7 Georgia 72 | Recap Game 8: No. 11 Oklahoma 83, No. 6 Texas A&M 63 | Recap
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) fires a pass downfield during second-half action against the Cleveland Browns, Oct. 17, 2021, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Murray guided Arizona’s high-powered offense in a matchup that showcased his mobility and quick release against Cleveland’s defensive pressure throughout the afternoon contest. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings have a new quarterback in Kyler Murray, and a new CB3 in James Pierre, and relative quietness aside from that. But the rumor mill never stays dormant.
The rumor mill touches the draft, future assets, and one major defender.
Minnesota will enter the second wave of free agency as early as now, and here’s what to know about current rumors in the meantime.
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What’s Circulating in the Vikings Rumor Mill Right Now
The Purple Rumor Mill for March 14th, 2026.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love arrives at Notre Dame Stadium and greets fans while walking along the entry path before kickoff, creating a buzz around the venue on Oct. 11, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana, ahead of the Fighting Irish’s matchup with NC State as supporters gather outside the historic stadium awaiting the afternoon contest. Mandatory Credit: MICHAEL CLUBB-South Bend Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Rumor: The Vikings could find a way to draft Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah seems to have the whole thing mapped out. Maybe the Vikings should consider adding him to the front office.
He said on Move the Sticksthis week, “If you’re a Minnesota Vikings fan and you look up next year and you’ve got Kyler Murray at quarterback, you’ve got Justin Jefferson, and you’ve got Jordan Addison, and, you’re sitting there with pick No. 18, and you look at the way this draft is shaking out, and you look at a team like Washington, who’s picking seventh. Washington, at that point in time, they do not have a second-round pick.”
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“They do not have a fourth-round pick. They only have six picks overall. I think there’s a way Minnesota could get from 18 to 7 without even parting with next year’s 1. I think they have two threes this year; it could be a second-round pick next year.”
This is code for a Jeremiyah Love trade.
The idea spread quickly among purple fans because it is semi-realistic. Minnesota basically has to hope that Love tumbles down the draftboard on April 23rd — or the Vikings trade up for a running back, which is considered taboo.
Regardless, the Murray part of Jeremiah’s endorsement is in the bag. He signed with the club on Thursday evening.
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Rumor: Minnesota will once again draft at the top of the compensatory pick process.
Comp picks are in. NBC Sports’ Charean Williams explained the details Monday, writing, “The NFL announced 33 compensatory draft selections in the 2026 draft awarded to 15 teams. Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible for compensatory draft picks. The compensatory picks are positioned within the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost.”
“In addition to the 32 compensatory selections awarded under the net-loss formula, a special compensatory selection was awarded to the Lions for the Jets hiring Aaron Glenn as their head coach. The initiative is intended to promote minority hirings. The Lions traded the pick to the Jaguars.”
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold celebrates on the stage while holding the NFC Championship trophy following Seattle’s victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 25, 2026, at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, as teammates and coaches look on after the Seahawks clinched the conference title and punched their ticket to the Super Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Like last year, Minnesota will have the first compensatory pick of the draft. In 2025, that was due to Kirk Cousins’s departure for Atlanta. This go-round, it’s the fruit of the Sam Darnold trip to Seattle.
So, yes, this is the Vikings’ one chance to salvage their reputation with the Darnold debacle.
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Last year, they used the Cousins comp pick on wide receiver Tai Felton.
Rumor: The Eagles want Jonathan Greenard via trade.
Greenard is suddenly the top EDGE on the trade market with Maxx Crosby remaining with the Raiders and Trey Hendrickson signing in Baltimore.
NFL writer Evan Sidery tweeted Wednesday, “With Trey Hendrickson now off the board, teams who were pursuing him now plan to pivot towards a trade for Jonathan Greenard. The Colts, Cowboys, Eagles, and Seahawks figure to be in the mix with the price being a 2026 Day 2 pick.”
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The Athletic’s Alec Lewis added on the same day: “Definitely worth watching Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard with Trey Hendrickson off the board. Multiple NFC teams have been in the market for edge rushers. Vikings haven’t wanted to trade Greenard unless they get a premium return that meets their price tag.”
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard reacts after recording a sack during second-half action against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at U.S. Bank Stadium as the veteran defender energizes the home crowd with a key pass-rushing play that helped Minnesota’s defense clamp down late in the divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted, “Amid the Maxx Crosby-Trey Hendrickson news, a reminder that the Vikings have been open to trading their top pass rusher, Jonathan Greenard. Doesn’t necessarily have to happen by today’s 4 p.m. ET start of the new league year, or at all, but it’s a timeframe worth watching.”
Who might be looking for an EDGE of Greenard’s caliber?
Atlanta Falcons
Dallas Cowboys
Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots
Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Commanders
If the Vikings are serious about contending for a Super Bowl in 2026, it’s worth noting that they might want to keep Greenard. Serious teams don’t usually get rid of pass-rushing talent.
Ireland are firmly in the mix, too, and welcome the Scots to Dublin on the final day having beaten their visitors in their last 11 meetings.
France’s snatching of a four-try bonus point in defeat in Edinburgh could well prove crucial, with Les Bleus in control of their own destiny as they host England in Paris in the final fixture of the campaign.
Not only will Fabien Galthie’s side know what they have to do by virtue of playing last, but their vastly superior points difference means a bonus-point win would surely secure them the title.
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Scotland, though, will look to put the pressure on earlier in the day. A bonus point win in Dublin would mean that France could not afford to slip up, or even win without a bonus point.
Ireland, meanwhile, will require a helping hand. A win against Scotland would likely put them top of the table (barring a scenario in which they win by two points or fewer, fail to score four tries and Scotland take two losing bonus points in defeat). Andy Farrell and his squad will then hope that England do them a favour by beating France in Paris.
The winner of the wooden spoon is not yet totally certain, either, though such a large points difference swing is required for Wales to usurp England that it is mathematically highly unlikely.
Should two teams finish level on points and points difference, the next tiebreaker would be the higher number of total tries in the tournament.
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Six Nations table
Played
Wins
Draws
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Losses
Points Difference
Points
1. France
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4
3
0
1
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+79
16
2. Scotland
4
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3
0
1
+21
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16
3. Ireland
4
2
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0
2
+16
14
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4. Italy
4
2
0
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2
-24
9
5. England
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4
1
0
3
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+4
6
6. Wales
4
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0
0
4
-96
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1
Six Nations Super Saturday fixtures
Saturday 14 March: Ireland vs Scotland (2.10pm, Dublin)
Saturday 14 March: Wales vs Italy (4.40pm, Cardiff)
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Saturday 14 March: France vs England (8.10pm, Paris)
Mar 12, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright (51) skates against Colorado Avalancheforward Jack Drury (18) during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Despite a 2-6-0 record since the Olympic break, the Seattle Kraken somehow held on to the Western Conference’s second and final wild-card playoff spot.
That is, until Thursday night.
The Kraken suffered a 5-1 home loss to Colorado while San Jose won at Boston, putting the Sharks into a postseason position.
Seattle will look to regain that spot and its momentum when it plays Saturday at Vancouver, a squad which has the fewest points in the league.
“We’re falling out of the playoffs right now, so (we’ve) got to figure it out and hopefully claw our way back,” Kraken center Chandler Stephenson said. “Put some points together.”
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This will be the fourth and final regular-season meeting between Cascadia rivals. The teams split shootout decisions on Dec. 29 and Jan. 2, the Canucks winning the former 3-2 in Seattle and the Kraken taking the latter 4-3 in Vancouver.
The host Kraken won 5-1 on Feb. 28 as captain Jordan Eberle had two goals and an assist, Stephenson contributed a goal and two assists and Joey Daccord made 27 saves.
That last matchup opened a six-game homestand for the Kraken. They followed that up with an emotional 2-1 victory against Eastern Conference-leading Carolina, but have lost four straight since.
The Kraken allowed three first-period goals against Colorado on 15 shots, with coach Lane Lambert pulling Daccord after 20 minutes.
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“It was not any reflection on Joey,” Lambert said. “Our team needed a wake-up call.
“You can’t spot that team that many goals. We’ve gotta wake up. We’re doing things that are absolutely mind-boggling to me. It’s gotta stop.”
The Kraken are still awaiting the debut of forward Bobby McMann, acquired from Toronto at the March 6 NHL trade deadline. McMann’s visa paperwork is still being processed.
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“It’s extremely disappointing right now, the uncertainty,” said Lambert, who is familiar with McMann from his time as a Maple Leafs assistant prior to joining the Kraken this season. “We traded for him for a reason, to help our hockey club. Having him not be available to help our hockey team hurts our hockey team.”
The Canucks are 2-4-2 since the Olympic break after a 4-3 shootout victory Thursday against visiting Nashville.
Defenseman Filip Hronek scored the tying goal with 1:01 remaining in regulation as Vancouver rallied from a 3-1 deficit.
“We needed this one,” said Hronek, who also had an assist. “We entered the game with a really good effort and then somehow we got scored on. I’m really happy that we didn’t give up and battled back.”
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Marco Rossi had a goal and two assists, Brock Boeser added one of each and Nikita Tolopilo made 16 saves — then stopped all three Nashville tries in the shootout.
Jake DeBrusk converted his shootout attempt to give the Canucks the victory.
“It’s a boost of confidence, for sure,” Hronek said. “It’s never fun to keep losing so it’s really good that we get that taste of winning. Hopefully we can build on it.”
Canucks forward Evander Kane returned Thursday after missing one game with an upper-body injury.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — As the action around the 7th tee box at the Players Championship ground to a screeching halt, Ludvig Aberg and Si Woo Kim stood near a bushel of trees and waited.
And waited.
All told, the twosome of Kim and Aberg spent more than 20 minutes on the tee box on No. 7, the longest wait of any players through the opening two days at this Players Championship. The two men took to the occasion appropriately: Kim, who quietly stopped for a cigarette break under a canopy of palms, and Aberg, who stood out in the sunshine as he stared off into the horizon stoically.
“Yeah, it was a challenge for sure,” Aberg said later. “It’s no secret that I’m a fast player and I like it fast.”
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In golf as in life, the waiting is the hardest part. Tom Petty knew it when he wrote the song that first coined the phrase, “The Waiting,” in 1981. That song and album, Hard Promises, helped propel Petty into his crowning moment as one of the greatest musicians of his time. All that waiting proved helpful — Petty eventually grew famous enough that people listened to him while they waited, which included a few thousand fans in the horrifyingly large merchandise center at TPC Sawgrass on Friday afternoon.
Inside the merch tent or inside the ropes, it’s hard to keep your patience at TPC Sawgrass. A victory at the Players Championship can change the course of your life, as Kim knows all too well. He won here as a 21-year-old in 2017, becoming the youngest champion in tournament history and charting the course of a PGA Tour career that will celebrate the decade mark in 2026.
“I was just surviving after the first year [on Tour],” Kim said Friday. “This Tour is not easy to survive every year. It was a huge win.”
The problem is that career-altering victories — crowning victories — like Kim’s have not arrived often at the Players. The last three winners of the tournament have all belonged to the two best players on earth, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, and not since Cameron Smith’s propulsive win in 2022 has a Players winner come from the class of (at the time) major-less pros.
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Through two days at this Players Championship, though, the leaderboard has other ideas. Neither McIlroy nor Scheffler is within ten shots of the lead heading into Saturday morning. (McIlroy, who arrived in town on Wednesday with a bad back, is 1 over and 13 shots off the lead; Scheffler, whose driver delivered its worst performance of the calendar year, made the cut by one shot, also at 1 over.) Of the six players within five shots of the lead heading into the weekend, four of them are major-less (Ludvig Aberg, Cameron Young, Corey Conners and Sepp Straka), while the remaining two (Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas) face the opportunity to rewrite an unusually quiet 12 months in their careers with a victory on Sunday.
“It’ll be tough for me this weekend,” said Thomas. “It’ll be exciting, though.”
Of course, for any of the four non-major winners, a victory at TPC Sawgrass would represent something much bigger: a moment of promise and fulfillment that arrives only very rarely to the patrons of the island green.
“Sawgrass is also a golf course where you have to execute golf shots, and I love the golf course because it’s right in front of you,” said Aberg, who leads the proceedings by two and utilizes TPC Sawgrass as his home facility during the offseason.
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Yes, there is a difference between loving a course and conquering a course, but Aberg looked like a man who was plenty capable of the latter on Friday. He fired an unfathomable, nine-under 63 on a golf course that was firming under his feet on Friday afternoon to move clear of the field by two shots.
“Is there an advantage [to playing here regularly]?” Maybe,” he said with a grin on Friday evening. “But you still have to hit the shots.”
Advantage or not, there’s little question that Aberg is the favorite. At 12 under, he’ll enter Saturday’s third round with a chance to reignite the whispers of a breakout season that carried throughout the golf world last summer.
Aberg is loath to address the kind of rampant speculation that fills a Friday evening with a two-shot lead at the biggest non-major of the golf season. But you can bet the ambitious new CEO of the PGA Tour, Brian Rolapp, stopped for long enough on Friday to envision the Swedish phenom holding the trophy.
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Rolapp has been coyly fanning the flames of major championship status for the Players from behind the scenes, and crowning victories are good for major championship hopes. Even if the Players is never a major championship, its “better than the rest” status certainly could do worse than to welcome the crowning achievement of an ascending star like Aberg, Young or Straka, or the return to glory for an established stud like Schauffele or Thomas.
In any case, the outcomes for this Players are shaping into a rare kind of gift for the champion and for Rolapp’s Tour. But much like Aberg’s long, hard stare on the 7th tee box on Friday afternoon, the answers to that journey will require just a little bit more waiting.
Former Pakistan cricketer and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja lamented that Pakistan star batter Salman Ali Agha paid the price for trying to do a “good deed” after he was controversially run out by Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the second ODI in Dhaka on Friday. Raja stated that Mehidy’s actions were against the spirit of the game, but not outside the rule book. He also said that there was no room for friendliness in cricket, and gave Bangladesh “10 out of 100” in a scathing criticism of Mehidy’s act.
For the uninitiated, Agha was out of his crease at the non-striker’s end after backing up after Mohammad Rizwan had nudged a delivery by Mehidy back towards the bowler. At this point, Agha and Mehidy got into a bit of a tussle for the ball, with the Pakistan batter even trying to pick it up and hand it back.
However, Agha was well outside his crease while doing so. Mehidy ended up picking up the ball first and was quick to dislodge the stumps, leaving Agha stranded.
“I come from a different school of thought. Today, the game is played differently; teams go for the jugular the moment they see an opportunity! This was outside the sportsman’s spirit,” Ramiz Raja said, speaking on the incident.
“He (Mehidy) was well within his rights to get that run out. Agha’s intention here was to do a good deed. You never do that to the opposition,” Raja added.
“Agha’s stern reaction was obvious. The intentions of both players were very different. One player was trying to run the other out while the second one was trying to be friendly. And there’s no room for friendliness in this contest,” he further said.
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“I would give Bangladesh a 10 out of 100 for this. They could have done a bit better,” Ramiz Raja concluded.
Despite the incident, Pakistan ended up clinching a convincing 128-run victory (via DLS method) to level the three-match ODI series at 1-1.
Supporters of “SF” or Sydney form might already be clued in, though Sibaaq at lengthy odds could fly under most radars.
Out to $11 in betting by Friday’s close, trainer Declan Maher reckons his emerging stable adjacent to the Gold Coast track – surname link to Ciaron Maher notwithstanding – results in his horses being disregarded versus entrenched Brisbane establishments.
Sibaaq was fifth across the line in Rosehill’s Group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m) on February 21, returning now for the local Gold Coast Stakes (1800m) this Saturday.
“I think that is a general thing with a few of my runners these days as they usually get a bit of extra odds, but we are building the stable and fresh trainers to Queensland.
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“In a lot of his starts I think he has blown out in the market,” Maher said.
“He was out to $27 when he just missed out (on winning) by a stride in the Mayor’s Vase.”
An eight-year-old with a 108 Racing and Sports figure from Sydney, after 113 when edged out in the Gold Coast Mayor’s Vase (2050m) on January 23.
Matching that, $23 hope Victoria Road with 61kg has equivalent ratings this time in.
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Maher draws attention to robust Sydney form, exemplified by Parramatta Cup champ Piggyback fourth last Saturday in Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m), while fellow placer Travolta grabbed third in Sunday’s Listed Canberra Cup (2000m).
“He went to my brother Ciaron’s farm in Bong Bong for a week after the Sydney run and his last six weeks have been relatively quiet for him,” Maher added.
“He has only needed a couple of bits of work back home and he likes to get down to the beach at The Spit which is more to keep a smile on his face.
Mating Call, the filly, may still be impacted by the elite competition she encountered last year, but she holds the capability to push past it toward an eventual Australasian Oaks opportunity.
Her joint trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy Macgillivray are more than satisfied with her evolution following stakes assignments in Melbourne, positioning her first run back in the M&J Chickens Handicap (1300m) at Morphettville Parks on Saturday as a favorable test, though lugging 60kg could prove somewhat demanding.
“She’s had a jump-out and two barrier trials because I wanted her fit and pretty well primed up to be very competitive first-up,” Clarken said.
“The weight is a little bit of a worry but she certainly is a talent so she probably deserves to get it.”
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In Melbourne without a win, Brazen Beau’s progeny still shone brightly, highlighted by a Racing and Sports rating surpassing 105 for third, half a length shy, in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m), claimed by Getta Good Feeling who subsequently captured the Inglis Sprint (1200m).
She posted a 103 rating when fifth across the line in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) to Ole Dancer, entering Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill as a $7 prospect.
“Since being in Melbourne she has definitely grown up,” Clarken added.
“Her runs over there were terrific and she has matured into a better type of horse and is more tractable.
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“She trialled in earmuffs once and then trialled at Oakbank the other day without them and she was good so in that respect she has matured.
“Over the spring she was a bit timid around other horses.”
A precise plan is set for the filly: the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes (1600m) on March 28, the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) next, culminating in the $1 million Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on April 25.
Mating Call is quoted at $3.80 on Saturday against the $3.10 favourite Sir Myka from Travis Doudle.
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“From the soft draw (barrier two), she should be able to perch herself up there and I think there is reasonable speed in the race so she should be able to find herself a nice spot there,” Clarken said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if she just goes straight past them.”
Visit betting sites for competitive sports betting on Mating Call’s upcoming assignment.
