Trainer Nathan Doyle’s gamble to geld promising sprinter Funshow has been handsomely rewarded, with the rapidly improving four-year-old completing a winning treble in the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill.
Doyle admitted that Funshow showed considerable ability early in his career, but also presented enough signs to convince the stable that gelding him was the correct decision.
“Funshow was a rig but he showed us plenty,” Doyle said. “I thought we will leave him a colt but then he got beaten a furlong in a trial so we thought better geld him. He was a big, dumb bugger early days so we had to be patient with him. But he’s building confidence with every run and he loves to bowl along in front.”
Guided expertly by jockey Tim Clark, the $13 outsider dictated the pace before kicking clear in the straight to win by 1¼ lengths. Sponars ($18) and Barking Mad ($1.70 favourite) dead-heated for second place.
The heavily backed favourite, Columbus ($1.95), settled on the pace but lacked acceleration in the run home and raced greenly.
James McDonald suggested that the addition of blinkers could prove beneficial for Columbus in fulfilling his potential.
Funshow has now won three races consecutively and boasts a record of three wins and four placings from just seven starts. Doyle was full of praise for Clark’s ride.
“He racked them, stacked them then booted away on the corner – he just out-rode them,” Doyle said.
Celebrating his birthday, Clark indicated that the race unfolded precisely as he had anticipated.
“It looked like a race devoid of speed and he’s the type of horse that likes to sort of get into a nice rhythm and flow along,” Clark said. “He’s building confidence as he goes through his preparation and is maturing all the time.”
Doyle also provided an update on his stable star, Churchill’s Choice, confirming the mare has returned to work after her winter spell.
The talented mare has already qualified for The Big Dance after winning the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, followed by unlucky runner-up performances in the Scone Cup and Magic Millions National Classic.
“I think Churchill’s Choice has a good race in her,” Doyle said. “What she did in Queensland, she was a million-to-one like the caller said, so her form to finish so close blows your mind. The Big Dance has the big prizemoney but we are also after black type with her.”
Doyle also confirmed that Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes winner Hidden Motive has returned to work at Newcastle.
“We are in no rush with him,” Doyle said. “He’s a Magic Millions horse which has good prizemoney for a horse like him.”
Earlier in the day, Richard and Will Freedman kicked off the new Sydney racing season in style when Attractiveness captured the opening Midway Handicap (1400m).
“We are on top of the premiership,” Will Freedman joked after the victory.
Sent out the $3.20 favourite, Attractiveness, ridden by Chad Schofield, charged home to defeat Krasina ($5) by just over a length, with Cape Byron ($6) another 2½ lengths away in third.
“She was strong late,” Freedman said. “She has a good turn of foot like you saw there but I feel in three or four months time you will see a better horse again. I was never concerned about winning a Midway at some stage with her, I’ve always thought she had the ability to do that. But she is a late mature and a lot of those Kiwi pedigrees are like that so we are excited to see where she gets to.”
Find the best racing odds with these Australian betting sites.
File photo of Zaheer Khan© BCCI
Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan on Tuesday became the co-owner of four-time champions Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The Stockholm-based global sports ownership group Anchor Sports AB completed the acquisition of the Kings, and has officially rebranded the team as Anchor Jaffna Kings. Zaheer joins Anchor Sports owner Nagendra Siddoutam as co-owner as the group continues to expand its presence in global franchise cricket. The Kings are the current table toppers with 11 points from eight matches.
Welcoming the new ownership, Anil Mohan Sankhdhar, Founder and CEO of Innovative Production Group (IPG), the official rights holder of the Lanka Premier League, said: “We welcome Anchor Sports on board and to the LPL family as they take over the iconic Jaffna franchise. We are confident that Anchors Sports will build on this remarkable legacy, bringing fresh vision and energy to the franchise.” Sri Lanka Cricket had terminated the franchise agreement with Sports Commune, the owner of the Kings.
The ownership change was necessitated after former India U19 cricketer Manjot Kalra, one of the co-owners of the side, was arrested by the Sri Lanka Sports Investigation Unit last week on charges of fixing.
Zaheer Khan, the new co-owner of Kings, said: “I’ve always admired the calibre, innovation and variety of bowling talent that comes out of Sri Lanka, it’s a country I’ve visited, competed in, and hold very fond memories of.
“To now be part of Sri Lankan cricket as an owner is something I’m genuinely thrilled about, and I can’t wait to get started with the Anchor Jaffna Kings.”
Yamal Laughs At Paredes vs Gavi ‘Fight Of The Year’ Poster During Parade
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The Crew agreed to acquire 23-year-old forward Gonzalo Tapia on loan from Sao Paulo, according to a source on Aug. 4.
Tapia, a native of Chile, has spent the last two years with Sao Paulo, a club in the top flight of the Brazilian league. In 2026, he registered two starts in 11 appearances and has yet to score a goal this season. He scored five goals in 12 starts and 20 matches played for Sao Paulo last season.
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Before Brazil, Tapia spent a year with River Plate in the Argentinian league. He started his professional career with Universidad Católica in the Chilean Primera División.
Tapia will be placed in an international slot, but he will not be a designated player, a slot reserved for MLS teams for salaries outside the cap. The Crew still has a temporary designated player spot to replace injured striker Wessam Abou Ali.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew add forward Gonzalo Tapia on loan
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala kept the country up until the wee hours on Monday as she picked off the last top 10-ranked player in the world left in the Mubadala DC Open, with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory over Jessica Pegula of the United States.
The comeback win gave Eala her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour championship—and a newly elevated place in Philippine sports history.
READ: Alex Eala, Filipino fans make rare Monday final one to remember
No other Filipino—man or woman—has won a tennis title at this level, and Eala has taken along an entire nation for the ride. More fans started following her especially after her breakout tournament in Miami last year, and now in Washington DC even television analysts were left dumbfounded by her feat.
“To all my supporters, thank you, guys,” Eala had said in a post-match interview. “Especially to the Filipino community here in DC and back home, wherever you are in the world. I really feel all the love, ’Maraming, maraming salamat, mga kababayan.’”
Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, Pegula came in as the top-seeded player in the tournament—but was now added to Eala’s conquests in elite level competitions.
Leading to the finals, Eala’s ascent to superstardom has the internet buzzing with all kinds of praise from some of the game’s best players of all time.
READ: Alex Eala glows in championship photoshoot after DC Open title
She fell to her knees and buried her face in her hands when she converted on the second championship point, as the victory formalized her arrival as a legitimate force and shut down all talk that she doesn’t have the game to win because of her serve.
She actually won the last nine games of the contest, surrendering just eight points in the third set in blanking the seasoned Pegula.
“Just pure happiness,” Eala said of her first title, which came after she agonizingly failed to convert four championship points in her only prior final at Eastbourne last year.
“Oh my gosh, winning a (WTA) 500 (level), it’s insane. It’s an incredible milestone for me,” she added.
“At the beginning of the week, there is no way I would have thought that I would be holding this trophy. Even at the beginning of the year,” Eala said. “These things kind of creep up on you and I hold these moments really close to me.”
With her latest win, Eala rises to a career-high 20th in the world rankings after a relentless run that claimed the scalps of Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, second-seeded Elina Svitolina, third-seeded former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka and defending champion Leylah Fernandez.
“It was a very steep hill,” she said. “I knew that the competition was super-strong and my draw was quite tough. So I’m really, really proud. I think I encountered my fair share of obstacles this week.”
The scoreboard showed a match time of one hour and 45 minutes, but it took nearly 24 hours to complete.
Pegula had won the first set 6-4, and Eala was up 2-1 in the second on Sunday when officials decided to postpone the finish until Monday due to lengthy rain delays.
The pair waited through a three-hour delay before starting, and once the match was halted, it was another five hours before officials called a halt for the day.
“Definitely felt like two different matches,” said Pegula, who opened Monday’s action with a nervy service hold for 2-2.
“I just felt like I couldn’t find my rhythm. I think I was playing much better yesterday, for whatever reason, than I was today, and I think she was playing better today than she was yesterday.”
Eala also had to work hard to keep herself ready during the long break.
“I think I warmed up like a thousand times,” the Filipino ace said. “A lot of unpredictable swings with the weather, and I want to thank the tournament for just, you know, being so accommodating, helping us through it and, you know, arranging this Monday final was really great.
“It was difficult, I think, [but] at the same time, it’s happened to me a lot, you know, rain delays.
“I think this is just kind of another one of those, although it [had] a lot higher stakes. But I think I was able to take my time and kind of take those learnings from the first half of the match and do my best to apply them in the second, and I think it worked pretty well.”
Pegula could make no inroads on Eala’s serve, and Eala broke Pegula in the 10th game to take the second set and force a third.
The final set was all Eala, to the delight of a vocal contingent of supporters, which turned out in force despite the postponement.
Pegula welcomed the energy of the crowd even in support of her opponent, who has proved a massive draw around the world.
“I just think it’s so refreshing and nice to see how well she’s handled all of the kind of fandom and stardom that’s come with her being from the Philippines and how they’ve really embraced her,” Pegula said.
“It’s crazy how she deals with it every single week, which just shows her maturity as a player and as a person.”
Both players will now head to Toronto, where two-time champion Pegula is the third seed and Eala is seeded 25th in the WTA 1000 hard court event.
In Manila, President Marcos, who last week praised Eala in his State of the Nation Address, again congratulated the new Filipino star athlete.
“Alex Eala does it again. The Philippines now has its first WTA 500 champion,” Marcos said in a post on his official Facebook account on Tuesday. The Filipino nation joins you in celebrating this latest achievement. Mabuhay ka, Alex!”
She continued “to redefine what is possible for Philippine tennis and inspire countless young Filipinos to dream without limits,” the President added.
According to Palace press officer Claire Castro, however, the President opted not to watch Eala’s matches live at the Mubadala DC Open “because he might bring bad luck if he watches her games in real time.”
At the Senate, Sen. Francis Escudero, the presiding officer of the impeachment court trying Vice President Sara Duterte, conveyed the chamber’s congratulations before the start of Tuesday’s hearing.
“Our views may differ. Although both sides are competing here in the impeachment court, there are things that we should agree on and be united about, especially those who stayed up late last night watching TV,” Escudero said.
“And for me, one of these is the victory and championship of our talented and brave compatriot Alex Eala in the DC Open,” he said, drawing applause from his fellow senator-judges and those in the gallery.
“We are so proud of you and we celebrate your victory. Congratulations, Alex,” he said, adding in jest: “If there’s a sleepy senator-judge, [he/she] probably watched it last night.”
Several other senators also filed resolutions commending Eala for her latest championship. —WITH REPORTS FROM DEXTER CABALZA, AND TINA G. SANTOS
Watch the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, with the women’s night session getting underway in Toronto at 7 p.m. ET.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are heading into Game 2 of a three-game series on Tuesday night, and all eyes will be on star ace Tarik Skubal, who will make his debut with L.A. after a blockbuster move ahead of this year’s trade deadline.
The Detroit Tigers dealt the two-time Cy Young winner to the Dodgers on Saturday in a stunning move, bolstering an already absurdly deep pitching rotation including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and, of course, two-way star Shohei Ohtani (when healthy). Skubal enters Tuesday night with a 2.79 ERA, 116 strikeouts and a 0.91 WHIP over 96 2/3 innings pitched.
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The Cubs were also big winners at this year’s deadline, overhauling their own pitching rotation with the acquisitions of Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and Braxton Garrett, among others. With RHP Javier Assad on the mound, Chicago will look to extend the Dodgers’ current losing streak to five games with a win on Tuesday night. They took Game 1 of the series with a 10-5 victory on Monday, with multi-run efforts from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki.
Start time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Location: Wrigley Field | Chicago
TV channel: TBS, MLB.tv
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest highlights and more from Dodgers-Cubs as Tarik Skubal takes the mound for the first time with L.A.
Kate Magdziuk
Surprise! After landing two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, the Los Angeles Dodgers are … still the favorites to win the World Series. However, they did widen the gap between their odds and the New York Yankees. Here’s a look at the top odds to win the 2026 World Series over at FanDuel Sportsbook:
Philadelphia Phillies +1800
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker Jalon Walker (11) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Atlanta Falcons pass-rusher Jalon Walker was carted off the field with a leg injury at training camp on Tuesday.
The 2025 first-round draft pick was injured during a two-minute simulation in a non-padded, 11-on-11 practice.
Teammates took a knee and surrounded Walker as he was being treated, bringing an end to Tuesday’s session.
Walker, 22, had 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 36 tackles in 15 games (nine starts) in 2025 after being selected with the 15th overall pick out of Georgia. –Field Level Media
The Tennessee Titans‘ coaching staff ejected star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from Tuesday’s practice after he threw a punch during a skirmish with right tackle JC Latham. Simmons spent the remainder of the day working on a side field with a strength coach.
Early in team drills, the offensive and defensive lines converged in a post-play tussle. Simmons and center Austin Schlottmann were initially involved in the tangle, then the former took a swing at Latham in the middle of a scrum, according to ESPN. Assistant defensive line coach Tanzel Smart stepped in and pulled Simmons out of the fight, then coach Robert Saleh stopped practice, gathered the players and held a talk to cool them down.
Simmons was the only player ejected from practice as Saleh made an example out of his crossing the line.
“Our policy is if you throw a punch, you’re ejected in the game,” Saleh said after practice. “Same thing with practice, if you throw a punch out at practice. But rather than go to the locker room, he went to the other fields. He still got his work in. So the projected reps and the work that he would have gotten in, he got in off to the side.”
This is not the first time Simmons and Latham went after each other in training camp. The two were at the center of a fight in 2024 on the first day of full-pad practice, and while then-coach Brian Callahan said the team would not accept fighting at practice, he did not eject Simmons like his successor did on Tuesday.
“It’s the second day of pads,” Saleh said. “It’s hot. It’s muggy. You’re expecting it, especially with the way the O-line and D-line get after it. It’s just a reminder that we’ve got work to do. It’s OK. I’ve got brothers. We fight all the time, but at the end of the day, we still take care of one another, make sure we’re getting the work done we need to get.”
Simmons is the face of a new-look defensive front which Saleh reconstructed ahead of his first year as the Titans’ coach. He returned to the unit in 2026 on the heels of a career year in which he earned a first-team All-Pro selection and made his fourth Pro Bowl in five years.
The highly renowned tenacity Simmons brings to both the pass rush and run-stopping scheme on the interior defensive line spilled over into extracurricular activity at practice, and while Saleh does not condone the level to which his star defensive tackle raised the skirmish, he said he does approve of Simmons’ competitive drive.
“Our O-line and D-lines, we want them playing with an edge,” Saleh said. “We want them to toe the line. We just gotta learn how to draw the penalty, not give the penalty. We’re always going to toe the line of violence. We’re always going to toe the line of being aggressive. Call it instigating if you want; it’s just the nature of who we’re going to be. But we’ve gotta be disciplined enough to make sure that we always find our way back to the huddle without giving the other team freebies.”
Nigerian Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that he is a big fan of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and claimed that the two regularly communicate.
Davido made the comments during a livestream with content creator and streamer Carter Efe.
The singer said he supported Portugal during the recently concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup because he has friends in the Portuguese national team.
“Because I have a lot of friends in the Portuguese team. I want Portugal to win,” Davido said.
When Carter Efe suggested that his support was mainly because of Ronaldo, Davido replied:
“I love Ronaldo, I’m a CR7 fan.”
The singer then claimed that he regularly speaks with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, saying in Pidgin that he talks to the football legend “back to back”.
Davido also showed Efe what appeared to be a chat with Ronaldo on his phone.
The sight left Efe excited, as he repeatedly exclaimed:
“God, I don mad! I don mad! I don mad! I don mad!”
The video has since spread widely on social media.
Davido has previously shown his love for football and has been pictured with several international football stars.
However, the authenticity of the chat shown during the livestream could not be independently verified.
Lionel Messi has once again shown his impact beyond the football pitch by donating € 80,000 to support the reconstruction of Spain’s Sierra Oeste region after devastating wildfires swept through the area.
The donation was confirmed by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid, who thanked the Argentina captain for his generosity and invited him to visit the region in the future.
“Leo Messi has donated €80,000 for the reconstruction of the Sierra Oeste of Madrid. I want to thank him and tell him that the people of Madrid hope to welcome him soon to give him the applause he deserves.”
According to Spanish reports, representatives of the Inter Miami star contacted the regional government to find out how they could contribute through the official reconstruction fund established after the disaster.
The wildfires burned more than 27,000 hectares of land across the Sierra Oeste region, destroying homes, damaging hundreds of properties and forcing evacuations in several communities. Recovery efforts are still ongoing as residents work to rebuild their lives.
The Hundred men’s competition, Headingley
Sunrisers Leeds 241-2 (100 balls): Rickelton 94* (42), Marsh 76 (37), Brook 55 (18)
London Spirit 204-6 (100 balls): Willey 83* (46); Topley 2-30
Sunrisers Leeds won by 37 runs
Harry Brook shone with a sensational 15-ball fifty as Sunrisers Leeds posted the highest total in Hundred history in their 37-run win against London Spirit.
Having put in to bat at Headingley, opener Ryan Rickelton also struck 94 not out off 42 balls in Sunrisers’ astonishing 241-2.
Such was the entertainment provided by Brook and the power shown by Rickelton, Mitchell Marsh’s brutal 76 off 37 at the top of the order almost went unnoticed.
On a flat pitch, Marsh and Rickelton added 148 for the first wicket which gave Brook, England’s limited-overs captain, the licence to go berserk.
He whacked five sixes and five fours with a combination of power and flair, including a monstrous six over mid-wicket to surpass the previous highest team total of 226.
Brook and Rickelton added 83 off 32 balls for the second wicket as Spirit’s bowlers wilted, with the South African stranded short of his century as he was starved of the strike at the close of the innings.
After the carnage inflicted on their bowlers, Spirit made a disastrous start to their reply as Jonny Bairstow fell first ball to Reece Topley, and the rest of the top order also buckled under the pressure as they slipped to 44-4.
But former England all-rounder David Willey performed an admirable rescue act and saved Spirit from humiliation with 83 not out from 46 balls as the visiting side finished on 204-6.
The result takes Sunrisers to fourth in the table and keeps them in play-off contention, but leaves Spirit struggling in seventh.
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