The stable of Ciaron Maher is pondering choices for Light Infantry Man prior to his Caulfield engagement.

Light Infantry Man’s probable next start is the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) on Saturday, building on his fresh win at 1600m on Caulfield last month.

After performing on Saturday, Light Infantry Man might proceed to the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) in Flemington or the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.

Both fixtures occur on March 28, and recall Light Infantry Man won last year’s Australian Cup.

Last Saturday’s Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington was another option Maher mulled for Light Infantry Man.

As a French import, this stayer relishes a brisk pace, evident from his victory in the Australian Cup the year before.

“He is one horse that does enjoy (Pride Of) Jenni’s speed,” Maher said.

“In the Australian Cup when she was ripping along, he was one of the few horses that had a smile on his face during the run.

“(Ethan) Brownie (Brown) put him into the race off a hot speed, so you know he loves a true gallop and the 1800 metres at this stage of his preparation should suit him.

“After Saturday we’re looking at the Tancred Stakes potentially with him. The 2400 metres at weight-for-age looks like it will suit him.”

Maher’s Berkshire Breeze is also in line for the Peter Young Stakes, not seen since running last in the November Sandown Classic (2400m).

Targeted for the Mornington Cup (2400m) this April, it grants a pass to the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.

The Peter Young Stakes field should feature Chris Waller’s Buckaroo and Birdman alongside Light Infantry Man and Berkshire Breeze.

Buckaroo had mucus detected during Saturday scoping and was removed from the All-Star Mile at Flemington.

Waller noted plans to launch the gelding in Saturday’s Peter Young Stakes en route to the Australian Cup.

Expect Waller’s horses at Caulfield Tuesday for galloping.

Nominations for the Peter Young Stakes also feature Apulia, Astral Flame, Banker’s Choice, Chief Little Rock, Gregolimo and Whisky On The Hill.

Visit top betting sites for racing odds on the Peter Young Stakes.

Rory McIlroy cut his week at Bay Hill short, withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a balky back. But when he’s healthy and swinging freely, there are few golfers with greater access to the game’s most coveted courses.

Take Augusta National Golf Club, where McIlroy earned a lifetime invitation after winning the Masters Tournament last year. Or Seminole Golf Club, where getting a tee time isn’t much of an issue when your father happens to be a member. (McIlroy has jokingly claimed that he should be a member, too, given that he pays his dad’s dues.)

McIlroy himself belongs to a hefty handful of elite clubs, including The Bear’s Club in Florida, Queenwood Golf Club outside London, and the R&A. That’s not to mention the steady rotation of world-class venues he sees on Tour, from Pebble Beach Golf Links to Harbour Town Golf Links to Riviera.

In other words, McIlroy plays a version of golf — and lives a golfing life — that most of us can barely imagine.

But in one respect, he’s just like the rest of us. He’s got a bucket list.

McIlroy shared it recently in an interview with Kevin Van Valkenburg of The Fried Egg, rattling off a handful of courses he still hopes to see.

Among them: New South Wales Golf Club in Australia, an Alister MacKenzie design that ranks 46th on GOLF’s Top 100 Courses in the World, having vaulted 18 spots on the strength of a MacKenzie & Ebert renovation. “I haven’t been there,” McIlroy said. “That looks really cool.”

Another is Fishers Island Club, the famously private Seth Raynor design where Long Island Sound meets the Atlantic.

Despite living in the U.S. for years, McIlroy admitted that he’s left a lot of American ground uncovered. “There are so many in the States that I haven’t,” he said, singling out Chicago Golf Club and Pasatiempo Golf Club. Even back home in Ireland, there are notable gaps. “Waterville,” he said. “I haven’t played. I would love to play there.”

When his schedule allows him to play golf for fun more often, McIlroy plans to start ticking some of them off. He’s already gotten a taste of such freewheeling adventures, including a getaway a few years back to Tara Iti Golf Club in New Zealand.

But he hasn’t made it to one of the biggest names in destination golf. He’s never been to Bandon Dunes.

“I’d love to go to Bandon and do that,” McIlroy said.

Let’s hope he doesn’t rush. The place is busy enough without him jumping the line.

ARCA Menards Series driver Cleetus McFarland has been facing backlash from both NASCAR fans and insiders ahead of his O’Reilly Series debut. This time, former seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty’s son, Kyle Petty, joined the discussion and pointed out that “internet sensations” like McFarland have “no place on racetracks” with stock car racing drivers.

On March 4, 2026, McFarland signed a new deal with Richard Childress Racing to debut in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The 30-year-old will pilot the #33 Chevy entry for the team in three events each year. This announcement drew criticism from several figures, including Freddie Kraft, Kyle Busch, and now Kyle Petty.

During a post-Phoenix race, Petty talked about Cleetus McFarland’s experience in stock car racing. The YouTuber has only one official start in the NASCAR Truck Series, raising Petty’s concern. Following that, Richard Petty’s son blasted McFarland ahead of the Rockingham race (via DailyDownforce.com):

“All you have to do to be a NASCAR O’Reilly or Truck [driver], to get to that level, is to have your parents buy you a video game when you’re young, so you can learn how to drive on a sim, or have ten million YouTube followers. You don’t have to have any talent. You don’t have to know anything about it. You just have to drive a Crown Vic and have some great races and some great crowds show up for you.”

“Don’t come here if all you are is an internet sensation because you’ve got no place on a racetrack with those guys at the Cup level, and you’ve got really no place with a lot of those guys at the O’Reilly level,” he added.

Cleetus McFarland is set to pilot the #33 Chevy for RCR alongside Jesse Love and Austin Dillon at the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 Presented by Black’s Tire. The 250-lap race is scheduled for April 4, 2026, at Rockingham Speedway.

“My son’s run more races than he has”: Kyle Busch’s blunt reaction to Cleetus McFarland’s RCR deal in the O’Reilly Series

A few days ago, two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch called out Cleetus McFarland for his O’Reilly Series deal with Richard Childress Racing. Despite competing for the same team in the Cup Series, Busch was not impressed by the decision and questioned the YouTuber’s experience behind the wheel.

Continuing, the Cup Series driver cited Denny Hamlin‘s experience as an example and compared McFarland to his son, Brexton. Busch emphasized that his 10-year-old son has more starts than the ARCA Menards Series driver.

The Richard Childress Racing driver further told the media:

“I mean, he just, I don’t know. I don’t know how many races he’s run. Denny Hamlin ran 10,000, right, before he got here. I don’t know if Cleetus has run 10 or not, but there’s definitely a need to having ample experience.”

“My son’s probably run more races than he has, and he’s 10 years old. You know what I mean? So I don’t think that sits well with many of us,” he concluded.

However, Kyle Busch was not the only NASCAR figure questioning Richard Childress Racing’s decision to sign a deal with Cleetus McFarland. Previously, 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, also called out the decision on social media.