Atoning for a luckless last-start defeat, Hello Captain has stretched his record to four wins from six starts at Rosehill, and if he can stretch in distance, trainer Chris Waller says the sky is the limit.
The three-year-old colt scored over 1300m in Saturday’s Find Your Stakes Winner @ The Chase Handicap, but if he can extend that brilliance to a mile, Waller believes he can feature in much better races.
“In terms of distance, I think he can get to a mile and if he can get to a mile, he can get to a good race. Maybe an Epsom Handicap,” Waller said.
“Timing-wise, it’s hard to predict when he gets there, and distance-wise we’re still learning about the horse.
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“But he’s settling better than he has ever settled before and he’s showing a good turn of foot.”
Given time to find his feet by stable apprentice Siena Grima, Hello Captain ($1.65 favourite according to leading betting apps Australia) enjoyed an unimpeded run down to score by 2-1/4 lengths over Sequista ($7.50), who ran her usual honest race, with Attractiveness ($9) third.
The gelding’s win made amends for his last-start fourth to Cheeky Smirk when he was badly strung up for a run before flashing home when finally given clear air.
While Waller believes Hello Captain has the potential to measure up to stakes grade, in the short term he is content for the horse to ply his trade in Saturday company and build his bank account.
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“Sydney races, they’re worth $160,000 every Saturday, fifty-two weeks a year,” Waller said.
“It’s hard to knock it back when they’re on every week, so I think we keep going through his grades.
“Maybe he doesn’t have to run every two weeks like we normally do. We can pick out a race in three or four weeks, and we might get longevity out of him that way.”
Hello Captain gave Grima a double after her earlier win aboard exciting two-year-old Omolong, drawing her level with Braith Nock in the race for the Sydney apprentices’ premiership.
ESPN released its 2026 roster rankings this week, grading every team’s strengths and weaknesses. Analyst Seth Walder covered the Ravens’ offense and had a take on their quarterback, Lamar Jackson.
The rankings, published Monday, named Baltimore’s interior offensive line as the team’s biggest weakness. It’s the same issue the Ravens had last season, when they won the AFC North but lost in the wild-card round.
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“Interior offensive line. The coaching staff is new, but this is the same weakness the Ravens had in the previous two seasons,” Walder wrote.
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Baltimore could start three new players on the interior line this year. That’s because center Tyler Linderbaum left in free agency and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. Danny Pinter, who has played just 264 snaps over the past three seasons, is set to replace him.
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The Ravens also signed guard John Simpson, a small upgrade over Andrew Vorhees. Rookie Olaivavega Ioane will compete at the other guard spot.
Receivers could help take the pressure off for Lamar Jackson
NFL: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers – Source: Imagn
Walder also flagged the receiver room. Zay Flowers is the clear No. 1 option, with Rashod Bateman listed as the No. 2 receiver.
“X factors for 2026: WRs Devontez Walker, Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt. It’s hard to get too excited about the receivers room behind Zay Flowers (Rashod Bateman is the team’s No. 2 WR on paper),” Walder wrote.
Walker is entering his second season. Lane and Sarratt are rookies trying to earn playing time under new coordinator Declan Doyle.
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If one of them breaks out, it would give Lamar Jackson more targets beyond Flowers and Bateman. That would help Doyle build a more effective passing game after Baltimore missed the playoffs last season.
“The WBO World Championship Committee has officially ordered the commencement of negotiations for the WBO Light Heavyweight Championship between WBO World Champion Dmitrii Bivol & Interim World Champion Callum Smith.
“Consistent with the WBO Regulations and our longstanding One Champion Policy, the purpose of this mandatory championship contest is to discharge the mandatory title defence obligation & terminate the Interim Championship status. The parties have twenty (20) days to reach terms, failing which purse bid proceedings may be ordered. Official order notice to be published today.”
Smith last competed in February 2025, outpointing Joshua Buatsi via unanimous decision in a hard-fought contest that was widely regarded as one of the fights of the year. He had been due to face David Morrell in April but withdrew through injury, leading to late replacement Zach Chelli producing a major upset by stopping the Cuban.
Should Bivol and Smith reach an agreement, the winner would likely find themselves firmly in the sights of the division’s other world champion, David Benavidez, who has repeatedly made it clear that a showdown with the Russian remains one of his top priorities.
England produced their finest performance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to defeat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in a dramatic last-16 clash at the iconic Azteca Stadium, strengthening belief that football may finally be coming home.
In one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament, Thomas Tuchel’s side overcame a hostile atmosphere, severe weather delays and a second-half red card to secure a memorable victory and book a quarter-final meeting with Norway.
The match was delayed by an hour due to severe storms, but England showed composure and quality from the opening whistle against a Mexico side that had lost only two of their previous 89 competitive matches at the Azteca.
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England took control just before half-time thanks to an outstanding display from Jude Bellingham. The midfielder scored twice in the space of 98 seconds to stun the home crowd and give the Three Lions a commanding advantage.
Mexico responded through Julian Quinones, who fired home a powerful effort three minutes before the interval to reduce the deficit and lift the atmosphere inside the packed stadium.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford then produced one of the greatest performances of his international career. The Everton shot-stopper made two superb saves to deny Raul Jimenez and kept England ahead during Mexico’s strongest periods.
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The game changed again early in the second half when defender Jarell Quansah was shown a red card for a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo, forcing England to play with ten men for the remainder of the match.
Despite the setback, England restored their two-goal advantage when captain Harry Kane calmly converted a penalty after Anthony Gordon was brought down by goalkeeper Raul Rangel.
However, the drama continued when Kane conceded a penalty at the other end after fouling Brian Gutierrez. Jimenez converted from the spot to make it 3-2 and set up a tense finale.
With Mexico pushing desperately for an equaliser, Tuchel introduced Dan Burn and Djed Spence and switched to a five-man defence. England showed remarkable discipline and determination to survive 11 minutes of stoppage time and secure one of their greatest World Cup victories in recent history.
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Bellingham was undoubtedly the star of the night. In addition to his two goals, he produced a crucial last-ditch tackle to deny Cesar Montes when Mexico threatened to level the score before half-time.
Tuchel also deserves enormous credit for his tactical approach. England remained calm under immense pressure, absorbed Mexico’s attacking waves and demonstrated the maturity expected of genuine World Cup contenders.
Pickford’s display was equally important. Making his 17th World Cup appearance, he equalled Peter Shilton’s record for the most World Cup matches played by an England men’s goalkeeper and reminded everyone why he remains England’s undisputed number one.
After defeating the tournament co-hosts in one of football’s most intimidating stadiums, England have shown they possess the quality, resilience and belief required to lift the trophy. With a quarter-final against Norway now awaiting them, the question many fans are beginning to ask is simple:
Mexico-England ended in a 3-2 victory for the Three Lions at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. In Chelsea, on the outskirts of Boston, the Mexican community turned out in force to watch the game.
‘Rules being applied equally’: After Donald Trump’s Balogun intervention, UK MP urges FIFA to delay England player’s red-card suspension | Football News
England’s Jarell Quansah (26) leaves the field after receiving a red card during round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England (left); and Folarin Balogun (20) fouls Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic (4).
A British Member of Parliament, Noah Law, has urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to delay the suspension of England defender Jarell Quansah, arguing that he should be allowed to play in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway.Quansah was sent off in the second half of England’s round-of-16 match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca after a sliding tackle on Jesus Gallardo. England were leading 2-1 at the time, with Jude Bellingham scoring both first-half goals.In a letter to Infantino, Law said Quansah deserved the red card but questioned why England should not receive the same treatment that FIFA gave United States forward Folarin Balogun.“Whilst I believe that it was right for Jarell Quansah to have received this red card and that refereeing rules must be applied consistently, I believe it would be right to delay his suspension until after the completion of this World Cup,” Noah Law wrote in a letter to Infantino.Law referred to FIFA’s decision to lift Balogun’s one-match suspension after the United States forward was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. Balogun had received an automatic one-game ban after being shown a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemovic during the United States’ 2-0 win.US President Donald Trump later asked FIFA to review the decision and allow Balogun to play against Belgium. FIFA lifted the suspension on Sunday, making him available for the round-of-16 match.“We know that a similar situation arose earlier in the competition when United States forward Folarin Balogun received a red card during the Round of 32. The integrity of any major international tournament depends not only on players and officials adhering to the rules, but also on those rules being applied equally to all participating nations. I am sure we will be unable to justify a situation in which one player benefits from a delayed suspension while another, in materially similar circumstances, does not,” Law said in his statement.FIFA’s stunning decision riled the host country’s next World Cup opponent, Belgium. It has also sent football fans — and political leaders — around the world into a frenzy over the influence President Donald Trump may have had over the extremely rare ruling.
European champions Spain face Iberian rivals Portugal in a last-16 showdown pitting teen prodigy Lamine Yamal against 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo. Win or lose, the Portuguese veteran has vowed he will be “one thousand per cent” at peace with his career. Follow our liveblog for minute-by-minute match commentary.
Murat Gassiev now knows his opponent for his upcoming WBA heavyweight title defence on Saturday.
Gassiev became WBA Regular heavyweight champion in December with a knockout win over Kubrat Pulev, and after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his unified world heavyweight titles last month, the Russian is now the WBA’s only belt-holder in the banner division.
Kadiru has a record of 23-1, with 13 of those wins coming by knockout, and he was last in action in May when he claimed a unanimous decision victory over Senad Gashi.
Speaking about the new match-up, Gassiev was pleased that he still gets the chance to fight in Russia.
“I was fully prepared and ready for Tony Yoka, but boxing is unpredictable and champions must adapt. Peter Kadiru is a big, strong, experienced fighter with a solid amateur pedigree and real power.
“Fighting at home in Moscow in front of my Russian fans for my first defence is special. I will be ready on July 11 and I intend to keep the WBA World Heavyweight Title in Russia.”
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Gassiev will be seen as the favourite heading into the bout, and a win on Saturday could lead to a major title defence later in the year.
According to Charania, the Kings worked with DeRozan and his representatives to come to this decision to release him after they couldn’t find a trade that could work.
DeRozan was set to earn $25.74 million next season in what would have been his last with the Kings. As Charania reported, that deal was only partially guaranteed.
As Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported, the Kings will be waiving and stretching the final $10 million that’s owed to DeRozan over the next three seasons.
Now DeRozan’s free to look for a new home with, as Charania reported, multiple contenders expected to be lining up for the six-time all-star.
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DeRozan, 36, averaged 18.4 points per game on 49.7 per cent shooting from the field in 77 games with Sacramento last season. A veteran of 17 seasons, DeRozan was first taken ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2009 draft. He’s played for four (Toronto, San Antonio, Chicago and Sacramento) different teams over the span of his career.
European football’s governing body, UEFA, has strongly criticised FIFA after the world football body decided not to enforce Folarin Balogun’s automatic suspension at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision means United States striker Folarin Balogun will be available for his country’s last-16 match against Belgium despite receiving a red card in the previous round against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
UEFA described FIFA’s decision as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”, insisting that automatic suspensions following red cards are a fundamental part of football regulations.
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In a strongly-worded statement, UEFA said FIFA had “crossed a red line” by intervening in what should have been an automatic disciplinary process.
“An automatic one-match suspension is not a discretionary option,” UEFA said. “It is a principle embedded in regulations. When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.”
Balogun, 25, is the United States’ leading scorer at the tournament. Under normal circumstances, he would have missed the knockout match against Belgium after being sent off in the victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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However, FIFA opted not to apply the automatic ban, a move that has sparked widespread criticism across the football world.
On Sunday, President Trump publicly thanked FIFA for what he called “reversing a great injustice”.
The Royal Belgian Football Association reacted angrily, announcing that it would challenge Balogun’s eligibility to play in the upcoming match.
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Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Maxime Prevot, also criticised the decision, saying: “If a phone call is really the reason for this incomprehensible decision, it would be a blatant violation of the most basic rules of football and sport.”
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also weighed in on the controversy, warning that “football must never become a playground for political power”.
UEFA further argued that FIFA’s decision could create problems for the rest of the tournament, as other players in similar situations may now expect the same treatment.
“Such a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition,” UEFA added.
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The criticism extended beyond football authorities. The European Union’s commissioner for sport, Glenn Micallef, stressed that sporting decisions should remain independent of political influence.
“Decisions on sport belong to sporting bodies, not politicians,” he wrote on social media. “Influencing sporting decisions would undermine the autonomy of sport.”
The latest dispute adds to growing tensions between UEFA and FIFA in recent months. One recent disagreement involved Somali referee Omar Artan, who was unable to enter the United States to officiate at the World Cup before being appointed by UEFA to referee the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August.
With the United States preparing to face Belgium, FIFA’s decision over Balogun’s suspension is likely to remain one of the most controversial moments of the tournament so far.
Alex Eala’s dream run continues against Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon round of 16 on Monday, July 6, at Centre Court.
July 6, Monday – Centre Court
8:30. p.m. – Alex Eala vs Jasmine Paolini
Italy’s Jasmine Paolini is congratulated by Philippines’ Alex Eala after winning their women’s singles round of 16 tennis match on the eighth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 6, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Jasmine Paolini reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in two years, edging out Alex Eala in a tense last 16 match at Wimbledon on Monday.
Italian 13th seed Paolini ended the run of Iga Swiatek’s conqueror Eala with a gritty 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory on Centre Court.
“I feel so lucky to have this opportunity and so lucky to get the win,” said Paolini, before addressing the watching Roger Federer in the royal box.
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“He’s my idol and during the match I was like please stay focused and don’t think about him (Federer) being here… It’s an amazing feeling to be here right now with the win.”
Alex Eala of the Philippines blows kisses to the crowd after losing the women’s singles fourth round match against Jasmine Paolini of Italy at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 6, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala’s golden run at Wimbledon hit the end of the road on Monday night.
Eala went down swinging before falling to Italian world No. 13 and former finalist Jasmine Paolini, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, in the round of 16 in front of a star-studded crowd at Centre Court that included Roger Federer seated in the Royal Box.
The loss did not diminish the 21-year-old Eala’s historic campaign on tennis’ most grandiose stage.
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LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Jasmine Paolini – Wimbledon round of 16
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PROUD ANG BUONG PILIPINAS SAYO, ALEX! 🇵🇭✊🏽
Filipino tennis star Alex Eala bows out of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships after a hard fought round of 16 campaign, falling to Jasmine Paolini.
Match momentarily stops as a spectator receives medical assistance
Eala breaks, serving for a chance to tie the opening set
Paolini unforced error, Eala advantage
Eala crosscourt backhand finds the line
Eala wins the rally, break point, 40-30
Eala drop shot, 30-15
Paolini well-placed lob, 15-15
Eala cuts the deficit, 3-5.
Eala ace, 40-30
Paolini baseline winner after overcoming a tough effort by Eala, 5-2
Paolini forehand passing shot to retake the advantage
Paolini advantage
Eala break point
Eala starting to find her rhythm, 40-40
Eala fights back and pulls within, 2-4
Paolini playing nearly perfect tennis so far
Paolini overhits off an Eala serve.
Paolini attacks the net, takes a commanding 4-1 lead.
Paolini breaks for a 3-1 lead.
Paolini serves to love, 2-1
Eala levels, 1-1, after Paolini struggles to return the Filipino’s serves
Eala working the baseline. 15-30
Eala double fault, slice goes out
Paolini takes the first game, 1-0.
Eala ties it up 30-30
Match is underway. Paolini 30-0 after two straight Eala errors.
Eala and Paolini, a finalist at All England Club in 2024, warming up
Paolini wins the toss and opts to serve first
Alex Eala, Jasmine Paolini receiving the final instructions.
The Philippines’ Alex Eala celebrates beating Poland’s Iga Swiatek during their women’s singles third round tennis match on the sixth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP)
Filipinos can catch Alex Eala’s Wimbledon round of 16 match against Jasmine Paolini in a public watch party at Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Monday.
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The watchalong, hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), is free and can accommodate up to 8,000 fans on a first-come, first-served basis.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m., while the match, which takes place at Centre Court in London, is set at 8:30 p.m.
PHOTO: AP / Brian Inganga and Maja Smiejkowska
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala guns for her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance, facing Italian Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon round of 16 on Monday (Philippine time).
Paolini, 30, advanced to the Wimbledon last 16 with a 6-1, 6-2 sweep of Greece’s Maria Sakkari.
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The Philippines’ Alex Eala reacts as she plays against Poland’s Iga Swiatek during their women’s singles third round tennis match on the sixth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP)
Alex Eala bids to extend her dream Wimbledon run into the quarterfinals when she faces Jasmine Paolini on Monday.
Eala stunned reigning champion Iga Swiatek with a brilliant straight-sets victory on Centre Court in the third round and now faces the task of backing up that breakthrough triumph against former Wimbledon finalist Paolini.
The 21-year-old has been tipped to become a star of the women’s game since defeating Swiatek to reach the Miami Open semifinals last year.
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Alex Eala of the Philippines celebrates winning the third round women’s singles match against Iga Swiatek of Poland at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
In a three-minute, 33-second post match interview that she started as an emotional wreck, Alex Eala let the world know what the path that got her this far was all about.
And what making the round of 16 of a Grand Slam event after dethroning Wimbledon women’s singles champion Iga Swiatek means to the now 21-year-old from the Philippines who is taking the tennis world by the proverbial storm.
She first rattled off the names of the Williams sisters and also the gracious Swiatek, who all “have so many Slams,” saying that making the fourth round of Wimbledon “may seem small (to them).”
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