In a captivating Group One spectacle, Idle Flyer has overshadowed a highly competitive field, handing trainer Matthew Smith his second Queen Of The Turf Stakes success.

The pace-setting Pride Of Jenni rolled freely as predicted, pulling the pack apart for a demanding 1600-metre affair.

Zac Lloyd kept Idle Flyer poised in fourth, and as Lady Shenandoah mounted her bid to catch the frontrunner for second, Lloyd timed his move perfectly to score by three-quarters of a length.

Treasurethe Moment filled third, three-quarters farther adrift, prompting Smith to reflect that a feature win over The Championships made his early alarms and long shifts rewarding.

“It’s what you get up in the mornings for. It means everything,” Smith said.

“I just can’t believe she’s won. I knew she was going good, but I didn’t think she’d win that. We’ll take it.”

Smith targeted the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) for Idle Flyer post her spring Angst Stakes conquest at the venue over the same trip.

She overcame an initial campaign glitch, rebuilding momentum via her Emancipation Stakes (1500m) performance last out.

“Every now and then one lands, and she landed today,” Smith said.

“She has run a strong mile here, and you need to run a strong mile to win these good mile races. You need to be able to run further, probably.

“When she won last time in over the mile we thought this is the race for her, it was just a matter of getting her here fit and well.”

Lloyd’s partnership with Idle Flyer is exceptional, with seven victories from eight rides.

The Golden Slipper hero navigated Saturday’s race masterfully, following Cox Plate performer Treasurethe Moment before striking true.

“Fantastic to win on her. I love her as a horse, and that shows in our record together,” Lloyd said.

“For her to go into that race, it was a proper horse race against the best milers in the country, they’ve got a proper horse on their hands.

“I got a lovely run today in behind Lady Shenandoah and Treasurethe Moment, and I was in the perfect spot at the 600, and my horse delivered.”

Idle Flyer could venture north to Brisbane, where a Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) tilt in June is under discussion, Smith revealed.

Smith’s earlier Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner was Nimalee, four years back.

Visit premier betting sites to access betting markets for the race like the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

There is no such thing as a “sure thing,” whether you’re talking about gambling or the NFL Draft. A horse race begins with a guess about the winner, and in a few minutes, you have confirmation.

When it comes to the draft, you may not know if a player is a winner or a bust until years later. Some get labels prematurely all the time. On draft day, teams can only do the best with the information they have from the combine and what they see on film.

These Top Prospects Could Force Minnesota’s Hand on Draft Night

With that knowledge in hand, there will be players that teams can’t pass on, no matter the need to shore up other positions. That doesn’t mean the Vikings will have the chance to draft them unless they take a tumble down the draft boards as other teams shore up positions of need. The chance is always there.

The argument over drafting for “position of need” versus “best player available” is a long, arduous one with no perfect answer.

The Vikings could be viewed as operating in either mode: drafting Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw when they needed to fill those roles, or drafting Randy Moss and Adrian Peterson when they already had a great receiving duo in Cris Carter and Jake Reed, or a 1,000-yard rusher in Chester Taylor. The best scenario is when it fits both aspects.

Last year, there was a glut of running backs, which could allow teams to wait until later rounds to draft one. There were still some players who, if they came to their team’s draft position, would have to take, or think long and hard about passing them up.

There were also many players in the top end of the 2025 draft that every team had to think a bit before changing those players’ and the team’s destiny. That all made it possible for more top players to slide down draft boards and cause chaos with picks most weren’t expecting. It’s a new year, and the team has new needs. This year’s draft is top-heavy but has some good depth. So, which players should the Vikings take without thought at pick 18 and a little beyond?

Sonny Styles

LB Ohio State

Linebacker isn’t in dire need of help, but there is a definite lack of depth. Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson have been very solid at the position the last few years, with the defense struggling when Cashman was out 2 seasons ago, and Wilson was on the Packers.

When he was out in 2025, Wilson really held everything together until he got back into the lineup. Styles is more athletic than both of them and has the potential to become a player like Micah Parsons, with his speed and ferocity at the position. The term “freak” gets thrown out at some players too often, but Styles is in that realm of possibly meeting those expectations.

With Cashman’s injury history and Wilson past 30, a youthful infusion and great upside in skill would make the defense even more dangerous, with a speedy blitzer coming from any angle. He could most likely move outside on passing downs and spell Johnathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel at times. Styles can hit, tackle, and drop into coverage and never have to leave the field, no matter the down or situation. He probably won’t slip all the way to 18, but if he does, the Vikings should use a Corvette to hand in the card.

Chances: 5%

Jeremiyah Love

RB Notre Dame

“Running backs are a devalued position in today’s NFL.” You can’t escape that statement in the off-season. However, I don’t think it’s as strong a statement as it has been. The last great running backs that teams built around were LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson, and it’s been about 10 years since they were viewed that way.

When the Super Bowl rolls around, it always seems the two teams have strong defenses and running backs that can keep the sticks moving. Kenneth Walker III was the MVP this year. Love may be in the vein of past running backs, with some experts saying he could be a generational player. He can do it all with the ball in his hands, whether the quarterback places it there with a handoff or a pass.

Once he gets loose, you can’t catch him, and if you do, he is hard to bring down. He also does a good job with pass protection, which head coaches love when they have a great or premier passer. Kevin O’Connell definitely rates that trait highly. Regardless of who quarterbacks the Vikings, Love would make the offense a headache for defensive coordinators.

Teaming him up with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason gives the room depth like never before, with the trio capable of wearing the opposition down by sprinting and grinding out yardage. He has a good chance of slipping down due to his position, but there isn’t the depth of backs like last year, meaning teams will snatch them up earlier. The Vikings should ignore other positions if he is sitting there waiting to run rampant on the NFC North.

Chances: 50%

Carnell Tate

WR Ohio State

Do the Vikings need wide receiver depth? Do they need to take a receiver this early? On the first question, yes. The depth at receiver is questionable at best. On the second question, no, but it doesn’t hurt if the best is available. Tate is the prototypical wide receiver coming out of “THE” Ohio State: he is tall and can catch anything in his orbit.

Adding him to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson would make the passing game frightening should they all remain on the team. He is also immediate insurance should there be an injury, an off-field incident, or should Addison be traded or released in the future. Tate has the size, the hands, and the precise route running to put defensive backs on skates.

The only thing he lacks is top-end speed, but it doesn’t really matter. Cris Carter wasn’t known for his speed, and he seemed to do just fine in the NFL. His quickness off the line gets him in position quickly, and his athleticism to make difficult catches in and out of traffic makes him a threat all over the field. He’s fast enough. You can never have too much of a good thing, especially at the wide receiver position.

Chances: 25%

Kenyon Sadiq

TE Oregon

Tight end is also pretty shored up on the Vikings roster. Hockenson is back with a revised contract, and if the offensive line stays healthy, he can get back to what he does best: catch the football. Josh Oliver is known more for his blocking, but he has had solid receiving games since coming to Minnesota 2 years ago.

Ben Yurosek is a combination of the two, and I feel could be an impact player if he gets more time on the field. Sadiq is being seen as a bit of a “unicorn” at tight end with the combination of size and speed that goes with him. He can get down the field quickly, is tough to tackle, and can make athletic catches and runs if he doesn’t just bully his way through a tackle. His highlight tape has him not only running over tacklers but also hurdling their attempts.

Like Hockenson, a team could line him up outside at a wide receiver position, putting more pressure on the defense to maintain coverage. What I keep hearing is that he’s also a “willing blocker,” meaning it isn’t necessarily his strength, but he will do it and can be good enough. Whether J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray is at quarterback, having a tight end like him would be a godsend in targeted routes or if they need to get creative. He is a matchup nightmare for most linebackers and safeties in the league.

While this draft seems deep with tight ends, there is a significant drop from him to the next ones on the list. There’s a fair chance he will be available at the 18th pick, and the Vikings may need to pause if Sadiq and the next prospect are on the board.

Chances: 70%

Dillon Thieneman

S Oregon

15 years ago, the Vikings made a move back into the bottom of the first round for a safety named Harrison Smith. He was a rangy, smart, hard-hitting player on the Notre Dame squad that had few question marks coming into the draft.

He spent the next 14 seasons (so far?) wreaking havoc on opposing offenses in the run and pass game. Aaron Rodgers named him specifically as the one player he hated facing. Being that good and staying with one team your entire career is tough in today’s NFL. While safety isn’t seen as a high-priority position to fill, occasionally one or two players who are can’t-miss prospects garner attention in the 1st round.

Thieneman isn’t seen as the best prospect in the 2026 Draft at safety, but he’s the one most likely to be available at pick 18. Caleb Downs would be the guy if they were both sitting there. So why don’t I list him if anything is possible, and he falls to 18? This is more along the lines of taking a guy who will fill the void left by Smith, while others argue for taking a different position or player, or even trading down. In other words: don’t overthink it.

Yeah, just about every mock you see has him landing with the Vikings at 18 with just a few outliers. You know why? Because it makes sense. If he and Downs are both there at 18, I still take Thieneman because of what Lance Zierlein said in his analysis, “Thieneman is an extension of his defensive coordinator, aligning and adjusting the secondary to motion and pre-snap shifts.” Exactly like Smith with Brian Flores.

The choice would be razor thin, but this puts him over the top and could make him the higher of the two taken come draft day.

Chances: 80%

I’m a small-town boy with12 years in telecommunications and 13 years in radio but a lifetime as a Vikings … More about Tony Schultz

The NFL Draft is 11 days out for the Minnesota Vikings, and the second wave of weekend rumors has arrived.

Three more Vikings rumors are making the rounds as the draft gets closer.

We publish two rumor rounds each weekend, tracking the latest chatter as things pick up speed around the purple orbit. Here’s a look at Sunday’s batch.

Purple Weekend Chatter Swings to Defensive Line, Wide Receiver, and Running Back

A look at the Purple Rumor mill just a week and a half before the draft.

Rumor: Dexter Lawrence is for sale via trade, and the Vikings make sense as a landing spot.

Lawrence formally requested a trade this week, starting the John Harbaugh era in New York on a sour note. It didn’t take long for the trade packages to emerge,

SI.com’s Will Ragatz wrote about Minnesota as a destination, “Vikings get: DT Dexter Lawrence. Giants get: 2026 second-round pick (No. 49), 2027 fifth-round pick. The biggest barrier for the Vikings is the financial side. They’d have to do some serious cap maneuvering to add Lawrence’s contract and give him a raise to top-of-the-market DT money.”

“The only way it really works is if they end up trading Greenard in a separate deal, which would free up some cap space and also presumably get them a new second-round pick. Lawrence may be a better fit within the Vikings’ current roster construction, but the easier move would be to simply pay Greenard instead of executing two different major trades.”

VikingsTerritory offered this alternative on Twitter (X), a proposal quickly panned by Giants fans as outrageous.

Regardless, the idea is out there. The Vikings just offloaded two of their starting DTs in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. A team that did that should at least be mentioned in the Lawrence trade sweepstakes.

Rumor: Stefon Diggs, a free agent, should realize Minnesota is his best landing spot.

Diggs is available on the open market, and he was finally linked to the Vikings this week.

CBS Sports‘ Garrett Podell explained the fit, “Diggs’ legal trouble is likely why he remains available. He pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges following an alleged assault of his personal chef. Diggs’ attorney, Mitchell Schuster, claims his client is ‘completely innocent.’”

“If Diggs’ legal process is resolved, a homecoming to the Minnesota Vikings makes plenty of sense. Jalen Nailor departed for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, so there’s an opening at Minnesota’s WR3 spot after 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson and former first-round pick Jordan Addison.”

Diggs left Minnesota six years ago but remains a keynote figure in the franchise’s lore because of his role in the Minneapolis Miracle of 2017 (2018).

Podell added, “Kevin O’Connell wasn’t the coach in Minnesota when Diggs departed to the Buffalo Bills via a 2020 trade request, and he needs to get Minnesota back to the playoffs in 2026 after a disastrous 2025 with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. Providing Kyler Murray with three high-caliber wideouts would certainly be helpful toward that cause.”

“Plus, Diggs wouldn’t have to work as hard to get open as he ages playing alongside Jefferson and company. Ideal landing spot: Minnesota Vikings.”

If Minnesota does not leave the draft with a serious WR3 candidate, expect Diggs rumors to pick up further.

Rumor: The Vikings could trade for Dolphins RB De’Von Achane.

Fox Sports‘ Ralph Vacchiano rolled out one trade idea per franchise week, and according to him, it’s Achane to the Vikings.

He explained the swap, “Acquire: RB De’Von Achane from the Miami Dolphins. Cost: 2026 third-round pick (82nd), fifth-round pick (163rd). The Vikings brought back Aaron Jones, but he’s 31 and constantly battling injuries. And while he’s a good receiver out of the backfield, Achane is a great one, a much faster and more dynamic player overall and seven years younger (24).”

“The Dolphins say they want to keep him after he ran for 1,350 yards and caught 67 passes for 488 yards last season. But they have the look of a team undergoing a fire sale, so surely they have their price. Achane will need a contract extension, so maybe a third-round pick and change will do it. The Dolphins would be crazy to say no for a second-rounder.”

Achane skipped the Dolphins’ voluntary workouts this week, setting the stage for a summer holdout if no extension is met.

And remember: the Vikings now employ Achane’s offensive coordinator from the last three seasons: Frank Smith.

Trainer William Haggas from Newmarket is mounting a British challenge, entering Dubai Honour and Caviar Heights in the $5 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Both horses tackle Saturday’s flagship race, key to The Championships, extending Haggas’s strong Aussie legacy.

Off a gritty second behind Aeliana in the Tancred Stakes (2400m), Dubai Honour led long before fading near the finish.

At 2000m for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, he’s in the mix, Tom Marquand sticking on from barrier five of eight.

Marquand led in Tancred but James McDonald on Aeliana surged perfectly to claim it on the line.

Blinkers are coming for Dubai Honour’s sharpening in the repeat.

“Hopefully they’ll sharpen him up,’’ said travelling assistant trainer Issy Paul.

“He’s an older horse now and was bounced out of his run, but I’m happy where he’s at so we’ll give it a good crack.”

“He’s a phenomenal horse, he rarely runs a bad race ever and we’ve got him in a really good place.”

Paul highlighted weather and rivals as factors.

“Sometimes the ground might not suit them, and it’s looking like a quick track on Saturday, but you can’t duck and dive. We’ve flown halfway across the world and it’s important we run.”

Dubai Honour hunts sixth elite win from 36 goes: 10-12-2, close to $10m in earnings.

Caviar Heights, Haggas’s $125 hope, showed promise with a placing in Neville Sellwood Stakes debut here.

The Sea The Stars five-year-old has Zac Lloyd from gate four, beside stablemate.

Foreign raiders heighten drama around perfect Autumn Glow.

$1.45 favourite trained by Chris Waller, James McDonald up, barrier two for win 12 straight.

Steve McMahon, Australian Turf Club interim CEO, described the moment.

“History isn’t something you watch later. It’s something you show up for,” McMahon said.

“This week at Royal Randwick, Autumn Glow chases her place in racing folklore. Be there. Feel it. Be part of it.”

“Racegoers are starting to embrace Autumn Glow like none other since Winx, and she can create her own history on Saturday if she remains unbeaten.”

Find the top racing betting markets ahead of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The fight was set up between second-ranked Prochazka and third-ranked Ulberg after former champion Alex Pereira vacated the title to move up to heavyweight.

With 31 finishes from 39 fights, Prochazka is regarded as one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and went into the contest as the favourite.

Ulberg, meanwhile, who grew up in foster homes before transitioning to martial arts after a spell in rugby league, earned the opportunity after knocking out former title challenger Dominick Reyes in September.

Fan favourite Prochazka was serenaded by “let’s go Jiri” chants in the early stages, as Ulberg attacked with leg kicks.

But Ulberg was soon in difficulties with his knee following an awkward landing while falling backwards.

Prochazka appeared to invite Ulberg to stand and trade blows, with the New Zealander ignoring the offer.

With Ulberg backing up against the cage, Prochazka stepped in while throwing punches but was caught by a flush counter left hook.

With fans at octagon-side on their feet in shock and excitement, Ulberg then pounced on the fallen Prochazka to reign down punches as the referee stopped the fight.

UFC president Dana White said in his post-fight news conference that the injury could be Ulberg’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), while commentator Daniel Cormier said Prochazka would have won had the fight gone past the first round.

“If he went to his corner, this fight would have been done. His knee is blown out, he can’t even stand,” said Cormier.

The UFC will be hoping Ulberg’s injury is not serious, with ACL tears usually taking more than nine months to heal fully following surgery.

SEATTLE (AP) — J.P. Crawford singled home the winning run after Bryan Abreu walked the bases loaded with one out in the ninth inning, and the Seattle Mariners rallied past the skidding Houston Astros 8-7 on Saturday night.

Cal Raleigh homered and had three RBIs for the Mariners, who trailed 7-2 before scoring five times in the fifth. Crawford hit a two-run single, Raleigh followed with a sacrifice fly and Julio Rodríguez tied it with a two-run homer.

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The 426-foot shot to center field was Rodríguez’s first home run this season.

Yordan Alvarez homered and had three of Houston’s 17 hits, but the Astros lost their sixth straight game. Taylor Trammell delivered an early three-run double, and Cam Smith had a career-high four hits — including a two-run single that capped a 13-pitch at-bat.

Alvarez has six homers and 14 RBIs already this season.

Carlos Correa also had three hits and scored twice for the Astros, who loaded the bases in the top of the ninth before Alvarez flied out against Andrés Muñoz (2-1).

Abreu (0-2) walked Cole Young, pinch-hitter Brendan Donovan and Leo Rivas in the ninth before Crawford lined a single into left field. It was his seventh walk-off hit, tying Jim Presley for the team record.

Manchester City are away at Chelsea in the Premier League today as they battle Arsenal for the Premier League title.

Manchester City return to Premier League action this weekend with a trip to Stamford Bridge as they seek to keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the table.

City impressed in brushing Liverpool aside 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals last time out and will hope to maintain that momentum when they travel to Chelsea.

The Blues know they need a win to keep alive their chances of overhauling league leaders Arsenal, who visit the Etihad next week.

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Pep Guardiola confirmed Ruben Dias and John Stones are not yet fit to feature with the defensive duo having missed the win over Liverpool. That means Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov will continue in the centre of defence. Nico O’Reilly has produced back-to-back starring performances from left back, while Matheus Nunes is established as first choice on the right.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to return in goal despite James Trafford keeping successive clean sheets and impressing against Arsenal at Wembley and Liverpool at the Etihad.

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In midfield, Rodri and Bernardo Silva look set to partner each other in the middle of the park, allowing Rayan Cherki the chance to hurt Chelsea from an attacking role. Antoine Semenyo has been a consistent performer since arriving at the Etihad in January while Jeremy Doku gets the nod on the other flank. Erling Haaland, fresh from a hat-trick last time out, will lead the line.

City predicted XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo, Cherki; Doku, Semenyo, Haaland

Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson recently competed in the Suburban Propane 300 held on April 11, 2026, at Bristol Motor Speedway. Later, during the post-race interview, Larson opened up about a heartbreaking finish despite dominating the race.

Larson piloted the #88 Chevy Camaro SS for JR Motorsports and qualified third for the main event. Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing driver William Sawalich secured the pole position. Later, the 2025 Cup Series champion took command of the pack and won both stage one and two of the 300-lap race.

Kyle Larson dominated the Bristol Motor Speedway race, leading 230 laps, but a late-race error changed the outcome for him. After the white flag was waved, Larson was chasing Connor Zilisch and lost control of his #88 Chevy. This gave Zilisch enough time to extend the gap between them and take his first win of the season.

Speaking on the same, the Hendrick Motorsports driver told the press the following:

“I needed Connor around the bottom, like one more corner maybe. And I could have gotten control of his outside, but, yeah, he moved up at the right time. I tried to move around a little bit for your lap and a half behind him, and it was just not going to work.”

“So needed him to make a mistake, but I made the mistake behind him, not that it probably would matter anyways, but I had fun, so I mean, obviously I wish I would have gotten the win, but oh no, it’s another fun Bristol race, and I got to work through traffic, a lot. Connor kept me really honest, you know, that last run too, so I had to pick through it really good,” he added.

Connor Zilisch crossed the finish line 0.703 seconds ahead of Kyle Larson at Bristol Motor Speedway. Meanwhile, Brent Crews secured the last podium place, followed by two more JRM drivers, Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil in P4 and P5.

“I was just a average mid-pack guy”: Kyle Larson got candid about his season’s first O’Reilly Series victory

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson won his season’s first triumph at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the O’Reilly Series. Later, during the post-race interview, Larson shared his racing experience at the 1.5-mile tri-oval track.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver had a dominant qualifying session and began the race from the front row alongside pole sitter Sam Mayer. Later, Larson struggled a bit in the race but was able to lock in a P4 and P5 finish in stages one and two.

Later, in the final stage of the race, Kyle Larson took the lead and won the first race of the 2026 season. The #88 Chevy Camaro SS driver celebrated his triumph with his son. Following that, Larson told the press:

“Well, I was seeing a lot of racing on a windshield because I was just an average mid-pack guy for most of it. and it was good. It was really good racing.”

Kyle Larson crossed the finish line with a margin of 2.55 seconds over fellow Cup Series driver Christopher Bell. Meanwhile, Sheldon Creed secured the last podium finish, followed by Justin Allgaier and Sammy Smith in fourth and fifth place.