Britain’s Josh Kelly put on a slick and brave performance to beat Bakhram Murtazaliev and win the IBF light-middleweight title by majority decision in Newcastle.
It was a trademark Kelly display as he danced around the ring, displaying devastating speed and high ring IQ – knowing when to engage and when to get on his heels.
Both fighters hit the canvas with Murtazaliev going down in the fourth and Kelly in the ninth. The Briton went down a further two times late in the fight, but both were ruled as slips.
Two judges scored the bout 115-111 and 114-113 in Kelly’s favour with the other having it down as a 113-113 draw.
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Murtazaliev looked to have got to grips with Kelly’s evasive style in the latter rounds, but the home fighter rallied in the last three minutes to end strongly.
Kelly, who becomes Sunderland’s first world champion, sprinted to embrace trainer Adam Booth when the result was announced before grabbing the belt and raising it up to the 4,000-strong crowd.
“It feels like a dream. I envisioned this,” Kelly told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I was praying a couple of days ago, envisioned the fight, and I had deja vu of the knockdown in the tenth round.
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“I had to concentrate – I feel overwhelmed. I need to take a second backstage to gather myself. I’m mentally exhausted.”
Kelly takes the UK’s tally of reigning male world champions to six, alongside heavyweight Fabio Wardley, welterweight Lewis Crocker, super-featherweight Jazza Dickens, featherweight Nick Ball and light-welterweight Dalton Smith.
The 31-year-old extends his winning streak to eight.
Earlier in the night, Elif Nur Turhan retained her IBF lightweight title with a split-decision win against Taylah Gentzen.
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One judge scored it 97-93 for Australia’s Gentzen with the other two cards reading 98-92 and 96-94 in favour of the champion.
His hopes of securing a rematch with Crawford were ended when ‘Bud’ announced his retirement in December, with Canelo instead recovering from elbow surgery and targeting a return to action later this year, which is set to take place in Saudi Arabia in September.
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A number of opponents have been linked to a clash against Alvarez, but it seems that one world champion is the current frontrunner to secure the bout.
Speaking to FightsATW, promoter Camille Estephan claimed a clash between Canelo and his fighter Christian Mbilli is ‘as close as ever’ to happening.
“I think Canelo wants to fight Mbilli and Mbilli wants to fight Canelo. We have spoken many times, and the will is there to make it happen.
It’s as close as ever. Christian has the WBC title, and Canelo wants it back, but we don’t want to give it back.”
Mbilli has an unbeaten record of 29-0-1, with 24 of those wins coming by knockout. He became interim WBC super-middleweight champion last year, stopping Maciej Sulecki inside one round in June before a draw against Lester Martinez three months later.
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He has since been elevated to full WBC champion following Crawford’s retirement, and after spending several years stating his desire to secure a clash against Alvarez, it appears he could be on the brink of his wish becoming a reality.
Zach Hyman is quietly delivering one of the most efficient scoring seasons in the NHL, placing himself alongside elite names like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. The Edmonton Oilers forward, signed to a $38.5 million deal, has scored 30 goals in just 54 games this season.
Wyshynski pointed out that Hyman ranks fifth in goals per game, trailing only MacKinnon (48 goals), McDavid (41 goals), Nikita Kucherov (40 goals), and Cole Caufield (44 goals). That places him among the league’s most dangerous scorers despite fewer games played.
“Speaking of goals, Zach Hyman,” Wyshynski said. “Zach Hyman’s got thirty goals in fifty-four games. Zach Hyman has the fifth highest goals per game average in the league behind MacKinnon, McDavid, Kucherov, and Caufield. Like, that’s insane.
“I mean, we know why he gets those goals, right? But, like to have scored as many as he has in such limited time, I think I gotta give Zach his flowers ’cause I don’t think people, again, really appreciate the insane goal-scoring season that he’s had.”
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Hyman helped the Oilers win against Vegas
Hyman’s latest performance backed that claim. He scored in a 4-3 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights, showing his ability to create chances on his own. The winger forced a turnover, turned quickly, and finished the play unassisted. That goal pushed him to the 30-goal mark for the third time in four seasons.
Hyman’s scoring rise in recent years has been steady. He recorded 54 goals in the 2023-24 season and followed with 27 last year, a slight drop. Now, he has returned to elite form, producing 48 points with strong physical play and consistency. His ability to find space near the net continues to make him a reliable player in Edmonton’s attack.
The Oilers rely heavily on offense, averaging 3.48 goals per game this season. McDavid leads the league with 121 points, but Hyman’s finishing gives the team another edge. Their top-ranked power play also benefits from his presence around the crease.
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While Edmonton still faces defensive issues, Hyman’s output has helped keep them in the playoff race. His scoring pace now puts him in rare company, proving his value goes beyond secondary support.
Nov 15, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Portland Thorns defender Reyna Reyes (2) controls the ball against the Washington Spirit at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
Portland Thorns defender Reyna Reyes received an additional one-match suspension for her actions against the Seattle Reign on March 20.
Reyes drew a red card for pulling Reign defender Madison Curry’s hair in the 57th minute of Portland’s 2-0 win. She served her automatic one-match ban in Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the San Diego Wave.
The additional suspension issued by the league Friday will keep her out of Saturday’s match against the visiting Kansas City Current.
Reyes, 25, violated Section 12.4.11 — “Major Game Misconduct” — of the league’s operations manual, according to a review by the NWSL Disciplinary Committee.
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Reyes is in her fourth season with the Thorns, who selected her with the fifth overall pick of the 2023 NWSL Draft out of Alabama.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – MARCH 27: Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts against Alexander Zverev of Germamy during the Men’s semifinal at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Jannik Sinner will face Jiri Lehecka in the final of the Miami Open 2026. Sinner leads the head-to-head 3–0.
He’s coming in with: 32 consecutive sets won in Masters 1000 events, 16 consecutive wins in Masters events, and now one win away from the Sunshine Double.
He reached the final after beating Alexander Zverev 6–3, 7–6.
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After the match, he said:
“Standing again in the final, it means very much to me.”
“Trying to play as many matches as possible, that was my goal. Couldn’t do better.”
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“I was serving very well in the end. Especially in crucial moments.”
On Lehecka:
“He’s an incredible player… he’s for sure gonna be more free than me.”
“I try to control whatever I can control. The rest we’ll see how it goes.”
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Lehecka comes in with his own momentum.
He’s the first player since 2018 to reach a Masters final without dropping serve.
Mikaël Kingsbury has always credited those around him for his success. Now as his career winds down, it’s his turn to receive some praise for his impact on freestyle skiing.
Before the Canadian championships, the 33-year-old from Deux-Montagnes, Que., paid tribute to many people while reflecting on his career. Near the top of that list was Alexandre Bilodeau.
At a time when he was just a rookie on the World Cup circuit, the “King of Moguls” tried to absorb everything he could by studying the sport’s elite athletes. Already well established, Bilodeau was among them.
“I had a similar mindset,” said Bilodeau, who won Olympic moguls gold at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. “You learn from the best by being around the best. I watched Jeremy Bloom and Janne Lahtela, and then you take bits from each of them that stand out to you, and that helps you find your own path.”
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Years later, it’s clear the student has surpassed the teacher. Kingsbury, 33, will retire Saturday night with a resume that includes 100 World Cup wins, 29 Crystal Globes, nine world titles and five Olympic medals, including two gold.
“The question answers itself,” said Bilodeau, a 19-time World Cup winner on the World Cup circuit, when asked what Kingsbury represents to freestyle skiing.
“Mikaël is a legend of our sport. He’s broken every record. The person I got to know when he was younger and the human he’s become, he’s an amazing person that I have a lot of respect for.”
Bilodeau knows Kingsbury well, since their families owned cottages near each other in Saint-Sauveur, Que. Bilodeau’s sister, Béatrice, is the same age as Kingsbury, and they skied together.
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“I saw him grow up,” Bilodeau said. “I’ve known for a long time that he’d make it to World Cup competition and break through. Did I think he’d win this much? Maybe not, but he always had great talent, and he’s probably one of the most passionate people about our sport.
“He’s truly passionate, and when you’re passionate, that makes a big difference,” he added. “I think everyone on the World Cup circuit is passionate, but Mikaël still lives and breathes it. He still watches videos of Jean-Luc (Brassard) and Lahtela, and he’s 33.”
While Kingsbury holds virtually every record in the discipline, he’s not the only Canadian with an impressive resume. Before him, Brassard, Bilodeau, Jennifer Heil and Justine Dufour-Lapointe all won Olympic gold and piled up World Cup wins.
No one wants to take anything away from the talent of rising skier Julien Viel and his teammates, or place too much pressure on them. But one thing is clear: Kingsbury cannot be replaced on the national team.
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A dip in results is therefore expected, not that it’s concerning.
“It’s like any sport,” Bilodeau said. “You have to expect a bit of a lull, but young athletes develop quickly over a five or six-year cycle. Would anyone have thought that little Mikaël skiing in Saint-Sauveur would go on to win 100 World Cup gold medals? Probably not.”
The next wave of success could come sooner than expected thanks to the legacy of Kingsbury, who never shied away from a leadership role or from setting the standard.
“He started out as an idol,” Viel said. “When I was young, I wanted to be like him. Then he became my mentor, he gave me a lot of advice. And finally, he became my rival. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have him. I wish him all the best in retirement.”
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Kingsbury’s impact extends well beyond moguls. News of his retirement resonated in Mont-Sainte-Anne, where a snowboard cross World Cup event is taking place this weekend.
“What he’s done for sport in Quebec, it helps other disciplines get more recognition,” said Éliot Grondin, a two-time Crystal Globe winner. “We’ve never had an athlete as dominant as him in Quebec.”
“He’s really a great source of inspiration for Quebec sport,” added Audrey McManiman. “I don’t know him personally, but I had the chance to meet him at the (Milan Cortina Games) opening ceremony. He carried our flag with pride. It was special to walk behind him. He brings great energy and a calm presence. There’s a lot other athletes can learn from that.”
Will that legacy be enough for a Canadian to one day surpass Kingsbury’s records? Nothing is impossible, Bilodeau said. But it won’t be easy.
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“Ten years ago, would we have thought Wayne Gretzky’s records could be broken? No,” Bilodeau said. “And they were last year. There are so many factors that come into play that can change the picture, whether it’s rule changes, career longevity, injuries. There are tons of variables.”
Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover car crash in Florida on Friday afternoon and has subsequently been released on bail, following his arrest and charge for driving under the influence.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said the incident took place on Jupiter Island, in the same town where 50-year-old Woods lives, just after 2pm local time.
Tiger Woods has been released on bail after his arrest for a car crash in Florida (AP)
Authorities say it was a two-car collision, with Woods’ Land Rover clipping a pressure-washer vehicle at speed and flipping over, before skidding down the road on the driver’s side.
The golf icon was kept in jail for eight hours before being released on bond, with the Sheriff’s Office confirming he had been released in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Sheriff John Budensiek confirmed Woods has been charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test – offences which are not felonies. Budensiek also stated that there were no injuries from the crash and admitted “this could have been a lot worse”.
Budensiek revealed that Woods refused to give a urine sample after passing a breathalyser test, leading authorities to suspect he was under the influence of a “medication or drug” as he tried “not to incriminate himself”. There were no medications in Woods’ car.
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“ Our DUI investigators came to the scene here and Mr Woods did exemplify signs of impairment,” said Budensiek.
Tiger Woods’ Land Rover rolled over in the crash (Martin County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
“They did several tests on him. He did explain the injuries and surgeries that he’s had and we did take that into account, but they did some in-depth roadside tests.
“And when it was determined, he was placed under arrest and taken to the Martin County jail. At the Martin County jail, and even on scene, we were really not suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case and that proved to be true.
“Mr Woods did a breathalyser test with triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinary analysis test, he refused and so he has been charged with DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.”
Speaking about any injuries sustained by Woods, who was the only person in his vehicle, he added: “He was not injured. Again, he was lethargic on scene, but that we believe was because of what he was intoxicated on.”
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The local sheriff said there were no injuries from the crash and admitted ‘this could have been a lot worse’ (AP)
Budensiek said the driver of the pressure-washer trucker “thankfully” emerged uninjured and expressed his relief that no passers-by were hurt in the incident.
He said: “This is a small two-lane road. Had somebody been moving in the opposite direction, we would not be having a conversation saying there were no injuries.”
“He’s got some difficulty,” Trump said. “There was an accident and that’s all I know. He’s a very close friend of mine, he’s an amazing person, an amazing man. Some difficulty, I don’t want to talk about it.”
Woods was previously involved in a high-profile rollover crash in California in 2021, which left him with serious injuries. Authorities said he was driving at least twice the 45mph speed limit when he SUV struck a tree, causing the vehicle to fly through the air and land on its side.
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At the 2021 Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Woods said: “I’m lucky to be alive and also have a limb,” revealing it was 50-50 as to whether part of his right leg would require amputation.
The American was also arrested for driving under the influence in Florida in 2017, after which he checked himself into a clinic for prescription medication.
Woods has been involved in three high-profile car accidents (REUTERS)
Woods was was placed under arrest and taken to the Martin County jail (Getty Images)
In 2009, he crashed his car into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home in an incident that led to a spectacular unravelling of his private life.
Woods had been working his way back to golf from a seventh back surgery last September and his status for next month’s Masters remains unclear.
He admitted he got his “a*** kicked” after returning to golf in the TGL Finals (an indoor, virtual league) this week with his team Jupiter Links, who lost the Finals.
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Woods has only just returned to competitive action for the first time in over a year (AP)
His last official tournament was The Open in 2024, before rupturing his Achilles tendon in March 2025 which that kept him off the course all season prior to back surgery.
And while the 15-time major champion has lifetime eligibility to play at the Masters, as a previous five-time winner of the green jacket, US president Trump suggested a decision had already been made.
“I love Tiger, but he won’t be there,” Trump said while appearing on “The Five” on FOX News. “He’ll be there, but he won’t be playing in it.”
She broke her maiden at Caulfield Heath in November, then fifth in Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield, prior to 11th placing in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 21 to winner Streisand.
Almost An Angel had been set for Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington March 7, but wide draw and eye infection caused withdrawal.
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According to Griffiths, he favored trialing Almost An Angel on Flemington’s straight Saturday but recognized Morphettville as superior for her ‘Black Type’ quest.
“We’re keen to get ‘Black Type’ because she’s got the talent and deserves to have it,” Griffiths said.
“She ran fifth in the (Blue Diamond) Prelude and if she runs fourth, she gets the big black writing next to her name.
“Damian Lane was pretty happy with her that day and said we should have a throw at the stumps in the big one and she drew poorly and got into a bad spot, so it was a forgive run.
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“She was in the Sires’ but she drew wide and had a bit of an eye infection, so we decided to miss that and switch our attention to one these races.
“We sent her down the beach, she’s done some steady work, and here we are.”
There are benefits and downsides to both Saturday fixtures, Griffiths pointed out.
“She’s never been down the straight, so that was a negative, but the 1200 metres would suit,” Griffiths said.
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“But in saying that she’s won at 1000 (metres) at Caulfield Heath and she was terrific at 1100 (metres) at Caulfield, so you would think 1050 metres on a big track at Morphettville would be good.
“There is the travel over to Adelaide, but Morphettville is the better option, so we’ll head over and give it a shot.”
RCB’s Phil Salt celebrates after taking the catch of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s captain Ishan Kishan (PTI Photo)
Phil Salt produced a moment of brilliance in the field to dismiss Ishan Kishan, bringing an end to a commanding knock in the IPL 2026 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad.Kishan was batting fluently on 80 off just 38 balls and looked set for a century when he attempted to guide a full toss outside off towards the boundary. The ball seemed destined for the ropes, but Salt had other ideas. Running hard to his right from point, he stretched out fully and completed a one-handed catch at full reach, pulling off a stunning dismissal that could be among the catches of the season.It was not the only moment Salt made an impact in the field. Earlier, he was involved in another crucial catch near the boundary. Positioned at midwicket, he settled under a high ball but went down while completing the take, raising doubts over whether he had touched the cushions. The decision was sent upstairs, and after a close review, the third umpire ruled it clean, confirming the dismissal despite visible uncertainty. Heinrich Klaasen, who was dismissed, appeared unhappy with the verdict as he walked off.Kishan’s innings had been the backbone of Hyderabad’s total. Leading the side, he smashed 80 off 38 balls with eight fours and five sixes, adding 97 runs with Klaasen for the fourth wicket after early setbacks. His aggressive approach kept SRH in the contest despite a strong spell from Jacob Duffy.However, Salt’s stunning effort shifted the momentum back towards Bengaluru at a key moment. With Kishan gone, SRH lost some momentum in the death overs and eventually finished on 201 for nine, a total that looked slightly below par given the platform they had built.In a match that marked the return of IPL action to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Salt’s fielding stood out as one of the defining moments of the innings.
Gary Woodland is lighter now. Better golf has followed, and it’s showing itself this week in Houston.
Two weeks ago at the Players Championship, Woodland unburdened himself in an emotional interview with Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, where the 2019 U.S. Open champion revealed he has been diagnosed with PTSD following a brain procedure to remove a tumor in 2023. Woodland said that doctors told him that “in an ideal world,” he wouldn’t be competing on the PGA Tour.
“My response was, in an ideal world, I don’t have this. This is my dream and this is what I’m going to do, and no matter how hard it is, I’m going to play,” Woodland told Hoggard. “I want to live my dreams and I want to be successful out here, but I want to help people, too, but I realize now I got to help myself first.”
Woodland missed four of his first six cuts in 2026, but he posted a T14 at last week’s Valspar Championship and arrived at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, a place where he finished T2 last year, feeling better about the daily battle he faces and his dream of competing and winning again on the PGA Tour.
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On Thursday, Woodland’s improved play continued when he opened with a 64 to put himself in contention early at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
“I literally feel like I got a thousand pounds off my back that day,” Woodland said Thursday about revealing his PTSD diagnosis. “It was hard to do. I was crying going into the interview, and I left feeling a thousand pounds lighter. I have a battle that I’m fighting, but it’s nice to not do that alone, I can tell you that. We’ll take it one day at a time and continue to get better. But the Tour out here is a family and they’ve been amazing. The golf world’s been amazing and I’m very thankful.”
Woodland’s PTSD reveal is a big key to his recent on-course turnaround. He feels free, like he doesn’t have to hide what he’s going through. But while that decision to open up is the clear catalyst for Gary Woodland’s change, it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. Just the one that helped bring it all together.
A year-and-a-half ago, Woodland went back to his coach, Randy Smith, and made some adjustments to his swing that have him leading the PGA Tour in driving distance.
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“He pretty much called me soft, told me I was guiding it, and that’s not ever how I played in my whole life,” Woodland said of Smith. “He wanted me to get back to swinging hard and aggressive, playing to my strengths. It’s been a process to get there, but we’re starting to swing at it again like I used to.”
While Woodland has been outdriving everyone on the PGA Tour, his iron play hasn’t matched up for him to take advantage of his length off the tee. But Woodland made a shaft change at last week’s Valspar, switching to shafts he used from 2015-2019, and they are already paying dividends.
“It’s a shaft that I played all through ’18, ’19, I think ’15, ’16, ’17. I played it for a long time,” Woodland said. “Switched out of it last year just because my speed had dropped and I was trying to find something that was a little more forgiving. My speed’s back and I put those babies back in and it was nice.”
Woodland followed up his first-round 64 with a 7-under 63 to enter the weekend at 13-under, holding a three-shot lead over Nicolai Hojgaard and Jackson Suber.
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Woodland knows that a lot can happen over 36 holes. But on a golf course that allows him to be aggressive in front of a crowd that hopes to will him to a win, everything is in front of a freed-up Gary Woodland this weekend in Houston.
“There’s no doubt, and I feed off that,” Woodland said of the Houston crowd. “This, as much as any week, I feel like I’ve had a lot of support. Kind of feel like I’m playing at home. The fans have been amazing. I kind of need that energy to help me through the day, that definitely helps. That’s something hopefully I can ride on this weekend as well.”
As for what it would mean if he were the one lifting the trophy on Sunday, Woodland wouldn’t let himself drift that far into the future. Like every day, he’s just taking it one step at a time.
“I’m proud of myself for the way I played,” Woodland said. “Like I said, 36 holes, continue to do what I’ve been doing and then we’ll see where we’re at at the end.”
Reflect back two years when Mark Twain’s connections rejoiced over a ballot exemption secured for the Melbourne Cup.
Six months after dominating the Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington, those plans fell apart from a tendon setback Mark Twain encountered preparing for 2024 spring racing.
Advance to Saturday, where Mark Twain graces the identical Flemington program he won on two years ago.
His current goal shifts from Cup exemption to Group 1 glory via the Australian Cup (2000m).
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This will be his second appearance for Phillip Stokes’ stable on Saturday, building on a notable third in the Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington March 24.
A subsequent easy jump-out at Flemington has followed, as Stokes prefers him fresh for assignments.
“Four weeks between runs with a jump-out in between, I feel that’s the best way to have him, fresh with three weeks being the minimum,” Stokes said.
“It’s a hard race, but the favourite (Birdman) was the one that beat us (last time), and we can only improve and I think the Flemington 2000 (metres) is ideal.
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“He ticks a lot of boxes, but we need to see it again, and I’m sure we will because we’ve been very happy with his work.
“He’s very relaxed and happy, so we go their quietly confident.”
Mark Twain, once handled by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, snared the Roy Higgins on a flying visit two years past.
After recovering from injury, one New Zealand start preceded close-spaced Melbourne runs with lacklustre outcomes.
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“After his issues, he may not have come up last prep, and they were racing him every two weeks,” Stokes said.
“The prep previous to that, he was going a lot better, and I noticed they were spacing his runs a lot more and he was racing well.
“He was working well leading into his first-up run and I tipped him to a lot of people, saying to have something each-way on him.
“We know he’s a good horse when he’s right, so let’s hope he’s somewhere near his best.”
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Stokes will gauge Mark Twain’s efforts this Saturday before charting the stayer’s future path.
Punters should check online bookmakers for Australian Cup betting options.
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