The path of a racehorse is seldom a simple calculation, a fact that punters who supported Custom in her most recent run can readily confirm.

The Godolphin-owned four-year-old, under the care of Ciaron Maher, was sent off as an odds-on favourite at Caulfield Heath for her latest appearance on August 8.

This strong market backing was a consequence of a commanding three-length victory at Caulfield over 1200 metres on July 25, which followed a respectable first-up second over the same 1200-metre trip four weeks earlier.

The Maher stable learned valuable lessons from Custom’s recent defeat and have implemented strategies to avoid a repeat of bringing her back to the races too soon.

Custom is scheduled to return to competition this Saturday, targeting the Group 3 Courtza Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, a return to black-type racing.

The daughter of Street Boss has previously achieved placings at Listed level and finished just outside the top four at Group 3 company as a three-year-old.

Maher is fully aware that Saturday’s race is a step up in class, but he believes Custom has matured into a stronger mare and deserves this opportunity.

The trainer utilised a visit to Caulfield on Tuesday morning for a gallop, an exercise that provided Maher with the confidence to commit to Saturday’s Group 3 event.

“She worked well and she is a nice horse,” Maher stated.

“It was a bit disappointing last time, but she ran a huge peak second-up and then running her back two weeks (later), it can be, off a peak, hard to do.

“She didn’t get the smoothest flow in running, but she’s at that level and it is worth a shot.”

Maher has secured the services of Ethan Brown, recently back from a stint in Hong Kong, to ride Custom on Saturday, replacing apprentice Jabez Johnstone in the non-claiming race.

The Maher stable also has Salty Pearl entered for Saturday’s program.

Salty Pearl is first-up on Saturday, having previously finished third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and fifth behind Panova in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in April.

Get the latest racing odds from top Australian betting sites for the Courtza Stakes.

Moses Itauma suffered the first defeat of his career this weekend in London, losing to Filip Hrgovic inside nine rounds, failing to capture the vacant IBF heavyweight world title. Frank Bruno, who became champion on his fourth attempt, has offered his verdict.

Itauma was comfortably outboxing Hrgovic in the early rounds, scoring a knockdown in the second while dazzling fans with agility and speed. The more seasoned heavyweight from Croatia displayed an incredible chin to stay in the fight, and it paid off when Itauma started to slow down.

In the ninth, the young Brit’s gas tank was completely empty, and his body threatened to betray him with every shot he threw. Hrgovic piled on the pressure and forced referee Howard Foster to step in and stop the action – this coincided with Itauma’s trainer, Ben Davison, throwing in the towel.

Reflecting on the action, Bruno compared it to his own firs loss.

“So, Croatian boxer Filip Hrgović becomes champion. When it got to the end of round 7, I said, ‘Moses is running out of gas.” You know, when I fought James Bone Crusher Smith, I had beaten everyone before him in early rounds. I was up for the World Championship, but I still had lessons to learn, and I lost the fight.

“Moses, I feel, will be part of Britain’s heavyweight he  ritage, but this was a learning lesson for him and his team. It was a good fight, and I wish Moses a quick recovery. At one point, Filip looked like he was beaten. Good fight, but Moses will return, I am sure. Stronger and wiser.”

Promoter Frank Warren has said that Itauma suffered a leg injury during the fight, though the extent of this – or any other potential health issues – is not currently known.

As cruel as it sounds, Max Brosmer likely needed some sort of poor outcome to arrive for a different Vikings QB to get onto the final roster. Such as life for a QB4 trying to overcome more entrenched passers.

After last night’s Broncos beatdown, Kevin O’Connell took some time to answer questions from the media. Among the questions to get sent in his direction was one about what’s to come for Brosmer. He made the 53-man roster last year. What’s his status going into cut weekend?

Kevin O’Connell Discusses Max Brosmer’s Roster Spot

“I think Max has shown some growth,” O’Connell began in response to the sophomore passer’s standing on the roster.

The skipper went on: “That’s definitely going to be a conversation. We’ll see what the final numbers look like. I don’t think it’s out of the question that we try to keep all those guys. But at the same time we’ve gotta do what’s best for our team. So we’ll work through that and that will definitely be part of the conversation.”

“There was a reason why we wanted to have a deep quarterback room, and all four of those guys had their moments,” O’Connell said toward the end of his Brosmer answer.

O’Connell’s answers boasts all the hallmarks of an upcoming roster cut. Tepid but genuine praise, some evasiveness, and a broader acknowledgement of the roster crunch.

Partnering the O’Connell answer with some common sense and then a simple evaluation of the quarterback’s performance further clarifies where things are going.

For starters, there’s the common sense part of things. Seldom do the Minnesota Vikings carve out four roster spots at quarterback. If, for instance, one of those passers was a player akin to Taysom Hill, then the move could be defensible since that’s a player who can help in other ways.

A QB4 on the final roster is hard to justify otherwise, especially since Brosmer doesn’t look like he’ll develop into a long-term weapon. Rather, his ceiling appears to be that of a rock-solid backup who thinks the game at a high level and who works very hard. He’s chasing down a future that ends up somewhere between Sean Mannion and Nick Mullens.

Partner the number crunch with what the kid has done on the field.

Last year, Max Brosmer was put into a position he was never intended to be in. He had to start several times as an undrafted rookie. His final stats showed going 1-1 behind 66.2% passing for 328 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.

Go ahead and consider his more recent work from the 2026 preseason:

• Giants: 1/2, 6 Yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
• Ravens: 11/17, 98 Yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
• Broncos: 20/35, 165 Yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs

Do these statistics point toward somebody who is going to force the Vikings into an uncomfortable position? Put differently, is there enough promise here to suggest that Minnesota ought to burn a roster spot keeping a fourth passer rather than try sliding him down to the practice squad?

If, in the end, the Vikings opt to trade J.J. McCarthy, then the QB3 job will be vacant. In that scenario, Brosmer would be the lead candidate to remain as the emergency QB3 for games. Short of that scenario, though, it’s hard to envision him demanding some roster real estate.

Max Brosmer is 25. Look for him to be kept around as the QB4 on the practice squad.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Former India pacer Javagal Srinath has caught the attention of fans with his recent act of simplicity. A picture of Srinath opting for a metro ride instead of luxury transport is being widely circulated on social media. The post, originally shared on LinkedIn, has garnered thousands of likes and comments. In the photo, Srinath can be seen standing in the corner of a metro coach, holding his trolley bag in one hand. He is dressed in a sky-blue shirt tucked into a pair of denim jeans and complemented by semi-formal brown leather brogues.

Fans took to social media to praise Srinath’s simplicity, choosing metro travel over luxury transport.

This picture of Javagal Srinath has become viral for travelling in a metro even after being so successful and well to do.

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Generally humans have a tendency to judge people based on their social status.

If someone is wealthy then he can’t be humble. If someone is poor then he… pic.twitter.com/TDy8MuDUzy

— Neetu Khandelwal (@T_Investor_) August 29, 2026

Standing quietly in a corner of the metro with Earbuds on, a trolley bag beside him, glasses in his pocket and absolutely no VIP attitude

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At first glance, 99% of people would think-Just another teacher or private-sector employee

But wait… you’ll be shocked to know who he… pic.twitter.com/xn7VXdSc5n

— Dr Priyanka (@Dr_Priyanka0) August 30, 2026

The #man you see standing quietly in a corner of a Metro coach, with a trolley bag and hardly drawing any attention, is Javagal Srinath. @iamjavagal

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The younger generation may recognise him more as the ICC match referee they see during international cricket. But for our… https://t.co/YRAvBGbHRq

— Sivasubramaniam Jayaraman (@JsivaUrbantranz) August 30, 2026

Javagal Srinath travelling on the Metro like any other passenger.

No special treatment, no fuss-just pure simplicity.

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A cricket legend who still carries himself with incredible humility. pic.twitter.com/7F7Z0r8JvH

— Asmita (@AuraXsync) August 29, 2026

Currently an ICC match referee, Srinath represented India in 67 Tests from 1991 to 2002, taking 236 wickets at an average of 30.49, with 10 five-wicket hauls and a ten-fer, with best figures of 8/86. He is India’s 10th-highest wicket-taker in Tests.

He also played 229 ODIs for India, taking 315 wickets at an average of 28.08, with three five-wicket hauls and best figures of 5/23. He is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in ODIs and the highest wicket-taker amongst Indian pacers in the 50-over format.

In 296 international matches, he has taken 551 wickets in 296 matches at an average of 29.11, with 13 five-fors and a ten-fer and is the seventh-highest wicket-taker for India.

Speaking at an event earlier this week, Srinath called Test cricket the “mother of all cricket”, encouraging youngsters to take the format more seriously, saying that someone who can play the longer format finds it easy to play T20s.

Srinath said, “IPL is important, but you need depth in cricket, which is there in Tests. Test cricket is a five-day format, which is why it is called the ‘mother of all cricket.’ A player who plays Test cricket can also find it easier to play T20 cricket, but for someone who only plays T20 cricket, playing Test cricket is not as easy. Stick to Test cricket, the longer version of the game. Alongside that, you can also play T20,” he said.

(With ANI Inputs)

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Spain’s Royal Family Welcomes World Cup Champions To Zarzuela Palace

Rookie DT Caleb Banks is going to be as good as he wants to be. Part of what’s standing in his way is his pad level, a point that has already been made multiple times.

So, the onus shifts to the young lad to adjust. Getting coached up by Brian Flores and Ryan Nielsen means that the rookie doesn’t lack for guidance. Similarly, TCO Performance Center is a dream work environment, meaning he’s got an edge there, as well.

Nobody expected Mr. Banks to be a finished product by Week 1 of his rookie season. However, there have been several rough moments in training camp and the preseason, creating concern about how ready he is to contribute as a rookie. Worse yet, some of the ways in which he is being discussed brings back recollections of J.J. McCarthy insofar as the same point is being repeated for a gifted 1st-Round pick with promise.

Caleb Banks, J.J. McCarthy, & Being a Diamond in the Rough

Part of the plan was to get younger in the trenches. Moving on from Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen was with an eye toward saving money and adding a bit more youthful pop.

Double dipping along the defensive line involved sinking No. 18 into Caleb Banks and No. 82 into Domonique Orange. Of the two, Orange — who boasts the phenomenal nickname Big Citrus — appears ready for a heartier workload. A major part of the reason why is due to his capacity to address the shortcomings in his game (real or perceived).

Indeed, Orange is proving more slippery and effective as a pass rusher than many scouts insisted going into the 2026 NFL Draft. Back at training camp, Orange told Vikings Territory that he didn’t agree with the characterization that he offers zero pass rush. Several moments have proven that he’s got some upside here and won’t be a repeat of Harrison Phillips.

Again, Orange isn’t a finished product. But, to be sure, he’s a product who has shown that he’s able to get polished up.

Every so often, Caleb Banks looks far too lackadaisical on the football field. When partnered with getting too high, Banks becomes quite movable.

In the above clip, the issue isn’t simply that Banks is too high. More concerning, perhaps, is that he appears far too comfortable seeing Denver’s backup blockers ride him out of the play. Banks is a 6’6″ player who tips the scales at a hulking 325 pounds. He cannot allow himself to be pushed around so easily. The best football players play with controlled urgency.

Over and over again, McCarthy has been described as a talented player who needs to correct flaws in his game. In particular, there has been the focus on improving his “layered throws” as he learns to operate with “touch.”

Entering his third season, McCarthy is still a flamethrower looking for figure out how to activate his warm setting.

Caleb Banks is his own man and deserves to be judged as such. What’s nevertheless concerning is seeing the Vikings’ fixation with remarkable athletes in the opening round of recent drafts — Lewis Cine, J.J. McCarthy, and (to a much lesser extent) Dallas Turner — who fail to live up to their draft slots.

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The task in front of Caleb Banks is to ensure he commits to his craft, pouring a pile of work into the game so that he can counter concerns by becoming the dominant force he’s capable of becoming.

Banks, 23, looks like he’ll be a backup in Week 1.

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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan practices during Fan Week ahead of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP

Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina says things are “all good” for the US Open after a heel injury forced her to retire from her Cincinnati WTA quarterfinal last week.

“I started to practice, so I feel well,” the Kazakh said Saturday. “We’re still making some adjustments, but overall I’m happy how we dealt with the problem. We worked hard and likely it’s all good right now and it’s just a matter of a couple more practices and then, yeah, going on the match.”

READ: Elena Rybakina beats Sabalenka in tense Australian Open final

Rybakina can supplant Aryna Sabalenka atop the world rankings if she reaches the semifinals at Flushing Meadows — regardless of whether the Belarusian can win a third straight title.

For weeks she’s said she isn’t focused on the ranking, and her injury only reinforced that approach.

“From media mostly I know where I should get, how the others should play — all the different scenarios,” she said. “But for me, especially now when I had this injury last week, I feel like the most important (is) just try to stay healthy, play match at a time.

“I’m trying not to think about it at all and just play match at a time.”

After hobbling out of her Cincinnati clash with Iga Swiatek, Rybakina said she didn’t play for a week and saw several doctors.

“It wasn’t easy because we didn’t know exactly how the foot is gonna react, since it was very painful for me to go and serve on that match in Cincinnati … then for a couple of days it was painful to even walk.

“After, we managed to do everything possible for it to get better, and I’m glad how the process is going for now.”

Rybakina said fear of aggravating the injury won’t hinder her in the final Grand Slam of the season.

“I’m quite confident with the decision we are making each day how to practice, what to do, and especially what can happen worst-case scenario.

“So all these things I feel quite confident.”