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Tron Bolt Victorious in 2026 G1 JJ Atkins Stakes; McDonald Sets New Record

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Jockey in red-green silks rides a brown horse with bib 4 ('Tron Bolt') leading a horse race on a green turf track.

No champion is easily deterred, and Tron Bolt, guided by the exceptional riding skills of James McDonald, proved this point by clinching victory in the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm. This monumental win also saw McDonald eclipse Malcolm Johnston’s long-standing record for the most group one winners in a single Australian season.

McDonald’s tally of 141 group one winners places him in elite company, and achieving 17 victories in the 2025/26 season establishes a new all-time record.

“I feel very humbled and privileged to be in this position,” McDonald stated. “To ride horses like that who give me great rides, I thought he was exceptional today. It is nice to stand alone.”

The Chris Waller-trained Tron Bolt ($1.80 favourite) demonstrated grit, pushing back the challenge from Cormier ($11), ridden by Aaron Bullock, to win by a length. Waller’s other contender, Stormy Marco ($14), secured the third position.

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“You’d think that James McDonald would hand up just one group one, wouldn’t you,” Bullock commented humorously after the race.

This success marks the fourth occasion the Waller stable has claimed the JJ Atkins, following victories by Pressday in 2010, Press Statement in 2015, and The Autumn Sun in 2018.

The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is now being considered as a principal spring target for Tron Bolt.

“With (stud) values, you always try and win something shorter like a Golden Rose at our home track,” Waller added. “We try and use the Golden Rose as a steppingstone to either a Coolmore Stud Stakes up the (Flemington) straight, but for this horse’s example it would be more a Caulfield Guineas.”

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McDonald, who also captured the Atkins aboard Broadsiding in 2024, offered his perspective on the distinctions between the two colts.

“Broadsiding was a bit spunkier,” McDonald recalled. “He was the real deal. This one, he’s a bit sleepy but he’s alive when you really want him to and that is the great thing about this horse. You can put him to sleep. He does what he needs to do and he’ll wake up.

“A little bit chalk and cheese but he’ll reach great heights, this horse. A bit of furnishing to do but he’ll come on immensely. He’s very adaptable and he’s got a bright future.”

Looking to get involved with the racing action? Discover the best betting sites for the upcoming races.

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KO artist who fought Canelo sets his sights on Chris Eubank Jr

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Chris Eubank Jr has not fought since his underwhelming rematch with Conor Benn, but the 36-year-old is now being targeted by a fierce knockout artist, who is willing to travel to London for the opportunity to face him.

Eubank scored an iconic win over Benn last April but when they rematched seven months later, he felt the full effects of a brutal weight cut, narrowly avoiding a stoppage defeat as he survived until the final bell on unsteady legs only to lose a wide unanimous decision.

Since then, the Hove-born contender has been advised to move up in weight and return to the super-middleweight scene, but he has also been linked to a catchweight clash with Michael Zerafa in Australia – a bout which would take place at 164lbs.

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New York’s Edgar Berlanga has now thrown his hat into the ring though, after revealing on ‘The Last Stand’ podcast about his intentions to face Eubank before the end of the year.

“I would love to step into the ring to end the year with Chris Eubank Jr. I feel like that fight is going to be a big fight in London.

“I told Keith [Connolly], I said that I would rather not do it out here in America. I would rather go to London, where he is from [U.K.], you know what I am saying? We can make a big, big fight happen. He is on the radar.”

Berlanga’s most high profile fight came back in 2024 when he challenged Canelo Alvarez for his unified super-middleweight crown, suffering a unanimous decision defeat, one of two losses in his career after also coming up short against Hamzah Sheeraz.

He has since signed with Zuffa Boxing and in his debut with the company on Sunday he knocked Steven Butler out after seven rounds, recovering from a second-round knockdown to earn the 19th stoppage victory of his career.

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In an interview with The Ring, Berlanga has now doubled down on his call-out of Eubank, hoping he can convince the Briton to swerve the Zerafa fight in favour of a clash on home soil.

“I’m looking forward to getting a real big fight with Chris Eubank. Let’s do it in London. It’s going to be big.”

Eubank maintains that he is currently a free agent, but it is unclear whether he is still contracted to Boxxer, with promoter Ben Shalom appearing to believe that their deal has not expired.

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Danhausen Names His Price For Major “Uncurse”

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Danhausen has named his price for yet another major uncursing. He has shockingly asked for ten million dollars and that is something that he has never done before.

The Very Nice Very Evil star has been on the lips of all sports fans ever since he helped the New York Knicks win the NBA title in June. The Knicks had not won the NBA championship in 53 years and only did so after he lifted their curse.

He has since become a household name and has also appeared on a lot of sports channels where they spoke about his powers. Danhausen will be taking on Dominik Mysterio at SummerSlam which will be held in Minnesota.

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He was posing for pictures with the fans when a fan asked him what would it take for him to uncurse the Minnesota Vikings, who have never won the NFL Championship. He jokingly said that it would take ten million dollars for him to uncurse the Vikings.

Danhausen makes bizarre request to the New York Knicks

The name Danhausen has been etched in the history of the New York Knicks. Ever since they won the NBA title, thanks to their curse being lifted, he has been praised by many of the Knicks players themselves.

After they won the title, the former AEW star made a bizarre request to the New York Knicks. He asked for a one day contract with the franchise so he can play and retire as a world champion. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, after the historic championship win, the former AEW star wrote:

“Danhausen is requesting a one day contract with The KNICKSHAUSEN so he may retire from basketball’s as a champion of the world”

It is the off season right now and there is not a lot of movement. However, given the kind of coverage and sensation the team has received from the WWE star, it should come as no surprise if they decide to adhere to the request and give him a one day contract.

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