McDonald piloted a historic sixth winner during the finale of Randwick’s 10-race meeting, steering Gangsta Granny to success in the Wenona Girl Quality (1200m).

This represents the first instance of a jockey riding six winners at a Sydney Saturday since Jim Cassidy did so in 1987.

McDonald’s accomplishment gains extra prominence since every one of his six wins was in a Group or Listed race.

He partnered Joliestar for the win in the Canterbury Stakes, along with Generosity in the Challenge Stakes, Pinito in the Aspiration Quality, Beadman in the Fireball Stakes and Chayan in the Reisling Stakes.

“I knew I had a proper book of rides. I thought every single one was capable of winning with a bit of luck,” McDonald said.

“But it was one of those days where everything just falls into place. If you get that luck, it just snowballs.

“You can feel them running well and you’re feeling good on top of them and things just worked out that way.

“I did ride six winners in New Zealand once (2010) but this is the first time I’ve done it in Sydney.”

Despite the triumph, McDonald was deemed guilty of careless riding that affected Hidrix in the Todman Stakes.

Pleading guilty earned him a four-meeting ban from Racing NSW stewards starting Sunday, but he remains eligible for next Saturday’s Coolmore Classic card.

Team Hawkes’ Gangsta Granny ($2.80) exhibited class, topping off McDonald’s record-setting performance with a three-quarter length victory from Cosmonova ($41) and Asgarda ($81) a neck back in third place.

“I thought she looked pretty well placed today even with the 58kgs,” McDonald said.

“She is a class mare and did run Autumn Glow to half a length.”

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes views the capable mare Gangsta Granny as having “gone to another level” this time in, elevating her stats to five wins (with five placings) over 10 runs.

“Her trials have been outstanding, she has come back with a bang,” Hawkes said.

“It was a nice race that we picked for her. We thought it was an easier race, albeit she had to carry the weight, but she is a class mare.

“She has always been strong, she has always been that sort of mare but you just want these good horses to come back to the next level, which she has.”

Hawkes revealed no firm autumn target yet for Gangsta Granny.

“She can go anyway,” Hawkes said.

“The improvement she has taken, they’ve run good time, it’s only first-up and she carried a big weight. Her day will come and hopefully we can get to the top of the tree.”

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The main event of UFC 326 produced a surprise performance from Charles Oliveira in a rematch 11 years in the making for the ceremonial BMF title in Las Vegas.  

Former lightweight Oliveira, 36, relied on his grappling to shut out and completely dominate Max Holloway over five rounds inside T-Mobile Arena. In the co-headliner, middleweight contender Caio Borralho bounced back from his first UFC defeat by winning all three rounds on all three scorecards to take a decision from Reinier de Ridder. 

Let’s take a look at the biggest takeaways from an exciting night at the fights. 

1. Charles Oliveira delivered the performance not enough of us saw coming

Despite how legendary this matchup was on paper in a fight that set a record for the most combined UFC wins in a single fight, the 34-year-old Holloway held firmly as a nearly 2-to-1 betting favorite and many (including this writer) predicted he would finish Oliveira in an all-action fight. But, in hindsight, there simply wasn’t enough talk about just how big Oliveira is for the division. Historically, Holloway has been stingy when it comes to takedown defense. But he had never fought a grappler this big or skilled and it showed immediately. Oliveira routinely took Holloway down with ease and spent most of the first two rounds threatening chokes while beating the former featherweight king up with ground and pound. Oliveira also held the advantage the rare times they exchanged on the feet to begin each round. Already the UFC recordholder for finishes, submissions and post-fight bonuses, Oliveira also moved into second place for most wins (two behind Jim Miller’s record of 27). Adding a name like Holloway to his legendary resume — and doing so by complete domination — was something very few pundits or fans had on their bingo card. 

2. If we’re being honest, Oliveira’s performance was not befitting of a BMF title fight

On one hand, it’s hard to criticize a fighter who just won seemingly every second of a 25-minute title fight against a fellow legend. But the BMF title was created to showcase the combined toughness and violent striking of two action legends and, without question, MMA fans expected (rightfully) for this rematch to be an all-out war. While Oliveira wasn’t exactly resistant to exchanging strikes with Holloway (and the Brazilian doubled Holloway’s output in significant strikes landed), he did quickly shoot for takedowns in all five rounds and amassed an absurd control time of 20 minutes and 49 seconds over the 25-minute fight. This simply wasn’t the spirit of a title lineage that was created in 2019 to honor the swagger and exploits of celebrated brawlers Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. No one is saying Oliveira was expected to make this fight easier for Holloway. It’s just that anymore performances like the one Oliveira delivered on Saturday will quickly make the delightfully gimmicky BMF title played out and unnecessary.   

3. Oliveira’s gameplan and post-fight demeanor proved what matters most to him

For “Do Bronx,” defeating Holloway in their rematch wasn’t about the BMF title. It was about taking one giant step forward toward his real goal: regaining the UFC lightweight title. That was apparent not only by Oliveira’s decision to grapple and methodically beat up Holloway but also his reluctance to call out a big name after the victory. Instead of trying to secure a BMF title defense against, say, a returning Conor McGregor at July’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas, Oliveira pushed UFC brass for a last-minute opportunity on the June White House card and mentioned his want for a title fight next. Oliveira, who was knocked out by Ilia Topuria in their vacant lightweight bout last June, put himself in a strong position to get a second chance should Topuria defeat interim titleholder Justin Gaethje in the recently announced White House main event. 

4. Raul Rosas Jr. is evolving quickly but still has more work to do

At just 21, Rosas was stepping up considerably in class on Saturday for his seventh walk to the Octagon by facing his first ranked opponent in 38-year-old Rob Font. But even though Rosas would go on to pass the test with flying colors by pitching a shutout on all three scorecards and completing a bantamweight three-round record of 16 takedowns, his performance was a bit one-dimensional. Rosas, who won his fifth straight bout since his lone pro defeat in a 2023 decision loss to Christian Rodriguez, ultimately relied on his wrestling to a fault. Even though it was the right strategic move to get past the striking-heavy Font, it failed to showcase whether Rosas’ own striking could hold up at this level. Rosas will likely earn a top-15 ranking with the win and is still on pace at 21 years, 5 months to potentially break Jon Jones’ UFC record (23 years, 8 months) as the youngest champion. But it will be difficult to call him a true title threat until he levels up his striking to where his incredible grappling skills already lie. 

5. ‘RoboCop’ is quietly becoming a legitimate threat at middleweight

In the three years since Gregory Rodrigues was knocked out in Round 1 by countryman Bruno Ferreira, he won six of his next seven fights, including four by knockout. But it wasn’t until he changed his demeanor and gameplan entering their rematch on Saturday that he truly looked like a future title contender. The 34-year-old Rodrigues opened calm, cool and patient this time, which is a departure from his normal aggressive starts that have often left him fatigued late in fights. Not only did Rodrigues control distance, he waited for the risk-taking Ferreira to come to him and lined him up with a perfect right cross to knock him out less than two minutes into their rematch. Rodrigues has always had size, tremendous power and a solid ground game but if he continues to add the veteran wrinkles and utilize his fight IQ, a run into the top 10 appears likely. 

Erikan Francis has restated his commitment to help Heartland FC regain promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League after scoring in their 3–1 victory over Smart City FC.

The forward who joined Heartland FC in mid-season on-loan from Akwa United gave the Owerri side a perfect start when he opened the scoring just two minutes into their Matchday 13 clash at the Dan Anyiam Stadium on Saturday.

Erikan’s early strike helped set the pace for a strong performance by the home side, who went on to secure an important win.

After the match, the Akwa Ibom-born forward, who was named the NNL Player of the Match, thanked God and spoke about his strong connection with the club. He said returning to Heartland means a lot to him and that he is determined to help the team return to the top division.

“First and foremost I want to thank the Almighty God. I want to thank Christ Jesus that I truly believe in. Coming back to Heartland to play for them is something I have always had in mind because this is my home,” he said.

“I love it here and anytime I play I put in everything. What runs through my mind is that this team needs to promote back to the NPFL. That is why I am giving 100 percent. The God that did it before through me when this team went to the NPFL in 2023/24, I believe that same God will do it again for Heartland this season.”

Heartland began the match strongly, with Erikan’s quick goal giving the Naze Millionaires an early advantage.

Erikan Francis was again involved in a key moment in the 21st minute when he was fouled inside the penalty area, leading the referee to award a penalty. Jonathan Osondi stepped up and calmly converted the spot kick to extend the lead.

Smart City reduced the deficit just before half-time when Gafar Ojo scored in the 45th minute.

However, Heartland regained control in the second half when Ali Sunday added a third goal to seal the victory for the team coached by Emmanuel Amuneke.

Erikan had previously played for Heartland under the late coach Christian Obi when the club secured promotion to the top flight. Since returning to the team in the middle of the season, he has recorded two goals and one assist.

The win moves Heartland to third place in Conference A with 17 points from 11 matches.

They will next face Sunshine Stars F.C. in another crucial fixture as they continue their push for promotion back to Nigeria’s top division.

Both clubs were relegated from the NPFL last season alongside Akwa United F.C. and Lobi Stars F.C., making the upcoming clash an important battle in the race for a return to the top flight.

Victory at Paycom Center was the Thunder’s fifth in a row. They became the first side to 50 wins this season and sit top of the Western Conference.

Gilgeous-Alexander said: “If we were the best team last year, all year, we win a championship, and we get better, we should put ourselves in great position to repeat.

“This year’s had a little bit more ups and downs for us, but I think we’ve done a pretty good job keeping that front of mind.”

The Warriors – again missing the injured Stephen Curry – scored seven unanswered points to reduce the Thunder’s lead to 99-97 before a three-pointer from Gilgeous-Alexander in the final minute.

Michael Porter Jr scored 30 points as the Brooklyn Nets came from 23 points down to win 107-105 at Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons and end a 10-game losing streak.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the visiting Utah Jazz 113-99.

Jalen Johnson’s 35 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists helped the Atlanta Hawks to a 125-116 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Clippers overturned a 19-point first-half deficit to win 123-120 at the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Orlando Magic won 119-92 at the Minnesota Timberwolves despite Anthony Edwards’ 34 points for the hosts.

Maybe more than any week on the PGA Tour schedule, Bay Hill delights in kicking your teeth in.

And on a noticeably punchy Saturday afternoon at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Scottie Scheffler wasted no time getting started.

The World No. 1 began a vexing third round at Bay Hill in particularly unusual fashion, recording three bogeys in his first five holes — and four in his first seven — to drop from the outskirts of the leaderboard to well out of contention. As he has for much of the week in Florida, the typically cool and collected Scheffler looked out of character with a club in his hands and out of patience without it, en route to a decidedly up-and-down 72. As if to emphasize the point, when his fourth bogey of the day dropped on the seventh hole, NBC cameras captured Scheffler crow-hopping his ball into the woods in disgust — his second frustrated ball-toss of the week.

By the time he made the turn, Scheffler had recorded his most bogeys on an opening nine in more than eleven months, since the second round of the Masters last April, and just one fewer black score than he recorded all week at the American Express in January. (Of course, another read of these stats emphasizes Scheffler’s brilliance in the 2020s, seeing as until the Genesis Invitational at the end of February, the World No. 1 had gone 11 months without a finish outside of the top 10.)

After it was over, Scheffler was blunt.

“Pretty up and down, I would say,” he said.

Norrie, who won the Indian Wells title in 2021, will play Australian world number six Alex de Minaur in the last 32.

“I have been having an amazing preparation,” said Norrie.

“I got here with time – a lot of time – so I’ve been practising really really well against all types of players, and the weather’s been unreal, so good vibes all around.”

World number one Carlos Alcaraz was a 6-2 6-3 winner against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, while five-time Indian Wells champion Novak Djokovic beat Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak 4-6 6-1 6-2 to also reach the third round.

Spaniard Alcaraz won the Australian Open this year to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam, and has won all 13 of his matches in 2026.

“I played great,” he said. “The conditions weren’t easy – a lot of wind today.”

Serb Djokovic, playing for the first time since losing the Australian Open final to Alcaraz, said: “I knew that the first match in such a long time will be a little bit tricky.

“I felt like I had to find my A-game when it was most needed, particularly the beginning of the third.”

Man Utd are set to strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window, and there will be departures from the club.

Manchester United are preparing to make a splash in the summer transfer window. Michael Carrick is in pole position to be permanently appointed after a brilliant start to his interim tenure, and he recently admitted he will be involved in transfer conversations leading up to the window.

A season is usually defined by summer recruitment. United have key areas of the squad to strengthen ahead of a campaign in which they will return to European competition after missing out this term.

The Manchester Evening News reported at the beginning of February that United are planning to strengthen their midfield and left wing. Those areas will be prioritised this summer, but there will also be some high-profile departures, which will raise cash and create headroom on the wage bill.

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United are tracking several midfielders with a view to replacing Casemiro. The Brazilian is set to leave upon the expiry of his contract, and the Reds will sign a high-quality operator to succeed him.

Last summer, United considered a move for Brighton man Carlos Baleba, while Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton have also been tracked. Newcastle star Sandro Tonali is another midfielder who United have been following closely.

Baleba’s form has dropped off a cliff since United showed an interest in signing him, though. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler admitted a few months ago that reports linking him with a move to Old Trafford had negatively impacted his performances.

“I think it’s normal for a young player when the media creates the noise around him,” Hurzeler said. “It’s not easy for this player to handle it. Therefore, we need to give him the time and support.”

It remains to be seen whether enthusiasm over Baleba at United has been dampened by his regression this season. It’s possible that the hierarchy views his drop-off as part of a young player’s journey and considers his form as an opportunity to negotiate a lower transfer fee with Brighton.

United have overhauled their data department and the numbers will be crunched on Baleba, who had a progressive profile before his head was turned by interest from Old Trafford last summer.

Anderson has taken his game to another level since joining Nottingham Forest from Newcastle. The 23-year-old has delivered consistently strong performances and has become a starter for England.

United greatly admire Anderson’s skill set, but they could face competition from Manchester City to sign him this summer. Anderson is set to play for England at the World Cup in the United States, and his future may not be addressed until the tournament has concluded.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has warned there is no pressure to consider offers for Wharton, while Newcastle are desperate to keep Tonali after being raided for Alexander Isak last summer.

However, Tonali’s representatives spoke to Arsenal in the January transfer window. Newcastle are 12th in the Premier League, and Eddie Howe is facing the prospect of losing some of his best players.

Carrick has denied that United have a problem with width, but Matheus Cunha is not a natural left winger and has a preference to drift inside to central areas, which explains why the club are considering signing a traditional-thinking left-sided forward in the summer transfer window.

United were interested in Antoine Semenyo before his £62.5million move to Manchester City. The Reds were prepared to deviate from their plan not to make a mid-season signing because Semenyo was a long-term target and his release clause made him attainable.

However, the market for left-wingers is not inspiring, so United may need to rely on their scouting and data departments to sign a player for that area, which is how they landed on goalkeeper Senne Lammens last summer.

United can raise funds to offset incomings by selling Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana. Rashford has spent the season on loan with Barcelona, who have the option to sign him permanently for £26m (€30m).

Rashford was left searching for a new club after Aston Villa opted against signing him permanently. Barcelona agreed to cover Rashford’s entire salary during his stay at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona would like to negotiate a lower fee to sign Rashford at the end of the season, but it’s understood United intend to hold out to obtain the fee agreed when he signed on loan.

Onana prepared for the new season under the assumption he would stay at United, but he was demoted when he returned from a hamstring injury, and Lammens was signed on deadline day.

United shipped Onana to Turkish club Trabzonspor on a season-long loan, and are set to cut their losses with him this summer. Onana committed too many mistakes to have a future in Manchester.

Tyrell Malacia is set to leave on a free transfer. Malacia was at fault as United lost against Newcastle at St James’ Park last time out, while he was close to leaving in the January window before his switch was blocked by club chiefs.

Malacia was ready to fly to Istanbul to seal a switch away from Old Trafford, having made his desire to leave the club five months before his contract expires clear, but United decided he needed to stay. It felt harsh to pin blame on Malacia against Newcastle, given he’s played little football.

United have made a catalogue of errors in the transfer market, but last summer’s deals suggest the penny may have dropped in terms of getting recruitment right. The good work must continue.

Shakur Stevenson has set his sights on adding another world title to his ledger.

Stevenson most recently defeated Teofimo Lopez to win the WBO super-lightweight title, but it appears the 28-year-old believes there is unfinished business at 135lbs.

Stevenson had moved up from lightweight to face Lopez in January, producing a truly dominant performance to become a four-division world champion, though the slick southpaw discovered he had been stripped of his WBC title at 135lbs for not following the sanctioning body’s rules.

In response, Stevenson delivered a scathing social media post against the WBC, while at no point ruling out a potential return to lightweight.

But rather than looking to reclaim his green and gold strap, the pound-for-pound star has expressed his desire to collect the vacant Ring Magazine lightweight title.

Speaking with Joe Rogan, Stevenson explained that he would need to defeat IBF world champion Raymond Muratalla, who is ranked No.2 by Ring Magazine, in order to make his dream a reality.

“I may go back to 135[lbs] and get that Ring [Magazine] belt. We’ll see, though. I can’t promise that I will, but I may.

“I like the Ring Magazine belt. I know the opponent that I would have to fight to get it – I’m hearing it’s Raymond Muratalla.

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“He’s a good fighter – he just beat Andy Cruz – [but] it ain’t [about] the opponent; it’s more so just to have the Ring belt.”

Muratalla comes off a strong performance against Olympic gold medallist Cruz, who he outpointed by majority decision to defend his IBF title in January.

The American is generally thought to be tight at the weight, though, and has previously hinted at a move up to 140lbs.