Barrier 11 has trainer Chris Waller pondering if Jokers Grin should begin his autumn in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick or adhere to the backup plan of going directly north to Queensland.

This former Perth flyer was last fifth across the line in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) of November and lines up for a stable debut in Saturday’s Hall Mark Stakes (1200m), the autumn carnival’s last hurrah.

Waller intends to evaluate the drawback of the outer gate before deciding, aware that the five-year-old gelding previously conquered wide positions in the prior year’s The Quokka (1200m) and Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) from Ascot.

“His draw isn’t very good, but his owners were quick to point out he has run some really good races from wide draws, and he is a ‘get-back’ horse,” Waller said.

“I’ll have a good look at the field and the race, and if we think he’s a genuine winning chance or top three chance, we’ll be running him.

“If I think he needs another two weeks based on the set up of the race, we might wait two weeks. But at this stage he’s running.”

The Sydney autumn program wasn’t the initial pathway for Jokers Grin, who was destined for Brisbane races alone.

Queensland targets persist strongly, with the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 16 and Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm a couple of weeks on.

“We intended to go to Queensland with him for a Group Two race in two weeks’ time, but he is come up a bit quicker than I thought, which is good,” Waller said.

“I think he can get to a race like the Doomben 10,000 and Kingsford Smith. They’re my two target races, and then hopefully he’s done enough to show he can get ready for the good ones in the spring.”

Waller noted Jokers Grin’s seamless settling in, with light handling during barrier trials.

Encouragement comes from his edge over stablemate Generosity in the Quokka where she was third, later winning Challenge Stakes (1000m) and running close fifth in Group 1 Galaxy (1100m).

“It’s good form. Even Generosity has form around him too, and she has come over and franked that form,” Waller said.

Waller’s history with WA stars features Come Play With Me taking the 2019 Metropolitan (2400m) and Arcadia Queen the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m), securing a 2019 The Everest (1200m) spot.

Discover top online bookmakers offering value on the 2026 Hall Mark Stakes featuring Jokers Grin.

Canelo Alvarez’s longtime trainer and manager, Eddy Reynoso, has effectively dismissed the likes of David Benavidez and Dmitry Bivol as potential opponents.

Instead, the Mexican is set to face a super-middleweight world champion in his next outing, which takes place in Saudi Arabia on September 12.

This will mark his first assignment since losing a unanimous decision to Terence Crawford, who relieved him of his undisputed crown in September 2025.

It was an exceptional performance that saw Crawford move up two weight divisions and dethrone Alvarez, shortly before calling time on his glittering career.

But now, it appears that Canelo is determined to reclaim at least one of his major titles at 168lbs, with WBC champion Christian Mbilli representing a possible option.

Two fighters that have been removed from the equation, meanwhile, are Benavidez and Bivol, the respective WBC and unified world champions at 175lbs.

Since losing a unanimous decision to Bivol in 2022, Canelo has repeatedly expressed an openness to enter a light-heavyweight rematch with the Russian.

As for Benavidez, who challenges unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez on May 2, Alvarez has been far less vocal about their much-talked about encounter.

Team Canelo, however, have now reached a stage where neither champion is included in their plan, as Reynoso has told Elie Seckbach that the 35-year-old will instead remain at 168lbs.

As mentioned, WBC champion Mbilli seems like the frontrunner, while the winner of Hamzah Sheeraz vs Alem Begic – which takes place for the vacant WBO title on May 23 – could also emerge as a potential option for Alvarez.

Finn Balor will be in action against Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42. The latter has admitted that he also has demons of his own that he plans on introducing.

The feud between Mysterio and Balor officially began after the former Universal Champion was booted out of The Judgment Day. Mysterio blamed Balor after he lost the Intercontinental Championship to Penta.

Appearing at the WrestleMania 42 Kickoff Show, Mysterio admitted that he was initially cautious of The Demon, but then got reminded of his own demons. He even stated that Balor has never gone face-to-face with his former stablemate’s demon.

“I was a bit cautious of the Demon… then I remembered who I am. I’m Dirty Dom. Finn Balor has never gone face-to-face with my Demon. I’ve got a few demons of my own.” Mysterio said.

Finn Balor thinks that WrestleMania 42 will be very painful for Dominik Mysterio

Finn Balor will be out for revenge against Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42. The veteran has warned “Dirty” Dom and admitted that he shouldn’t have trusted Mysterio in the first place.

Speaking on ESPN, Balor said that he couldn’t describe in words regarding The Demon’s return to WWE, but he will make sure that WrestleMania 42 turns out to be “very painful” for Mysterio. Balor said:

“It is not something that I can really describe in words. It is a feeling. It is an emotion. It is an energy. And it is something that I can only tap into very occasionally. It can be very draining. But trust me, it is going to be very painful for Dominik Mysterio,”

Mysterio is the reigning AAA Mega Champion and still has one title around his waist. For a very long time, he was a double champion before dropping the Intercontinental Championship to Penta.

Last year at WrestleMania 41, Mysterio won the Intercontinental Championship for the first time by winning a Fatal Four-Way Match, also involving Balor.