Ace jockey Tommy Berry is convinced a Queensland summer jaunt has realigned the formerly difficult Ninja, and he’s backing the gelding to hold his own against premier three-year-olds at Rosehill.

Ninja competed three times up north, triumphing in the Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) on Eagle Farm before a gritty second from the outer alley in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast.

Berry indicated the Michael Freedman-conditioned speedster has been far more attentive back in Sydney, priming him for a step forward.

“He was quite a handful as a younger horse, which is why Michael (Freedman) took his time with him,” Berry said.

“He didn’t have the attitude of a good horse, but the trip to Queensland has done him the absolute world of good, like it can with horses.

“He has come back, and his attitude is completely different. He’s a lot more relaxed and he’s in a really good frame of mind.”

Eight foes await Ninja in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m), including four first-up runners.

From a handy draw and armed with fresh legs, Berry hopes his partner can pounce.

“Even though it’s a quality field with horses like Attica and Autumn Boy, they’re probably going to get back with the barriers they’ve drawn and be better suited when they get to the mile and further,” Berry said.

“He’s at a distance he’s proven to be good at in the past and if he can’t perform against them on Saturday, then he’s going to struggle to go to the Randwick Guineas against them.

“It’s a good test for him but one that we think he’s well and truly up to.”

One of the fresh faces is Shangri La Boy, with co-trainer Adrian Bott keeping expectations grounded.

The colt shone in his first spell, winning twice from four and missing only Attica in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), but plotting a course to the ATC Australian Derby (2400m), he’s set to build with longer races.

“I do think he’s meeting a couple who have a fitness advantage on him and have kicked off their campaigns already. Naturally, they will probably be a bit sharper over the 1400 metres,” Bott said.

“He will try to go through that path of the Guineas races and potentially onto a Derby. With that, there’s good improvement to come.”

Check the racing betting markets for Hobartville Stakes value.

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan (AP Photo)

A number of prominent figures from the cricketing world — including Indian icons Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar — have extended support to former Pakistan all-rounder Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated for more than two years. Reports suggest that Khan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, has nearly lost vision in one eye, allegedly due to medical negligence during his imprisonment. He was ousted from office following multiple corruption charges.The push for better treatment of Khan gathered momentum earlier this week when former Australia captain Greg Chappell initiated a petition urging authorities to ensure proper medical care for the jailed leader. The appeal has been endorsed by several former international captains.In a conversation with Australian journalists Gideon Haigh and Peter Lalor, Chappell explained what prompted him to take action.“And so, you know, I’ve been following and keeping in contact with him as much as possible, but since he’s been in jail, it’s been impossible. I’m in touch with one of his very best friends on a regular basis, and not even his family have been able to see him while he’s in jail. So, this has been sort of troubling me for a while, but I thought, well… What difference does one voice make? And it was in conversation with my friend [name not clear], and he said, Well, why don’t you talk to other captains, and see if you can get a group of captains that make a statement that that might carry a bit more weight.”Given the long-standing political tensions between India and Pakistan, and Khan’s firm stance toward India during his tenure as Prime Minister, public backing from Indian cricket greats was far from certain. Although Khan had visited India multiple times as both a cricketer and political leader and had forged personal bonds there, many of his Indian acquaintances had stayed silent following his imprisonment.Chappell admitted he was struck by how swiftly Gavaskar and Kapil agreed to support the initiative. “Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev probably had more pressure than the rest of us, but they both reacted instantly. You’ve probably seen Sunny’s comments… They’ve been friends for a long time,” he said.Earlier, Gavaskar had spoken about his long association with Khan in remarks that drew attention on both sides of the border. “I have known Imran since he was 17 years old, when India was playing at Worcester… after the Test series win at The Oval. He was trying to qualify as an overseas player for Worcestershire then. Whatever the political differences there, we believe that he should be looked after in a humane manner and given proper medical care,” he told The Indian Express.Others who have signed the petition include Ian Chappell, Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Michael Brearley, David Gower, Steve Waugh, John Wright, Kim Hughes and Belinda Clark.

With fans protesting against the club’s board at the start of the game and later ironically cheering Schmeichel making a save, the atmosphere at Parkhead was far from harmonious.

“It’s bitterly disappointing,” former Celtic captain and manager Neil Lennon said of the jeers directed at Schmeichel.

“He had a bad night but it still doesn’t warrant that kind of treatment.”

Thursday night was the latest in a string of perceived errors made by Schmeichel, following Joe Hugill’s looping header for Kilmarnock last weekend and Jonathan Rowe’s effort for Bologna last month.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Celtic closed ranks around their embattled goalkeeper post-match.

“It’s a tough evening for us,” interim manager Martin O’Neill said. “On paper, 4-1 looks pretty poor.

“We were masters of our own downfall in many respects, conceded some poor goals.

“Kasper [Schmeichel] has made some great saves while I’ve been here. This is a collective, there’s no doubt about that.

“We played Feyenoord in a game we probably had to win and he made an unbelievable save, otherwise we wouldn’t be here playing tonight.

“I will think about all sorts of things [before the next game], but Kasper has done really well since I’ve arrived at the football club, in both spells.”

Captain Callum McGregor added: “Everyone makes mistakes.

“Kasper has been amazing since he’s come to the club. He’ll dust that down. We win as a team and lose as a team.

“There’s no blame, he’s made so many big saves for us. He’ll bounce back for sure.”

Pakistan have sealed their place in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after a comfortable win over Namibia, becoming the final team to qualify. However, the victory did little to silence the growing debate around former captain Babar Azam, whose lean run with the bat has once again come under scrutiny.Babar has managed just 66 runs in three matches and has struggled to make an impact. During the Namibia game, controversy surfaced when he did not come out to bat despite being padded up for a long period. It also appeared that skipper Salman Ali Agha was not entirely pleased with the call.

Former Pakistan batter and selector Mohammad Yousuf has now openly criticised Babar, revealing that he had earlier recommended resting the batter during his tenure as selector.“I’ve been saying this for 2-3 years that Babar’s technique has gone for a toss. I’ve been hearing that he is out-of-form, but he is not. A player can only be out-of-form for two to three series and he has not scored runs for the past two-three years. The moment I suggested resting Babar, everyone suddenly turned against me. I had to resign because of this. He was eventually dropped a couple of series later,” Yousuf said on the ‘How Does It Work?’ podcast.He further questioned the emphasis placed on mentality over skill. “The churan of mindset is being sold very wrongly. Until you don’t have the skill, the mind can’t do anything. If you don’t have the skill, what will the mind do?” he added.Yousuf also compared Babar to legends of a previous era, placing them on a different pedestal. “Inzy Bhai and Saeed Bhai’s level can’t be matched. They can’t be matched. They were very big players. Zaheer Abbas…. These four players were of different categories and levels. Babar is nothing in front of them.”Despite the noise, Pakistan now shift focus to the Super 8 stage, where they have been placed in Group 2 alongside England cricket team, New Zealand cricket team and Sri Lanka cricket team.

Pakistan Super 8 Fixtures

Pakistan will begin their Super 8 campaign against New Zealand on 21 February in Colombo, followed by crucial clashes against England and Sri Lanka in Pallekele.

Team Akwa Ibom has departed Uyo for the 2026 Niger Delta Games in Edo State with a firm determination to surpass its previous performance at the regional sporting fiesta.

The contingent, which includes 270 athletes, left Uyo en route to Edo State on Thursday, February 19, 2026, from the NYSC Orientation Camp in Nsit Atai, where the athletes had been in closed camping in preparation for the Games.

The Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, who represented the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, at the send-off ceremony, charged the athletes and their coaches to remain disciplined and project the state positively throughout the competition.

He stressed the need for the athletes to have a proper understanding of the rules guiding their respective events, noting that discipline and strict compliance would enhance their medal prospects.

“We finished sixth at the maiden edition of the Games, and that was not satisfactory,” the Commissioner said. “Hosting the last edition came with distractions that affected our performance. This time, we must demonstrate the true spirit of Team Akwa Ibom.”

Bassey conveyed the goodwill of the Governor to the team and assured them of the government’s full support despite the Governor’s inability to attend the ceremony in person.

“Go there, give your best, and you will receive a warm welcome on your return,” he added.

While acknowledging that not every athlete may secure a podium finish, the Commissioner urged them to remain focused and give their maximum effort.

Accompanying the team are members of the State Liaison Committee, sports administrators, the media team, the team’s chaperone, camp commandants, and Directors from the Ministry of Sports.

Team Akwa Ibom is optimistic about improving on its sixth-place finish at the last edition and competing strongly for a higher ranking at the 2026 Niger Delta Games.

The PGA Tour’s 2026 Genesis Invitational continues on Friday, February 20, with the second round at Riviera Country Club. You can find full Genesis Invitational tee times for Friday’s second round at the bottom of this post.

Featured tee time for Round 2

This year, Rickie Fowler is trying to re-enter the elite ranks of the PGA Tour after years of struggles on the course. And so far, the six-time Tour winner is looking good.

Fowler has made three starts in 2026, and he’s finished in the top 20 in each of them. Now he’s hoping to take the next step and get into contention at this week’s Genesis Invitational.

He has two top-20 finishes in his career at the Genesis and finished T35 the last time it was held at Riviera in 2024.

Fowler will tee off for Round 2 at 10:27 a.m. ET on Friday alongside Tom Kim and Max Greyserman.

You can watch Friday’s second round of the 2026 Genesis Invitational from 4-8 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage beginning at 10:15 a.m. ET on Friday, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage.

Check out the complete Round 2 tee times and groupings for the Genesis Invitational below.

Hoping to wager on the Genesis Invitational? Sign up for Fanatics Sportsbook with code “SUBPAR” to receive a special welcome offer.

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2026 Genesis Invitational tee times for Friday: Round 2 (ET)

Tee No. 1

10:15 a.m. – Aldrich Potgieter, Ryan Fox, Sam Stevens
10:27 a.m. – Tom Kim, Rickie Fowler, Max Greyserman
10:39 a.m. – Lucas Glover, Tony Finau, Max McGreevy
10:51 a.m. – Garrick Higgo, Aaron Rai, Matt Fitzpatrick
11:03 a.m. – Jason Day, Alex Noren, Ryo Hisatsune
11:15 a.m. – Andrew Novak, Brian Harman, Nick Taylor
11:27 a.m. – Russell Henley, Harris English, Corey Conners
11:39 a.m. – Sepp Straka, Harry Hall, Patrick Cantlay
11:56 a.m. – Chris Gotterup, Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre
12:08 p.m. – Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Si Woo Kim
12:20 p.m. – Min Woo Lee, Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger
12:32 p.m. – Brian Campbell, Wyndham Clark, Marco Penge
12:44 p.m. – Sami Valimaki, J.T. Poston, Rico Hoey
12:56 p.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Nico Echavarria, Jake Knapp
1:08 p.m. – Matt McCarty, Jhonattan Vegas, Taylor Pendrith
1:20 p.m. – Tom Hoge, Bud Cauley, Matti Schmid
1:37 p.m. – Sahith Theegala, Michael Kim, Pierceson Coody
1:49 p.m. – Ben Griffin, Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns
2:01 p.m. – Maverick McNealy, Akshay Bhatia, Jacob Bridgeman
2:13 p.m. – Cameron Young, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry
2:25 p.m. – J.J. Spaun, Ludvig Åberg, Hideki Matsuyama
2:37 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy
2:49 p.m. – Ryan Gerard, Adam Scott, Patrick Rodgers
3:01 p.m. – Kevin Yu, Max Homa, Denny McCarthy

Lucknow: On a day when the result was a mere formality and Karnataka’s place in the Ranji Trophy final was already assured, the umpires briefly kept the semifinal against Uttarakhand alive — much to the bemusement of players and broadcasters alike. The only moment of intrigue at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday came at tea, when captains Kunal Chandela and Karun Nair — standing in for an injured Devdutt Padikkal — shook hands, signalling what everyone believed was the end of proceedings. Presentation signage was rolled out, players drifted towards the ceremony area, and one even headed to the dressing room to pack for the airport.

However, a few minutes later, play was ordered to resume after tea. With Uttarakhand six wickets down, umpires pointed to the rulebook, noting that an outright result for Karnataka was still technically possible. A visibly disgruntled Karnataka side returned to the field, but with the match long decided, Abhay Negi (57 n.o.) and Saurabh Rawat (53 n.o.) treated the final session as batting practice, while the opposition wound down the clock. The match was finally called off less than an hour after tea, with Uttarakhand at 260/6. Karnataka will now host first-time finalists Jammu and Kashmir at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium — the first time the northern Karnataka region will stage a Ranji Trophy final. “We are playing the final after a long time. We’ve been working very hard for the last few years but couldn’t quite make it,” said Karnataka head coach Yere Goud. “Playing at home makes it even more special.” Goud was quick to underline the challenge posed by Jammu and Kashmir. “They have done extremely well, beating MP and Bengal. A lot of credit should go to them. They are a very dangerous side. We need to play good cricket and focus on our processes — we’ll have to play well to beat them.” Karnataka sweat over Padikkal Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal did not take the field on the final day after suffering a cut while fielding on Wednesday, which required five stitches on his right hand. However, Goud played down concerns over his availability for the final starting Tuesday. “When I saw the cut, I was pretty sure he’ll make it. He probably needs two to three days’ rest and should be fine for the game,” Goud said. Shreyas’ landmark The match also marked a personal milestone for leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, who became the latest Karnataka bowler to reach 300 first-class wickets, which came in his 97th appearance in the format. The 32-year-old is the side’s leading wicket-taker this season with 46 scalps. “It’s a special feeling to reach the milestone in a semifinal, and it gives me a lot of confidence going into the final,” said Shreyas. Earlier, Karnataka, resuming at 299/6, were bowled out for 323, with KL Rahul left unbeaten on 86 after running out of partners. Karnataka’s focus now shifts to Hubballi and a chance to add a ninth Ranji Trophy title to their storied history. SCOREBOARD Karnataka (I innings): 736 Uttarakhand (II innings): 233 Karnataka (II innings, o/n 299/6): KL Rahul (not out) 86, Vyshak Vijaykumar st S Rawat b Mishra 0, Shikhar Shetty b Mishra 7, Prasidh Krishna (run out) 7, Devdutt Padikkal (absent hurt). Extras (B-8; NB-4; LB-2; W-1) 15. Total (all out; 74.3 overs) 323 Fall of wickets: 7-299, 8-311, 9-323 Bowling: Abhay Negi 19-9-63-2, Janmejay Joshi 9-0-54-0, Mayank Mishra 18-3-69-4, Avneesh Sudha 12-1-50-1, J Suchith 12-0-59-1, Aditya Rawat 3.3-0-15-0, Lakshya Raichandani 1-0-3-0. Uttarakhand (II innings): Bhupen Lalwani c Kruthik b Prasidh 15, Prasanth Chopra c Kruthik b Vyshak 0, Avneesh Sudha c Rahul b Shreyas 66, Lakshya Raichandani c Kruthik b Prasidh 10, J Suchith c Aneesh (sub) b Shreyas 19, Saurabh Rawat (not out) 53, Kunal Chandela st Kruthik b Shreyas 20, Abhay Negi (not out) 57. Extras (B-12; LB-2; W-6) 20. Total (6 wkts; 62 overs) 260. Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-48, 3-72, 4-107, 5-128, 6-156. Bowling: Vidyadhar Patil 4-0-13-0, Prasidh Krishna 6-1-17-2, Vyshak Vijaykumar 4-0-22-1, Shikhar Shetty 24-1-97-0, Shreyas Gopal 19-1-83-3; Karun Nair 2-0-9-0; Mayank Agarwal 2-0-5-0.