A TRAVELLING Australian from Scarborough has experienced the thrill of a lifetime after winning a half-time slam dunk competition during today’s NBA pre-season game between the Denver Nuggets and Perth Wildcats. Jason Burgers, 31, worked his way through to the final of the competition which required entrants to dunk after leaping from a mini-trampoline. Wearing a Perth Wildcats jersey, he produced a stunning dunk which inspired a huge reaction from the crowd. His opponent struggled with his run-up and jump, then fell short of the basket. “That’s very close to the number one experience I’ve had in my life,” Burgers said. “To get onto a NBA court and do a dunk contest, it was absolutely amazing. “In front of this stadium, it was an amazing experience in the NBA. I loved it. It was awesome. “I’ve been travelling around the States for a little bit and I wouldn’t have missed this Wildcats game for the world.”

The Toronto Raptors rested stars Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry and CJ Miles but still had too much firepower for an off-target Melbourne United. The Raptors, in the latest game of the NBL-NBA exhibition series, crushed United 120-82 in Toronto on Friday. United collapsed in the third quarter. They shot just 35 per cent from the field for the game and 15 per cent from behind the three point line. The NBL squad trailed by only one point midway through the second quarter but the Raptors found another gear, went on a 21-8 run and entered halftime up 57-39. United had no answer in the second half, with the Raptors outscoring the Australians 44-19 to take a 101-58 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Raptors relied on 208cm tall forward Serge Ibaka, 213cm centre Jonas Valanciunas and a red-hot Norman Powell, who had 21 points connecting with eight of his 11 field goals before limping off the court after suffering a thigh bruise in a collision with United guard Chris Goulding. Powell's injury led to court time for the Raptors' Australian rookie Deng Adel, who's fighting for a place on the roster. Adel showed off his skills with sweet moves and 13 points, sinking all five field goal attempts in 16 minutes on the court. Goulding had 17 points but hit just two of eight three-point attempts. The game wraps up United's North American tour. They showed more resistance last week in falling to Ben Simmons' Philadelphia 76ers 104-84. Later on Friday, the Denver Nuggets beat the Perth Wildcats 96-88 and the Utah Jazz beat the Adelaide 36ers 129-99 in the final games of the NBL-NBA series. Earlier in the week, the Phoenix Suns defeated the New Zealand Breakers 91-86, the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Sydney Kings 110-91 and the Utah Jazz crushed the Perth Wildcats 130-72.

THE Adelaide 36ers and Perth Wildcats momentarily appeared headed for historic wins against NBA teams but the fairytale didn’t materialise. The Utah Jazz overran the 36ers in the final quarter in Salt Lake City on Friday to take a comfortable 129-99 victory. In Colorado it was a similar story, with the Wildcats pushing the Denver Nuggets before falling 96-88. “We knew they were going to come out and compete and they did that,” said Nuggets point guard Monte Morris, who was full of praise for the Wildcats. The games were the final instalments of the seven-game NBL-NBA series played across North America and Hawaii in the past week, with the billion dollar-plus NBA franchises victorious against the minnows from Australia and New Zealand. The 36ers appeared set for a massive upset against an undermanned Jazz. Adelaide’s starters all shot more than 40 per cent from the field for the game and Nathan Sobey top-scored with 25. The 36ers took a 31-28 lead at the end of the first quarter and stayed close to the Jazz until the fourth quarter. The Jazz didn’t play French giant Rudy Gobert and Australian guard Dante Exum, while Adelaide-raised star Joe Ingles had a poor shooting night, missing all four field-goal attempts. Jazz coach Quin Snyder sat Ingles and the team’s other starters Donovan Mitchell, Ricky Rubio and Jae Crowder in the second half. The Wildcats, who a week ago were thrashed 130-72 by the Jazz, trailed by just one point late in the third quarter against the Nuggets. The Nuggets also ran away in the final quarter. Perth shooting guard Bryce Cotton might receive some interest from NBA teams after top-scoring with 33 points, including sinking five of 10 three-point attempts. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bryce Cotton was on as he dropped an all-time high for an NBL player against an NBA team.<br><br>3⃣3⃣ points<br>5⃣ rebounds<br>5⃣ three-pointers<br><br>Report <a href="https://t.co/JcoqIeZFke">https://t.co/JcoqIeZFke</a> <a href="https://t.co/2qu9pQzQC6">pic.twitter.com/2qu9pQzQC6</a></p>&mdash; NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA_AU/status/1048415398566088704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Meanwhile, Melbourne were competitive for much of the first half before being blown away in a brutal third quarter which led to the 120-82 beatdown in Toronto. Chris Goulding overcame an ankle injury to be Melbourne's equal leading scorer, equal with guard Casper Ware with 17, but they had no answers for Toronto guard Norman Powell who had a game-high 21 points in a sizzling third-quarter display.

ONLY 20 minutes into the representative clash between the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII and Papua New Guinea play had to be stopped. Fans invaded the pitch after Daly Cherry-Evans scored the Aussies’ third try. But Daily Telegraph reporter Michael Carayannis tweeted it had nothing to do with the visitors’ impressive start, but rather concerns over the stability of a light tower. The crowd members then took the opportunity to grab selfies with the confused players before play finally restarted. NRL.com chief reporter Michael Chammas tweeted: “MADNESS! Thousands of fans pour into the field. Players running to the bench.” It is understood the light tower concerns were baseless, and it hasn’t worried the players too much, with the game flowing as usual as half-time approaches.

ADELAIDE United marched into a third FFA cup final appearance with a disciplined 2-0 win over Victorian second tier outfit Bentleigh Greens on Friday night. Without being entirely convincing United had enough control and perfect finesse at crucial times of the semi final at the Greens’ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex to give coach Marco Kurz a consecutive final appearance. Adelaide will now meet the winner of the Western Sydney and Sydney FC semi final which kicks off on Saturday night at Penrith Stadium. The final will be played on October 30 or 31 at a yet to be determined venue. Goalkeeper Paul Izzo, who has not conceded a goal all tournament, was tested early before Ben Halloran settled the nerves of a very open Adelaide defence when he scored the first goal and United’s seventh 2018 FFA Cup strike in the 21st minute. “Bentleigh pushed all the way in the end and credit to them,’’ Halloran said. “I’m loving it, they’re a great bunch of boys and you can’t beat the Aussie camaraderie.” Jordan Elsey made it 2-0 from an acute angle from 6m after Isaias’ 25m angled free kick in the 49th was parried into his path by gloveman Ryan Scott. That goal demoralised Bentleigh after Halloran — a 2014 FIFA World Cup Socceroos winger — scored his first goal on Australian soil in five years when George Blackwood’s perfect lead up work created the opportunity. Starting his first official game this season after he was injured during preseason Blackwood worked hard on the left flank in place of the ill Craig Goodwin after Kurz unveiled a refreshing 4-4-2 formation. Baba Diawara partnered Dane, Ken Ilso in attack as Bentleigh prodded for an early goal which almost arrived when Matthew Thurtell scuffed an 11m left-footed shot wide when he only had Izzo to beat after series of blunders from the Reds defence in the fourth minute. Two minutes later Halloran forced Scott into a brilliant save around the post from an 8m effort before the home side had Izzo at full stretch from a Chris Lucas shot. Halloran’s goal however handed the impetus to Adelaide as Baba shot wide from a Greens defensive error in the 29th minute before he rushed another effort wide five minutes later. As Adelaide appeared to settle for halftime refreshments with a one-goal lead Greens Joshua Meaker fired a long range warning shot which flashed past Izzo’s upright. Elsey’s goal however changed the storyline of the semi final. Adelaide threatened to add a third goal as the Greens were forced to attack in numbers leaving their defence exposed for Reds counter attacks. However the home side weren’t spent as United was forced to defend deeper than expected on the hour when Bentleigh forced consecutive corners before a comfortable save from Izzo ended the mini flurry. Bentleigh then continued to interrupt Adelaide’s rhythm by forcing four more corners surrounding the 70th minute. United continually retreated until Kurz revitalised his starting 11 by introducing Apostolos Stamatelopoulos in the 75th minute for Baba. The teenage striker earned a corner within seconds of his introduction before Mirko Bland blazed a 12m shot high over the bar. Bentleigh however wouldn’t relent and forced another corner in the 77th minute, taking advantage of the Reds’ preseason tiring legs but again they failed to get a shot on target in its 11th corner.

AN understrength Australia has suffered a 2-0 defeat against Women’s World Cup hosts France in a friendly in Saint Etienne. Veteran forward Eugenie Le Sommer scored goals at either end of the second half to ensure a deserved victory for the home side. Missing rested headline names such as Sam Kerr, Alanna Kennedy, Lydia Williams and Emily van Egmond, the Matildas rode their luck at times to avoid a hefty defeat. Australia went into the match having suffered just one loss in the last eight outings, but their rejigged backline was under constant pressure with France dominating possession. Australia failed to test French goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi until the final seven minutes when teenage substitute Mary Fowler was denied. France were on the front foot from the outset with the opening stages marked by a nasty shoulder injury for France captain Amandine Henry, after she fell heavily under a late challenge from Matildas’ fullback Larissa Crummer. France missed a host of gilt-edged chances with Gaetine Thiney, Kadidiatou Diani and Valerie Gauvin among the main offenders. France finally got the goal they deserved 11 minutes into the second half as Le Sommer tapped home after Mackenzie Arnold was unable to grasp a loose ball in the penalty area. Le Sommer doubled the advantage in the final minute with a superb long-range shot. Australia will meet England in London on Tuesday ahead of home matches against Chile next month.

CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s image is vanishing from the website of a key sponsor. The stock price for his Juventus team dropped 10 percent on Friday. A week after a Nevada woman filed a civil lawsuit accusing Ronaldo of rape in 2009, attempts by the five-time world player of the year and his Italian club to sway public opinion in his favour have not succeeded. Sponsors are continuing to express concern about the case despite a denial from Ronaldo, who has not addressed why Kathryn Mayorga’s legal team says a $375,000 settlement was reached in 2010 over the alleged assault by the soccer star in Las Vegas. A week ago, the new edition of the FIFA video game franchise was released with Ronaldo as a cover star. While EA Sports has not suspended the sponsorship, it has been distancing itself from the face of its game in recent days. The company home page still uses athletes to represent NFL, NBA, NHL, UFC and golf games. But a block of teal has replaced the spot on a banner occupied by Ronaldo until Tuesday, according to an Associated Press analysis through archived versions of the website. The top of the FIFA 19 section of the EA website prominently showcased Ronaldo wearing the famed black-and-white Juventus jersey until at least Sunday. By Tuesday it had been replaced by a picture of four men in front of a television playing the game. At that point, a black-and-white photo of Ronaldo still appeared on the bottom right of the site. On Friday, that was replaced by an image of Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar. Now, the only visual representation of Ronaldo on the webpage is Ronaldo on the cover of the game box with Neymar. Such a move won’t be taken lightly. “They have to tread carefully so that they are not prejudging him before an investigation reaches its conclusion,” said Simon Leaf, a sports and commercial lawyer at London-based Mischon de Reya. “At the same time, the brand will have to be careful because depending on the commercial deal they reached it’s not that uncommon for these deals to include clauses to oblige the brand to make use of the rights they are getting.” EA Sports declined to comment specifically on downplaying its online association with Ronaldo. It had already called the allegation against the Portugal captain “concerning” in a statement to the AP that reminded “ambassadors to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with EA’s values.” Nike, with has a reported $1 billion deal with Ronaldo has also said it was “deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations.” Another sponsor spoke out on Friday: DAZN, the internet sports streaming platform which signed Ronaldo as a global ambassador in August. “We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and continue to monitor the situation closely,” DAZN told the AP. Ronaldo could return to the field on Saturday for the first time for Juventus since issuing a statement on Wednesday denying he raped Mayorga in a Las Vegas penthouse in 2009. Juventus prepared for the league match in northeast Italy against Udinese by offering full support for Ronaldo. Coach Massimiliano Allegri on Friday praised his “great professionalism and seriousness both on and off the field.” He echoed tweets from Juventus, which said “events allegedly dating back to almost 10 years ago do not change” the club’s view about his “great professionalism and dedication.” Juventus paid 112 million euros (then $132 million) to sign Ronaldo from Real Madrid in July in an attempt to elevate the club’s global appeal and win the Champions League. But in the week when the controversy around Ronaldo mounted, the club’s shares have dropped 20 percent on the Italian Stock Exchange. They fell by 10 percent alone on Friday in the aftermath of sponsors voicing concerns about Ronaldo’s alleged conduct. “Often these kind of issues are the most contentious issues when coming to negotiate sponsorship contracts,” said Leaf, who has represented soccer clubs, sponsors and players on such deals. Mayorga’s legal team said it will ask a judge to void the nondisclosure agreement that the attorneys say Mayorga signed while accepting a $375,000 payment from Ronaldo in 2010. The civil lawsuit filed Sept. 27 in state court in Las Vegas alleges Ronaldo hired a team of what the document called “fixers” to pressure Mayorga to keep quiet. Gestifute, the sports agency representing Ronaldo, has not responded to questions about the settlement. Sponsors contacted by the AP would not say if they were previously aware of it. “There is a potential argument the athlete would have to disclose something like this before entering in the contract so the brand is aware of the issue,” Leaf said. “Or it could be a case they mispresented themselves as a good clean athlete where there are skeletons the company would want to know before entering into the deal.”

GLENN Murray’s 99th goal for Brighton helped them beat West Ham 1-0 and rise above the visitors in the English Premier League standings. Brighton’s first clean sheet of the season put them up to 12th. West Ham dropped to 15th, and could yet go lower by the end of the weekend after falling into old habits. West Ham came to the coast without having lost its last four games, including beating Manchester United 3-1 last weekend, but it again resembled an unsettled side struggling for an identity. The Hammers were outplayed in the first half, and didn’t begin to threaten until more than an hour passed. But free kicks and headers regularly flew over the crossbar. Brighton substitute Jurgen Locadia was unlucky near the end when his goal, from a close-range rebound, was ruled out for the most marginal of offside calls. “As the game went on we rode our luck but sometimes you need that,” Brighton manager, Chris Hughton told Sky Sports. “It’s a first clean sheet of the season for us and you need a goalscorer. It’s a massive win for us.” West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic, spurned a great chance to snatch a late draw for the visitors when he shot over the bar from 5m. It summed up a frustrating evening for Arnautovic, who misfired high and wide several times and was denied space all evening. West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini was disappointed. “Frustrated because I think we do the things to win the game. We had three clear chances to score and didn’t,” he told the BBC. “They had one chance in the first half and then defended. We deserved more.”

ROOKIES are the key to any strong SuperCoach team. Not only do they help you put together a squad within your salary cap, but they will help your SupeCoach team grow in overall price, allowing you to upgrade starting rookies into bona fide premium players — the players who top score on the weekly. But finding which rookies to start is a whole other caper. Some rookies are just that, young guys in their first one or two seasons who are still light-on for experience. Others are veterans who provide durability and job security, while some are well-known names returning from injury layoffs. Nonetheless, I’ve outlined the top 10 cheapies who should be considered in your SuperCoach team in BBL|08. Callum Ferguson | BAT | $62,500 The sublimely talented but perennially inconsistent Callum Ferguson looks to have put the latter in the past after a solid summer in England and fiery JLT Cup series for South Australia. For the Redbacks, Ferguson played four games, notching a total of 278 runs for a 69.5 average, the best of which was 133 against Victoria. At a bargain-basement price, Ferguson is simply too good to overlook given his preseason output. A breakout season is certainly on the cards, and so too is increased responsibility with the Sixes. After averaging just 17.86 SuperCoach points last year, Ferguson’s development has him firmly in the box seat as a must-start cheapie. James Pattinson | BWL | $62,500 Paceman James Pattinson comes in at rock-bottom price ahead of SuperCoach BBL|08, but he doesn’t come without a warning for prospective SuperCoach coaches. Persistent back issues have hampered the right-arm quick, who has suffered no less than five back stress fractures over the past few years. The express seamer’s talent is unquestionable, but question marks remain over whether his body can hold up to the rigours of bowling 150km/hr. The Heat seems to think so, as ‘Patto’ headlines Brisbane’s BBL|08 signings, having signed on for two years. He’s been bowling well according to reports and is yet to experience any setbacks. If he’s named for the Heat, he must be considered. Sam Heazlett | BAT | $62,500 Fresh from smashing 83 off 59 balls as an opener for the Bulls in the JLT Cup qualifying final. Sam Heazlett managed only seven games for the Heat in BBL|07, but has taken big strides since last year’s tournament, and looms as a breakout contender for SuperCoach owners in BBL|08. Prior to the JLT Cup finals, the left-hander had made a total of 227 runs in the tournament, averaging 56.75. Lock him in and throw away the keys. Jake Lehmann | BAT | $62,500 Having recently been named captain of South Australia’s one-day side and edging out Alex Carey in the process, Jake Lehmann’s form for the Redbacks throughout the JLT Cup suggests he’s absolutely worth starting in your SuperCoach team. Lehmann took the Blues to the cleaners, hitting 87 off 97 balls, and looked on track to do the same against Victoria before being run out. All in all, Lehmann finished with a total of 225 runs, averaging 51 across his five-games and looks one of the earliest cash cows to start in your team. Cameron Green | BWL | $42,500 Considered a bowler in SuperCoach but really more of an all-rounder who can bowl in excess of 140km/r and bat in the top six, Cameron Green is at a juicy price as he gets ready to embark on his debut season in the BBL. The problem? Well, it comes down to selection. Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Richardson, Joel Paris, Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye are all fit and firing, with David Willey going around again. But if he is given an early debut, lock him in. Max Bryant | BAT | $42,000 We’re tipping BBL|08 as the year that up-and-coming tonker, Max Bryant launches himself into the hearts of cricket fans across the nation. Max Bryant opened the batting for the Australian U/19 World Cup team and also got a start in the top order for the Bulls, scoring the fastest ever 50 by a Queenslander in One Day domestic cricket against the Redbacks in the JLT Cup. He finished with 71 off 32 balls, but the issue will be where Bryant fits. If Chris Lynn, Brendon McCullum and Joe Burns remain fit, it’s unlikely he’ll begin in the top three. But at that price, with his lead-up form into BBL|08, he’s worth considering. Sam Whiteman | WKP/BAT | $62,500 After a BBL|07 season derailed by injury, the exceptionally talented Sam Whiteman is a wait-and-see prospect ahead of BBL|08, but he’s certainly worth keeping an eye on given his ability to make runs and stick catches with the gloves. Whiteman is on the return from a series of on-going finger injuries, and upon return injured his quad. Signalled as potential national selection, coach Adam Voges faces a difficult decision on who to hand the gloves to should Whiteman and Perth teammate and similarly SuperCoach-priced Josh Inglis be available. Peter Nevill | WKP/BAT | $62,500 After being named captain of the Blues ahead of the JLT Cup series, Peter Nevill suffered a broken thumb in the nets on the eve of the tournament and was subsequently ruled out. Whilst we were unable to get a good look at the reliable gloveman in the JLT Cup, the good news is Nevill has avoided surgery and is on track to resume in the Sheffield Shield and will don the Magenta again in BBL|08. The veteran right-hander looms as a reliable SuperCoach option, who’ll play most games for the Sixes. His return of just 17.56 SuperCoach points in BBL|07 won’t excite most, but as a reliable bench option who can be subbed in during the byes, he’s well worth stashing on your bench. Tim Ludeman | WKP/BAT | $62,500 A well-loved veteran now at 31, Tim Ludeman is like that favourite T-shirt you’ve owned for the better part of a decade that you can’t quite seem to let go of yet. After being thrown a lifeline by the Renegades coming into BBL|07, Ludeman will be back in Red in BBL|08 and serves as a worthy backup gloveman, who can also go to work with the willow for your SupeCoach team. After playing 11 games for the ‘Gades last year, Ludeman only averaged 19 points a game but looms as a good backup option to your first-choice keeper.

IAN Chappell has called on Tim Paine to assert his authority as Australia captain and wrestle control away from coach Justin Langer. Paine was named interim captain in the wake of the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal before being given the role on a full-time basis. In his short time in charge he has already begun making changes to the way the team plays, most notably introducing pre-series handshakes. However, Chappell believes the keeper has allowed Langer to have too much of an influence on the team since he was appointed coach in May. “He’s allowed Langer to run the show,” Chappell told Wide World of Sports. “He should have got up there and said ‘this is the way we’re going to play, these are the things I want done’, and Langer is there as a subsidiary. “If he wants the team playing a certain way he’s got to set that pattern. He’s got to tell them what he expects and then he’s got to play that way himself, and also in the way he conducts himself as a captain.” Chappell captained Australia 41 times across Test and one-day cricket in the era before coaches, and has always been sceptical over how much of an influence a coach can have on how the team plays. Paine and Langer’s first Test as a leadership duo starts on Sunday against Pakistan.

BANNED Australian Test cricketer Cameron Bancroft’s first innings WA soil since the infamous ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town lasted just 13 balls thanks to a dubious umpiring decision. The 25-year-old was given out caught behind off left-arm paceman Corry Verco for four after appearing to hit the pitch with his bat. Bancroft looked back towards the umpire in disbelief after getting his marching orders in the fifth over of Willetton’s run-chase against Midland-Guildford at Burrendah Park. After a watchful start that included several leaves, Bancroft hit an exquisite cover drive to the boundary to get off the mark. It was his one and only scoring shot. Earlier in the day, the 25-year-old took three sharp catches in the slips and captained positively to help his team roll Midland-Guildford for just 86 in their season-opening WACA first grade one-day clash. He was involved in the first two wickets of the day off swing bowler Matt Hanna and leg-spinner Kallen Bond respectively, the first a nice diving catch in front of his body at second slip and the next a sharper effort at first slip. But the best of the lot was his third, a stunning outstretched dive to his left to give the Dragons their fourth scalp. Fellow WA squad member Simon Mackin was in ominous form with the ball, 10 days out from the Warriors’ Sheffield Shield opener against Victoria at the WACA Ground. The tall paceman bowled plenty of unplayable deliveries and got the ball swinging on his way to 2-17 from 10 overs. Bancroft appeared in good spirits when strolling to the batting crease, joking with the media about how much coverage there was of the game. “I’ve never seen this much attention for grade cricket,” he said. It’s a far more low key return than what his former Test captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner experienced in over east last month, with only a handful of spectators at the suburban ground in Perth’s south-east. Bancroft copped a nine-month man from Cricket Australia for his involvement in the ball-tampering saga in South Africa back in March. He was sent home from South Africa for using sandpaper on the ball during the third Test against the Proteas in Cape Town along with Smith and Warner, who were rubbed out for 12 months.

LAS VEGAS — At UFC 229 media day, Derrick Lewis discusses his upcoming fight against Alexander Volkov, how he’s been dealing with his back injuries, the heavyweight title picture, Daniel Cormier vs. Brock Lesnar, and much more.

Brandt Snedeker has fired a seven-under-par 65 to surge to a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the Safeway Open in Napa, California. Snedeker, who was forced to be a spectator of the season-ending Tour Championship as well as last week's Ryder Cup, made eight birdies on Friday, which included his last two holes. He sits at 13 under at the PGA Tour's season-opening event, three clear of Phil Mickelson, Ryan Moore and Michael Thompson. Snedeker was ignited by playing alongside 59-year-old Fred Couples, who also shot a 65. "It's always fun to play with Freddy," Snedeker told reporters. "I don't get to see him enough. "When I made the turn, as good as I played, I was still tied with Freddy, and there was no way some 59-year-old guy who's semi-retired is going to come out here and whip my tail. We kind of spurred each other on today and had a great time, and we saw a bunch of putts go in, which is nice." Mickelson followed up his unexpectedly strong opening round with a 69, despite a rough start. The 48-year-old bogeyed three of his opening eight holes but finished strongly with five birdies in his final 10 holes. Moore was spurred along by a hot putter. "I've been liking how (the ball has) been rolling and it's nice that it's continued to go in," Moore said. "I was struggling with putting most of last season and I spent a little bit working on it." First-round leader Sepp Straka of Austria remained at nine-under following an even-par 72. Aaron Baddeley is the highest placed Australian and is tied for 15th at seven under.

Australia's Marcus Fraser and England's Matt Wallace birdied their final holes to share the lead at four under par after the opening day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Fraser, 175th in the Race to Dubai rankings, carded a 68 at a gusty Carnoustie while Wallace matched that score at the Old Course in StAndrews. "I just sort of stuck it out most of the day and waited for the putts to drop and at the end I made a couple of good par saves. A nice long one at the end from about 30 feet," said Fraser, who birdied two of his last three holes. "It was brutal out there. Doesn't really matter if it's into the wind or downwind, and then you get the cross-breeze off eight and nine. That's as strong as I've played the golf course, I think." All 168 players in the field will play a round on each course, before the final round takes place at St Andrews on Sunday. The European Tour pro-am event is played across three Scottish courses, with several players who featured at last week's Ryder Cup in France. Irish pair Paul McGinley, the 2014 Ryder Cup captain, and Padraig Harrington played their opening round at Kingsbarns and were in a group of five on 69, one stroke off the leaders. That included Thailand's Phachara Khongwatmai, playing at St Andrews. Two-time defending champion Tyrrell Hatton and US Open winner Brooks Koepka, also playing at Kingsbarns, were a further shot down at two-under while fellow Ryder Cup player Tommy Fleetwood was one-under. A female spectator was hit on the head by a wayward golf ball struck by Hatton with the woman, seen bleeding from the head, treated at the 15th hole. Hatton spoke to her when she returned to her feet and she was later seen walking to a golf cart and smiling as she was taken to an on-site medical centre. The incident came a week after a woman was reportedly blinded in one eye at the Ryder Cup after being struck by a tee shot hit by world No.3 Koepka.

Brandt Snedeker has fired a seven-under-par 65 to surge to a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the Safeway Open in Napa, California. Snedeker, who was forced to be a spectator of the season-ending Tour Championship as well as last week's Ryder Cup, made eight birdies on Friday, which included his last two holes. He sits at 13 under at the PGA Tour's season-opening event, three clear of Phil Mickelson, Ryan Moore and Michael Thompson. Snedeker was ignited by playing alongside 59-year-old Fred Couples, who also shot a 65. "It's always fun to play with Freddy," Snedeker told reporters. "I don't get to see him enough. "When I made the turn, as good as I played, I was still tied with Freddy, and there was no way some 59-year-old guy who's semi-retired is going to come out here and whip my tail. We kind of spurred each other on today and had a great time, and we saw a bunch of putts go in, which is nice." Mickelson followed up his unexpectedly strong opening round with a 69, despite a rough start. The 48-year-old bogeyed three of his opening eight holes but finished strongly with five birdies in his final 10 holes. Moore was spurred along by a hot putter. "I've been liking how (the ball has) been rolling and it's nice that it's continued to go in," Moore said. "I was struggling with putting most of last season and I spent a little bit working on it." First-round leader Sepp Straka of Austria remained at nine-under following an even-par 72. Aaron Baddeley is the highest placed Australian and is tied for 15th at seven under.

BROOKS Koepka is thinking about more than just golf these days. The 28-year-old American, the US Open and PGA Championship winner, said he was heartbroken to hear a woman struck by his one of his tee shots at the Ryder Cup last week might lose vision in her right eye. Koepka’s wild shot on the sixth hole at Le Golf National hit Corine Remande in the head. According to French media reports, doctors say she has lost sight and she is considering legal action. “No one feels worse about this than I do. It’s a tragic accident,” said Koepka, adding he has been trying to get in touch with Remande. “I’m heartbroken and all messed up inside. It’s sad and I really am torn up about it. “She’s not going to be able to see out of her eye ever again. All because I hit a golf ball. This is definitely the one shot in my career that I am going to regret.” Koepka, who is in Scotland to play at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, also said he and Dustin Johnson did not have an argument or a fight during a party after the Ryder Cup. “This Dustin thing I don’t get,” Koepka said. “There was no fight. There was no argument. He is one of my best friends. I love the kid to death. We talked on the phone Monday and yesterday. So tell me how we fought? I don’t know. “It’s actually quite funny to us. How could we get into a fight on the flight over? “We were sleeping. It’s just laughable. I’d actually be curious to see who would win that fight, though. It would be interesting. “It would be rough and rowdy. But we have never fought. “That’s not our relationship. We are two even-keeled guys. I can’t remember raising my voice to him. “And I don’t think he has ever raised his voice to me. Ever, in our four years of friendship. That’s not who we are.”

THE state government is desperately working to broker a historic deal with the iconic Sydney Opera House to project a major light show on its sails for an international promotion of The Everest. The light show, pitched to run for an hour on Tuesday night, has been designed alongside the company behind the renowned Vivid festival and would coincide with the barrier draw for the world’s richest turf race. However, the plan was still at risk of falling at the final hurdle last night amid painstaking negotiations, with Opera House management resisting the idea of using the world-famous sails to promote racing, despite government officials proposed the concept to Racing NSW. “The Opera House belongs to the taxpayers of NSW and not just to a minority of elites — it should be used to showcase Sydney so the taxpayers of NSW get a return on this magnificent asset,” Racing NSW boss and NRL commissioner Peter V’landys said. It’s understood Sports Minister Stuart Ayres has played peacemaker in a bid to bring all parties to the table. It comes after government bureaucrats rejected Mr V’Landys’s initial pitch to host the barrier draw on the side of Sydney Harbour Bridge without disrupting traffic. It’s understood the government proposed using the Opera House to Racing NSW as an olive branch after the Harbour Bridge dispute. “We have two of the greatest landmarks anywhere in the world — why wouldn’t we use them to promote Sydney internationally?” Mr V’Landys said last night. “We love Sydney. This is about taking Sydney to the world and bringing people to Sydney.” Under the proposed Opera House plan, the names and colours of the 12 horses racing would be projected onto the sails, one at a time to coincide with the barrier draw, for a total period of five minutes. For the next 55 minutes, each of the horses’ colours would be displayed on the building. As part of the tense negotiations yesterday, Racing NSW agreed to remove The Everest logo from the images to be used and instead replace it with a trophy. Mr V’Landys praised Mr Ayres for trying to assist with a solution but hit out at the pen pushers who were making life difficult. “We were very appreciative of the leadership showed by Stuart Ayres in promoting Sydney and at least he has seen first-hand the bureaucracy that is encountered in trying to promote Sydney,” he said. It was not clear last night whether the Opera House would agree to the plan. Last month, Mr V’Landys fired a salvo at the government, declaring red tape was letting Sydney down and cruelling its ability to promote itself on the international stage. The respected businessman said Melbourne was furlongs ahead when it came to promoting its major sporting events, such as the Melbourne Cup and Australian Open. And the comments hit home for the government, which is intent on promoting tourism. The Opera House plan hatched by Racing NSW and the government would see imagery from the light show recorded and used in promotional material all around the world. Louise Herron, chief executive of the Opera House, did not respond to calls last night. The Everest — which last year injected $100 million into the NSW economy — is already delivering a tourism boom to Sydney, with hotels reporting they are already at 95 per cent capacity for the weekend of the race on October 13.

MARK Zahra and Glyn Schofield will miss Caulfield Cup after being hit with 10-meeting suspensions for careless riding at Flemington on Saturday.

OWNER Damion Flower admitted he was very close to selecting brilliant colt Sandbar for his slot in the $13 million The TAB Everest next week. Flower had originally secured English for The Everest but, when that mare pulled up sore after a barrier trial last Monday, he was left scrambling to find a replacement sprinter. After some tense moments, he finally negotiated a deal with Viddora’s owners for The Everest and stuck to the original plan to run Sandbar in the Group 2 $300,000 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. “I was going through turmoil trying to get an Everest deal done and I had a couple of my part-owners call me with one word — Sandbar,’’ Flower said. “I’ve no doubt if we had to run Sandbar he could have given it a shake. To be brutally honest, I feel he could have finished top six. Graff is in the race and we are about a length off him. But all the way through I’ve been guided by Brad (Widdup, trainer) and he feels Sandbar is a year off being at his best. “This colt will continue to grow and develop further into his frame. “We didn’t want to bust him for next year. Hopefully, he is our Everest horse next year.’’ Sandbar can go a long way to confirming a start in the 2019 Everest by winning the Roman Consul Stakes. The Widdup-trained colt is $4.40 favourite for a three-year-old sprint which includes promising types Performer, Jonker, Aylmerton, Spin, Charge and Sesar. “If you win the Roman Consul then it is ballot-free for the T.J. Smith next autumn,’’ Flower said. “We will know by then if we have an Everest horse.’’ Sandbar won The Rosebud when resuming this campaign before his fifth in the Run To The Rose behind Lean Mean Machine. The horse then finished fourth in the Group 1 Golden Rose to The Autumn Sun. “He was brave in the Golden Rose, he had to work hard, brought them all up, the two leaders faded away but he didn’t and was right there to the finish,’’ Flower said of Sandbar. “I feel this colt has a similar profile to Russian Revolution who won the Roman Consul then trained on to The Galaxy and Oakleigh Plate. “If we can win the Roman Consul, obviously the Coolmore Stud Stakes is inviting but we might even give him a break, put him away for races like the Oakleigh Plate, The Galaxy and the T.J. Smith.’’ Flower also teams with rival Everest slot-holders Max Whitby and Neil Werrett with Za Zi Ba in the Winning Edge Merchandise Sprint (1200m). Za Zi Ba goes to Randwick in top form after winning at Rosehill before a close second to the smart Coruscate at Canterbury. “Her form is great,’’ Flower said. “We have been waiting to get her into a race where she is well placed and drawn the right barrier (four). “She should run well again.’’

GAI Waterhouse concedes the wet track might dull Thinkin’ Big’s speed but she is adamant it won’t prevent the star colt from claiming Sydney’s final Group 1 race of the year, the $500,000 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick. “If we are racing on a heavy track It might take away from Thinkin’ Big’s brilliant sprint, his turn of foot,’’ Waterhouse said. “But in the Gloaming Stakes last start he proved himself the dominant three-year-old the way he won that day. “He is a very happy horse, he’s easy to train, loves to get on with the job, he’s a very straightforward and professional horse. He’s the one they have to beat.’’ TAB Fixed Odds prices assessors agree with Thinkin’ Big rated the $3.40 favourite to score his fourth win from just five starts. Thinkin’ Big is coming into the Spring Champion Stakes off the traditional lead-up race, the Gloaming Stakes, where he was too strong for Tarka and Irukandji. In the last six years, there has been four horses complete the Gloaming Stakes-Spring Champion Stakes double — It’s A Dundeel (2012), Complacent (2013), Vanbrugh (2015) and Ace High (2017). Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott these days, is aiming for a record-equalling fifth win in the classic after her wins with Nothin’ Leica Dane (1995), Magic Of Sydney (1996), Platinum Scissors (2002) and Hampton Court (2014). Her late father, the great Tommy Smith holds the training record with five wins. Thinkin’ Big’s paternal grandsire is Nothin’ Leica Dane, while the colt’s sire, High Chaparral, has been represented by three Spring Champion winners — Monaco Consul (2009), It’s A Dundeel (2012) and Ace High (2017). “This colt has a wonderfully stout staying pedigree,’’ Waterhouse said. “Full credit to his owner, Peter Dunn, to be game enough to breed a superior stayer when there is so much emphasis on sprinters in this country.’’ Waterhouse confirmed Thinkin’ Big was on a Victoria Derby trail along with stablemates Sydney Blue and Transact. Golden Pendant winner Shumookh is also trying to continue her rich vein of form in the Group 3 $160,000 Angst Stakes (1600m). Shumookh led and fought off Champagne Cuddles at Rosehill last start and Waterhouse was adamant the mare would run 1600m today “with her eyes shut”. “The thing about Shumookh, and Thinkin Big for that matter, is that they are very fit and they have won in these wet conditions,’’ Waterhouse said. “Shumookh is a beautiful mare and was very gutsy in the Golden Pendant. She doesn’t know the meaning of defeat. “I know this a mare who is very close to (owner-breeder) Nasser Lootah’s heart. “He bred and raced her dam, Shamekha, and she was an outstanding mare. “We won three Group 1 races with her, including the T.J. Smith Stakes. Shumookh is the best of her progeny, only lightly raced but with so much ability.’’ Waterhouse said she planned to have Shumookh join Thinkin’ Big at Flemington on Derby day, targeting the Myer. At Flemington on Saturday, Waterhouse has a strong team — including Cup hopefuls Hush Writer and Northwest Passage in the Group 3 $300,000 The Bart Cummings (2500m). Hush Writer, the Japanese-bred former French stayer, has been improved by three Australian starts — including his third to Haripour in the Listed Harry White Classic at Mornington last week. Northwest Passage won the Tasmanian Derby and Torney Cup last year before suffering a leg injury but has been improved by three runs off a long spell. “Hush Writer is still learning his trade, still learning what racing in Australia is all about, but he is a very promising horse,’’ Waterhouse said. “Northwest Passage is a lovely horse, bred to be a nice stayer, and is getting back to his best now.’’ Waterhouse is also hopeful of a return to form from dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour in the Group 2 $200,000 Blazer Stakes (1400m). The mare ran only ninth to Winter Bride when resuming in the How Now Stakes two weeks ago but has done well since, according to her Hall of Fame trainer.

ALTHOUGH Avilius is a $2.15 favourite his trainer James Cummings believes the race named after his grandfather The Bart Cummings will provide the toughest test yet in Australia for his exciting stayer. The imported galloper has been so impressive in his three Australian wins in Sydney he is a $13 equal favourite for the Melbourne Cup and is a $9 chance for the Caulfield Cup The reward for winning today’s The Bart Cummings is that the victor gains an automatic start in the Melbourne Cup. Avilius needs to win as he is number 56 in the Melbourne Cup ballot order. A win would also boost his chance of gaining a Caulfield Cup start as he’s number 57 in the order of entry for that race and needs a rehandicap. Cummings decided to bypass last Saturday’s The Metropolitan to try and win The Bart Cummings and get a start in the Melbourne Cup with the Godolphin owned galloper. Cummings said Avilius is facing his toughest test of his preparation. “This is his toughest challenge in Australia, he has 58.5kg and is coming up against better horses all the time,” Cummings said. “He’s got more and more upside but so too have his rivals. It’s going to be a high pressure race. He’s got to step up and take up the challenge.” Avilius has only had one start over 2400m and he finished second to the horse rated the seventh best in the world Cracksman in the Group 2 Prix Niel at Chantilly when he was trained by Andre Fabre. Cummings wants to see Avilius win over the 2500m of today’s race to prove that he can do it. “Avilius has enjoyed a good three weeks since his last run in the Kingston Town and is primed for this challenge,” Cummings said. “He’s shown me that he can step onto his Melbourne leg quite comfortably in his work.” “He still seems full of energy the deeper he’s going into his preparation.We hope to see him enjoy the pressure of such an important race.” SLIVER OF OPTIMISM MICK Price will look to use Humidor’s close-up second to Winx in last year’s Cox Plate as a reference point as he tries to upstage the mighty mare with Grunt on October 27. Price said Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes would be the perfect tune-up for Grunt. “She’s the exception to every rule,” Price said of Winx. “When it comes to Winx, I have nothing else … I have no logical reason to suggest we can beat her, apart from absolute blind optimism. “The plan (with Grunt) will be to go to the Cox Plate. I suppose if you are going to run in this year’s Cox Plate, being optimistic, all we are going on is that Humidor got within half a length of her.” Price has two runners — Grunt ($14) and Mighty Boss ($101) — in the Turnbull. He is confident Grunt will return to his best at Flemington. “If he gets balanced up and chases home into second, that would be fantastic. There’d be no shame in that,” he said.

AUSTRALIA’S peak racing industry representative body has warned Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad she is potentially killing the goose that lays the golden egg if she refuses to revisit her stance on Point of Consumption Tax distributions. It follows the extraordinary decision by representative bodies within the Queensland to launch strike action this month if the government refuses to budge on its existing offer. Aushorse is the marketing body of the Australian thoroughbred industry and Chief Executive Tom Reilly said Queensland is a vital part of the national racing ecosystem, but it needs support to ensure its long term viability. “If the Queensland racing and breeding industry doesn’t get an outcome from the Point of Consumption Tax that is at least as good as the deal New South Wales and Victoria have done, the challenges to the state will be insurmountable,” Reilly said. “This new revenue is money that is generated 100 per cent from racing (excluding the sport component). It’s only common sense the government needs to support that industry to ensure that revenue stream continues on. “Jackie Tradd’s announcement last weekend is a case of trying to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. “The industry in Queensland is already behind the eight-ball and is just looking for a fair cut. “Queensland is a massive part of the Australian racing and breeding industry and the whole national industry needs Queensland to be strong.” Few issues have united the Queensland industry like this one. Queensland Racehorse Owners Association President Vince Pennisi said the racing industry is a major contributor to the economy and provides widespread employment and financial benefits to the state, but has been “left to struggle for its survival and well-being.” “We are not being given sufficient recognition and are being treated with disdain,” Pennisi said. “The industry has been forced to take strike action which is a last resort in order to be heard in an abyss of lethargy.” A response from a government spokesman refuted the inside had been blindsided and suggested there will be little left over after the grant of $20million for new harness and greyhound infrastructure projects and the decision to “forgive $17.8million of debt owed by Racing Queensland” to government. “These two measures alone mean the Palaszczuk Government will be returning most of the POC tax to the racing industry this financial year,” the spokesman said. “While we understand that the industry is concerned about future years, extensive consultation will be undertaken in the lead up to subsequent State Budgets. “The action threatened by the industry’s representative bodies regarding stoppages or any other such changes will only hurt the punters and their own industry participants.” “There are clearly significant concerns and we will continue to talk with industry about them and explore ways the Government can continue to help.” #### Punters also set to lose out AS the racing industry rallies for a bigger return, punters are also set to lose out after the state government pushed the button on its nation high Point of Consumption Tax this week. Bookmakers will now be charged a fee of 15 per cent on revenue, to be paid to the State Government, for all Queensland-based clients. This is in comparison to 10 per cent in New South Wales and just eight per cent in Victoria. Bookmakers and wagering providers have indicated the costs will be passed on to punters in a bid to keep their businesses viable. Betfair, the globally recognised betting exchange that has been operating in Australia for the past two decades and recognised as a marketplace leader, revealed the new tax means it will now be forking out 66 per cent of its gross revenue, meaning customers are set to be worse off. “In response to the introduction of Point of Consumption (POC) taxes, Betfair has been forced to adjust the Discount Rate available to our customers, including caps put in place in line with how severe the tax is in each State,” Betfair Australia CEO Tim Moore Barton said. Residents in Queensland will have discounts capped at 40 per cent compared to 60 per cent for jurisdictions that don’t have a POC, meaning Queensland residents could pay up to 50 per cent more commission with the exchange. Moore Barton pointed out activity on the exchange with regards to Queensland racing grew 15 per cent after Racing Queensland adopted more favourable race information fees (an addition tax wagering providers pay direct to the racing industry), compared to just one per cent the 12 months prior. “If we increase prices further our wagering turnover moves offshore to illegal operators which significantly increases risks such as match fixing and money laundering,” he said. Ladbrokes Australia Chief Executive Jason Scott said the Point of Consumption Tax will make most bookmakers “non-commercial” which in turn will cost punters. “At some stage it will be passed on at the bowser,” Scott said. “Queensland is worse placed of all, with its government going for a 15 per cent tax, as opposed to the eight and 10 per cent in Victoria and New South Wales. “It makes it even more heinous that it’s not going back to the Queensland racing industry.” Scott tipped turnover to reduce as a result, which will in turn lead to diminished returns to Racing Queensland.

THE fleeting spectre of Turnbull Stakes disaster averted, Chris Waller has declared Winx on target for an unmatched fourth Cox Plate triumph. Relieved and jubilant after the champion secured a 28th successive victory and 21st Group 1 after Hugh Bowman steered Winx to a dramatic win, Waller lavished praise on horse and rider. Reacting to the whispers of disbelief that turned to anguished murmurs from punters as Winx’s Flemington farewell threatened to morph into a nightmare, Waller said the wonder mare was exactly where she needs to be for the Cox Plate. “She’s fit. Today was a gallop for the Cox Plate in three weeks’ time,” Waller said after Winx posted her 32nd win from 37 starts, boosting her earnings to $19,884,920. “She’ll just chill out now, just have a pretty easy time. Me staying away from her is a good start. “We’ll join up later in the week and start to work out maintenance, really. “As much as training Winx is to hold her form it’s training Winx to stay safe. “We’re in safe mode now and it’s a good place to be.” As rival trainers and jockeys were left incredulous by Winx’s paralysing acceleration to charge from ninth at the 400m to beat stablemate Youngstar by a length, with Kings Will Dream third, Waller defended Bowman’s ride. “It was a picture-perfect Hugh Bowman ride,” Waller said, icily immune to the palpable late-race tension. “We were relying on a bit of luck and the gaps came. “She had a bit of ground to make up but we are at Flemington. It allows her to get through her gears. “You get a few flutters but once she gets clear running, what will be, will be. “There will be a day when she’s not as dominant but all she has to do is repeat her form. “Hughie rightfully went through the gears. “The way he rode her was perfect. You go to apprentices’ school and every apprentice would turn out to be a genius if you rode like that. “It’s Flemington. He got out with 400m to run.” For all its space, Flemington has often been the graveyard of champions. David Hayes has seen plenty of horses hug the fence at Headquarters, waiting for runs which never materialise. For much of the 121 seconds of the Turnbull, Winx’s positioning was problematic. Ultimately, she made it look easy - albeit hair-raising. Lashed on social media and reprimanded by stewards for his losing ride on Ranier earlier in the day, Bowman admitted “I wasn’t where I hoped I would be during the race” as the opposition turned the race into a sit-sprint. “I didn’t have many choices in among that. It is a horse race after all,” he said. “But her champion quality shone once again. It wasn’t my ideal plan to come through the middle of them. “But when the pressure went on about the 650m she was left a little flat-footed, because of the slow pace, and I was looking to come to the outside of Grunt, but he couldn’t keep up. “I’d already sacrificed probably two and a half lengths trying to get to his outside, when I realised he was out of business and that left me probably four to five lengths to the pack. “I just let her pick up herself and get through her gears. Once I was at the back of Youngstar I was supremely confident to be honest. It was just that little period through the 500m mark where the race had got away from me. “That’s why she is so good. She overcomes everything.” Waller has always maintained race pressure is what allows Winx to dominate.

SESAR – that was some win. He couldn’t keep up early, was five lengths behind the second-last horse mid-race, was still chasing the entire field into the straight, hugged the rails and burst through to score comfortably at Royal Randwick Saturday. But this spectacular effort didn’t come against moderate rivals, it was the Group 2 $300,000 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) and he proved too good for some highly-rated three-year-olds. Steve O’Dea, 41, who trains at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, had never had a Sydney winner before. He left Randwick Saturday afternoon with a double including a stakes success after the wins of Doubt Defying and Sesar. “I’ve been training for 12 years and this would be my best at the races,’’ O’Dea said. “I had never had a Sydney winner before, I’ve only had a handful of runners here over the years so to come here and have the two half-brothers win on the same day is really satisfying.’’ Sesar ($7.50) finishing powerfully along the rails to spear past a game Sandbar ($3.70) to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths with Spin ($6.50) more than four lengths away third. It was a dominant win on the line by the Brisbane colt – but O’Dea conceded he wasn’t feeling all that confident mid-race. “They were hectic early,’’ O’Dea said. “I can’t say I wasn’t worried in the first half of the race when he was off the bridle chasing. “He was starting to struggle coming to the turn, but the run came on the fence and there was plenty of room there and he went through his gears. “Usually with those horses off the bridle chasing the whole way they tend to peak on their runs but he has finished off very strongly. “It really is satisfying to get this colt to come here first up as a three-year-old. He showed so much raw ability last ‘prep’ so for him to go on and do what he’s done today was really pleasing.’’ Sesar was able to run the 1200m in 1m 9.91s despite the heavy track conditions although Collett was also worried that some of his more highly fancied rivals might be too speedy for his colt. “He was struggling to keep up early, I was riding him along and it wasn’t until about the 600m he got onto the back of them,’’ Collett said. “I was a bit happier when we got to the turn as we had caught them but I wasn’t sure if I made the right decision going back to the inside. I could see the favourite Sandbar going through and I followed him. “I had plenty of horse and I knew he was going to be strong late.” O’Dea, who has 46 boxes at Eagle Farm and has 25 horses from Sesar’s owner Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds Sydnicate on his books, said the Roman Consul Stakes winner won’t follow the traditional route and contest the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day. “I think he showed today he will definitely be better suited over further,’’ O’Dea said. “As he is a colt there were thoughts of going to the Coolmore but with the run under his belt he could be run off his legs, “We will aim him at the Gothic Stakes at Caulfield over 1400m in two weeks and then Carbine Club Stakes at 1600m at Flemington. He will like the big track at Flemington.’’ Jockey Corey Brown gave Sandbar every chance but conceded the favourite was beaten by a superior horse on the day. “Sandbar ran ‘good’ but again he’s run into one better on the day,’’ Brown said. “He had a great run, travelled up like he was the winner, but just ran into one better than him.’’ ECOVIS CLARK JACOBS MILE THIS won’t go down as James McDonald’s best ride but backers of favourite Zourkhan aren’t complaining after his tough win at Royal Randwick yesterday. Zourkhan was three-wide throughout the Ecovis Clark Jacobs Mile (1600m) but it mattered little as he powered home a decisive winner. To be fair to McDonald, Sydney’s leading jockey, there was little he could have done differently. The Chris Waller-trained Zourkhan probably jumped too well, he was a length in front after 30m but McDonald eased back and looked to get in and take a sit. But rival jockeys weren’t about to do McDonald any favours and Zourkhan was left three-wide without cover. McDonald did have Zourkhan well-balanced and the gelding was revelling in the heavy going.