All eyes will be on Tahiyra when the brilliant filly returns to action in the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
Sensational when winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes 12 months ago, Dermot Weld’s charge was narrowly beaten by Mawj as a hot favourite for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May – but has since added to her Group One tally with victories in the Irish Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Having enjoyed a midsummer break, the daughter of Siyouni returns as one of the star attractions on the opening afternoon of the Irish Champions Festival and jockey Chris Hayes is hopeful she can pick up where she left off.
“I’m looking forward to it, we haven’t seen her since Royal Ascot so I’d be looking forward to her lining up,” he said.
“Hopefully the ground will be nice and I suppose we’ve an adequate draw – she’s drawn fairly low (stall four of 13). I haven’t gone through it in great detail yet but I presume with that amount of runners there should be a decent level of pace, so fingers crossed.
“She just finds everything so easy – she finds going fast easy, she finds going slow easy and there are no issues or anything with her.
“In a race, no matter what pace they’re going, it feels like slow motion when you’re sitting on her, so hopefully that will be the same on Saturday.”
While Hayes feels Tahiyra has improved physically, he admits she is unlikely to be at peak fitness ahead of her first competitive outing in nearly three months.
He added: “I’ve sat on her plenty and she has strengthened up quite well – she’s a stronger filly than she was earlier in the year.
“She hasn’t run in a while so she’ll obviously come and improve as her autumn campaign progresses, but she’s definitely ready to start and put her best foot forward, so hopefully we can get the right result and go forward from there.”
One of the biggest dangers to Tahiyra is her older stablemate Homeless Songs, aboard whom Hayes won last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas.
The Frankel filly has not been seen in competitive action since pushing Buckaroo close in the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown in early April, but Hayes is nevertheless wary of the threat she poses in the hands of Oisin Murphy.
He said: “She hasn’t run in a long time, but she ran Buckaroo quite close in Leopardstown and she’s in good shape and looks well.
“She’s drawn right beside Tahiyra, so tactically it will be interesting, but my filly is quite versatile and Homeless Songs is quite versatile.
“We both like to come off a fast pace and I’d imagine with a bit of luck in running the two fillies should definitely represent the boss and ourselves well.”
Homeless Songs is one of two runners declared for owners Moyglare Stud Farm along with the Paddy Twomey-trained Just Beautiful, who notched her first win since being bought out of Ivan Furtado’s yard two years ago in the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh in May.
“Homeless Songs is in good shape, she might be a week or two short and if Leopardstown don’t water and it stays as hot and sunny as this and the ground is fast she probably won’t run, but she’s declared and we’ll just see,” said Moyglare’s Fiona Craig.
“Just Beautiful loves fast ground. She got a splint after we bought her and it’s taken a while to get her right, but her last run was her first run on fast ground for us and she did it well.
“She will suit Leopardstown and Paddy has been training her for this for quite a long time.
“Obviously, Tahiyra gets 5lb from both of ours, but at the end of the day, if you’re not in you can’t win, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Aidan O’Brien fits Meditate with blinkers for the first time, while three-time course winner Zarinsk must be respected for trainer Ger Lyons.
British raiders Rogue Millennium (Tom Clover), Olivia Maralda (Roger Varian) and Prosperous Voyage (Ralph Beckett) add further spice to the one-mile contest.
This year’s Racing League is set for a fascinating conclusion after Wales & The West just about maintained top spot from Ireland.
Jamie Osborne’s defending champions have been blazing a trail throughout, but the Kevin Blake-managed Irish outfit enjoyed a good night at Newcastle last week and that was the case again at Wolverhampton on Thursday, with just the finale at Southwell on Wednesday to come.
Wales & The West led by 568 points to 496 heading into the fifth week at Dunstall Park, but by the end of play that was down to just two points (666 to 664).
After solid placed efforts in the opening few races, Ireland hit the jackpot with the Billy Loughnane-ridden, George Boughey-trained Koy Koy in race four – a win that also put crack apprentice Loughnane on 94 career winners, just one away from losing his claim.
Race five looked like going to Ireland, too, as Naxos and Dylan Browne McMonagle went for home, only to be swamped by Freddy Larson aboard Rebecca Menzies’ Painters Palette for Mick Quinn’s North team.
Even better for Quinn was that he played a joker, one that rewarded his squad with 70 points from the race.
Blake’s confidence seemed to be riding high for race six, as he too played a joker but the well-fancied 9-4 favourite Belgoprince and Loughnane had to settle for fourth place, one in front of another Irish runner, Percy Jones.
But while the points were still doubled for a positive Irish outcome that took them to the summit, Blake did admit to being disappointed the joker did not pay a better dividend, especially as he has no more left to play.
“We had a big chance to stick a nail in Osborne this evening, I feel we’ve only done half a job. When you play a joker you want better than that, so I’m disappointed,” he told Sky Sports Racing.
“Osborne with his two jokers will be tough next week, I don’t think we’ll be much weaker next week – I’ve got a good feeling about next week, I’ve got a bunch of trainers ringing and wanting spots which is exactly what you want.
“If Osborne nails his two jokers, we’re all in trouble, but if he scuffs one…”
The feature event of the night was the concluding William Hill Pick Your Places Racing League Race 35 Handicap, carrying £100,000 in prize-money and which produced success for the Scotland team, with Linda Perratt playing a joker and being rewarded by victory for George Baker’s Get It, ridden by Paul Mulrennan.
It also proved a critical race in the standings, as placed horses for Wales & The West saw them just about back on top, to add to the feeling of what might have been for Blake.
Notable also on a night where Saffie Osborne was not in action in order to be able to take a full book of rides for her father’s team at Southwell, was that McMonagle seized the opportunity to eat into her advantage at the top of the jockeys’ standings.
“I didn’t think I was as close to Saffie as that, I’m creeping up quite nicely,” he said.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to come over next week, but I’ll take it as it comes.”
Away from the Racing League, McMonagle is looking forward to a big weekend at the Irish Champions Festival, including Joseph O’Brien’s Atlantic Coast in Saturday’s KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.
He added: “He’s a lovely colt, he couldn’t really have pleased us more the first day at the Curragh. Also our two-year-olds usually progress from their first runs so what he showed us on his debut was really special. We’ll be confident of a good run, but it’s obviously competitive racing so fingers crossed.”
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Juniper Berries pounced late to land the Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury.
The two-year-old was sent off at 16-1 in the Group Three affair under Charlie Bishop, despite a consistent campaign thus far this year.
A winner on debut, the daughter of Expert Eye was second to Relief Rally in a novice before coming home a solid fourth in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
She was well beaten in the Super Sprint but regained her form to finish second in the Alice Keppel at Goodwood and then fourth when beaten a little over length in the Listed St Hugh’s Stakes when last seen.
Up in trip to six furlongs and back up in grade at Salisbury, the filly was ridden patiently to best utilise her speed and as the line approached she threw down her challenge to collar the front-running Dorothy Lawrence and prevail by a short head.
Johnson Houghton said: “I thought the step up to six (furlongs) would help, I thought the firm ground would help.
“She’s been running over five in soft ground and she deserved this, every time she ran at Newbury she never got any cover.
“We knew she had an amazing turn of foot, but it was just getting her to use it at the right time.
“We all made a plan, the owners and I, that we’d drop her in and if she didn’t get there on time then she didn’t get there on time.
“The last thing we wanted to do was get there too early and stop, she has a wicked turn of foot but it’s not a very long turn of foot.
“I’m thrilled. Look at the size of her, she does herself really well and she’s on the grow again I think.
“She’ll be a lovely filly for next year and they’ve (the owners) got the stud, so it’s great for them. What a star. Good old Junie, we love her!”
Ralph Beckett’s Skellet got off the mark with a convincing success in the Bob Mccreery Memorial British EBF Quidhampton Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Under Rossa Ryan the Kingman bay was the 5-6 favourite after being beaten just a length when fourth on debut at Sandown in August.
In a field of nine she was this time a straightforward winner, by a length and a quarter ahead of Richard Hannon’s Serene Seraph.
“I was very pleased. She’s a bit raw, she’s a big, tall, gangly filly,” Beckett said.
“Her sister, Skitter Skatter, was the size of a pony and she won a Moyglare for Patrick Prendergast – this filly is completely different.
“She was a bit antsy behind the gates, she’s still looking around.”
On future plans the trainer added: “She’s a nice filly, one for next year. It’s likely we’ll take a more conservative view, I don’t know what trip she’ll end up getting, we hope a mile but we’ll find out next year.”
Frankness (13-2) was a fitting winner of the European Bloodstock News EBF ‘Lochsong’ Fillies’ Handicap for Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding.
The race is named in honour of the great sprinter, a 15-time winner owned by Jeff Smith who dominated the sprint scene in the early nineties.
Frankess runs in the same silks and as Lochsong was trained by Balding’s father Ian, the victory particularly apt for the owner of both horses.
Mick Easterby has paid a heartfelt tribute to Derby-winning jockey Edward Hide, who has died at the age of 86.
Hide had a long and distinguished association with the Easterby stable, but his crowning glory came when winning the 1973 Derby with Morston for Arthur Budgett, pipping Lester Piggott on Cayo Doro.
Three-times champion apprentice in the 1950s, Hide won the prestigious ‘Cock of the North’ accolade 16 times.
Writing on his website Easterby said: “It is with great sadness today that I heard of the passing of my great buddy Eddie Hide.
“Eddie Hide was quite simply one of the best Flat jockeys I have seen seen. He was wonderful.
“In my career I have been fortunate to put up two of the finest jockeys. Sadly 2023 has seen the passing of both Eddie and my former stable jockey Terry Lucas.
“In the 1970s I’d put Eddie up whenever I had a runner in any of the big races and he never let me down once. Eddie had it all. He was an intelligent man and he knew the formbook inside out.
“You could get rich quite quickly backing Eddie on my horses, because he only rode them when he knew they were going to win.”
Hide won the 1000 Guineas for Easterby on Mrs McArdy in 1977 and was associated with the champion sprinter of 1976, Lochnager, winning the Temple, the King’s Stand, the July Cup and the William Hill Sprint Trophy (now Nunthorpe).
Easterby went on: “I owe a great deal to Eddie Hide. He rode the biggest winners of my career and he helped put the stable on the map in the 1970s.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Cambridge was victorious as the trainer sent his first runner to Salisbury for 18 years.
The Dubawi colt was contesting the one-mile Byerley Stud Novice Stakes under Ryan Moore and started as the 11-10 favourite at the Wiltshire track.
The run was the bay’s second, his debut being a third-placed effort in a Roscommon maiden last month.
This time he looked like the winner from two furlongs from home, before facing a late challenge from Richard Hannon’s Houstonn, who got at least level in the final strides but was passed again as a short head split them on the line.
Moore said of the success: “I’m happy with him, travelling over would have done him the world of good.
“Hopefully he’ll build on this and be a good horse next year.”
Cambridge was watched by Coolmore’s UK representative Kevin Buckley, who last witnessed a Ballydoyle horse run at Salisbury when Dylan Thomas was beaten in the 2005 Autumn Stakes.
He said: “I’m pleased with that and it’s nice to be here, Salisbury have looked after us really well. We thought he’d improve from his run in Roscommon, the stewards’ report said he dwelt at the start, but Seamie (Heffernan) then subsequently said the stall was slow to open.
“He ran very green, he was much more professional there, he put his head down and got it done. I know the winning margin wasn’t much, but it’s about winning and that’s what he did there.
“(It’s been) 18 years. It was the Autumn Stakes, Dylan Thomas was second with Johnny Murtagh on board and Jamie Spencer was third on Arabian Prince.
“He’s a nicely-bred horse, by a partner, Peter Brant, by Dubawi out of a Galileo mare. Half-brother to Maqsad, who won a Pretty Polly at Newmarket, beating Shambolic who is the dam of Ylang Ylang who is running for us in the Moyglare.
“We’ll get him home now and see what we think, he’s been over the extended seven at Roscommon, we knew he’d get that, his dam won over 12 furlongs and was Listed-placed twice in France.
“He’s got the Royal Lodge entry and that wouldn’t be beyond the realms (of possibility).”
West Indies Under-19s will enter the fourth and final day of the first Youth Test against Sri Lanka U-19s facing a 313-run first innings deficit at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
The West Indies ended Thursday’s third day on 119-3 from 31.5 overs replying to Sri Lanka’s massive 432-8 declared.
Jordan Johnson has led the way for the young West Indians so far with an unbeaten 54 while his Jamaican countryman, Steven Wedderburn, is the other not out batsman on 28.
Vishwa Lahiru has picked up 2-22 in 11 overs for the hosts.
One-time Derby fancy Eydon is creeping towards an eagerly-awaited return to the racecourse later this month, with connections dreaming of teeing-up a shot at Ascot’s Qipco Champion Stakes later in the autumn.
The lightly-raced colt’s progress has been curtailed by injury and having advertised his talent with a taking success at Newmarket in the Feilden Stakes, he returned to the Rowley Mile to finish an honourable fourth behind Coroebus when getting a first taste of Classic action in the 2000 Guineas.
He was on course for a second bite of the Classic cherry in the Derby when a setback ruled him out of the race, and his 2000 Guineas appearance remains Eydon’s last sighting on a racecourse.
Switched to Andrew Balding from Roger Varian over the winter, it was anticipated he would return to the track in the early stages of the 2023 season, but a further issue in the spring ruled him out of the key summer months.
An outing at Listed level in either the Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes at Sandown (September 20) or Ayr’s Virgin Bet Doonside Cup Stakes (September 23) is on the radar, before a possible big-race tilt on British Champions Day (October 21), providing Eydon shows he retains all of his old ability.
“Oisin Murphy was on him at Andrew’s and seemed happy and we’re going to either the Doonside Cup or the Fortune Stakes,” said Ted Voute, owner Prince Faisal’s racing adviser.
“He’s probably going to be a bit ring-rusty, but the aim is to see if we can get him to the Champion Stakes.
“It’s a big ask and he’s had lots of little niggly things along the way, but from what Andrew has seen, he has seen sparks of good things on the gallops and touch wood he’s still in one piece and that will be the plan.
“We’ll see how we go and we thought it was a good idea to have a target, because if he came out and was as good as he was in the Feilden Stakes then we would have a bash. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
Shaquille is one of a maximum field of 17 runners set to go to post for Saturday’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.
Julie Camacho’s three-year-old has made rapid progress through the ranks this season and victory this weekend would leave little doubt about his champion sprinter status.
He produced a remarkable performance to win the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot under Oisin Murphy after completely missing the start – and repeated the trick in the July Cup at Newmarket in the hands of Rossa Ryan.
This weekend Shaquille will be reunited with James Doyle, who steered him to his first two victories of the season but missed both of his Group One wins due to Godolphin commitments.
As expected Ralph Beckett has not declared Kinross, instead electing to saddle the filly Lezoo, who got back to winning ways in a Listed contest at Newmarket last time out.
Spycatcher has been declared by Karl Burke, however, despite owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing stating earlier in the week they would more than likely rely upon the supplemented George Boughey-trained Believing due to the prevailing quick ground.
Spycatcher still remains a doubtful runner, though, with Highclere’s Harry Herbert explaining he is only there on the off chance the thunder storms which are forecast for Sunday arrive 24 early.
“We’ve declared but just in case the thunder, which at the moment isn’t due until Sunday, somehow hits early,” said Herbert.
“Speaking to Karl he said we’d be kicking ourselves if that happened and we weren’t in it.
“It’s very frustrating because the horse is in fantastic form and we’d love to run him but at this stage it is highly doubtful. We’ll probably have to wait for autumn targets with Ascot on Champions Day high up the list.”
Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Mill Stream was another supplemented earlier in the week after two impressive wins in France.
Khaadem, the 80-1 winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee at Royal Ascot, is in contention, as is Saint Lawrence, the Wokingham hero who went close in the Prix Maurice de Gheest for Archie Watson.
Ed Bethell is represented by Regional, unbeaten at Haydock in two outings as he steps back up to six furlongs.
Run To Freedom, Sacred, Swingalong and Garrus are all among the big field, with Richard Hannon’s Happy Romance the first and only reserve.
Fabrice Chappet is confident last year’s runner-up Onesto will put up another bold show when he takes on the likes of King Of Steel and Auguste Rodin in Saturday’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.
The French raider found only Luxembourg too strong in a high-class renewal 12 months ago and the pair are among nine runners declared for the latest edition of the Leopardstown showpiece this weekend.
Luxembourg is one of three contenders for Aidan O’Brien as he goes in search of a fifth straight victory in the 10-furlong Group One, with his dual Derby-winning stablemate Auguste Rodin considered the stable’s first string despite failing to fire in the King George at Ascot in July.
Point Lonsdale also runs for the Ballydoyle team.
Onesto has been a rare sight on the racecourse this season, but Chappet was happy with his reappearance when fourth over a mile in the Prix Jacques le Marois and is optimistic ahead of his return to Dublin, where he will be partnered by Frankie Dettori.
“One place better than last year will do,” quipped Chappet.
“He has never run a bad race, he has been unlucky a few times, but he rarely runs a bad race. So I expect a good run one more time.
“He had a little issue in the spring, but the best races for him are coming up now anyway. He is a very versatile horse, he is a Group One winner going 2400 metres (Grand Prix de Paris) and ran a very good race in this last year going 2000 metres and also ran a good race down in trip in the Jacques le Marois.
“He definitely has more speed than a mile and a half horse and he can probably do anything from a mile to middle distances – he showed a good bit of speed last time.”
Some bookmakers have Roger Varian’s King Of Steel, who drops back in trip after some fine efforts at a mile and a half this season, at the head of their betting.
A victory in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot sandwiches placed efforts in both the Derby and in the King George and connections believe they are in the right place to hunt an elusive Group One victory for the son of Wootton Bassett.
“The ground will be on the quick side of good which wouldn’t concern us overly based on his runs at Epsom and Royal Ascot,” said Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for owners Amo Racing.
“Auguste Rodin is on the comeback trail, Nashwa has obviously been a model of consistency this season and I thought Joseph O’Brien’s horse Al Riffa ran a very nice race in France.
“There is no such thing as an easy Group One but hopefully our patience will be rewarded. We’ve looked after him this year and Roger has been very patient and we’re excited.”
Owen Burrows’ progressive four-year-old Alflaila arrives bidding to extend a four-race winning run having been supplemented for the race earlier in the week and will look to give owners Shadwell yet another big-race success this term.
John and Thady Gosden are represented by Nashwa, who was last seen finishing best of the rest behind stablemate Mostahdaf in York’s Juddmonte International, while Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa has finished second in both starts this term, but was a big-race scorer during the Irish Champions Festival in 2022.
The field is completed by the Jessica Harrington-trained Sprewell, who won the Derby Trial over the course and distance before finishing fourth and sixth in the Derby and Irish Derby respectively.
Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes heroine Tahiyra is the star attraction among 13 fillies set to go to post for the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes.
Trainer Dermot Weld also saddles high-class older filly Homeless Songs, who is one of two hopefuls for Moyglare Stud Farm along with Paddy Twomey’s Just Beautiful.
Aidan O’Brien relies upon Meditate, Zarinsk bids for a third straight win for Ger Lyons and Ralph Beckett’s Prosperous Voyage, Tom Clover’s Rogue Millennium and Olivia Maralda from Varian’s yard all travel from Britain for the Group One contest.
Impressive Curragh scorer Diego Velazquez is a hot favourite for KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes as one of three runners for Aidan O’Brien alongside Capulet and Democracy. His oldest son Joseph runs the supplemented Atlantic Coast and Bad Desire, while his younger son Donnacha saddles Bremen.
Persian Dreamer is firmly on course for a crack at Group One glory in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes later this month.
Dominic Ffrench Davis’ filly got off the mark in style with a taking performance on debut at Newmarket, but she had to settle for a supporting role in her next two starts at York and in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Although a beaten favourite when only fourth in the Marygate on the Knavesmire, she ran with much more encouragement when filling the same position at Ascot and showed plenty of class when building on that performance to get back to winning ways in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting.
The daughter of Calyx was assisted by a pre-race downpour which made the ground more to her liking on that occasion – and with Group Two honours in the bag, connections are hoping the weather gods will be in their favour once again when Persian Dreamer heads to the Rowley Mile on September 30 for her shot at top-level success.
“She’s bang on target for the Cheveley Park, she’s in good form and has been ticking over nicely since her win at the July Meeting,” said Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for owners Amo Racing.
“We couldn’t be happy with her and it’s all systems go.
“She is better with some juice in the ground and the rain came just in time for her at Newmarket. It was nice to see Tom Ward’s filly who was third (Woodhay Wonder) then go and win the sales race the other week, that was a nice boost for the form.
“The form is in the book and she’s a high-class filly. If we get some rain and her ground, I’m sure she would be very competitive in a Cheveley Park.”
Alice Haynes’ Fix You is set to carry the Amo Racing silks in the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp after being ruled out of Sunday’s Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on account of unsuitable ground.
The three-year-old’s appearances were limited at two, but she made up for lost time in the early part of this season, progressing quickly out of the handicap ranks after a taking success at Nottingham to strike at Listed level in Cork’s Polonia Stakes.
The Irish Champions Festival had been earmarked as a target – but with the anticipated cut in the ground failing to materialise, she will instead head across the Channel on Arc weekend.
Pennington added: “The Flying Five has been Fix You’s target all year but the ground has gone against her, which is frustrating.
“She’s a very nice filly and obviously did it very nicely at Cork earlier in the season on deep ground. She’s a very ground dependent filly and she needs soft ground.
“Hopefully they will get a bit of rain in France and her next big target will be the Abbaye. She’s all speed and soft ground over five furlongs is her optimum.”
While admitting that things are far from perfect in certain regards, General Secretary Dennis Chung insists that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has made significant strides in an attempt to get its house in order to move away from the negativity that often overshadowed the country’s footballing success.
Chung’s assertions came as he provided the latest update of the governing football body’s finances, delivering on a promise to increase transparency and accountability at an organisation plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
“I've been here for a few months now, so I think it's timely to give an update as to where we are, what challenges we are still faced with and what progress has been made in relation to some of the things that I committed to at the start of my tenure here because I think that accountability is very important,” Chung told journalists during a press conference at the JFF’s St Lucia Avenue base.
On that note, Chung, revealed that the JFF finances, for the first time in a long time, reflected an $11 million surplus at the end of July, which he believes is testament to progress made.
“When we come in November one of the things, I said is that we need to recognize that changing and developing our product doesn't happen overnight, we're going to have hiccups. We've had some hiccups, but what we have attempted to do, which I think we have been successful in some respects, is to fix the brand,” Chung shared.
“You can’t drive the car until the car is fixed. The engine has to be fixed and, therefore, over the past few months we’ve been looking at the strategies for fixing the product because you can’t sell a product unless it’s fixed. So, recently, we’ve been getting in sponsors and the reason why we’ve been able to get sponsors is because we fixed the product that’s there,” he added.
That said, Chung addressed two widely circulated issues that he said were a misrepresentation of the facts aimed at condemning the Michael Ricketts-led administration. One of those issues involves a $107 million debt to the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), while the other surrounds another $30 million missing from the JFF coffers.
“The JFF unlike many organisations, have a Tax Compliant Certificate and we not only got it, but we updated and renewed it. That $107 million owed to TAJ is related to penalties and interest coming from as far back as before 2017.
“Last year we went into negotiations with the tax authority, and we paid off all the principals outstanding. The discussion at the time was, ‘show us that you’re keeping up to date with your payments’, which we did, and then by March we were able to apply for a write-off of the penalties and interest,” Chung, who is also an accountant explained.
He continued: “The other thing I saw people saying that $30 million is missing that was classified as miscellaneous, but that $30 million came up because when the audit was done, and the issue was that $30 million was not classified properly to the line item.
“I am an accountant, I know that many companies have that issue with their auditors, so we reclassified it and everything was classified successfully and we got the audit issued by the auditors. So that implication that there is money missing, there is no money missing, it was just how it was accounted for and then it was classified, so for me, where we are coming from is significant in terms of the accomplishment.
Finally, Chung is cognizant that they still have much more to do to achieve the level of comfort where trust in the JFF and, by extension, sustainable development of the country’s football is concerned.
“We would not have got the sponsorships if we did not fix the product. Now we are not at the level that we want yet, because we still have not finished fixing the product. But we've gone a far away in making inroads,” the general secretary ended.
Trinbago Knight Riders improved their playoff hopes, as they secured a valuable 42-run win over Barbados Royals in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Queen’s Park Oval on Wednesday.
After Rovman Powell again won the toss and opted to field first, the Royals bowlers were fairly steady up front, but later found Nicholas Pooran in defiant mode, as the left-hander literally batted them out of the game with a superb unbeaten century.
Pooran’s 53-ball 102, which included 10 sixes and five fours, propelled Knight Riders to a daunting 208-6 from their allotment, before skilled bowling from Waqar Salamkheil (2-18) and Akeal Hosein (2-21), coupled with some poor shot selections from Royals batsmen at times, sealed the deal.
Despite a well-played 45-ball 70 by Kyle Mayers, his best score so far this season, the Royals were restricted to 166. Mayers hammered four sixes and seven fours in his knock.
Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 208-6 (20 overs); Barbados Royals 166-7 (20 overs)
Sent to bat in front a pack stadium bursting at its seams with a sea of red, the vociferous Knight Riders crowd faced early disappointment when Roelof van der Merwe took a brilliant catch on the boundary ropes to remove Mark Deyal (six) off Mayers bowling.
From 20-1, Pooran and Martin Guptill added 56 for the second wicket, which was inevitably gifted to the Royals, as the New Zealander advanced but failed to get bat on an arm ball from Rahkeem Cornwall and was stumped for 37.
It quickly became 78-3 as a mix-up between Pooran and captain Kieron Pollard resulted in the latter being run out by Mayers.
However, Pooran soldiered on and took the score past the 100-run mark with Lorcan Tucker (eight), before being joined by Andre Russell for an 82-run fifth-wicket partnership.
The two frustrated the Royals bowling with Russell smashing four sixes and two fours in his 22-ball knock, which unfortunately came to an end when he was given out on review for a faint edge.
Pooran eventually pushed past the century milestone, his second in this format, and with it, placed the Knight Riders in the driver’s seat for the two points.
In response, Barbados Royals lost their previous match winner Cornwall (four) cheaply on this occasion, as he went caught by Sunil Narine off Hosein in the third over.
Mayers and Laurie Evans (20) gradually restored the innings, as they added 41 for the second wicket and when the latter fell, it brought captain Powell to the middle.
But Powell’s stay was brief, as he went for nine and Mayers and Alick Athanaze (seven) followed soon after, and from there, the Royals never recovered.
Jason Holder, who was given a reprieve off a Narine no-ball, failed to capitalise on the second chance and only mustered 19, while Van der Merwe’s quick-fire unbeaten 20 off nine balls, including a massive six and two fours, was not enough.
The win means Trinbago Knight Riders inched up to second on nine points, same as leaders Guyana Amazon Warriors, but the four-time champions have played two games more.
St Lucia Kings (eight points), Barbados Royals (seven points), Jamaica Tallawahs (five points) and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (two points), complete the table.
The battle for the playoff spots will be intensified when action resumes on Saturday. At that time, Patriots will oppose Kings and Knight Riders against Tallawahs, with a contest between Guyana Amazon Warriors women and Trinbago Knight Riders women, smacked in between.
Jamaican netball sensation Latanya Wilson, who represents her nation on the international stage and plays for the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball League champions, the Adelaide Thunderbirds, has been given a fresh start after a devastating fire destroyed her family's home on Rum Lane in Kingston.
On August 17, tragedy struck as Wilson's home fell victim to arson in the heart of downtown Kingston. The family home, shared with her mother and sisters, was firebombed by thugs in the Central Kingston community. Since then, an overwhelming wave of support and solidarity has poured in for the 22-year-old athlete.
In a heartwarming gesture, the Jamaican government, in collaboration with the National Housing Trust and West Indies Home Contractors (WIHCON), has provided Wilson and her family with a new home located in St Catherine. The house, offered under a special lease-to-buy agreement, was formally presented to Wilson at the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Sports, and Entertainment on Trafalgar Road in Kingston.
Corporate giant GraceKennedy Ltd also stepped up, donating essential food items and J$250,000 in cash to assist the Wilson family during these challenging times.
Minister Olivia Grange, who represents the government and was overseas at the World Championships in Budapest when she learned of the tragedy, spoke emotionally about the support Wilson received. She shared, "It was like 3 or 4 in the morning in Budapest when I got the message, and I called and when I spoke to Latanya and asked where she was, she said she was sitting in Pastor Brown’s car, and I was really touched by that because in a moment like that, you need somebody there to make you feel like you are being taken care of."
Minister Grange emphasized the government's commitment to support not only Wilson but also other affected families by the attack the razed the dwelling. She stated, "Because Latanya is one of our star players and there is some urgency to having her settled because she is going off to greater heights very soon, we are doing this exercise this morning."
Janet Hartley-Millwood, Branch Manager of the NHT St Catherine office, expressed her delight in welcoming Latanya into the NHT family, saying, "We just want to welcome you to the NHT family and into home ownership at the National Housing Trust. We can assure you that we will guide you. We will do what we can to help you through this period of transition."
In response to the overwhelming support, Latanya Wilson shared her gratitude, telling Sportsmax.TV, "No, I didn’t expect this. Everything has come as a surprise. It’s a lot to process but it's very good that everybody is coming on board and supporting wherever they can."
Regarding the opportunity to own a home at her age, she added, "At my age of 22, it is quite an exciting journey for me to turn (the lease) over into a mortgage so I am grateful and happy at this moment."
When asked if this new home gives her peace of mind as she prepares to return to Australia to play in the Suncorp Super Netball League, Wilson replied, "To some extent, it does. It will definitely put my mind at ease in some ways given the fact that your family is somewhere safe."
Trinbago Knight Riders recorded their first win of the 2023 Massy Women’s Premier League (WCPL) to keep their final hopes alive at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.
The Knight Riders beat Hayley Matthews’ previously unbeaten Barbados Royals by 13 runs, meaning the winner of the final group match between the Knight Riders and the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Saturday will play the Royals in Sunday’s final.
The Knight Riders kept the theme going by winning the toss and opting to bat first. Deandra Dottin’s side applied pressure early with a strong PowerPlay setting up for a big score, keeping wickets in hand, eventually finishing on 155-3.
Gaby Lewis put up a good fight with a half-century in reply after a good start with Matthews but tight bowling eventually made 156 look too far away late on.
Knight Riders scored 33 runs inside two overs in the PowerPlay courtesy of quick-fire starts from Marie Kelly and Kycia Knight. At 58-1 from six overs, the hosts continued to put on partnerships with low risk through the experience of Captain Deandra Dottin and Mignon du Preez keeping the steady innings ticking over to reach 155-3 despite just one six in the innings.
Amanda-Jade Wellington prevented a higher score with very economical figures of 0-11 in the middle overs while Matthews picked up a pair of wickets, one at each end of the innings to finish with 2-23.
The Royals had chased a score higher than this total already in this year’s competition but it wasn’t to be on this occasion despite causing threat throughout.
Matthews came out firing, reaching her highest score of the WCPL this year with 45 before she was dismissed by 15-year-old Samara Ramnath on her T20 debut. After a more supportive role initially, Irish international, Lewis kicked on to 62, bringing up her 50 in 43 balls, another substantial knock for the Royals after her 47 in match one.
With other overseas Erin Burns and Laura Harris failing to get out of single figures, the wickets continued to fall for the Royals and Lewis’ dismissal in the 18th over needing to up the run rate to 12-an-over, the innings fizzled out at the hands of 18 overs of spin from the Knight Riders.
Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 155-3 (Dottin 47, Du Preez 36; Matthews 2-23, Claxton 1-21) beat Barbados Royals 142-7 (Lewis 62, Matthews 45; James 2-34, Ramnath 1-13) by 13 runs.
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