On a rainy Saturday in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Jamaica and Guyana secured wins in the third round of the CWI Men’s Rising Stars Under-19 50-Over tournament.
Jamaica secured their third win in as many games with a six-wicket win over the Leeward Islands via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at Sion Hill.
The match was initially reduced to 41 overs per-side after a rain delay at the start. The Leewards were reduced to 157 all out off 40.3 overs batting first.
Michael Greaves top-scored for the Leewards with 60 while Carlon Bowen-Tuckett added 26 against 4-24 off eight overs from Tamarie Redwood and 3-22 off nine overs from Alex Hinds.
Jamaica were cruising at 86-4 off 16 overs during their reply before another rain delay meant their new target was 144 off 33 overs.
Play resumed before, only four overs later, the heavens opened up once again with Jamaica ending up 121-4 off 20 overs. Jordan Johnson led the way with his second consecutive half century, ending 59* off just 52 balls.
Guyana beat Barbados by 54 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at Arnos Vale for their first win.
Guyana batted first and posted 178-9 from their 50 overs thanks to a top-score of 35 from Rampertab Ramnauth. Jonathan Rampersaud (31) and Zachary Jodah (28) also provided good contributions against two wickets, each, from Nathan Sealy, Saurav Worrell and Isaiah Folkes.
Barbados’ reply never really got off the ground. They eventually reached 104-8 off 27.2 overs before rain prevented any further play.
Rampersaud took 3-20 off six overs and was well supported by Isai Thorne who claimed 2-25 from 6.2 overs.
The match between Trinidad & Tobago and the Windward Islands at the Cumberland Playing Field ended in a no result.
The Windwards were cruising at 62-1 off 9.2 overs before rain prevented any further play.
Earlier, they bowled T&T out for 124 in just 24.4 overs. Kerwin Gassie led the way with 4-32 from 4.4 overs.
She often gives of her best each time she touches the runway, and so it came as no surprise that Shanieka Ricketts secured her fifth national triple jump title at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/Puma Senior Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Ricketts, who has been holding consistent form so far this season, topped rivals in the event after cutting the sand at a wind-aided 14.79 metres on her second attempt. The jump which came in a positive 2.6 metres per second wind reading, followed an opening leap of 14.42m which would have also won her the event.
The two-time World Championships silver medallist won ahead of another in form jumper 21-year-old Ackelia Smith of University of Texas, who had a best mark of 14.26m. Imani Oliver of Tracksmith was third at 13.44m.
“It is good to celebrate a national title, this time it’s the fifth national title and also my fifth World Championship, so I am just definitely looking forward to going to there and doing my best as usual,” Ricketts said shortly after the victory.
With her and Smith having already secured the automatic qualifying standard of 14.52m, Ricketts, 31, is anticipating much when they get to the August 19-27 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Though not yet over the automatic standard, Kimberly Williams is on course to make it three Jamaicans in the event next month, should she maintain her position on ranking points.
“We will also have three females again in this World Championships so I am happy and excited to see what we will be able to do in Budapest,” Ricketts added.
West Indies great, Brian Lara, believes India can bring the best out of the West Indies when they square off in a two-match Test series beginning on July 12 in Dominica.
“It’s a young group, ably led by Kraigg Brathwaite, of course, but I feel like some of the guys can really come into their own in this series,” Lara, who is with the team as a performance mentor, said in a CWI interview on Saturday.
“It’s a tough opposition but I believe that’s the way we can get the best out of them,” he added.
The West Indian selectors have started to look to the future in the batting department with the selections of 22-year-old Kirk McKenzie and 24-year-old Alick Athanaze.
Jamaica’s McKenzie earned his selection on the back of some good performances in the inaugural Headley Weekes Tri-Series and in a subsequent A-team tour of Bangladesh.
He had scores of 221 and 50 in the Headley Weekes series and followed those up with scores of 91 and 86 against Bangladesh A.
Athanaze captained the Windward Islands Volcanoes in this season’s West Indies Championship and scored 647 runs in five matches at an average of 64.70 with a pair of hundreds and four fifties.
“They’re both young, capable players. Of course, you’d hope they had a little more experience in the first-class arena but, looking at their style of play and their attitude, I believe they do have what it takes to perform at the highest level,” Lara said.
“It may take some time but, obviously, as an international cricketer, if you’re entering this stage it doesn’t matter what age you enter; you’ve got to learn very quickly and I think they have that sort of attitude to want to learn and be willing to listen. I look forward to good things in the future,” he added.
These matches will mark the start of the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle for both teams.
“Obviously, we’ve got two very important Test matches against India that start the two-year cycle for us. We know, whether it’s at home or away from home, they’re one of the top teams in the world,” Lara said.
“I think the guys are moving in the right direction in terms of where we started the camp and where we are at this present moment only a few days out from the first Test match in Dominica,” he added.
The two teams had very different results in the 2021-23 cycle. India, currently the top-ranked Test team in the world, finished the cycle second behind Australia, who they recently lost to in the World Test Championship Final.
On the other hand, the West Indies ended the cycle in eighth, only finishing ahead of Bangladesh.
Tom Marquand timed his run to perfection aboard Perotto to claim the Coral Challenge and secure a double on the Coral-Eclipse card at Sandown.
He had been undone when making his move a shade early when 10th of 30 in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot 17 days ago, but on this occasion, Marquand’s mount was faultless.
The Roger Varian-trained five-year-old was brought with a decisive effort a furlong out to score by a length and quarter from Ouzo, having had plenty in his favour this time, a fact his rider alluded to.
Marquand said: “I spoke to Roger this morning about the horse and he has a tendency to just be a bit fizzy. They did a bit of work just to get him out the gates at Ascot and he probably broke a little too well and just got left over-racing a touch.
“Today, we had a kind draw, he was racing down into a bend, he had the hood on – everything just pointed in the right direction for him. The plan came easy because he broke nicely and we had that easy tempo early down to the bend.
“They got everything spot on today for him to be able to conserve the energy he needed to get that last couple of furlongs.”
Possible targets include the International Handicap back at Ascot and the Golden Mile.
Marquand added: “I do just wonder about having a bend to race around, because it shuts the race down for him, but I will leave that to Roger to discuss, because he has some solid form at Ascot and if the race is run to suit for him, it is a great place. He had proven he is consistent to a high level and he needs little bits to go his way.”
Pat Dobbs was another who provided a masterclass of jockeyship, timing the run of Classic to perfection to claim the Coral Racing Club Handicap for trainer Richard Hannon.
The Julie Wood-owned three-year-old did not quite live up to expectations in the Greenham, but had run well twice subsequently in handicap company and Dobbs delivered the Dubawi colt in the dying strides to land the seven-furlong heat by a length from Novus.
“He is very tricky at home,” said Dobbs. “He is keen to get on with things and has only just started to settle down.
“He obviously has a very good pedigree so it was important to do it again at three and he is definitely going the right way.
“He had a different bit on today and a cross noseband which was a bit more manageable. He was galloping with his head in the air for the first three furlongs last time. Mentally he is getting better.”
The Ralph Beckett-trained Lord Protector gave Rossa Ryan success when staying on nicely after leading at the furlong pole to down Haunted Dream in the Coral Play ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Handicap Stakes.
Like Tom Marquand, Ryan Moore also recorded a double on the afternoon.
“He’s improving every season”, was Aidan O’Brien’s assessment of the jockey after partnering Paddington to success in the Coral-Eclipse.
Having vanquished the John and Thady Gosden-trained Emily Upjohn, he gave that training duo a measure of compensation when guiding Lisboa to a runaway success in the concluding Coral ‘Get Closer To The Action’ Handicap.
The Galileo colt was making a quick turnaround from a below-par showing at Kempton 10 days ago and equipped with first-time blinkers, was given a positive ride by Moore, who had the nine-furlong contest in hand from the two-furlong pole.
After the runaway success, John Gosden said: “He didn’t pay much attention last time at Kempton, got between horses and decided he wouldn’t be bothered.
“So we popped the blinkers on and he decided to show what talent he has. He was kept in training this year. I thought he might have gone to the sales last year, but he will be in the July Sales next week.
“He flashed ability last year, then we had to pack in with him as he had a bit of an issue with a knee, but that has come absolutely right now – he’s been in good form.
“It is a pleasant surprise, particularly when Ryan goes that pace early on. He got a breather round the bend, but had the ability to still win comfortably. I thought once he got a lead, he wouldn’t be caught.”
He added: “It has been a great day’s racing and a phenomenal Eclipse. It was like an old-fashioned match-race.”
Lordship continued his rapid ascent up the staying ladder with a fast-finishing victory in the bet365 Handicap at Haydock.
The William Haggas-trained three-year-old was bidding for a quick-fire hat-trick in the £100,000 contest, having supplemented a mid-June novice win at Chepstow with success at Yarmouth just last week.
He was the 100-30 favourite to complete his hat-trick under 3lb claimer Adam Farragher and finished with a flourish from an uncompromising position to seal a one-length verdict over Flower Of Dubai.
Maureen Haggas, assistant to her husband, said: “He’s not done much wrong, has he? It was an interesting route round, as it was at Yarmouth the other day, but once he got out it always looked like he was going to win.”
When asked whether the Melrose Handicap at York could be next on Lordship’s agenda, Haggas added: “That would be a nice target to aim at, wouldn’t it?
“It’ll be interesting if we ever get him on some decent ground – he’d prefer a bit of juice – but he’s a nice, straightforward horse who is going in the right direction.”
Ramazan completed a lucrative double for trainer Richard Fahey in the Price Promise At bet365 Handicap.
The Musley Bank handler had earlier plundered the £150,000 Old Newton Cup with the Joe Fanning-ridden Wootton’Sun and Ramazan was the 11-4 favourite to pick up the lion’s share of £50,000 in the hands of Oisin Orr following a creditable effort in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Orr left it late, but Ramazan answered his every call to get up and beat Chartwell House by a length.
Fahey said: “I don’t think he stayed the mile at Ascot, but I thought he ran a big race there.
“I think he’s just a seven-furlong horse. He might go six, it’s just his whole demeanour isn’t for six furlongs yet, but he’s from a fast family.
“He’s in the Bunbury Cup (at Newmarket next week) and he’s in the International at Ascot (July 29), but I don’t think he’ll get in either. He’ll definitely get in them next year, he’s that sort of horse.”
Jm Jungle (9-2) recoded an overdue victory in the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap.
John Quinn’s three-year-old had been placed on several occasions since opening his account at Hamilton in May of last year and after travelling strongly, he knuckled down to see off the challenge of Spirit Of Applause by a length and a quarter.
“He’s been running really consistently and I thought he was very unlucky to bump into a really well handicapped one the last day (Count D’Orsay),” said winning jockey Jason Hart.
“He went to bite the second horse so I just had to drag him back off, but he’s done it well.”
Tierney was a 28-1 winner of the bet365 Nursery for trainer Hugo Palmer and apprentice rider Harry Davies, while the concluding Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365.com Handicap went to the Richard Hughes-trained Nails Murphy (9-2).
This was a day to gamble. Aidan O’Brien admitted the ‘lads’ had wanted to see if crack three-year-old Paddington could stay 10 furlongs – and against older opponents – for the first time.
It was also a punt to know the appropriate attire, with oppressive humidity coupled with band of slow-moving showers meaning it was 10-11 each of two for shirt-sleeves and straw hats making way for raincoats and trilbies.
The rain set in an hour and a half before racing, with the resulting two millimetres not enough to spoil perfect summer racing ground.
It could have been an uncomfortable afternoon too, for the sponsors. Although far from vintage numerically, with just four runners, this was still a test for punters and equines alike.
It only takes two to make a good horse race and the big two did not disappoint.
Paddington had carried all before him, winning an Irish 2,000 Guineas before proving himself the best mile Classic winner with a thoroughly conclusive defeat of Newmarket victor Chaldean in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
O’Brien initially hinted the Siyouni colt would head to Goodwood for the Sussex Stakes, yet the temptation to take on top four-year-old filly Emily Upjohn, in receipt of a 7lb weight concession, was too great to pass up.
Gamble though this was, especially just 18 days after his Ascot romp, Coolmore’s breeding empire could add a nought to the end of his stallion fee by winning top-class 10-furlong races.
A bundle of eager, brown muscle in the paddock, the 8-11 favourite looked even better in his coat than he had at Ascot, if that was at all possible, and that translated into a wonderful display of patience and power.
Ryan Moore took a tow from West Wind Blows, hit the front soon enough in the straight and fended off proven stayer Emily Upjohn after a rip-roaring duel to prevail by half a length.
Paddington is now the winner of six of his seven races, his sole defeat coming on his debut at Ascot last September.
It may have been an expected and record seventh win in the race for the trainer, but Paddington keeps surprising him.
“We thought he was a very good horse the first time he went to Ascot when he was a baby. We gave him a lot of time then to recover and he won very impressively at the Curragh in a maiden,” said O’Brien.
“We decided to leave him alone and let him winter and start him in as low a grade as we could start him and that’s what we did.
“But I suppose the surprising thing about him is the progress he is making from race to race. He is getting more confident, he is getting stronger mentally and physically.
“He is getting more professional and it is amazing what he is doing. We didn’t intend on coming here, but he was a lot heavier today, two weeks after running at Ascot, which is very unusual.
“He came out of Ascot in a very unusual good way.
“There are always outliers, there are always special horses – that is the way it is. There is no rule, because horses do different things, but it is very surprising what he is doing.”
O’Brien is surrounded by those with impeccable instincts, men not averse to risk taking. Michael Tabor (owner of Victor Chandler), Derrick Smith (former trading director for Ladbrokes), Joe Lewis (currency trader) and John Magnier, Coolmore owner, a genius who always backs his bloodstock judgement.
O’Brien is the steady hand on the tiller and you now have to dig deep to the lint at the bottom the bag of superlatives to find a new way to laud his remarkable talent.
Right on cue, the sun then made an appearance as O’Brien admitted it was something of a gamble to run Paddington in his third top-level race so fleetingly.
“Everything is a gamble. Every day you run is a gamble with these horses. When you find those type of horses, what the lads try to do is expose them, because their job is to breed racehorses and supply mares to them.
“They want to expose them with all their flaws, all their strengths. Every year they do that more and more. They don’t protect the way they used to. They want to see what they are able and not able to do.
“I admire them for that. I suppose the big thing is they love their racing and the racing is rising above everything else now. They love going racing, they love planning and they love thinking about those horses and it’s gone more of a love and a passion with then now than it has ever been before, for me. I can’t tell you how passionate they are about racing.”
O’Brien has now eclipsed Alec Taylor Jr and and Sir Michael Stoute as the trainer with the most wins in the Group One contest, which he first won with Giant’s Causeway in 2000.
“He is a lot quicker than Giant’s Causeway. His constitution is amazing too,” said the Ballydoyle handler.
“Giant always ran at the same weight but this horse is getting heavier. So, obviously, physically, he is doing very well. He has surprised us so much with every run.
“Seamus (Heffernan) rides him work every day and the last day he rode him, he got off and couldn’t talk. When those fellas who are riding that many horses and are getting that way, it just takes you back a little bit.
“I try not to delve into it too much, because I try not to get everyone thinking about what could be too much, so we just go on quick, to the next one, the next day. There is something very different happening.
“It was different today with the way he hit the gates and the way he travelled. With the ease he got to the front and when he got to the front, he knew he’d gone professional and he knew he’d won his race. Obviously for us it is very exciting.”
Emily Upjohn is set to go back up to a mile and a half following her brave effort in defeat when chasing home Paddington in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
The Coronation Cup winner was beaten by half a length by Aidan O’Brien’s year younger rival, who was in receipt of 7lb, over 10 furlongs at the Esher venue.
John Gosden, who trains Emily Upjohn in partnership with his son Thady, felt the filly had lost little in defeat racing over a shorter trip in a four-runner contest.
He said: “It is disappointing when you only get four runners in a race of this class and nature. She has run great, a little slow out the gate, so she settled into third but had every opportunity up the straight and obviously had to take the length and a bit to get to him, but it was a superb race and we are thrilled with her.
“Back to a mile and a quarter – she hasn’t run a mile and a quarter since the Musidora (last year) – so obviously it was a super run and she is a mile-and-a-half filly.
“But full marks to the winner, he is a very laid-back, good-looking horse and he did it well.
“But of course, we are giving 7lb and that tells. But it would tell, it is a four-year-old to a three-year-old.
“I remember what Lester (Piggott) said, the three-year-old has the edge in the Eclipse and the four-year-old in the King George.”
Gosden would not shy away from taking the winner on again, but feels it is unlikely.
“I wouldn’t mind a crack at the winner again, but we’re going back to a mile and a half. I don’t think you’ll see him ever run a mile and a half – I would be very surprised,” he added.
“His pedigree, obviously, the dam stayed well, but I don’t know – Aidan (O’Brien) is capable of doing anything!
“You are more likely to see Aidan’s Derby winner (Auguste Rodin) in the King George. The races are the King George, Yorkshire Oaks and Arc – those are the three big races. We don’t have to run in the King George and you wouldn’t want to run in the Yorkshire Oaks as a prep.
“Enable was second in it (Eclipse) and she won it (King George), so older fillies can do it, but I would be very happy with her run.
“Great run and William Buick rode her perfectly. Jamie (Spencer on West Wind Blows) wisely stayed off the rail to get fresh ground on the outside and by staying off the rail it is going to mean no-one getting boxed in. It makes a big difference.”
Ed Crisford, who trains along with his father Simon, will be looking further afield with West Wind Blows, who was beaten six lengths in third.
He said: “He ran super and I’m really pleased with him. Jamie set nice, honest fractions and he ran his heart out. I’m very pleased he finished third and it was probably a career best for him.
“I think we will definitely be looking at international races with him. I think he could be very competitive in Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong. He has got lots of options over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half and we will take it from there really.”
Either way, a Jamaican player would have become 2023 Suncorp Super Netball League champion but at the end of an intensely grand-final at the John Cain Arena on Saturday, it was the Jamaican defensive pair of Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson that sealed the deal as Adelaide Thunderbirds defeated New South Wales Swifts 60-59 in overtime.
Three-time champion Romelda Aiken-George who led the Swifts’ scoring with 27 goals had to settle for the position of runner-up in a match-up that will be remembered for ages.
Sterling was the first to make her mark on the match battling Aiken-George for the ball and drawing the offensive contact to put the Thunderbirds ahead.
Following suite, her teammate Wilson controlled the ball for another gain and the Thunderbirds then blitzed out to a five-goal lead.
Swift Helen Housby had her eyes firmly locked on the goal when she entered the Suncorp Super Shot zone during the Power Five to confidently narrow the Thunderbirds’ lead.
However, Sterling prevented the Swifts from getting too close with an intercept before the end of the quarter allowing the Thunderbirds to head into the break in front 16-12.
Eleanor Cardwell led the scoring for Adelaide with 31 goals and Lucy Austin had nine goals as Adelaide extended their advantage to eight points at half time after outscoring their opponents 19-15 in the second stanza to take a 35-27 led into the break.
The break proved to be a welcome one for New South Wales, who had eliminated last year’s champions West Coast Fever in last week’s preliminary final.
They emerged from the break with renewed focus and cut decisively into Adelaide’s lead after outscoring them 13-8 in the third quarter and was only down by three heading into the final stanza.
They used that momentum to outscore Adelaide 14-11 in the final quarter as the final whistle sounded with the scores locked at 54-54.
Overtime proved just as intense both Helen Housby and Cardwell stepping up to the challenge early slotting Super Shots for their respective teams.
However, the Thunderbirds’ defensive pressure forced the Swifts into a held ball and Cardwell capitalized again but then an offensive contact had the Swifts charging.
Fawns levelled the scores for the Swifts but Sterling showed why she’s the best interceptor in the league burying the Swifts dreams as her teammates made the intercept count.
The Swifts tried their hardest, however, were unable to halt the pink tide with the Thunderbirds winning by one goal.
Westover made the trip to France worthwhile by winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud for Ralph Beckett and Rob Hornby.
Winner of the Irish Derby last season, he had run two fine races in defeat this year behind Equinox in Dubai and Emily Upjohn at Epsom.
Sent off favourite to add a second Group One to his tally, he raced in third as Tunnes and Malabu Drive, Westover’s pacemaker, ensured a stiff gallop.
Hornby was keen to put the Juddmonte-owned colt’s stamina to good use and took over at the head of affairs with fully two furlongs to run, but was made to work hard as Christophe Soumillon appeared to be travelling the better on Zagrey, who was one place behind Westover in Dubai and having his first run since.
Westover, to his credit, galloped strongly to the line and ultimately ran out a clear-cut winner by two lengths.
Betfair cut the winner to 6-1 from 10s for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot later this month.
Hornby told Sky Sports Racing: “Winning a Group One in these colours is the stuff of dreams.
“I was brought up watching these colours win prestigious races and to be able to do it at Group One level is the highest honour and I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way.
“Ralph has trained this horse so well from two to three and three to four, so to win a Group One at four is so important. These are things you dream of, so when they come true you don’t know how to think.”
Of the race, he added: “The pace was really good early on, Dougie (Costello on Malabu Drive) was able to keep it honest the whole way.
“When he dropped the bit he was able to work into it but funnily enough, once he shut down he took some stoking up again, so I was keen to get on my bike early. He hit the line strong and the time matches that.
“This is my third Group One for Ralph and fourth overall but it’s nearly a year since my last one and they are so important for a jockey.”
Beckett said: “Inevitably there was pressure as it was a long time since he won, over a year, and the longer that goes on the harder it gets.
“There was nothing wrong with his two runs this year, he’s only had the one blip in the King George. He was great today and it was a very fast time.
“For so long we had a reputation for training long distance fillies, so it’s important to change the dial, as Angel Bleu has done as well.
“I think we’ll either stay at a mile and a half or even have a conversation about going up in trip, because the peloton came to him but he stretched away in the last half a furlong.
“We’ll enjoy today and see what comes next, this was important.
“We’ll certainly consider the King George and see how he is closer to the time. There will be a bit of a monkey on the shoulder saying is this a good idea after what happened last year but we’ll see.
“The Arc will be under consideration too, he ran a great race in it last year (sixth) but got stuck in the ground.”
Paddington saw off the tenacious challenge of Emily Upjohn in a thrilling renewal of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old began the season in handicap company, but he had already successfully stepped up to win both the Irish Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes subsequently.
Upped in trip to 10 furlongs for the first time, Ryan Moore rode him as if there were no doubts about his stamina and so it proved.
His solid temperament allowed Moore to put him where he wanted in the race and having broken smartly, he found himself in front on leaving the stalls.
The field then raced in single file, with West Wind Blows and Jamie Spencer leading Paddington, Emily Upjohn and Dubai Honour.
Spencer tried to steal a march turning into the straight and took two lengths out of the others.
However, Moore breezed up on Paddington and went into the lead, although Emily Upjohn would not leave him alone.
With half a furlong to run it briefly appeared that the greater stamina of Emily Upjohn may prevail, but she could not quite get on terms with her younger rival, who was getting 7lb.
Paddington’s half-length verdict was O’Brien’s seventh triumph in the race, making him the most successful trainer in the contest’s history.
Wootton’Sun only got into the bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock as a reserve, but he took full advantage to provide Richard Fahey with his first win in the race.
The four-year-old was declared as the second reserve but, thankfully for his connections, his place in the race was confirmed by Friday afternoon and he gamely came out on top to claim the almost £80,000 first prize.
Ridden by 52-year-old Joe Fanning, who is enjoying an excellent season, the 15-2 chance first had to see off Cumulonimbus and then hang tough to repel the late run of Scampi.
Fanning and Fahey have not teamed up together that often in their illustrious careers, but they were the perfect combination on this occasion.
Fahey said: “To be very honest, when we were second reserve, Steve (Bradley, owner) rang me and wanted to book a jockey and I said ‘Steve, we’ve no chance of getting in’!
“It couldn’t have worked out better in the end as Joe was available, he had a light weight and to win feels like a ‘Brucey bonus’.
“It was a race we had in mind at the beginning of the season and I felt he should have won before now and he’d definitely have got in.
“He’s been running very well and if he had won before today he’d have gone up three or four pounds. For him to sneak in and win is fantastic.
“That was his Derby so it’s great it worked out.”
Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced the appointment of Shane Deitz as the new Head Coach of the West Indies Women’s team. The appointment was confirmed at the CWI Board of Directors meeting on Friday 30 June 2023 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Deitz, 48, is a former first-class player who represented South Australia as a wicket-keeper/batsman in 66 first-class matches between 1998 and 2008. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, having been coaching at the professional and international levels for over a decade. He was the Head Coach of Bangladesh Women team and is currently the Head Coach of the Netherlands Women.
Johnny Grave, CWI’s Chief Executive Officer said: “We are pleased to announce Shane as our new West Indies Women’s Head Coach following a robust global recruitment process. Shane is well equipped for the role having coached extensively in both the Men’s and Women’s game, in his native Australia, as well as other parts of the world. He is dynamic, energetic, and is very familiar with the requirements of the women’s game. He brings the right skills and experience to drive the team and the women’s game in the West Indies forward.”
Shane Deitz said: "I am very honoured to have the opportunity to coach the West Indies Women’s team. West Indies cricket both men and women have a great history of success whilst playing entertaining cricket and my aim is to continue with that formula. The team has a great blend of world class senior players and some talented younger players which is a good starting point to build from. We have a lot of work to do though as reality is we are behind the top few sides in the world and we need to bridge that gap and become competitive again to challenge for World Cups in the future.”
He added: “I do believe though the nucleus is there to create a world class competitive side and that is what I will aim to do. The standard of women’s cricket is at an all-time high and we need to strive to reach those heights through good planning, a lot of hard work and then executing on the pitch. I am very excited about that challenge and can’t wait to start working with this talented squad.”
Deitz will start the role in late August ahead of the Women’s CPL and the West Indies Women’s next international assignment, the away tour of Australia in October.
Poptronic finally enjoyed her moment in the spotlight when gamely holding off Sea Silk Road to win the bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.
Since winning the Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle last season, Karl Burke’s filly had come up just short in several big races.
In two runs previous runs this season, she had done herself no favours by racing keenly, but on this occasion she was far more tractable in the hands of Sam James.
Happy to take a lead off Peripatetic until the two-furlong marker, Poptronic (12-1) still looked a bit of a sitting duck as the three big guns, Mimikyu, Time Lock and finally Sea Silk Road all laid down a challenge.
After seeing off the first two it looked like she may have to give best to William Haggas’ Sea Silk Road, who had beaten Poptronic last time out in the Lester Piggott Stakes, but Burke’s four-year-old was not to be denied.
In the last 50 yards, the run of the 7-4 favourite just flattened out and Poptronic won by a neck.
Kelly Burke, daughter of the winning trainer who rides Poptronic every day at home, said: “I was delighted, she’s been banging on the door the whole time and she’s such a genuine, tough filly.
“I think the slight change of tactics, just going that little bit more forward, has helped. She can be quite keen and because of that we’ve tried to drop her in and not let her over-race, but she’s got more settled as the year has gone on.
“I think the key with her is not to pull her around and kick early because she hasn’t got a turn of foot, she just keeps grinding it out and if you ride her for a turn of foot, they always beat her.
“She ran well behind the favourite (Sea Silk Road) here last time and she actually beat her the time before. I think it’s just how the race pans out sometimes.
“I’m delighted she’s won a Group Two now.”
When asked whether a step up to Group One level in the Yorkshire Oaks could be next on Poptronic’s agenda, Burke added: “Definitely, there’s no reason not to go is there?
“She’s ran really well at York a few times, so that could be exciting.”
James said: “I spoke to Karl before the race and she used to be a bit keen in her races, Kelly rides her every day and she’s done a great job with her.
“She was keen last year and today she was grand. They went a nice gallop so I was able to just follow the lead horse, I would have gone on had they have gone steadily but it worked perfectly. I was able to just start stretching them.
“I was a bit surprised at the price she was as the second horse had only beaten us by a couple of lengths the last day, when we were still trying to switch her off all the time. Today I was able to go forward on her and ride a race whenever I wanted really.
“It’s a big win for me. Karl has been very good to me the last couple of seasons and this filly has been very good to me. I won a Group Three at Newcastle on her and now I’ve won a Group Two and she deserves it as well.”
Equality produced a career-best performance to run out an easy winner of the Coral Charge at Sandown.
The Charlie Hills-trained five-year-old had won a handicap at Windsor in clear-cut fashion on his last outing but this was a first success at Group Three level.
Handy throughout under William Buick, he was given a lead into the race by Diligent Harry.
Existent had ploughed a lone furrow on the near side rail with Jim Crowley exploring the possibility of better ground following some heavy rain, and with two furlongs to run he was still in contention.
That was just at the point Buick asked his mount to put the race to bed, though, and he sprinted clear.
Ed Walker’s filly Makarova added some more valuable black type, beaten a length and a half in second, while Tiber Flow claimed third. The favourite Marshman faced an uphill battle following a slow start.
Hills said: “He is a horse in form, obviously. I was delighted with his win at Windsor last time. It has always been the plan to come here since then.
“He had a nice draw and pinged the gates. Normally he can be a little slow from the gates, it probably wasn’t the ideal plan to be in front, but he didn’t seem to get taken on too much and that did suit him, I would have thought.
“He travelled very well and he’s a good sprinter. He’s a horse that I’ve always really liked – it has just take a while to get to here.
“I hope he can build on it. He has won by taking a lead before, so I think he can be ridden any way, really.
“I will certainly look at the King George at Goodwood next time, but that little bit of rain, probably two millimetres, probably helped as well.
“I would be afraid of very fast ground, unlike his father, Equiano, who loved it like a road. It’s strange, but William has always said he likes to get his toe in.”
He added: “The King George has always been a lucky race for me in the past, so I think that’s where we go with this fella.
“I’ve always thought he was a horse who would be a Group performer, but it has taken a while to get to where we are. Just looking at some of the family, it is just a slow-maturing family.”
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