Equinox made a blistering return to action, coming with a scything run to land the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin racecourse on Sunday.
The Japanese star was sent off a hot favourite on his first start since romping to a wide-margin success in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.
That three-and-a-half-length victory over Westover at Meydan established the Tetsuya Kimura-trained Equinox as the top horse on the planet according to the Longines World Best Racehorse standings.
On his return, Christophe Lemaire was patient towards the rear of the 17-strong field in the 11-furlong Grade One contest and was still at the back of the pack turning for home, having suffered a wide trip.
Yet the son of Kitasan Black always travelled sweetly and cruised into the lead approaching the final furlong.
Though he had just a neck to spare from outsider Through Seven Seas, the official margin was no reflection of the dominant performance, with his French rider having to pose few questions of the colt.
“Though we were unable get a good position toward the front due to the fast pace at the beginning, the horse was relaxed in the rear and I wasn’t worried at all,” said Lemaire.
“As the inner track condition was not so good, we made bid from the outside early and turned wide to the straight, where he stretched really well.
“Hanshin’s inner course is tricky and (the) Takarazuka Kinen is a difficult race to win, even for champion horses, so I’m very happy that I was able to win the race with the number one horse in the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. I realised again how strong he is. I hope to win more big races with him in the autumn.”
Equinox was completing his fourth successive top-class success, having previously taken the Tenno Sho and Arima Kinen last year before his Sheema Classic success.
Victory gives the four-year-old automatic entry to both the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley later this year, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. It is unlikely that Equinox will be seen by British racegoers, however.
Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and public affairs, poured cold water any thoughts of the possibility he could turn up the Berkshire track.
He said: “Sadly, the Japanese do not appear that interested in coming over. It is a shame, but we will still continue to strive to attract the best international runners to Ascot.”
Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman is confident Major League Baseball has the right ingredients to go global with more marquee international events like this weekend’s London Series against the St Louis Cardinals.
Stroman will start Sunday’s second contest of the two-game series at London Stadium, with the Cubs targeting a sweep of their bitter National League Central rivals after Justin Steele picked up a 9-1 win in Saturday’s opener.
The 32-year-old is one of the sport’s most dynamic and expressive personalities both on and off the mound, resulting in the alliterative moniker ‘the Stro Show’ for his starts – the last seven of which have ended in wins.
Stroman, who on Saturday was described by manager David Ross as “the MVP of our team” who “loves the spotlight”, had never visited the English capital before this trip and said it has opened his eyes to Major League Baseball’s international reach.
Asked if MLB could be embraced globally, Stroman told the PA news agency: “Absolutely I think we can. It’s just a matter of marketing our players and putting us on this stage so that the world can kind of see.
“Yeah, I would love to continue playing in all the cities around the world. I think it’s pretty special. I think you also realise how many fans we have worldwide, whereas when we stay in America you kind of lose sight of that.”
Stroman made his big-league debut in May 2014 for the Toronto Blue Jays, the only MLB franchise outside the United States.
An anterior cruciate ligament tear sustained in spring training the following year denied him a coveted hometown opening-day start at Yankee Stadium, with many assuming he would miss the entire season.
But Stroman saw an opportunity in the rehab stint, using it to do something he had long been determined to accomplish: finish his undergraduate degree in sociology at Duke university, sandwiching four to five hours of classes between training sessions.
That September Stroman made his avowed miracle comeback, returning just in time to help Toronto secure a first trip to the post-season in 22 years.
At 5ft 8in, ‘Stro’, whose personal motto is ‘height doesn’t measure heart’ stands below the MLB average of about 6ft and, from an early age was fuelled to disprove the coaches, peers and pundits who wrote him off because of his stature.
Stroman’s success combined with an eternally optimistic, heart-on-his-sleeve personality has endeared the pitcher to fans in Chicago since he signed a three-year deal worth a reported USD 71million in 2021.
Supporters want the Cubs to sign Stroman to an extension – a point they made abundantly clear at a rally in London by chanting his name at chairman Tom Ricketts.
Stroman is aware of his seven-game streak, but insisted he will not approach Sunday’s start differently, saying: “I just prepare really well and I go out there at the end of the day whatever happens happens, so I do all I can to prepare and then go out there and compete and have fun.”
Ross does not underestimate the potentially valuable impact his equally talented and entertaining Sunday starter could have as MLB tries to convert curious Britons into to bona-fide fans.
He said: “Come out and see the Stro Show. It’s going to be fun. He’s one of the best pitchers in the league. He’s carried us. He’s been our ace. He loves the moment.
“He’s going to be a star on the big stage, you’re definitely going to get that. He’s a guy that loves the spotlight and rises to the occasion when things matter.
“He’s been our MVP of our team, I would say. If the fans want entertainment, definitely show up. They’re going to get a good show.”
Joey Barton was stripped of the QPR captaincy on this day in 2012.
The midfielder was sent off during Manchester City’s dramatic final-day 3-2 win over QPR in May – which saw them win the title with Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal.
He was sent off by referee Mike Dean after elbowing Carlos Tevez and, as he left the pitch, Barton kicked Sergio Aguero before aiming a headbutt at Vincent Kompany.
He was fined six weeks’ wages, on top of a £75,000 fine from the Football Association and was given a 12-match ban from the FA.
Barton said: “My behaviour was wrong and I accept the punishment that has been imposed upon me as a result. I apologise to the manager, my team-mates and of course the QPR fans for my actions. I also apologise to the Manchester City players, staff and supporters.”
The current Bristol Rovers manager was loaned out to Marseille the following season but stayed at Loftus Road until 2015, making 99 appearances, before joining Burnley.
He also played for Rangers and returned to Burnley to finish his playing career in 2017.
In 2018, he was named Fleetwood manager before becoming Rovers boss in 2021.
Mike Trout, Brandon Drury and Matt Thaiss hit home runs on consecutive pitches to open a 13-run third inning and the Los Angeles Angels pounded out a franchise-record 28 hits in a 25-1 drubbing of the Colorado Rockies.
Hunter Renfroe and Mickey Moniak each went 5 for 5 with four RBIs and David Fletcher had four hits and five RBIs as part of the biggest scoring output in Angels history.
The Angels scored 24 runs in a win over the Toronto Blue Jays on August 25, 1979.
Every Angels' starter had at least two hits except major league home run leader Shohei Ohtani, who went 1 for 7.
After Trout, Drury and Thaiss went deep off starter Chase Anderson, the Angels went on to score 10 more runs in the inning on seven more hits, capped by Moniak’s two-run homer.
The Angels piled on eight more runs in the fourth inning to become the only major league team in the modern era (since 1900) to score 20 or more runs over a span of two innings.
Drury and Thaiss singled home runs and Renfroe had an RBI double before Moniak delivered a two-run double. Fletcher’s three-run homer made it 23-0.
The Rockies avoided the shutout on Brenton Doyle’s home run in the eighth inning.
Braves hold on to end Reds’ 12-game winning streak
Travis d’Arnaud homered for one of his four hits and the Atlanta Braves held on for a 7-6 victory, ending the Cincinnati Reds’ 12-game winning streak on Saturday.
Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna also went deep for the National League-best Braves, who rebounded from Friday’s loss to win for the ninth time in 10 games and improve to 16-4 in June.
The Reds’ 12-game streak tied for the longest in the franchise’s modern era and was one shy of matching the 1890 team’s 13-game run. The 1899 Reds won 14 straight.
Cincinnati also hit four home runs, the final two coming in the bottom of the ninth inning. Jake Fraley and Will Benson took Raisel Iglesias deep to make it a one-run game but the Atlanta closer regrouped and struck out Matt McLain and Jonathan India – both on changeups - to end it.
Cubs rout Cardinals in London
Ian Happ hit two home runs, Justin Steele struck out eight in six strong innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 to open the teams’ two-game set in London.
With a crowd of 54,662 filling London Stadium, the Cubs improved to 9-1 over their last 10 games and moved to within a game of .500 (37-38).
Happ hit solo home runs in the second and third innings, and Dansby Swanson hit a two-run shot in the ninth to provide insurance.
The combination of title-chasing jockey, Reyan Lewis and champion trainer, Jason DaCosta was once again the dominant force, as they accounted for the most wins on Saturday's 10-race card, including fleet-footed filly She's My Destiny in the Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) 22nd Anniversary Trophy feature.
Lewis, who started the day on 50 wins, extended his lead atop the jockeys' standings with a dazzling four-timer that pushed him 16 wins ahead of closest pursuer Tevin Foster, three of those winners were saddled by DaCosta, who surpassed 200-career wins at Caymanas Park.
After DaCosta secured the milestone when Lewis piloted Tekapunt to five and a half-length victory over six-and-a-half furlong (1,300m) in the fifth event, the duo made it a quick two-in-two with three-year-old bay filly MPRS Links, who won by a head in a maiden condition race over seven furlongs (1,400m).
The natural hat-trick was completed in fine style by She’s My Destiny, who romped the three-year-olds and upwards Graded Stakes/Open Allowance contest over five-and-a-half furlongs (1,100m) by three and a quarter length.
She's My Destiny, a five-year-old chestnut mare made amends for a dismal fifth place behind stablemates I Am Fred, King Arthur, and Miniature Man in the Distinctly Irish Trophy on June 3, after being stretched out to nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).
Though she was uncharacteristically slow out of the gates on this occasion, Lewis quickly got the filly into her running in the small six-horse field, and before long she was breathing down the neck of leader Yellowstone (Jordan Barrett).
However, it wasn't until the straightened in the homestretch that S&A Syndicate-owned She’s My Destiny hit top stride and easily swept by Yellowstone before pulling away for a comfortable win in the end. She stopped the clock in a decent 1:06.2, behind splits of 23.2 and 46.2 seconds.
King Arthur (Javaniel Patterson) and Miniature Man (Abigail Able), also from DaCosta's stables, were second and third respectively, with Yellowstone fading into fourth.
Lewis then added another to his tally when he booted home the Gregg Fennell-conditioned Ras Emanuel in the eighth event. Fennell, who was registering his second career win as a trainer, previously worked with DaCosta as his assistant.
Meanwhile, former champion jockey Anthony Thomas had a double, winning the last two events aboard Joyful for Patrick Lynch and Essential Quality for Oral Hayden. Lynch earlier won the first event with Traditional Lady ridden by Patterson.
Racing continues on Sunday with another 10-race card. First post is at 11:45 am.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele heaped praise on the 54,662 supporters who packed London Stadium to see his side cruise to a 9-1 victory over bitter division rivals the St Louis Cardinals.
The Cubs’ bats handed starter Steele, who struck out eight and gave up one run across six innings, a comfortable lead and were up 7-0 after four innings on a humid evening that also saw outfielder Ian Happ hit two home runs.
Saturday’s attendance exceeded the capacity of most Major League Baseball stadia, and Steele delighted in how strongly the fans – or in some cases the baseball-curious wearing blue – got behind his team.
He said: “It’s something I’ll never forget. Truly special. It felt like everybody was on the mound there with me, really exciting energy. It was really cool to cap it off like that, punch out the side, it was really cool, and I just can’t say enough about the atmosphere.”
Steele’s comments will be music to the ears of MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, who on Friday said positive player experiences in series like these will be central to whether or not the league returns to places like London following their final scheduled contest on these shores in 2026.
That is the same year the MLB’s current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires, with international series once again set to be one of the topics on the table with the players’ association.
The pace of this London Series opener was likely a relief to fans and organisers alike after the first-ever MLB game in London, 2019’s 17-13 slugfest between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, lasted a near record-breaking four hours and 42 minutes.
Outfield fences were pushed further back for this contest, which ended after a comparatively brief two hours and 40 minutes, capped off for the Cubs by shortstop Dansby Swanson’s two-run homer in the top of the ninth.
Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt made history in London by becoming the first player in MLB history to play in five different countries, and also ended the evening the lone Card to have picked up a run batted in (RBI) in England.
Cubs manager David Ross admitted there was uncertainty about how the effects of crossing the pond would affect his team, and was delighted by their efforts on unfamiliar turf.
He said: “I think some of the nerves are gone from the group, especially from my seat where you’re not sure how guys are going to feel with all the travel and everything.
“They go out there and the bats did what they did, I thought it was a really nice performance top to bottom from our line-up, they did a phenomenal job. Happer getting us started off with a homer just kind of lets everybody relax a little bit and still be great.”
Ross’ side remain in third place in the division, so they will be eagerly eyeing up a chance to sweep the division’s bottom-dwelling Cardinals when the series concludes on Sunday.
He is also looking forward to the unique experience of hearing ‘go Cubs go’ chanted in England for a second successive day.
“That sounded good,” he enthusiastically agreed. “That’s the first thing that stood out to me. It was nice and loud. I hope someday I’ll get to watch that on video somewhere tonight or tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll hear it again tomorrow.”
Aaron Judge’s return to the New York Yankees’ lineup may be further away than previously thought.
Just two days after the Yankees said the reigning American League MVP would be resuming baseball activities this weekend, Judge tempered expectations of an imminent return and said he is dealing with a torn ligament in his right great toe.
“I'm not giving you any timeline,” Judge said before Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers. “There's no need. I've just got to get better and then I'll be out there.”
Judge told reporters Saturday that the uncommon nature of the injury makes it difficult to predict when he will be back on the field.
“I don’t think too many people have torn a ligament in their toe,” Judge said. “If it was a quad we’d have a better answer. If it’s an oblique or hamstring we got timelines for that. With how unique this injury is and it being my back foot which I push off of and run off of, it’s a tough spot.”
Judge injured his toe on June 3 while crashing into the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium after catching a fly ball.
The AL home run king worked out in a pool this week and had inquired about on-field work, leading to the club’s optimism.
“It’s something I mentioned to the training staff: I want to test it out a little bit,” Judge said. “Maybe play catch, maybe take some dry swings. I just kind of see where it’s at.
“I really wouldn’t say it’s me running on the field and or doing a lot of baseball activity. It’s more me being passive saying, `We’ve done a lot of stuff in here. We’re making some great progress. Let’s test with what I’m going to be actually doing on the field.'”
Judge slugged an American League-record 62 home runs in 2022, the first season of a nine-year, $360million contract. His 19 home runs this season were one short of the major league lead when he was injured.
Judge, a four-time All-Star, leads baseball with 235 home runs since his first full season in the majors in 2017.
New York is 16-26 over the last two seasons when Judge is on the injured list.
Jamaica has turned heads early of the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship, starting 2-0 in Pool C with a disciplined approach that has worn its opponents down.
Jamaica finished 13th in the 2018 Men’s Championship in Israel, and is one of the fastest growing teams in the game, with the U21 men’s team finishing in the top 10 in the junior championship in Limerick, Ireland in 2022.
This team had to earn its spot in San Diego through Pan-American Lacrosse Association Qualifying, but it passed that test with ease and has been assembling a squad designed to keep pace with many of the rising powers in men’s lacrosse.
Now, the pieces are starting to come together at the right time with a team featuring eight returners from 2018, six players from the U21 team, and a coaching staff helmed by Mark Wilson, who was an assistant in 2018 and in the PALA qualifier.
It showed in the opening game, a 5-3 slugfest against Germany, which finished ninth in 2018. Jamaica’s defense was physical and forced Germany into uncomfortable shots.
“A lot of it is trust,” said defender Tony Diallo, who plays collegiately in the United States in the NCAA Division I at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Jamaica’s defense is bolstered by Goran Murray, an All-American at the University of Maryland in 2014, Channing Thomas an NAIA All-American at Keiser University in 2019 and goalkeeper Nate McPeak, who played at Syracuse University.
The defense allowed just 14 shots against Germany and six shots on goal. In the next game against Switzerland, Jamaica saw its opponents commit 16 turnovers. Jamaica is tied for third among all teams so far in goals-against-average after the first three days of the tournament and is tied for second with 12 caused turnovers.
“We have a great goalie in the cage and a great defensive coach too. Everyone has each other’s back and we’re able to work together seamlessly.”
Offensively, Jamaica has been methodical and intentional about its pace, playing matchups and letting different players take over when necessary.
“We balance our fast pace and slowing the ball down when we need to,” said Diallo. “Making sure we’re set up, everyone is in order and attacking the cage. We’re also switching up the lines well; all of us work great together so the more we can switch up matchups, the better for us.”
In the first game, Isaac Newland scored four of the team’s five goals against a strong defensive team in Germany. In game two, Khairi Sears stepped up and poured in five goals. Both players have Division I experience – Newland at High Point University and Sears at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
The talent across the field has coalesced when it matters and Jamaica’s hard-nosed approach is attracting admiration from around the lacrosse community. The 2-0 start means Jamaica is on its way to an appearance in the playoffs if it can continue to impose its style on its opponents.
“I think our start speaks to the level we want to play at,” said Diallo. “Jamaica isn’t a country to mess around with and this is a hardworking team. We have a lot more to prove and we’re a very hungry group.”
Jamaica faces Poland on Saturday before a final pool match against New Zealand on Monday.
“Our chemistry is big for us, and we don’t get complacent,” concluded Diallo. “We’re 2-0 now but the first message is that we have more to do and the job’s not finished.”
Ian Happ hit two home runs as the Chicago Cubs cruised to a 9-1 win over rivals the St Louis Cardinals on Major League Baseball’s return to the London Stadium.
Happ twice tested out the dimensions of West Ham’s home ground, where a full-scale conversion for two games this weekend saw blowing bubbles and beer replaced by hot dogs and peanuts for the first time since 2019, and Dansby Swanson added a late two-run shot to underline the Cubs’ dominance.
The manner in which the Cubs powered their way to an early lead, up 7-0 after four innings, took the jeopardy out of the game but did not dampen the enthusiasm of 54,662 paying punters keen to see American’s pastime back on British shores.
Four years on from two sold-out contests between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and three years behind schedule following the pandemic, the Cubs and Cardinals played out their fierce National League Central rivalry in east London.
But, given the Cardinals’ deficiencies this season, it quickly turned into one-way traffic.
Much has changed in baseball since 2019 with the introduction of the pitch clock designed to speed up play, and both teams got down to business much more efficiently than New York and Boston four years ago.
Back then, the opening inning of what turned into an epic 17-13 scoring fest, won by the Yankees, took two minutes short of an hour.
But this entire contest would be over in less than three as the Cubs continued the hot run of form which has made them relevant again in a poor division, this their ninth win in 10 as they improved to 37-38, the Cardinals slumping at 31-45 as the 162-game regular season approaches the midway point.
The scoring started at the top of the second inning as the Cubs wasted little time in getting to the Cardinals’ veteran starting pitcher Adam Wainwright.
Cubs outfielder Happ hit a solo home run straight over the centrefield wall, some 392 feet from the home plate, and they doubled their lead when third baseman Nick Madrigal’s single brought Cody Bellinger home.
It got worse for St Louis in the third. With two out and two strikes against Happ, Wainwright was one pitch away from getting out of the inning but Happ again went deep with a shot to right that landed in the Cardinals’ bullpen.
The Cubs made Wainwright pay as they extended the inning. Swanson and Bellinger hit singles before Christopher Morel’s line drive to centre field allowed Swanson to score and Bellinger came home on another line drive from catcher Yan Gomes.
Back-to-back doubles from Madrigal and Mike Tauchman at the top of the fourth saw the Cubs pad their lead even further and chased Wainwright from the game.
While Wainwright took an early shower, Cubs starter Justin Steele cruised through four innings without giving up a hit.
St Louis finally found a crack in the bottom of the sixth as Tommy Edman scored on a Paul Goldschmidt ground ball into right to give the Cardinals fans something to cheer, but it was too little, too late.
Parks and Recreation actor Nick Offerman was on hand to lead the crowd in a rendition of ‘Take Me Out To The Ball Game’ during the seventh-inning stretch before another famous Cubs fan, Bill Murray, took an ovation from fans.
Murray and the rest of the Cubs on hand would have more to celebrate in the top of the ninth when Swanson launched a two-run homer over the right-field wall to put an exclamation point on their win.
Frankie Dettori may have come away empty handed from the final day of his last ever Royal Ascot – but the affection felt for the rider was still palpable throughout the racecourse that has been the scene of so much success.
The Italian will bow out at the end of the year, meaning his tour of this season’s fixtures is a farewell to the sport he has dominated for decades.
The Gold Cup is the feature race of the five days and Dettori’s triumph seemed to be fated as he guided John and Thady Gosden’s Courage Mon Ami to victory when rolling the dice for the last time on Thursday.
The remainder of the week could not reach quite the same high note in terms of his rides, but there was another significant moment as the jockey and his wife were a part of the royal procession that is led by the King and Queen from Windsor Castle to the course.
“I was sad this morning but once I was up and running doing things, I went to Windsor Castle to have lunch with the King and the Queen,” Dettori said.
“I didn’t eat at all, I had a full-fat Coca Cola and I looked across and the King wasn’t eating himself. We were both fasting, I don’t know why because I was riding and he wasn’t – he must be on a diet!
“It’s been really amazing, I’ve been pulled left, right and centre by everyone, cheered by everyone so it’s been very overwhelming, but I haven’t had time to get emotional. I’ll enjoy this moment, I’m looking forward to a nice beer actually – but don’t tell anyone that!
“The royal procession was amazing, to see all the people there. Then I rode in five races back-to-back, I’m done!
“It was an amazing experience to look at the grandstand. The whole ride here, the love the people have for the royals, flags, kids, picnics next to the road, banners, shouting, cheering – amazing. I was the last carriage so by the time they got to me they forgot! But it was an amazing experience.”
Dettori has recorded 81 Royal Ascot victories and though there is some sadness at leaving it behind, he is not short of memories as second only to Lester Piggott as the most successful rider the showpiece fixture has ever seen
“It’s 81 and every one is special. I’d be here all day talking about all of them, but the last Gold Cup was the biggest race of the week and to win that was amazing,” he said.
“My wife is presenting the last trophy and she’s cross with me that I’m not riding! It will take a while to sink in, but you’ve got to look at the positive side of it, I’ve had a real good time.
“This week has been so hard, but I loved it. It hasn’t hit me yet that it’s my last Royal Ascot because it’s been so good, I won the Gold Cup, had four winners, got past 80 which is what I wanted to do. I’m sure I will be sad, but for now I’m just too tired to cry!
I’m looking forward to a nice dinner, I will take a few days off with my wife and then regroup and start again.
“It has been sensational. I can still claim that I retired second at the all-time best meeting in the world.
“I’m not going to die! I’m riding another four months so don’t make me feel sad, I’m still around!”
Ryan Moore took the honours in the last race of the meeting – receiving his trophy from Catherine Dettori – and indeed for the week as he was crowned top jockey for the 10th time. He paid a warm tribute to his long-time colleague and rival.
“It’s hard to know what to say, we’ll miss him, but he still has a bit to go yet,” he said.
“I remember Frankie riding for my grandfather when I was small, the reality is he is the most beautiful rider you’ve ever seen and if you wanted to build a jockey that is how you’d build one.
“He’s an unbelievable talent, he’s a tough boy as well. He’s always wanted to be at the top and he’s stayed there for 35 years – that takes some doing.”
Ryan Moore landed his sixth and final winner of the week as Dawn Rising justified favouritism in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the six-year-old was having just his sixth run on the Flat, but he is a Grade Three winner over hurdles.
Never far from the pace, Dawn Rising had to be rousted along some way out by Moore but he kept on finding for pressure.
Typewriter then burst through against the rail looking a huge threat under Oisin Murphy but soon faltered and it was The Grand Visir who laid down the final challenge, going down by half a length. Run For Oscar stayed on for third.
Dawn Rising, a rare 2-1 winning favourite this week, was providing O’Brien with his second winner of the meeting after the success of Okita Soushi.
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore picked up the top trainer and jockey awards for the week at Royal Ascot.
Finishing with four winners, O’Brien was landing his 12th trainer title and Moore his 10th jockeys’ crown following his six victories – fittingly taking the closing race, the Queen Alexandra Stakes, with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Dawn Rising.
The highlight for both was the emphatic success of Paddington in the St James’s Palace Stakes on the opening afternoon.
O’Brien said: “It is a privilege for us, we are in a very privileged position and really appreciate it.
“The team make it all happen for us all. We really appreciate it, it’s great to be a part of it.
“I suppose it is very hard to get away from Paddington (as highlight), he looks very different. He has come out of the race fine.
“We had plenty of placed horses too, and we have been delighted that they were placed.”
Saluting Moore, O’Brien added: “Ryan is a superstar, that’s the word that describes him best.”
Frankie Dettori was out of luck on his final Royal Ascot ride as Knockbrex trailed home well beaten in the Golden Gates Stakes won by Burdett Road.
Dettori went into an early lead on Charlie Johnston’s charge, but the writing was on the wall before the turn for home and he quickly backpeddled.
That left Liberty Lane in front but he too paid for his early exertions, as Neil Callan made stealthy progress on Michael Bell’s three-year-old.
Burdett Road (20-1) went several lengths clear and the race looked over. However, a combination of tiredness and being in front on his own meant he was in danger of being caught.
Lion Of War, briefly stuck in traffic earlier in the straight, came with a late rattle but the 9-2 joint-favourite could only close to within three-quarters of a length.
It was a second winner of the week for Callan having won the Queen Anne on Triple Time.
Saint Lawrence returned to winning ways in the Wokingham Stakes to oblige on his first start for Archie Watson and provide Hollie Doyle with a third victory at this year’s Royal Ascot .
A Listed winner at two for Roger Varian, the five-year-old had run several good races since but failed to get his head in front.
After two further runs for Varian this season, owner John Deer decided to move him to Watson, already on the mark twice this week with Bradsell and Rhythm N Hooves, both ridden by Doyle.
Drawn highest of all in stall 30, the high numbers looked a long way behind at halfway as the Swedish raider Duca Di Como set a blistering gallop on the far side.
Just over a furlong out the pace appeared to collapse in that group, though, allowing those drawn high to close up.
It was Doyle and Saint Lawrence (22-1) who finished fastest of all, to beat Apollo One by a length with Juan Le Pins third and Mums Tipple fourth for Frankie Dettori.
Carlos Alcaraz fired a Wimbledon warning to his rivals after claiming he feels like he has been playing on grass for 10 years.
The 20-year-old from Spain is only playing in his third tournament on the surface at the cinch Championships, and his first other than at SW19.
But Alcaraz will take on Australian Alex De Minaur in Sunday’s final at Queen’s Club after comprehensively beating America’s Sebastian Korda 6-3 6-4.
“I’m playing great and feeling great,” he said. “I’m really happy to play my first final on grass, and even more here at Queen’s.
“I’m getting better. I’m feeling better every match I play. I feel like I’ve been playing for 10 years on grass. I didn’t expect that.”
Should Alcaraz win the title – and it would be hard to bet against him – he will overtake Novak Djokovic as world number one, and be the top seed at Wimbledon.
“Honestly at the beginning of the week I didn’t know that I could recover the number one,” he added.
“But when I won yesterday they told me and it is an extra motivation. It’s in my mind and I’m going to go for it. Being top seed and number one is a dream.”
De Minaur reached his first Queen’s final after a grass-court masterclass against Holger Rune.
The 24-year-old ‘Demon’ won 6-3 7-6 (2) to become the first Australian to make the final since Lleyton Hewitt won his fourth title in 2006.
“He’s (Hewitt) played pretty decent here over the years. He’s got a pretty good record,” smiled De Minaur.
“I think I’m a little bit far away from that, but, you know, I would love to be able to put my name on the trophy tomorrow.
“He’s been a huge mentor and he’s my Davis Cup captain, so he’s been messaging me this week as well. Hopefully I can keep it going.”
De Minaur, the Australian number one, is the boyfriend of current British number one Katie Boulter, who won her first title at the Nottingham Open last weekend.
He added: “I was probably inspired by her last week. I mean, I think she put in a hell of a performance, all things considered.
“She’s playing her home tournament, she’s British number one for the first time, she’s non-stop playing more Brits so there’s always a lot of nerves and pressure.
“She went out there, had a great week, made the final and then the biggest match of her career, she played one of the best matches I’ve ever seen her play.
“To be able to stand and deliver in that crucial point and win her first title, I was like, ‘yeah, I’ve got to watch what she’s doing and learn myself’.
“I think I have tried to replicate that a little bit this week and just be nice and calm, have a positive mindset. You know, it definitely helps. I’ve got to get a couple more tips from Katie.”
Pyledriver once again showed his liking for Ascot when defying an absence of almost a year to win the Hardwicke Stakes.
The hugely popular six-year-old has been beset by niggling injuries since winning the King George V And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July last year.
Winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at this meeting in 2020, he looked to have hampered his chance in the first half-mile by running extremely keenly.
PJ McDonald was riding his first Royal Ascot winner having replaced the injured Martin Dwyer, while trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick have worked wonders getting their stable star back to full fitness.
As if to advertise his superiority over his rivals, once he hit the front Pyledriver (7-2) wandered in front of Changingoftheguard and West Wind Blows but went on to cross the line a length and a quarter clear of the latter.
While acknowledging that playing in Australia has assisted in her development as a player to arguably become the best goal shooter in the world, Jamaica's ace Jhaniele Fowler says international players have given the Super Netball competition more flavour and flair.
Fowler, who represents the West Coast Fever shared her views in the midst of a debate about whether Super Netball should have a cap on international players, who currently make up 17.5 per cent of all players in the tournament.
Fowler, a five-time league MVP, believes the competition should remain open.
“International players do come in and make the competition rounded and exciting. We do bring a little bit of different flavour, a bit of flair, but just more talents and more skill set,” Fowler said in a recent interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
Though the Australia Football League (AFL), the Australia Football League Women’s (AFLW) and the A-Leagues don’t have any official caps on international players –with the caveat that salary caps can limit star imports –the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) limits imports to two per team, while the National Basketball League (NBL) is capped at three.
In a global context, the Women’s Super League soccer competition in England has a “home grown players” clause where in a squad of 25 players registered in their squad cap, there must be at least 15 registered home-grown players. A home-grown player is someone who, irrespective of their nationality, has been registered with a club affiliated to the Football Association for three seasons – or 36 months – before their 21st birthday.
In the UK-based Netball Superleague, teams are permitted up to two overseas players, but a team cannot have more than one overseas player in the attacking, midcourt or defensive positions on the court at once.
But, where Super Netball is concerned, Fowler is one of seven Jamaican players in the Australian league, including Thunderbirds defensive duo Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson and Collingwood’s Shimona Nelson.
For Fowler, moving to Australia has made her a more complete player, as she pointed to improvements to her craft under elite coaches and, by extension, playing against the best in the world each week. But in the same breath, she is of the view that it is also a two-way street, as the Jamaican players have made the game more exciting.
“They’re amazing, they’re so athletic,” said Fowler.
“Just week in, week out, when you see the Jamaican players go out there, the commentators, everyone, has to talk about them because they have made such an impact in this league in their teams,” she added.
Former Diamonds head coach, and a current coaching mentor, Lisa Alexander, didn’t think there should be a cap on international players, but her stance was different while she was Australia’s coach.
“As a national coach with a different purpose, I thought differently in the past and did call for restrictions to be two imports per team. If we eventually become the best in the world like the NBA [is to basketball], then we must have a draft and salary cap,” she said.
Alexander explained that, without a cap, the Super Netball competition would continue to provide a world-class competition for Australian athletes to compete in, week in, week out.
Netball legend and Hall of Famer Jill McIntosh praised the strength of the league but pushed for a cap on the number of international players allowed in the competition.
McIntosh, who captained Australia to their 1983 World Cup win, said that while imports have been good for the league, she is worried that without a limit, potential Diamonds players could be benched.
“We’re not in the Olympics, so our World Cup is our pinnacle,” McIntosh said. “I want to see the sport survive and thrive.”
Meanwhile, veteran netballer Ash Brazill said she would like to see more teams added to the competition to give more opportunities to local players, given the spots taken up by international players.
“I can’t wait to see extra teams added to our league because in the end there are only 80 spots, and we have 25 internationals. It’s pretty hard as Australians to get one of those 55 spots that are left. I think we definitely need some more teams for the Australian pool,” said Brazill.
However, Fowler reiterated international players also improve world netball by affording more opportunities for players in countries that don’t have avenues to develop or play.
“I reckon it should just stay open because, if you look, there are still teams in the league that do not really have an international player on their team yet. I reckon I can safely say that, and if anything, some teams just maybe have one international player,” Fowler argued.
She continued: “But I reckon, yeah, bring the international players in, also give them the experience because other countries don’t have the competition back home to develop players.
“So, it would be good for netball on a whole because then you will see that the competition is not just Australia, New Zealand, England or Jamaica in top four – other countries are putting out and delivering as well. And then netball is just going to be even more exciting. You just don’t want to see the same countries winning all the time.”
That international rivalry will be put on show at the upcoming World Cup in Cape Town in next month, but first Fowler has a Super Netball semi-final to win.
Despite West Coast having an inconsistent season with “ups and downs”, the 36-year-old Fowler said they are proud to have finished in third spot, meaning they take on Melbourne Vixens in a knockout grand final rematch in which the Fever will have home-court advantage.
“Definitely, it will be pretty good coming up against the Vixens. They’re going to be a really tough team to beat, but we know that we have what it takes to win,” Fowler declared.
“The green army, they’re really loud, and they also always help to get us over the line, so we’re going to make sure to capitalize on having the home court,” she ended.
Khaadem caused an 80-1 upset in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Winner of the Stewards’ Cup in 2019, he was fourth in the corresponding race in 2020 but had always come up short when previously tried in Group One company.
Trained by Charlie Hills, he was given a typically patient ride by Jamie Spencer, who was recording his second big-priced winner of the week after the 50-1 success of Witch Hunter.
Highfield Princess, second in the King’s Stand on Tuesday, was prominent throughout leading one group, while The Astrologist and Kinross led the group on the far side.
The William Haggas-trained Sacred hit the front over a furlong out and it looked like she was just going to do enough to hold on, but Spencer had bided his time exquisitely and produced Khaadem to perfection.
Sacred was second, while the gallant Highfield Princess hung on for third.
Former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova will return to the top 10 after reaching her first grass-court final at the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham.
The Czech claimed her maiden singles grand slam title in 2021 but missed a chunk of last season with an elbow injury and dropped down the rankings.
Now the 27-year-old is back on the up and she is yet to drop a set so far at Edgbaston Priory, easing to a 6-3 6-2 victory over China’s Zhu Lin in the semi-finals.
Krejcikova said: “I’m really happy. Today was another difficult match, I felt it was really tough to play against my opponent today, so I’m really happy how I went through and I was really focused all the games.
“I played well. It’s really nice that I’m back (in the top 10) but it’s just a number, I want to keep going.”
It will be a battle of the top two seeds in the final, but second seed Jelena Ostapenko has had a contrasting path.
The powerful Latvian survived her third close three-setter in as many days, seeing off Russian Anastasia Potapova 5-7 6-2 6-4.
“Honestly I don’t know how I did it,” said Ostapenko. “Every match was a really tough match. It’s never easy and I always play a little bit up and down but in general I’m really happy.
“I think it’s important to win these kind of matches when you’re sometimes not playing your best and you just fight for every point. I will try to recover as good as I can and be ready for tomorrow.”
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