Sports World

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Sports World

Ortensia could stay in Britain for Nunthorpe Stakes

Posted: 31 Jul 2012 08:12 AM PDT

Australian mare, Ortensia, could have one more crack at landing a Group 1 British sprint, when lining up for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York's showcase Ebor Festival meeting on August 24, writes Elliot Slater.

The Paul Messara-trained seven-year-old has been far from disgraced in her two outings at the top level in this country, and if the daughter of Testa Rossa continues to thrive, there is every reason to believe that connections will postpone a return to her native land until after the five furlong contest on the Knavesmire.

The particularly wet British summer has done no favours to Ortensia, who is at her best on a decent surface, as she proved when landing the Group 1 Winterton Stakes on good ground at Ascot (Australia) in November.

She also put up the performance of her life to beat Ireland's Sole Power on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan, winning the coveted Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint by a length-and-a-quarter.

After jetting into Newmarket in the spring, Ortensia was prepared for an assault on the five furlong King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, and was sent off 9/2 joint favourite in the horse racing tips for the traditional dash down the straight course at the Berkshire track.

After showing plenty of speed to lead the field on the far side, Craig Williams' mount faded inside the final furlong to eventually come home ninth of the 22 runners behind Hong Kong's Little Bridge.

Despite the terrible ground at Newmarket, earlier this month connections decided to let Ortensia take her chance in the Darley July Cup on heavy ground, and, in the circumstances, the Aussie sprinter ran a fine race to finish fourth to Mayson, beaten just over eight lengths.

As long as those exertions have not left their mark on her, she will most likely take her chance at York, and is currently priced up a 12/1 shot in the York Ebor Festival betting odds, headed by 5/1 favourite, Bated Breath.

Off The Post

Video: Arsenal trio Mertesacker, Podolski and Sagna bust-a-move in Nigeria

Posted: 31 Jul 2012 03:01 AM PDT

It’s fair to suggest that the mood in the Arsenal pre-season camp may not be bubbling, despite the squad having just returned from what looked like a thoroughly enjoyable tour of the Far East. The reasons for that are the on-going Robin Van Persie transfer saga, the recent news that Jack Wilshere may not be [...]

Valencia midfielder Ever Banega’s Ferrari sets on fire while he’s driving

Posted: 31 Jul 2012 01:45 AM PDT

Valencia’s Ever Banega has made a red hot start to the new season – so much so that his brand new Ferrari burst into flames while he was driving. The Argentine midfielder worked away unscathed from the fire, which was reportedly caused by a short circuit. The video above comically shows Banega asking for a [...]

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Sports World

Monday, July 30, 2012

Sports World

Shirocco has Choice of Engagements at York Ebor Festival

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:56 AM PDT

Few fillies in training deserve a Group 1 success more than Hughie Morrison's admirable Shirocco Star, who has consistently performed with credit at the highest level in middle-distance contests on both sides of the Irish Sea this season, writes Elliot Slater.

The winner of a mile maiden at Newbury towards the end of last term, the daughter of Shirocco failed by only a short-head to make a winning start, this term, when just held by Momentary in the listed Sweetenham Stud Fillies Stakes back at the Berkshire track in May.

She then stepped up to a mile-and-a-half for the first time, when asked to tackle the Investec Oaks at Epsom, the following month.

Despite sweating up in the preliminaries and going freely to post and in the early stage of the classic contest, Morrison's charge ran a tremendous race in failing by just a neck to peg back Ballydoyle's Was in a fine finish to the showcase event.

On the back of that gruelling performance, Shirocco Star was a shade below her best, when only third to Princess Highway in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, three weeks later, but bounced back to close to her best when finding only the apparently high-class horse, Great Heavens, too good for her in the Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh, a month later.

Morrison looks set to send his admirable three-year-old north to York in late-August, where she has a choice of engagements at the high profile fixture.

The option of bidding for that elusive first Group 1 and tackling the Yorkshire Oaks remains very much on the table, but connections will have to weigh that up against the slightly easier option of the Group 2 Galtres Stakes at the same meeting, as they seek to win a good prize with their filly for the first time this season.

Race-goers thinking of making a bet on racing, this summer, should pay a visit to the horse racing betting news website on Bet365 for all the latest odds on British sport.

Off The Post

Olympics Football Photo Special: Great Britain 3-1 UAE
Are QPR trying to form the greatest ever veterans team?
Manchester United star Ryan Giggs and his imaginary long, successful Team GB career
Rivaldo shows he still has it with classy hat-trick
Arsenal could do worse than bringing back Thierry Henry (again)
Manchester City assistant coach David Platt scores spectacular overhead kick in training
Manchester United players celebrate as coach driver avoids arrest
Video: Team GB 3-1 UAE
Why does Liverpool’s Charlie Adam hate Tottenham’s Gareth Bale?

Olympics Football Photo Special: Great Britain 3-1 UAE

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 07:28 AM PDT

Like most people, OTP tickled our overdraft gag reflex by applying for a shedload of Olympic tickets last year. Apart from the promise of a few eastern Europeans smothering each other in their own sweat (Greco-Roman wrestling), we also snaffled a pair of tickets to the Great Britain v United Arab Emirates match. The match [...]

Are QPR trying to form the greatest ever veterans team?

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 03:48 AM PDT

Just what are QPR up to? They have clearly been backed by a great deal of money, and yet have seemingly ignored the idea that teams need young fresh players. Instead, they are working on the principle of ‘experience is key’. At the end of last season they had 32 players in their first team [...]

Manchester United star Ryan Giggs and his imaginary long, successful Team GB career

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 03:19 AM PDT

Goal Ryan Giggs for Great Britain!!! by stvolfd Poor old Ryan Giggs. There comes a time in a footballer’s life when they start to become a bit old and confused. The mind starts playing tricks. That time appears to be upon 38-year-old Ryan Giggs. Speaking after he scored his first goal for Great Britain in [...]

Rivaldo shows he still has it with classy hat-trick

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:58 AM PDT

In the last five years, Rivaldo has embarked on something of a world tour. His last four clubs were in Brazil, Greece, Uzbekistan and Angola. He joined Angolan club Kabuscorp earlier this year, but his advancing years (the man is now 40!) have meant that he only appears on an irregular basis, taking to the [...]

Arsenal could do worse than bringing back Thierry Henry (again)

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:31 AM PDT

After Arsene Wenger’s close season signings of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, things were beginning to look up at the Emirates. But then came Robin Van Persie and his earth-shattering ‘message’ for the fans on his personal website revealing his desire to leave north London. Suddenly optimism turned to gloom, frowns remaining upside down for [...]

Manchester City assistant coach David Platt scores spectacular overhead kick in training

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:08 AM PDT

David Platt showed he’s still got as he rolled back the years during a Manchester City open training session. The former England international, now an assistant to Roberto Mancini, showed great skill as he found the net with an incredible overhead kick. OTP would be happy enough to scoring those aged 46.

Manchester United players celebrate as coach driver avoids arrest

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:57 AM PDT

Manchester United’s players dedicated a chant to their coach driver after he smooth-talked his way out of trouble with Chinese police. United’s coach was stopped on a busy road in Shanghai by police after reportedly using the wrong lane. Officers hauled the driver away for questioning. The coach was surrounded by fans while the driver [...]

Video: Team GB 3-1 UAE

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:47 AM PDT

Great Britain eventually eased to victory against the United Arab Emirates… but not before the skillful Middle East side had given them a few scores. Team GB took the lead when targetman Ryan ‘Big Ry’ Giggs nodded in a trademark header at the back post. Rashid Essa equalised after an hour, before GB coach Stuart [...]

Why does Liverpool’s Charlie Adam hate Tottenham’s Gareth Bale?

Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:29 AM PDT

Liverpool’s Charlie Adam continued his mysterious personal crusade to obliterate the ankles of Tottenham’s Gareth Bale during a pre-season friendly in America. The Scotsman may have just been unhappy at the Welshman’s refusal to turn out for Team GB at this summer’s Olympics, but given the pair’s previous something sinister could be lurking underneath the [...]