Fairytale win in Blue Diamond

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Special moment ... Miracles of Life wins the Blue Diamond for Lauren Stojakovic. Source:News Limited

Pint-sized filly Miracles Of Life completed a fairytale Group 1 triumph for South Australian apprentice Lauren Stojakovic in Saturday's Blue Diamond Stakes.

Stojakovic rode the race of her life to drive the exciting filly home to win Victoria's richest two-year-old race in a result that would have melted even the coldest of racing hearts.

Trainer Daniel Clarken resisted the temptation and the pestering phone calls of more senior jockeys to replace the 29-year-old apprenctice on the flying filly, insisting that she knew the horse better than anyone.

And Clarken gave her "10 out of 10" for her ride in getting Miracles Of Life out at the right time and driving her home to win the Group 1 race.

A tearful Stojakovic could barely contain her emotions after the race but was as tough as teak when it mattered most.

"It worked out even more perfect than I had hoped," Stojakovic said.

"Approaching the turn, it opened up a run for me and I quickly pushed her through and she ran away from them.

"My family cried last time (when she won the Blue Diamond Preview); this time I cried, too."

Clarken said: "She (Stojakovic) knew exactly what she was doing, it was a great ride."

Speaking about his exciting filly, Clarken said: "She's only a light girl, but she just does the job."

The South Australian youngster was slightly slow away from her inside alley, a barrier that many racing pundits thought would work against her, to sit just off the pace before unleashing a powerful burst to win easily from outsiders Fast 'N' Rocking and  Godiva Rock.

It was a near perfect ride from Stojakovic, as she steered speedster Miracles Of Life, affectionately known as "Barbie", into the clear entering the straight to complete the fairytale.

The $1 million race had been billed as a David and Goliath battle between favourites Miracles Of Life and Guelph, but that didn't eventuate.

---

OAKLEIGH PLATE

In high drama, Oakleigh Plate favourite Barakey was scratched at the barriers before Mrs Onassis sailed to a impressive win in the $400,000 Caulfield sprint on Saturday.

The race was delayed for several minutes after second favourite Shamal Wind sat down in her stall, but was vetted and cleared to run.

During the commotion, Western Australia star Barakey tried to burrow his way under the gates and was immediately withdrawn.

The incidents took the gloss off the runaway win of outsider Mrs Onassis. Queenslanders Facile Tigre and Spirit Of Boom ran on to finish second and third respectively.

Despite having having an unblemished record after 11 starts, trainer Jim Taylor acknowledged before Saturday's eastern states debut that the race was Barakey's biggest challenge, but sadly that didn't eventuate.

---

FUTURITY STAKES

- By Matt Stewart

A focused All Too Hard smashed his older rivals at Caulfield on Saturday and is almost certain to back up against his own age in next Saturday's Australian Guineas.

All Too Hard continues to emerge from his famous half sister Black Caviar's imposing shadow, streaking away from Glass Harmonium, Mourayan and Green Moon in the Futurity Stakes (G1, 1400m).

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said a Guineas start was "99 per cent" certain for All Too Hard, whose stake haul now tops $2 million.

"It does look the obvious option," Hawkes said, adding the stable would monitor All Too Hard's post-race recovery before confirming a start in the Guineas, for which All Too Hard will start an odds-on favourite.

Hawkes said All Too Hard had his game face on on Saturday compared to a fortnight ago in the Orr Stakes when he played up behind the gates and won only narrowly.

"He was much more focused today," he said.

Neil Werrett's dream run as an owner continued. Black Caviar's senior part-owner had back-to-back winners in Foreteller and All Too Hard.

It was All Too Hard's third Group 1 at Caulfield, having won the Caulfield Guineas in the spring and the Orr Stakes two weeks ago.

Ridden by Dwayne Dunn, All Too Hard pounced on the leaders at the 200m mark and raced away to an easy win.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rio sex hotels upgraded for 2014

Host city ... Christ the Redeemer looks over Rio de Janeiro. Source: Felipe Dana / AP

A shortage of hotel rooms has led Rio authorities to invest millions of dollars to convert raunchy motels to accommodate the legions of tourists expected for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 summer Olympics.

Shalimar, located in the upscale beach district of Leblon, is one of 60 such `sex' motels undergoing a facelift.

Already 30 of its 62 rooms have been remodelled and given a minimalist look.

Gone are the red carpets, the mirrors, the heart-shaped water bed and the chains on the walls.

Outside one debris-filled room, a large Venus sculpture, dirty and broken, lies forlornly, destined for the garbage dump.

According to Rio Negocios, the city's investment promotion board, more than $US100 million ($A98 million) has been earmarked to convert 3,500 of Rio's 6,500 motel rooms, with local authorities providing tax incentives.

"We have a (hotel room) supply problem but we are working on it,'' Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said.

"We will have 16,000 additional beds. We will also use motels. This is something new. That could be an adventure for a couple, an opportunity for new experiences,'' he added with a giggle.

This world-famous city of six million people today has 32,436 rooms: 20,414 in hotels and 12,022 spread out in motels, apartment hotels, inns and hostels.

The goal is to bring the total up 47 per cent to 47,788 by 2015.

"Motels will be an option for those who come to Rio, along with budget hotels in upscale areas of the city,'' said Alfredo Lopes, president of the Brazilian Association of Hotel industry (ABIH-RJ).

Traditionally, local sex motels are full during the high season - Carnival or the New Year - or during high-profile events such as the 1992 Earth Summit and the visit by the late Pope John Paul II in 1997.

"Foreign dignitaries would troop to their motels after their activities and ran into regular clients. It was a strange atmosphere,'' recalled Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo.

And he welcomed as a "good idea'' moves to convert the motels into "real hotels''.

The conversion process began two years ago but accelerated last June with the holding of the UN Rio+20 environment summit.

There is also a growing demand for affordable, quality accommodation for staff of the many oil companies that have recently set up operations in the Rio area.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australia A clinch series victory

Too good ... Tim Paine and Austrlaia A were far too strong for England Lions. Source: Richard Jupe / News Limited

Australia A have clinched the one-day series against England Lions with a crushing 113-run victory at Blundstone Arena.

Chasing the home side's 6-256, the Lions were all out for a dismal 143 in 37 overs, leaving them winless now in six games on tour.

Australia A paceman Alister McDermott led a demolition job on the visitors' batting line-up with 3-32, while spinner Cameron Boyce (2-29) and Josh Hazlewood (2-23) chipped in.

Only Lions skipper James Taylor (78 from 82) showed any real resistance as the tourists lost their last eight wickets for just 49.

The Australians lead the five-match series 3-0 with the final two games to be played at the SCG next Monday and Friday.

The Lions' trip down under is beginning to resemble the tour from hell, with youngsters Ben Stokes and Matt Coles sent home on Thursday for ill discipline off the field.

They lost their first three wickets to careless shots, Varun Chopra (4 from 11) the first to fall when he paddled a ball to Hazlewood at short fine leg at 1-8.

It was 2-27 when Alex Hales was caught at deep square leg before Taylor and Gary Ballance (26 from 50) put on 67 for the third wicket.

Ballance spooned a full toss to mid-off at 3-94, Ben Foakes went for a duck an over later and it was 5-101 when James Vince (four from 10) was bowled by McDermott.

When Stuart Meaker was out for a duck at 8-112, the tourists had lost 6-18.

Earlier, Callum Ferguson continued his impressive form in the series with 65 from 64 balls after he'd made 74 from 78 balls in game two.

Skipper Aaron Finch made 57 from 83 balls, while Lions spinner Simon Kerrigan was the pick of the bowlers with 2-27.

West Australian Adam Voges will join the Australia A squad in Sydney on Saturday for the final two games of the series.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Popovic keeping Wanderers on toes

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Coach ... Tony Popovic puts his players through the paces. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

They've won six in a row, look as fit as a fiddle and have defied belief and expectations. So how does Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic reward his Wanderers charges?

With a gruelling double session on Tuesday, to raise the intensity after a couple of lighter weeks.
Look out, Perth.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"He motivates the squad to work hard every day," Wanderers defender Adam D'Apuzzo told foxsports.com.au this week.

"Tony will put on a drill and ensure the boys take it on themselves to take on the drills with very high intensity. Although it is hard work, it is always focused tactically on the opponents we are taking on."

The Wanderers, in their foundation season, could take their extraordinary rise one step further this weekend and hit top spot if they beat Perth at 5.30pm (EDT) on Saturday. They'll remain there if Central Coast Mariners lose to Melbourne Victory later that night.

Coach Popovic, also in his maiden season as a head coach, has been widely praised for his role in guiding the fledgling side.

We asked D'Apuzzo, who has played 16 matches this season, what the secret to his style was – and how he has dealt with the squad's recent rise to Championship favourites.

"What I've seen from Poppa is his level of detail – down to the small details in the game," D'Apuzzo said.

"He and (assistant coach) Ante Milicic really analyse the game for hours on the opposition, so we improve and know what to counter.

"It's something I haven't experienced to that level before.

"Also, the level of respect they ensure we have for each other, and the level of professionalism in the team is huge. Everyone is on board in trying to achieve the same goal."

Popovic has had the luxury of few injuries through the season, which has allowed him to rotate his squad and give fringe players the chance to excel. Some have queried that approach – but D'Apuzzo says it's a secret behind keeping the side grounded.

"He really makes sure the guys don't get ahead of themselves.

"Everyone is quite humble and knows the job isn't done just yet.

"Especially with the depth in the squad, there's no room for complacency.

"We're happy with six in a row but we know it takes hard work."

While the Wanderers are a rags to riches story as a collective, they are only as good as the sum of their parts. Their squad is filled with intriguing football journeys, hardships overcome and careers rejuvenated.

D'Apuzzo's contribution is as unlikely as any player.

The 26-year-old had quit the A-League after the 2010-2011 to take a job at PriceWaterhouseCoopers after five seasons at Newcastle Jets.

He'd won a grand final there, had enjoyed a solid career and was looking forward to establishing himself in his new occupation.

Then came a call from Popovic.

D'Apuzzo, speaking to foxsports.com.au at the Nike Mercurial boot launch earlier in the week, admitted there were nagging doubts. But for now, there's plenty of time for accounting later.

"It could've gone either way," D'Apuzzo said. "But it's been an absolute fairytale.

"No one would've picked what we've done.

"We had 10 players signed just a few weeks before the season and I wasn't sure what was going to happen.

"But I had the belief in Tony and Ante that we were going to do something special and I had an inkling, how hard we were working, that we would get there.

"I still keep in touch (with work) and it's still waiting for me; I'm still young, loving what I'm doing and I've got plenty of time to do that."

---

Can the Wanderers make it a sensational seven? Watch from 5.30pm (EDT), Saturday on Fox Sports 1HD to find out if they can beat Perth Glory.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Swimmers to be named and shamed

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Exposed ... Australia's 4x100m freestyle relay team is expected to be named and shamed. Source:AAP

Swimming Australia will call a press conference tomorrow where they are expected to name the 4x100m men's freestyle relay team as central figures in the report conducted into our London Olympic failure.

News Limited can reveal James Magnussen, Eamon Sulivan, James Roberts, Matt Targett, Cameron McEvoy and Tommaso D'Orsogna have been asked to front the media tomorrow to explain their role in a culture that has been slammed as toxic.

Swimming Australia is expected to issue a release soon with details of the press conference which will be held in Sydney.

The decision follows the release of two reports this week which condemned the culture in the swimming team as "toxic" and called for the overhaul of Swimming Australia's governance.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pistorius cop on murder charges

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Charges ... Detective Hilton Botha is facing his own criminal case. Source: Stephane De Sakutin / AFP

The investigating officer in Oscar Pistorius's murder case is facing seven charges of attempted murder, police have confirmed.

Hilton Botha reportedly opened fire on a bunch of terrified passengers in a mini-bus in a drunken shooting incident with three other officers in 2011.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Despite the charges, police reportedly plan to keep Botha on the Pistorius murder case, South Africa's Eyewitness News reports.

The news site reports that the three drunken officers allegedly opened fire on a mini-bus full of terrified passengers.

The South African Police Service has confirmed the charge of attempted murder against the detective. The charges were initially dropped, but have been reinstated, according to Eyewitness News.

Police spokesman Nevile Malila told Eyewitness News: "There was a decision to taken by the DPP's office to charge the members, each one of them with seven counts of attempted murder. That was the number of people that were in the taxi"

Malila said Botha, who was ridiculed on Wednesday for his bungling testimony at Pistorius's bail hearing, was a seasoned detective and there were no plans to take him off the murder case.

Pistorius, who is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, is due back in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court later on Thursday for the third day of his bail hearing.

The prosecution case against Pistorius began to unravel with revelations of a series of police blunders and investigating officer Botha's admission that authorities have no evidence challenging the double-amputee Olympian's claim he killed his girlfriend accidentally.

Detective Botha's often confused testimony left prosecutors rubbing their heads in frustration as he misjudged distances and said testosterone - banned for professional athletes in some cases - was found at the scene, only to be later contradicted by the prosecutor's office.

The second day of what was supposed to be a mere bail hearing almost resembled a full-blown trial for the 26-year-old runner, with his lawyer, Barry Roux, tearing into Botha's testimony step by step during cross examination.

Police, Botha acknowledged, left a 9mm slug from the barrage that killed Reeva Steenkamp inside a toilet and lost track of illegal ammunition found inside the house.

And the detective himself walked through the crime scene without wearing protective shoe covers, potentially contaminating the area.

Authorities, Roux asserted, were selectively taking "every piece of evidence to try to extract the most possibly negative connotation and present it to the court.''

The case has riveted South Africa - and the world - with journalists and the curious crowding into the brick-walled courtroom where Pistorius, dubbed the Blade Runner for his prosthetic legs, faces a charge of premeditated murder in the Valentine's Day slaying.

Pistorius says he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and shot her out of fear, while prosecutors say he planned the killing and attacked her as she cowered behind a locked bathroom door.

Wednesday's hearing seemed to start out well for the prosecution, with Botha offering new details of the shooting that appeared to call into question Pistorius's account of the moments leading up to the 29-year-old model's death.

Ballistic evidence, he said, showed the bullets that killed her had been fired from a height, supporting the prosecution's assertion that Pistorius was wearing prosthetic legs when he took aim at the bathroom door. The athlete has maintained he was standing only on his stumps, and felt vulnerable and frightened as he opened fire from a low position.

Projecting a diagram of the bedroom and the bathroom, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said it showed Pistorius had to walk past his bed to get to the bathroom and could not have done so without seeing that Steenkamp was not asleep there.

"There's no other way of getting there,'' Nel said in disputing Pistorius's claim that he had no idea Steenkamp was no longer in bed when he pumped four bullets into the bathroom door, striking her with three.

Botha backed the prosecutor up, saying the holster for Pistorius' 9mm pistol was found under the left side of the bed, where Steenkamp slept, and it would have been impossible for Pistorius to get the gun without checking to see if she was there.

"I believe that he knew that Reeva was in the bathroom and he shot four shots through the door,'' the detective said.

Botha described how bullets struck Steenkamp in the head and shattered her right arm and hip, eliciting sobs from Pistorius, who held his head in hands.

However, when asked if Steenkamp's body showed "any pattern of defensive wounds'' or bruising from an assault, Botha said "no.'' He again responded "no'' when asked if investigators found anything inconsistent with Pistorius' version of events, though he later said nothing contradicted the police version either.

Testimony began with the prosecutor telling the court that before the shooting, a neighbor heard "non-stop'' shouting between 2am and 3am at Pistorius's upscale home in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria.

However, Botha later said under cross-examination that the witness was in a house 550 metres away, possibly out of earshot. He cut that estimate in half when questioned again by the prosecutor, as confusion reigned for much of his testimony.

At one point, Botha told the court that police found syringes and two boxes of testosterone in Pistorius' bedroom - testimony the prosecution later withdrew, saying it was too early to identify the substance, which was still being tested.

"It is not certain (what it is) until the forensics'' are completed, Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecution Agency, told The Associated Press. It's not clear if it was "a legal or an illegal medication for now.''

The defense also disputed the claim. "It is an herbal remedy,'' Roux said. "It is not ... a banned substance.''

Still, Botha offered potentially damaging details about Pistorius's past, saying the athlete was once involved in an accidental shooting at a restaurant in Johannesburg and asked someone else "to take the rap.''

The runner also threatened men on two separate occasions, Botha said, allegedly telling one he'd "break his legs.''

The detective said police found two iPhones in Pistorius's bathroom and two BlackBerrys in his bedroom, and none had been used to phone for help. Guards at the gated community did call the athlete, Botha said, and all he said was: "I'm all right,'' as he wept uncontrollably.

Roux later suggested that a fifth phone, not collected by the police, was used by Pistorius to call for help.

The question now is whether Botha's troubled testimony will be enough to convince Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair to keep Pistorius in prison until trial.

While Pistorius faces the harshest bail requirements under South African law, the magistrate has said he would consider loosening them based on testimony in the hearing.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Retired Roddick's ranking rises

Andy Roddick ... rises in the ATP rankings despite being retired. Source: Charles Krupa / AP

Former US tennis ace Andy Roddick's ranking rose two spots in the latest ATP world rankings, despite retiring six months ago.

Roddick jumped from No.42 in the world to No.40 this week, despite quitting the game in September, as the often criticised ranking system threw up another anomaly.

With ATP rankings taking results from the previous 52 weeks into account, Roddick is still living large off his first half of 2012, where he posted some solid results before calling it a day at the US Open.

And when Victor Troicki and Nikolay Davydenko were beaten at the Rotterdam Open earlier than they exited last year, they quickly dipped below Roddick.

Troicki dropped from 40 to 42, while Davydenko's ranking took a big hit, falling from 37 to 43.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bombers players to be interviewed

Support ... Bombers fans get behind their under-pressure club. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Essendon players will soon be interviewed by anti-doping investigators trying to determine whether they took banned drugs last year.

Bombers players met on Wednesday with Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) representatives to be told about the next stage of an investigation that is expected to take months.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"ASADA outlined the process for the investigation to continue, including interviews with players to determine if a prohibited substance had been administered,'' Essendon chairman David Evans said.

ASADA and the AFL's integrity unit are investigating the Bombers over their supplement program.

The Bombers have also been named in an Australian Crime Commission (ACC) investigation which found suspected performance-enhancing drug use by their players, possibly without their knowledge.

The AFL will this week start strengthening its integrity unit, in response to the ACC findings.

Two part-time members of the unit will go full-time and a new full-time employee will start work.

More staff will be added in coming weeks.peThe AFL will meet with all 18 clubs over the next 10 days to brief them on the crime commission findings and their response.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

De Reus names first Matildas squad

What an all-rounder ... Ellyse Perry gets the call for the Matildas. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Newly appointed Matildas head coach Hesterine de Reus has named her first squad for the four-day training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra which will commence later this week.

Having arrived in Australia in early January, de Reus watched every match of the Westfield W-League 2013 finals series and has been meeting with various stakeholders to plan the Matildas upcoming program.

De Reus says she is looking forward to her first opportunity to work with the national team on the training field since taking over as head coach.

"It is good to have the bulk of players available and in the country to come into our first camp together", said de Reus

"The purpose of this training camp is to meet with the players, set-up the highlights of how we are going to work together and also discuss our short-term and long-term aims.

"Most importantly we can start on the field and work on our playing style."

Of the 31 players named, nine have been included on reduced training loads for a variety of reasons, with Heather Garriock in particular joining the squad for the first time since appearing at the Olympic Games qualifiers in September 2011 and giving birth to her first child last year.

Dual-international Ellyse Perry will also join the Matildas squad after her outstanding performance last weekend as part of the World Cup-winning Southern Stars Australian women's cricket team.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Selectors keep faith in Cowan

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Keeping the faith ... Ed Cowan is expected to open against India. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Ed Cowan is set to survive the selection axe with Australian coach Mickey Arthur indicating they will keep the faith even if his opening partner David Warner is cleared to play in the first Test against India, starting Friday.

Cowan's tenure in the baggy green has become increasingly shaky amid a push for Shane Watson to return to the top of the Australian order, given the allrounder will play exclusively as a batsman in this four-Test series.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Warner enters the series opener at MA Chidambaram Stadium battling a thumb injury, but the explosive left-hander is expected to play, pending a drama-free nets session in Chennai today.

While Cowan's detractors have spotlighted his average of 32.82 from 13 Tests, the compact Tasmanian has done little wrong on this tour, posting scores of 40, 53 and 58 in Australia's two warm-up games.

It has been speculated Cowan could be axed to accommodate an aggressive Watson-Warner union, but Arthur said Australia's incumbent players deserved a chance after their 3-0 sweep of Sri Lanka in their most recent Test series.

"Ed has come out of these practice games with his head held high," the Australian coach said.

"He's had a good method against the spin here and he's played exceptionally well.

"We've got to look again (at the squad) and see what we think is going to be the best possible way of winning.

"I do think though that we've just come off a series where we've beaten Sri Lanka 3-0 in our last Test series and do those players get first opportunity?

"That would be a tough call (to drop Cowan) but that's something we have to only weigh up once Davey Warner is fit or not fit."

Arthur remains confident Warner, who was smacked on the hand by a Mitchell Johnson delivery in the nets last month, will get the green light to face the Indians.

But the litmus test for Warner will arrive over the next 48 hours when he is asked to take block against Australia's quicks.

"We're pretty clear on where and how we want to go now," Arthur said.

"I think we've got clarity on that.

"We're just waiting on one or two fitness concerns.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

We just want to see how Davey Warner comes up over the next day or two. It's critical that he trains well over the next day or two to play.

"I'm pretty sure and confident he'll come through but he hasn't faced any quicks yet. He's been doing a lot of batting against spin, which has been fantastic. He hasn't faced pace bowling, that's the only concern, but he ticks that box today."

Asked if Watson would definitely bat at second drop, Arthur said: "It's a little bit difficult to give that away right now. Let's first see how Dave comes about and then we'll attack that conundrum."

"(But) potentially through the middle it will be a tough time to bat so you want your most seasoned campaigners in that area, plus you want a guy that can take the spinners down."

The Australians remain undecided on who will fill the allrounder's role, with the selectors weighing up Moises Henriques' ability to generate reverse swing against Glenn Maxwell's right-arm off-spin.

"We have to sit down and decide what is our best chance of taking 20 wickets," he said.

"If our best chance is with five seamers so be it, if it's with two spinners and three seamers, great.

"Conditions play a massive role but you need the artillery as well. We need to have a look and construct what is our best opportunity of taking 20 wickets be that with one spinner, two spinners or one spinner and 'Pup' (skipper Michael Clarke as part-time back-up)."

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Beauty tames NASCAR beast

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Glamour racer ... Danica Patrick beats the boys to the pole at Daytona. Source:AP

NASCAR star Danica Patrick, a staple of TV ads and glossy magazines, is now in the history books.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Patrick, who has parlayed her glamourous good looks into millions of sponsorship backing, on Sunday became the first woman to take the pole position for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

• Sprint Unlimited
  SUN 17/2 at 12 midday LIVE(Rpt 6:30pm)
   
• Sprint Cup qualifying
  MON 18/2 at 10:30am (Rpt 7pm)
   
• Budweiser Duel (Daytona 500 qualifying races)
  FRI 22/2 at 6am LIVE(Rpt 8:30pm)
• CWTS: NextEra Energy Resources 250
  SAT 23/2 at 11am LIVE(Rpt 11pm)
   
• NNS: Drive4COPD 300
  SUN 24/2 at 4am LIVE(Rpt 6:30pm)
   
• NSC: Daytona 500
  MON 25/2 4pm LIVE (Rpt 7pm)
• All times AEDT

---

Watch the Budweiser Duels and the Daytona 500 LIVE on SPEED this week.

---

"I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl," Patrick said. "That was instilled in me from very young, from the beginning. Then I feel like thriving in those moments, where the pressure's on, has also been a help for me. I also feel like I've been lucky in my career to be with good teams and have good people around me. I don't think any of it would have been possible without that.

"For those reasons, I've been lucky enough to make history, be the first woman to do many things. I really just hope that I don't stop doing that. We have a lot more history to make. We are excited to do it."

Patrick's first feeling upon learning she had won the pole?

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"Pride," she said. "I'm proud of all the hard work that goes into making a pole-winning car. It's not just turning left.

"It's so many other things, including the attention of detail the guys on the team put in over the winter."

Jeff Gordon was fastest man,  Trevor Bayne qualified third, Ryan Newman was fourth and Tony Stewart fifth as Stewart-Haas Racing placed all three cars in the top-five.

Before Sunday, almost all of the attention which surrounded Patrick since her arrival Thursday at Daytona was about her budding romance with fellow Cup rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Sunday's run turned the topic back to the approaching 500 - for now.

"The race is where it's really at to get to the end and to have a fast car and be in the right place at the right time.

But this just speaks volumes about Stewart-Haas racing,'' Patrick said.

"I thought we were going to be one-two-three, for a while. But I think it shows what a great organisation it is and when you put a good group of people together what can happen.''

Starting up front at Daytona is not new for Patrick.

She won the pole for the Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona last year. The only other woman to win a pole in one of NASCARA's three national series was Shawna Robinson in a Nationwide race at Atlanta in 1994.

Also, Patrick had one of the fastest cars during preseason testing last month and was fastest in Friday's second Cup practice session.

"I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl," she said.

Winning the pole at any superspeedway race usually has little to do with the actual racing, but Patrick's milestone was still an important moment for NASCAR.

Gordon's daughter, Ella Sophia, asked for and received a photo with Patrick in Victory Lane during her pole-winning award ceremony.

"It's great to be a part of history to be on the front row with Danica. We all know how popular she is," Gordon said.

"This is big to be on the front row at Daytona. It's an accomplishment in itself because of all the hard work that's put into it."

The previous highest female qualifier in a Cup race was Janet Guthrie. She started ninth at Bristol and Talladega in 1977.

"It's obviously a history-making event that will last a long, long time," Guthrie said, praising Patrick's feat. "It's a different era, of course. Different times. I can't imagine what I would do with a spotter or somebody telling me how to drive. It's rather a different sport now. Back then, there was a much greater difference from the front of the field to the back."

Guthrie received a lukewarm reception from fellow drivers back then.

Patrick was much more welcomed, undoubtedly because of her background and popularity.

She's comfortable being in the spotlight, evidenced by her racing career, her television commercials and her sudden openness about her personal life.

"I think when pressure's on and when the spotlight's on, I feel like it ultimately ends up becoming some of my better moments and my better races and better results," Patrick said. "I just understand that if you put the hard work in before you go out there that you can have a little peace and a little peace of mind knowing that you've done everything you can and just let it happen."

---

Catch all the action from the Budweiser Duels at Daytona, Feb 22 at 6am EDT exclusively LIVE on SPEED (512).

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Burns ton leads Aus A to victory

Joe Burns ... put the England Lions to the sword in the second tour clash. Source: News Limited

Australia A have consigned the England Lions to a fifth straight tour loss with a crushing 122-run victory at Bellerive.

The toothless Lions were all out for 193 after they'd conceded 7-315 despite winning the toss and sending the Australian side in.

With the temperature hovering around 35 and the wind howling in Hobart, the visitors had the better conditions to bowl in, but a maiden one-day century from Queenslander Joe Burns (114 from 136) and support from Callum Ferguson (74 from 78) meant the Lions faced a huge run chase.

Touring captain James Taylor (78 from 87) offered some resistance but John Hastings (2-26), part-time tweaker Aaron Finch (2-44) and miserly Kane Richardson (1-20) had the visitors on the back foot.

The Lions have lost all five matches on tour and find themselves 2-0 down in the five-game Australia A series with players on both sides having an eye to this year's two Ashes series.

It looked promising for the tourists when star opener Alex Hales was dropped in the first over before he had scored but it was 1-16 when Hales (8 from 16) was caught behind in the fifth.

The Lions recovered but were 2-87 when Varun Chopra (38 from 57) went and 3-91 when Ben Foakes (3 from 6) was run out.

They lost their last six wickets for just 23 runs, the last three with the score at 193.

Batting at No.3, Burns helped the home side recover from 1-1, putting on 77 with Alex Doolan (31 from 39) for the second wicket and 128 with Ferguson for the third.

The 23-year-old hit 13 fours and two sixes to better his previous best one-day score of 82.

The home side made a shocking start when skipper Finch was caught at slip for a duck off the second ball of the day.

But Doolan, promoted to open after Shaun Marsh's injury, and Burns had the home side motoring at 1-78 after 15 overs before the Tasmanian was run out and Ferguson arrived at the crease.

The Lions' bowlers struggled in the gusty conditions, with 20 runs being conceded in wides and only allrounder Rikki Clarke (4-54) standing tall.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fawad set for Shield debut

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Spinner ... Fawad Ahmed in line to make his Sheffield Shield debut. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

Given what Fawad Ahmed has been through, having a batsman take to his leg breaks would be the least of his troubles.

Victorian teammate Michael Hill says one of Ahmed's greatest assets is his coolness under pressure.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The 30-year-old spinner is set to make his Sheffield Shield debut on Monday in the crucial match against Queensland at the MCG.

Queensland are top of the Shield ladder but level on points with second-placed Victoria.

Both teams are missing several key players because of national commitments and that means another door has opened for Ahmed during his remarkable Australian season.

Ahmed, from Pakistan, was granted asylum in November and he played for the Melbourne Renegades in the KFC T20 Big Bash League.

He impressed again in Sunday night's one-day loss to the Bulls, removing Luke Pomersbach and Peter Forrest in the same over.

It was a rare bowling highlight for the Bushrangers, who lost to the Bulls by six wickets.

"Everyone has sort-of thought we've plucked Fawad out of club cricket,'' Hill said.

"It's not the case, he has quite a substantial first-class (cricket) background in Pakistan and he's a seasoned campaigner.

"You need those guys, especially as a spinner.

"He has a pretty cool, calm head on his shoulders and he doesn't mind getting hit over his head - he'll still come in and bowl the very next ball like it was nothing.''

Ahmed and Clive Rose are in line for their Shield debuts, while Ronan McDonald and Dominic Michael will be the first-gamers in the Queensland line-up.

Victoria will regain paceman Clint McKay from international duties.

Ryan Harris will be the Bulls' 12th man after the former Test paceman suffered leg cramps in Saturday's one-day game, his first interstate match this summer.

"That says great things, I guess, about our two states,'' Hill said about the big names missing from the two teams.

"We don't have our big boys like `Patto' (James Pattinson) and `Sids' (Peter Siddle) for most of the year and now I guess with Finchy (Aaron Finch) being away for a substantial amount of time, he's one of our better players also,'' Hill said.

"Fifteen, 16 people win a Shield.''

VICTORIA: (12th man to be named) Cameron White (c), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Peter Handscomb, Michael Hill, David Hussey, Clint McKay, Rob Quiney, Chris Rogers, Clive Rose, Will Sheridan, Marcus Stoinis.
QUEENSLAND: James Hopes (c), Peter Forrest, Matthew Gale, Cameron Gannon, Chris Hartley, Nathan Hauritz, Ronan McDonald, Dominic Michael, Greg Moller, Luke Pomersbach, Nathan Reardon, Ryan Harris (12th man).

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hot Saints demolish rusty Crows

Free-kick ... Terry Milera slips under Daniel Talia's tackle. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

St Kilda recruit Trent Dennis-Lane made an instant impact with two goals in a 26-point thumping of an under-strength Adelaide in Sunday's AFL pre-season cup match.

0.0.4 (4)	Q1	0.4.1 (25)
0.3.6 (24)	Q2	0.8.2 (50)
	Q3
	Q4

Graham Johncock 3	Trent Dennis-Lane 2
	Beau Maister 2
	Terry Milera 2
	Stephen Milne 1
	Ahmed Saad 1

The Saints won 0.8.2 (50) to 0.3.6 (24) in the first of three matches at AAMI Stadium.

Dennis-Lane, Terry Milera and Beau Maister (formerly Wilkes) each kicked two goals for St Kilda, while veteran Graham Johncock kicked all of Adelaide's goals.

St Kilda kept Adelaide goal-less in the opening half of a match played in searing 38-degree heat, while kicking four majors themselves.

Small Saints Milera, Dennis-Lane and Ahmed Saad all potted early goals and formed a dangerous forward line against a Crows outfit missing nine top-line players.

Dennis-Lane, in his first official match for the Saints after being traded by Sydney, added another second-half goal while spearhead Maister also kicked goals in each half.

The duo benefitted from frequent chances provided by a dominant midfield headed by Farren Ray, Jack Steven and David Armitage.

---

Who will you pick in your FOX FOOTY Supercoach team? Join Australia's biggest fantasy sports game and have a shot at $50,000.

---

And the Saints were also in control defensively, with creative backmen Arryn Sippos and James Gwilt gathering repeated disposals across half-back.

In contrast, Adelaide struggled for cohesion and didn't register a major until the second minute of the second half when veteran Graham Johncock strolled into an open goal.

Johncock booted two more in the half but was the sole shining light in attack for the Crows.

The Saints next play Port Adelaide before the Power meet Adelaide in the final game of the triple-header.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More