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Monday, January 05, 2009
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Magic Millions - Adelaide Sale Topper Brilliant On Debut
Media Release
Leon Macdonald's love affair with graduates of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale rolled on at Cheltenham yesterday when the master horseman prepared a treble.
All ridden by record breaking jockey Clare Lindop, who ended the day with four winners, the performances were headlined by the performance of debuting juvenile Miss With Attitude.
A daughter of Galileo, Miss With Attitude was the top priced lot at last year's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale when snapped up by Macdonald for $160,000.
Macdonald said the bright young prospect had shown him good ability in trackwork and she was sent out the favourite with bookmakeers.
"Magic Millions here we come," Macdonald beamed after the race - saying the Morphettville juvenile feature on Adelaide Cup Day would be the main target for his newest star.
"She's always shown us a bit at home," he added.
The Morphettville trainer won last year's Adelaide 2YO Classic with Augusta Proud - the filly who also went to the Gold Coast and won the $1.5 million Gold Coast Classic.
Yet another graduate of the outstanding producing farm of Mill Park at Meningie, Miss With Attitude is the first named foal for the well related Flying Spur mare Sizzie 'em.
A city winner, Sizzie 'em is an Irish bred who is from a Mill Reef sister to French stakes winner Shelina.
A half sister to Miss With Attitude by Swettenham Stud's top winner producing sire Bianconi is heading to the Morphettville sales ring in March.
The bay filly is catalogued as lot number 321 and is one of many stars from the draft of Mill Park - the farm who's other Adelaide sale graduates include Group One winners Divine Madonna, Devil Moon, Undoubtedly and the mighty Mummify.
Another of the impressive winners from the Macdonald stable was the progressive Danehill Dancer filly Dancing Elegance.
A likely prospect for the Group One Australasian Oaks, Dancing Elegance led throughout and held out her rivals for a strong win.
A $100,000 Adelaide Yearling Sale graduate, Dancing Elegance is one of three winners from the beautifully related Kenmare mare Elegant Court.
Kadina's Ducatoon Park will present an attractive half brother to Dancing Elegance at the upcoming Adelaide Sale.
Catalogued as lot 106, the bay colt is by Secret Savings - a leading sire who was sadly lost to the breeding industry in recent weeks.
Also heading to the Adelaide sale is a full brother and three quarter sister to Happy Honey - an impressive winner at Stony Creek in Victoria yesterday as well as a half sister to Allstar - yet another winner at Cheltenham.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Magic Millions
Horse Racing
Sports Betting
Sports News
Leon Macdonald's love affair with graduates of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale rolled on at Cheltenham yesterday when the master horseman prepared a treble.
All ridden by record breaking jockey Clare Lindop, who ended the day with four winners, the performances were headlined by the performance of debuting juvenile Miss With Attitude.
A daughter of Galileo, Miss With Attitude was the top priced lot at last year's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale when snapped up by Macdonald for $160,000.
Macdonald said the bright young prospect had shown him good ability in trackwork and she was sent out the favourite with bookmakeers.
"Magic Millions here we come," Macdonald beamed after the race - saying the Morphettville juvenile feature on Adelaide Cup Day would be the main target for his newest star.
"She's always shown us a bit at home," he added.
The Morphettville trainer won last year's Adelaide 2YO Classic with Augusta Proud - the filly who also went to the Gold Coast and won the $1.5 million Gold Coast Classic.
Yet another graduate of the outstanding producing farm of Mill Park at Meningie, Miss With Attitude is the first named foal for the well related Flying Spur mare Sizzie 'em.
A city winner, Sizzie 'em is an Irish bred who is from a Mill Reef sister to French stakes winner Shelina.
A half sister to Miss With Attitude by Swettenham Stud's top winner producing sire Bianconi is heading to the Morphettville sales ring in March.
The bay filly is catalogued as lot number 321 and is one of many stars from the draft of Mill Park - the farm who's other Adelaide sale graduates include Group One winners Divine Madonna, Devil Moon, Undoubtedly and the mighty Mummify.
Another of the impressive winners from the Macdonald stable was the progressive Danehill Dancer filly Dancing Elegance.
A likely prospect for the Group One Australasian Oaks, Dancing Elegance led throughout and held out her rivals for a strong win.
A $100,000 Adelaide Yearling Sale graduate, Dancing Elegance is one of three winners from the beautifully related Kenmare mare Elegant Court.
Kadina's Ducatoon Park will present an attractive half brother to Dancing Elegance at the upcoming Adelaide Sale.
Catalogued as lot 106, the bay colt is by Secret Savings - a leading sire who was sadly lost to the breeding industry in recent weeks.
Also heading to the Adelaide sale is a full brother and three quarter sister to Happy Honey - an impressive winner at Stony Creek in Victoria yesterday as well as a half sister to Allstar - yet another winner at Cheltenham.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Magic Millions
Horse Racing
Sports Betting
Sports News
Third Test a lottery after second match's frenetic fluctuations, by John Schell - The Sydney Morning Herald - 2nd January 2009
Bizarre betting movements on the series-clinching Melbourne Test win by South Africa against Australia have carried over to the third Test, which begins at the SCG tomorrow.
Despite the Proteas crushing Australia in Perth and then in Melbourne to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead, they are $3.10 outsiders with TAB Sportsbet to complete the sweep. The draw was posted favourite at $2.50 with an Australian victory at $2.75.
"The second Test was huge in betting interest," TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie said. "All three options were a short-priced favourite at some stage during the match. Australia touched $1.20 at their lowest price, the draw as short as $1.28 and one of the last bets taken on South Africa was $5000 at $1.12 before the book was closed mid-morning on day five."
There was a punter who had $500 on the South Africans at $9 to win while the biggest bet on them to win was $50,000 at $1.60.
Sportingbet Australia's Michael Sullivan said weight of money had resulted in his market turning around.
"After solid backing, South Africa are in to $2.80, after opening at $3.10, with the Aussies out to $3.15. It looks a much more realistic market, especially with the Australians struggling to take 20 wickets in a match." (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Despite the Proteas crushing Australia in Perth and then in Melbourne to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead, they are $3.10 outsiders with TAB Sportsbet to complete the sweep. The draw was posted favourite at $2.50 with an Australian victory at $2.75.
"The second Test was huge in betting interest," TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie said. "All three options were a short-priced favourite at some stage during the match. Australia touched $1.20 at their lowest price, the draw as short as $1.28 and one of the last bets taken on South Africa was $5000 at $1.12 before the book was closed mid-morning on day five."
There was a punter who had $500 on the South Africans at $9 to win while the biggest bet on them to win was $50,000 at $1.60.
Sportingbet Australia's Michael Sullivan said weight of money had resulted in his market turning around.
"After solid backing, South Africa are in to $2.80, after opening at $3.10, with the Aussies out to $3.15. It looks a much more realistic market, especially with the Australians struggling to take 20 wickets in a match." (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Cricket
Sports Betting
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If only the batting were as dazzling as the spectators, by Andrew Stevenson and Eamonn Duff - The Sydney Morning Herald - 4th January 2009
Given the humiliations of Perth and Melbourne, white flags might have been more appropriate but pink - second only in meaning to green among the nation's cricket team - was the colour of the day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
South Africa's deadly pace attack had pink stumps to aim at and besieged opener Matthew Hayden defended them with his customary pink bat handle.
Yesterday's crowd of 37,901 - subdued by the events of recent weeks, which have confirmed Australia is no longer the gold standard - flaunted pink bandannas and shirts in a show of support for the McGrath Foundation and for families, victims and survivors of breast cancer. Jane McGrath, wife of Test great Glenn, died from the disease in June last year.
"To come to the ground and walk out onto the middle there, to look around and see all that pink was pretty special … pretty amazing," an emotional McGrath said.
It was a day on which local boy Doug Bollinger - whose childlike enthusiasm belies his 27 years - was presented with Test cap No. 405 and then sang the national anthem with it clasped to his chest. It was the first time in a decade Australia had fielded two debutants in a Test, Victorian all-rounder Andrew McDonald sharing the honour.
The new Victor Trumper grandstand, which swallowed the little that remained of the Hill and lifts the SCG's capacity to 46,000, was far from full and the crowd's mood seemed to match the greying skies and reflect recent performances by the team.
As prime minister, John Howard was ever ready to line up beside sporting success. Yesterday he, Kevin Rudd and a small posse of politicians showed their belief in cricket rather than victory as Australia's batsmen dug in, attempting to graft a revival onto what has been such solid root stock.
Many spectators promised to stay true to the cause, regardless of the team's performances.
"For me, it's about travelling to the new year Test and supporting the green and gold, win, lose or draw," said Shea Flanigan, 30.
"We as a cricket nation have had it good for a very long time. If that means going through a period of transition, I for one will still be here next year."
Ben Tye, 30, from Newcastle, agreed: "It's part of Australian culture to come and watch the cricket, so it's disappointing to see that some people have stayed away today. It should be a full house out there but it's not."
Rob Gardner, a South African-born Sydneysider, was among the many Proteas fans wearing a pink bandanna.
"There are a lot of South Africans here today, and nearly all of them have turned out in the pink for Glenn McGrath and his family, which is a wonderful thing to see," said Mr Gardner, 61, who was originally from Cape Town. "Everyone looks great and they should look even better on Ladies' Day."
Sydney might be the home and soul of this Australian team - city of choice for six players, including skipper Ricky Ponting - but only once a year, and then for only five days at best, does the Test cricket caravan roll into town.
When it does, the new year Test provides the faithful with a ritual as important to them as the official observances of Christmas and New Year. Under cover of darkness, members queue for their seats, renewing friendships forged over their common faith in the game.
After 16 years of virtually uninterrupted success, their faith is now to be tested. Was it the spectacle of cricket they loved or the fruits of victory? "Today is about the occasion and the Sydney Test has begun to enjoy a really good following," said NSW Cricket chief executive Dave Gilbert, who was pleased with the crowd but worried it might drop off by day three.
"We've had a golden run but it's coincided with a very successful Australian team.
"As much as we deny it, Australians don't like losing."
On the pitch there was no surrender, despite Australia entering the match 2-0 down with their crown slipping and their world No. 1 ranking officially on the line. But there was also little to cheer, with Hayden's failure to stave off Father Time and Ponting - unable to match his heroics in the Boxing Day Test - out for a first-ball duck.
At stumps, Australia had fought back to be 6-267, thanks to a fighting knock by Michael Clarke, who, cheered on by glamorous fiancee Lara Bingle, will resume this morning on 73, chasing his first Test century on his home ground. The battle to regain lost pride goes on. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Cricket
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
South Africa's deadly pace attack had pink stumps to aim at and besieged opener Matthew Hayden defended them with his customary pink bat handle.
Yesterday's crowd of 37,901 - subdued by the events of recent weeks, which have confirmed Australia is no longer the gold standard - flaunted pink bandannas and shirts in a show of support for the McGrath Foundation and for families, victims and survivors of breast cancer. Jane McGrath, wife of Test great Glenn, died from the disease in June last year.
"To come to the ground and walk out onto the middle there, to look around and see all that pink was pretty special … pretty amazing," an emotional McGrath said.
It was a day on which local boy Doug Bollinger - whose childlike enthusiasm belies his 27 years - was presented with Test cap No. 405 and then sang the national anthem with it clasped to his chest. It was the first time in a decade Australia had fielded two debutants in a Test, Victorian all-rounder Andrew McDonald sharing the honour.
The new Victor Trumper grandstand, which swallowed the little that remained of the Hill and lifts the SCG's capacity to 46,000, was far from full and the crowd's mood seemed to match the greying skies and reflect recent performances by the team.
As prime minister, John Howard was ever ready to line up beside sporting success. Yesterday he, Kevin Rudd and a small posse of politicians showed their belief in cricket rather than victory as Australia's batsmen dug in, attempting to graft a revival onto what has been such solid root stock.
Many spectators promised to stay true to the cause, regardless of the team's performances.
"For me, it's about travelling to the new year Test and supporting the green and gold, win, lose or draw," said Shea Flanigan, 30.
"We as a cricket nation have had it good for a very long time. If that means going through a period of transition, I for one will still be here next year."
Ben Tye, 30, from Newcastle, agreed: "It's part of Australian culture to come and watch the cricket, so it's disappointing to see that some people have stayed away today. It should be a full house out there but it's not."
Rob Gardner, a South African-born Sydneysider, was among the many Proteas fans wearing a pink bandanna.
"There are a lot of South Africans here today, and nearly all of them have turned out in the pink for Glenn McGrath and his family, which is a wonderful thing to see," said Mr Gardner, 61, who was originally from Cape Town. "Everyone looks great and they should look even better on Ladies' Day."
Sydney might be the home and soul of this Australian team - city of choice for six players, including skipper Ricky Ponting - but only once a year, and then for only five days at best, does the Test cricket caravan roll into town.
When it does, the new year Test provides the faithful with a ritual as important to them as the official observances of Christmas and New Year. Under cover of darkness, members queue for their seats, renewing friendships forged over their common faith in the game.
After 16 years of virtually uninterrupted success, their faith is now to be tested. Was it the spectacle of cricket they loved or the fruits of victory? "Today is about the occasion and the Sydney Test has begun to enjoy a really good following," said NSW Cricket chief executive Dave Gilbert, who was pleased with the crowd but worried it might drop off by day three.
"We've had a golden run but it's coincided with a very successful Australian team.
"As much as we deny it, Australians don't like losing."
On the pitch there was no surrender, despite Australia entering the match 2-0 down with their crown slipping and their world No. 1 ranking officially on the line. But there was also little to cheer, with Hayden's failure to stave off Father Time and Ponting - unable to match his heroics in the Boxing Day Test - out for a first-ball duck.
At stumps, Australia had fought back to be 6-267, thanks to a fighting knock by Michael Clarke, who, cheered on by glamorous fiancee Lara Bingle, will resume this morning on 73, chasing his first Test century on his home ground. The battle to regain lost pride goes on. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Cricket
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Shane Warne back in family fold with Simone in Melbourne - The Daily Telegraph - 3rd January 2009
Shane Warne has celebrated the New Year with his ex-wife Simone and three children at a holiday house south of Melbourne, adding fuel to speculation the couple have reunited yet again.
Warne was spotted outside his former partner's holiday hideaway yesterday only hours before his departure to fulfil commitments at the third cricket Test in Sydney.
The spin bowler's late-model black Mercedes was parked in the driveway of the property for the entire New Year holiday.
Other friends were spotted leaving the house after low-key celebrations the night before.
The neat house, complete with tennis courts, is tucked away in a leafy hillside village of Arthurs Seat and has stunning ocean and mountain views.
Yesterday Warne left the house briefly for errands before returning for a final time to say goodbye to his children. While the pair have made no secret they will remain firm friends, neither is yet to deny a rekindled relationship.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Shane Warne
Warne was spotted outside his former partner's holiday hideaway yesterday only hours before his departure to fulfil commitments at the third cricket Test in Sydney.
The spin bowler's late-model black Mercedes was parked in the driveway of the property for the entire New Year holiday.
Other friends were spotted leaving the house after low-key celebrations the night before.
The neat house, complete with tennis courts, is tucked away in a leafy hillside village of Arthurs Seat and has stunning ocean and mountain views.
Yesterday Warne left the house briefly for errands before returning for a final time to say goodbye to his children. While the pair have made no secret they will remain firm friends, neither is yet to deny a rekindled relationship.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Shane Warne
Friday, January 02, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Repentant ex-mafia boss says tennis a top target for fixers - The Sydney Morning Herald - 1st January 2009
Former mafia crime boss Michael Franzese says top-level tennis matches are being influenced by gamblers and the sport would be his prime focus were he still in the business of impacting outcomes.
Franzese, a former boss in the Colombo crime family, serves as a consultant and speaker regarding his days with the mob and has spoken with ATP players about the methods that are used to spread corruption in sport.
"It's definitely going on," Franzese told AFP. "If I were in this business now, tennis would be my major target because one player can impact the game. That's all you need."
An FBI probe in the 1980s and a decade in prison helped push Franzese to change his ways and help those who safeguard the integrity of sport, but his crime contacts lead him to believe organized crime remains involved in tennis.
"I have to believe they are, certainly from the feedbacks I've gotten since I got involved with the ATP," Franzese said. "Sports has become such an incredibly lucrative racket, so to speak, for guys on the street."
Franseze, 57, has spoken with National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, tennis stars and elite US college athletes about the dangers of match-fixers, often counseling newcomers on how to avoid being ensnared in gambling woes.
His talks included a March 2007 session with ATP players.
"They told me there's a problem in the sport. It is something that has to be addressed," he said. "Mainly, I told them how damaging and dangerous it could be for them to get involved in gambling and get around the wrong people.
"Gambling is a very serious business. If you put yourself in a gambling situation, you're most likely going to attract the wrong people because those same people are watching you. They want to find out who's got a gambling problem."
Less than five months after Franzese spoke came a match in Sopot in which unusual on-line betting patterns were registered about Russian Nikolay Davydenko's loss to Argentina's Martin Vassallo-Arguello.
An ATP investigation into the match concluded last September that there was no wrongdoing by Davydenko or his rival.
Franzese remains suspicious.
"He is a pretty top player. Something else is going on there. Somebody has a hook on him," he said.
Franzese claims first-hand expertise at influencing athletes to drop a match to satisfy gamblers, including threats of bodily harm for failure to comply.
"None of these players want to do it. They do it because they're put in a situation," he said. "It's sad because they're doing it against their will. They have no way out. They all regret it. And that's why it's so damaging to their career. Psychologically, it gets to them.
"I've seen it happen so many times. They just can't perform the same. It does affect them. It affects their careers. Sometimes it's irreversible."
The impact on the sport could be as damaging as on the players. If supporters feel betrayed and have no faith the match results are legitimate, interest is likely to fade.
"All of them have a fear of gambling. All of them are not quite sure how to deal with it because they know it can happen at any time," Franseze said.
"In this country, we've had dogfighting incidents, a massive steroid scandal in baseball. They can overcome those things. They will not be able to overcome a major gambling issue.
"Once people start to believe that sports are fixed, that it becomes staged, forget it, the sport is done. Every pro sport knows that."
Media Man Australia Profiles
Sports Betting
Crime News
Sports News
Franzese, a former boss in the Colombo crime family, serves as a consultant and speaker regarding his days with the mob and has spoken with ATP players about the methods that are used to spread corruption in sport.
"It's definitely going on," Franzese told AFP. "If I were in this business now, tennis would be my major target because one player can impact the game. That's all you need."
An FBI probe in the 1980s and a decade in prison helped push Franzese to change his ways and help those who safeguard the integrity of sport, but his crime contacts lead him to believe organized crime remains involved in tennis.
"I have to believe they are, certainly from the feedbacks I've gotten since I got involved with the ATP," Franzese said. "Sports has become such an incredibly lucrative racket, so to speak, for guys on the street."
Franseze, 57, has spoken with National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, tennis stars and elite US college athletes about the dangers of match-fixers, often counseling newcomers on how to avoid being ensnared in gambling woes.
His talks included a March 2007 session with ATP players.
"They told me there's a problem in the sport. It is something that has to be addressed," he said. "Mainly, I told them how damaging and dangerous it could be for them to get involved in gambling and get around the wrong people.
"Gambling is a very serious business. If you put yourself in a gambling situation, you're most likely going to attract the wrong people because those same people are watching you. They want to find out who's got a gambling problem."
Less than five months after Franzese spoke came a match in Sopot in which unusual on-line betting patterns were registered about Russian Nikolay Davydenko's loss to Argentina's Martin Vassallo-Arguello.
An ATP investigation into the match concluded last September that there was no wrongdoing by Davydenko or his rival.
Franzese remains suspicious.
"He is a pretty top player. Something else is going on there. Somebody has a hook on him," he said.
Franzese claims first-hand expertise at influencing athletes to drop a match to satisfy gamblers, including threats of bodily harm for failure to comply.
"None of these players want to do it. They do it because they're put in a situation," he said. "It's sad because they're doing it against their will. They have no way out. They all regret it. And that's why it's so damaging to their career. Psychologically, it gets to them.
"I've seen it happen so many times. They just can't perform the same. It does affect them. It affects their careers. Sometimes it's irreversible."
The impact on the sport could be as damaging as on the players. If supporters feel betrayed and have no faith the match results are legitimate, interest is likely to fade.
"All of them have a fear of gambling. All of them are not quite sure how to deal with it because they know it can happen at any time," Franseze said.
"In this country, we've had dogfighting incidents, a massive steroid scandal in baseball. They can overcome those things. They will not be able to overcome a major gambling issue.
"Once people start to believe that sports are fixed, that it becomes staged, forget it, the sport is done. Every pro sport knows that."
Media Man Australia Profiles
Sports Betting
Crime News
Sports News
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