Socceroos kick a bum
April 2, 2009
WATCHING the socceroos knock over Uzbekistan last night was something like being at an Anthony Mundine fight.
The visitors were mammoth underdogs, their preparation was a joke, they were not expected to win but somehow you just wanted them to whack a decent blow on the chin.
For such a vital game the preparation of the Uzbeks was amateurish.
The visitors only arrived in Australia two days before and their body clocks would have been shot to pieces.
But to their credit they took the game right up to the locals for most of the first half and could easily have put one or even two in the back of the net.
Australia also frittered away a few chances early but by half time the crowd of more than 50,000 had not seen a drop of blood spilt or a goal scored.
Things started along the same path for the second half until the travel weary Uzbeks started to feel the pinch.
Finally, 66 minutes in, substitute Josh Kennedy got on the end of a terrific pass from Mark Bresciatno and headed the ball past the Uzbek goalkeeper, Ignatiy Nesterov.
The header came from a fair way out and it must be said Nesterov was slow to move.
Seven minutes later Harry Kewell took a penalty kick that all but closed the match.
The Uzbeks made a gallant late charge and put one into the net but it was cancelled by the player being a fraction offside.
Australia now need only one point from it’s remaining three games to guarantee a spot in next year’s World Cup finals.
Depending on other results they may not even need that point.
They play at Qatar in June before matches against Bahrain and Japan at the MCG.
Hopefully the point, if it is needed, comes from one of the first two matches because unlike a Mundine opponent the Japanese, although no superstars, are not bums and they are capable of landing a Sunday punch.
On Betfair Australia are currently rated a 90-1 chance of winning soccer’s holygrail.
2009 Poker Ashes
March 29, 2009
Like the much anticipated battle against the Poms for crickets immortal “Ashes” 2009s 888 Poker ashes is going to be just as exciting! With 2 teams, one comprised of Shane Warne and 3 other Australian cricketers and the other of 4 of England”’’s finest cricketers. The most exciting part of the whole event is that you will have the chance to join either poker team and take part of the action!
Ordinary poker players from Australia and England will be able to win a place in their 888poker sponsored 2009 Poker Ashes team, Australias captained by Shane Warne and Englands by one of England’s cricketing greats, by playing in free online qualifiers at 888 Poker starting on Monday 23rd March at 8pm. For more details vist www.pokerashes.com
After all the qualifiers have taken position, those making the final table will then participate in a Grand Final -one for Australian 888poker players and one for English 888poker players. Each Online Poker champion will join his or her team to play in England 2009 at the poker ashes final. The final will be played as a 5 test series, with each test as a TV episode to be broadcast in Australia, England, South Africa, India and New Zealand later in the year.
Competition will be vicious as this long standing rivalry heads to the felt top of the poker table and we will see who reins supreme on and off the cricket field!
For those of you that dont have 888 poker you can download it here!
PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker
March 25, 2009
PokerStars Players get ready to win big! From April 2 through the 12th Poker Starsis hosting the Spring Championship of Online Poker- All stakes. With 22 events spread over 10 days and a guaranteed $30,000,000 everyone is bound to win something!
The spring championship is a chance for players of all stakes levels to take part in massive prize pools depending on how much they want to put up. Every event will consist of 3 tournaments which are low stakes, medium and high. This way everyone will have a chance at participating in the largest online pokertournaments of 2009.
There will also be two high roller events on the last day which consist of the main event where the small stakes prize pool will have $1,000,000 guaranteed and the high stakes will have $5,000,000! This is a PokerStars tournament series no one should miss!
Event Schedule
All tournament start times are listed in ET.
|
Event |
Game |
Date |
Stake |
Buy-In |
Guarantee |
|
1 |
NL Hold””””””””em with Rebuys [6-max] |
02-Apr |
Low |
$5.50 |
$50,000 |
|
Med |
$55.00 |
$200,000 |
|||
|
High |
$530.00 |
$500,000 |
|||
|
2 |
PL Omaha Hi/Lo |
02-Apr |
Low |
$11.00 |
$25,000 |
|
Med |
$109.00 |
$50,000 |
|||
|
High |
$1,050.00 |
$200,000 |
|||
|
3 |
PL 5-Card Draw |
03-Apr |
Low |
$11.00 |
$25,000 |
|
Med |
$109.00 |
$100,000 |
|||
|
High |
$1,050.00 |
$200,000 |
|||
|
4 |
NL Hold””””””””em [2X Chance, turbo] |
03-Apr |
Low |
$16.50 |
$100,000 |
|
Med |
$162.00 |
$300,000 |
|||
|
High |
$1,575.00 |
$1,000,000 |
|||
|
5 |
NL Hold””””””””em Shootout [10-max] |
04-Apr |
Low |
$16.50 |
$100,000 |
|
Med |
$162.00 |
$150,000 |
|||
|
High |
$1,575.00 |
$150,000 |
|||
|
6 |
PL Omaha [1R1A, 6-max] |
04-Apr |
Low |
$22.00 |
$50,000 |
|
Med |
$215.00 |
$200,000 |
|||
|
High |
$2,100.00 |
$400,000 |
|||
|
7* |
H.O.R.S.E. |
05-Apr |
Low |
$109.00 |
$250,000 |
|
Med |
$1,050.00 |
$500,000 |
|||
|
High |
$10,300.00 |
$750,000 |
|||
|
8 |
NL Hold””””””””em [2-day] |
05-Apr |
Low |
$33.00 |
$250,000 |
|
Med |
$320.00 |
$1,500,000 |
|||
|
High |
$3,150.00 |
$3,000,000 |
|||
|
9 |
FL Triple Draw 2-7 |
06-Apr |
Low |
$22.00 |
$25,000 |
|
Med |
$215.00 |
$100,000 |
|||
|
High |
$2,100.00 |
$200,000 |
|||
|
10 |
NL Hold””””””””em Heads Up Match Play |
06-Apr |
Low |
$16.50 |
$50,000 |
|
Med |
$162.00 |
$300,000 |
|||
|
High |
$1,575.00 |
$500,000 |
|||
|
11 |
Mixed Hold””””””””em [6-max] |
07-Apr |
Low |
$33.00 |
$50,000 |
|
Med |
$320.00 |
$300,000 |
|||
|
High |
$3,150.00 |
$800,000 |
|||
|
12 |
7-Card Stud Hi/Lo |
07-Apr |
Low |
$22.00 |
$25,000 |
|
Med |
$215.00 |
$50,000 |
|||
|
High |
$2,100.00 |
$150,000 |
|||
|
13 |
FL Razz |
08-Apr |
Low |
$22.00 |
$25,000 |
|
Med |
$215.00 |
$100,000 |
|||
|
High |
$2,100.00 |
$150,000 |
|||
|
14 |
NL Hold””””””””em [6-max] |
08-Apr |
Low |
$55.00 |
$250,000 |
|
Med |
$530.00 |
$500,000 |
|||
|
High |
$5,200.00 |
$1,250,000 |
|||
|
15 |
8-Game |
09-Apr |
Low |
$44.00 |
$25,000 |
|
Med |
$425.00 |
$150,000 |
|||
|
High |
$4,175.00 |
$250,000 |
|||
|
16 |
7-Card Stud |
09-Apr |
Low |
$33.00 |
$25,000 |
|
Med |
$320.00 |
$100,000 |
|||
|
High |
$3,150.00 |
$150,000 |
|||
|
17 |
NL Hold””””””””em [1R1A] |
10-Apr |
Low |
$22.00 |
$150,000 |
|
Med |
$215.00 |
$500,000 |
|||
|
High |
$2,100.00 |
$1,000,000 |
|||
|
18 |
FL Omaha Hi/Lo |
10-Apr |
Low |
$55.00 |
$50,000 |
|
Med |
$530.00 |
$150,000 |
|||
|
High |
$5,200.00 |
$400,000 |
|||
|
19 |
PL Omaha |
11-Apr |
Low |
$55.00 |
$50,000 |
|
Med |
$530.00 |
$300,000 |
|||
|
High |
$5,200.00 |
$1,000,000 |
|||
|
20 |
FL Hold””””””””em [6-max] |
11-Apr |
Low |
$55.00 |
$25,000 |
|
Med |
$530.00 |
$200,000 |
|||
|
High |
$5,200.00 |
$400,000 |
|||
|
21* |
NL Hold””””””””em Heads Up Match Play |
12-Apr |
Low |
$270.00 |
$100,000 |
|
Med |
$2,600.00 |
$300,000 |
|||
|
High |
$25,500.00 |
$800,000 |
|||
|
22 |
NL Hold””””””””em Main Event [2-day] |
12-Apr |
Low |
$109.00 |
$1,000,000 |
|
Med |
$1,050.00 |
$3,000,000 |
|||
|
High |
$10,300.00 |
$5,000,000 |
* High Roller event
Full Tilt Poker Academy
March 15, 2009
Full Tilt Poker Academy
THE latest academy of learning may not reward you with a graduation certificate to place on your wall, but pay attention and you could soon be displaying a few hundred dollar bills in it’s place.
The Full Tilt Poker on-line Poker Academy launched this week exposes all of the secrets used by the stars of the game and depending on your patience to look, listen and learn you too could soon be raking in the moolah.
And the best part is that it is free!
Be warned, the Full Tilt Academy courses are extensive but they are easy to follow and the teachers are the superstars of the game, so when they speak you should take notice.
Like, who among us wouldn’t be happy to come in pre-flop with A Q.
Bill Elder, Bluff Magazine’s 2007 Player of the Year, sensibly describes how depending on the position of play he would at times rather toss the A Q and on other occasions raise with J 9 offsuit.
Elder devotes three chapters to the power of position and as with all the examples shown by the Full Tilt pros there is a challenge to see how much notice you have taken.
And practice makes perfect so you can take all the challenges time after time until you get it right.
But it is not just the cards in your hand that matter
Chris Ferguson
Legendary poker player Chris Ferguson explains how bankroll management plays a vital role.
Ferguson explains how he used bankroll management to turn nothing into $10,000 after first winning $2 in a free-roll.
So you can’t read the other players.
Well look and learn as Jennifer Harman, a two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, details the differences of players in sunglasses to those wearing baseball caps or even dressed in a suit.
Then like all of the lessons take the challenge to see what you have learned.
And one of the worst of all of course is the bubble.
How often have you played in a tournament for hours on end just to get knocked out before the payouts begin. (Called bursting the bubble).
Howard Lederer, another two time WSOP bracelet winner, explains how to adjust your game at this crucial junction of a sit and go or tournament.
Of course the Full Tilt team can’t teach you to win if your opponent has As Ks and the flop comes 10s, Js, Qs, but they deliver the knowledge and experience to help you minimize your losses on bad beats and capitalize your wins with the best cards.
The Full Tilt Poker Academy covers everything from Sit and Goes to multi-table tournaments.
The lessons are all free of charge with nothing to buy, but you need be a Full Tilt account holder to access the site.
If you are already a member you can log on directly at the academy page with your Full Tilt Poker login and password here, FULL TILT ACADEMY. If you still don””t have a Full Tilt Poker account, check out the Millers Guide review page and then download via our special links that will land you an exclusive 100% deposit bonus up to $600.
Aidan O’Brien up in the Air
November 5, 2008
FLYING time from Melbourne to London is some 24 hours, so having left Melbourne early this morning, Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien must still be up in the air somewhere possibly over Europe.
Cruising at around 30,000 feet, or about three times the distance of the Melbourne Cup, he might possibly be thinking what went wrong with his campaign to win the great race this year,
As he possibly sips on an expensive brandy he might well chortle that the track was like concrete, I should have taken the horses out (scratched them).
Well Aidan, when the plane finally comes down to earth (like you should), you might want to go and have another look or two at the video replay.
What absolutely insane tactics were those employed by your jockeys on your three representatives – Honolulu, Alessandro Volta and the “great” Sepitimus.
Were they all on instructions to go out at that pace?
We have a rich Group 1 1200 metre sprint race at Flemington called the Newmarket Handicap but it is on in the autumn.
The early sectional times returned by the O’Brien trio may have stood them in good stead in a race like the Newmarket, but this was the Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres on a good – not rock hard fast – track.
Honolulu gave Septimus cover for a good distance before he caved in before the home turn then Alessandro Volta who had set off like a pacemaker also collapsed in the home straight.
For half a stride Septimus, after his “dream run” behind the leader, looked a winning chance but then he too said enough and punctured.
Then a mass of horses all ridden much more sensibly, stampeded past the fading O’Brien trio.
Ignore the call that two of the three pulled up sore, after a tough race like the Melbourne Cup nearly every runner pulls up sore.
In the field of 22, O’Brien’s horses finished: Septimus (18th), Alessandro Volta (20th) and Honolulu (21st),
And that was after what many considered a failed attempt of team riding to give Septimus cover.
After being called back to an inquiry at the track O’Brien was asked “Was Alessandro Volta ridden in a manner that gave the horse every chance?”
Obviously in an ordinary mood after the performance of his team he debated the point with the Stewards before he was allowed to leave unpunished.
But as Chief Steward Terry Bailey said later: “If Septimus had kicked and won the race, it might have been a different matter altogether.”
O’Brien may not have been punished by the Stewards, but in his absence he has been verbally assaulted by many.
The bloke can obviously train horses but he has still got a lot to learn about Australian racing.
Viewed wins Melbourne Cup
November 4, 2008
Bart Cummings has won his 12th Melbourne Cup with horse Viewed in a photo finish.
Jockey Blake Shinn held of a late challenge from Bauer to ride the Viewed the five-year-old home in a nail-biting photo finish. Rounding out the top 3, C’est Le Guerre ran third.
Viewed’s win is also the fourth cup win for owner Dato Tan Nin Chang who won the Melbourne Cup twice with Saintly and once with Think Big both of which were also trained by Cummings.
Viewed paid $46.50 for a win.
The Aiden O’Brien-trained trained Alessandro Volta led the race early, but Viewed came into the running on the final turn taking the lead with 300m to go.
Blake Shinn thanked his mum, and trainer Cummings, who he described Bart as a living legend, for helping him win the race.
“I can’t believe it., it is one of the greatest moments in sport to be able to run the Melbourne Cup winner,” he said.
“And to the horse, Viewed, he put in 110 per cent today. We had a lovely run, he settled well which is what you need to win this race.”
Owner Dato Tan Nim Chan thanked Cummings’ staff, who he has had a long association with, as he collected his fourth Cup trophy.
“I am here not to make long speeches but to say how happy I am that the horse won. For a moment I thought he lost. It is my fourth win….I am now happy not to win anymore,” he said.
Bart Cummings, who has now claimed 250 Group 1 wins since his first Melbourne Cup victory 50 years ago, said he was pleased to see an Australian horse succeed.
“Well, what a great day it’s been,” he said. “I do make a habit of winning this race, someone told me, and I said ‘its a good habit to get in to’.”
Cummings said he thought the photo-finish was a dead heat, and said he felt sorry for the runner-up trainer, England’s Luca Cumani.
More than 100,000 people were at Flemington to watch Viewed run home with punters plunging over $20 million in Cup betting.
But the race that stops a nation stopped train services as well, thousands of racegoers had a frustrating delay at Southern Cross station this morning, when a V-line train held up a platform for 20 minutes waiting for crew to arrive.
From about 10.30am, up to 4,000 passengers on board four other trains had to wait until the missing V-Line crew were found and the train could vacate the platform.
Ladies in the limelight at Flemington
November 1, 2008
A MASSIVE crowd of over 100,000 at Flemington today witnessed one of the biggest upsets in Victoria Derby history.
Rebel Raider, an out-of-form 100-1 shot supplied female jockey Clare Lindop her biggest career win when she simply outstayed the odds-on favourite Whobegotyou ($1.75).
Both horses made moves at the same time but Lindop, obviously confident she was travelling better let her mount stride out and he did the rest.
Some reports suggested that the favourite did not stay the 2500 metres - well he did, he beat the third horse home by 2-1/4 lengths, the trouble was that Rebel Raider stayed it better and was 2-1/2 lengths in front of him.
Winning trainer Leon Macdonald said he had little confidence going into the race.
He said: “If we had drawn one, we might have got a cushy run and had a chance but we had (barrier) 15. But we also had Clare.’’
It continues a remarkable year for the Adelaide based hoop who early this year was the first female jockey to win a section of the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.
In a further bonus for Lindop she has also picked up the mount on the Bart Cummings’ Moetize, a definite chance, in next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
Apart from Lindop the ladies were to the fore at Flemington in the shape of trainer Gai Waterhouse who scored a Group 1 double with highly promising colt Northern Meteor in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Theseo in the Mackinnon Stakes.
The fourth Group 1 on the day, the Myer Classic, was taken out by Sheikh Mohammed’s 4YO mare Forensics who strolled home.
2008 COOLMORE STUD STAKES – 1200 metres (Saturday, November 1)
Group 1. 3YO. SW. of $500,000 and $2500 trophy. First: $300,000 and trophy; Second: $90,000; Third: $45,000; Fourth: $22,500; Fifth: $12,500; Sixth: $10,000; Seventh: $10,000; Eighth: $10,000.
$1.85 fav NORTHERN METEOR (Gooree Pastoral Company syn. (Mgrs: A Baddock & E M Cojuangco). B c 3y Encosta De Lago - Explosive (USA), by Fappiano (USA). Tr: Ms Gai Waterhouse. 55.5kg. Nash Rawiller 1
$11.00 FIST OF FURY (Gazal T/Breds P/L syn. (Mgr: W & Z Gazal), Gazcorp syn, N Vass, A J Lees, Sedgewyn syn, Mrs I O’Shea, Laurel Oak Hussonello syn & DV8 syn. Ch c 3y, Hussonet (USA) – Venticello, by Chimes Square). Tr: John O’Shea. 55.5kg. Hugh Bowman 2
$21.00 ALL AMERICAN (Arrowfield All American syn (Mgr: J Messara), C Casey, D Heffernan, C Davenport, C Easton, D Hayes, K Heffernan, W McVean & All American syn (Mgr: B Mathieson). Br c 3y, Red Ransom (USA) - Milva (USA). Tr: David Hayes. 55.5kg. Brad Rawiller 3
2008 CROWN LKS MACKINNON STAKES - 2000 metres (Saturday, November 1)
Group 1. WFA of $750,000 and $2500 trophy. First $450,000 and trophy; Second: $135,000; Third: $67,500; Fourth: $33,750; Fifth: $18,750; Sixth: $15,000; Seventh: $15,000; Eighth: $15,000.
$6.00 THESEO (M Townsend, P Evans, Mrs A Wilberforce, C Thompson, Mrs S Hardie, R Stanwell, G Sobels, G Menzies, Mrs J Nathans & Mrs M Rusk. ch g 5y Danewin - Ozone Sand (USA), by by L’enjoleur (Can). Tr: Gai Waterhouse. 59kg. Nash Rawiller 1
$8.00 BARBARICUS (A C Lennen, T H Rourke, R C Salter, B G Blood, S Mann, S Charles, S G Russell & C Vagg. Gr g 4y, Lion Hunter - Light Of Erin, by Palace Music (USA). Tr: Danny O’Brien. 58.5kg. Stephen Baster 2
$9.50 SIRMIONE (Dr J M & Mrs T M Xipell, R Covington & L A & Mrs S J Smith. B g 5y, Encosta De Lago - World Guide (NZ) (by Defensive Play (USA). Tr: Bart Cummings. 59kg. Damien Oliver 3
2008 AAMI VICTORIA DERBY – 2500 metres (Saturday, November 1)
Group 1. 3YO SW of $1,500,000 and $10,000 trophies. First: $900,000 and trophies; Second: $270,000; Third: $135,000; Fourth: $67,500; Fifth: $37,500; Sixth: $30,000; Seventh: $30,000; Eighth: $30,000.
$101.00 REBEL RAIDER (B H Perks, T J Robertson, R B Fairclough, Dr P C Goel, B R Broomhead, J H Knox, J F Naffine, C B Taylor & Slainte Racing syn. Br c 3y Reset – Picholine, by Dehere (USA). Tr: Leon Macdonald. 55.5kg. Clare Lindop 1
$1.75 fav WHOBEGOTYOU (L Eales. Ch g 3y, Street Cry (Ire.) - Temple Of Peace (Japan), by Carnegie (Ire.). Tr: Mark Kavanagh. 55.5kg. Michael Rodd 2
$13.00 PRE EMINENCE (R Harding, J Harding, F Capuzzi, Plan B Syndicate (Mgr J Clarke), Montage Syndicate (G Jones), L Bartle, P Bartle, S Tsalikidis & P McDonald. B c 3y, Encosta De Lago - Lady Silver Hawk (USA), by Silver Hawk (USA). Tr: Mick Price. 55.5kg. Craig Newitt 3
2008 MYER CLASSIC – 1600 metres (Saturday, November 1)
Group 1. 3YO&Up F&M WFA of $500,000 and $2500 trophy. First: $300,000 and trophy; Second: $90,000; Third: $45,000; Fourth: $22,500; Fifth: $12,500; Sixth: $10,000; Seventh: $10,000; Eighth: $10,000.
$3.30 fav FORENSICS (Sheikh Mohammed’s b m 4y Flying Spur - Prove It, br Dehere (USA). Tr: Peter Snowden. 57kg. Kerrin McEvoy 1
$13.00 ABSOLUTELYFABULOUS (Indian Pacific Bloodstock syn. (Mgrs: T Worner & D Fitzgerald) & Mrs J Wanless. B m 5y, Langfuhr (Can.) - Joker’s Girl, by Rory’s Jester). Tr: Kris Lees. 57kg. Corey Brown 2
$6.00 MIMI LEBROCK (L A Smith & Mrs S J Smith. B m 4y, Show A Heart - God Love It, by St. Covet). Tr: Bart Cummings. 57kg. Michael Rodd 3
