Shark is a minnow for Masters
March 31, 2009
A TRICKY question: Who won last year’s US Masters’ at Augusta?
Too tough? Trevor Immelman.
Well here is an easy one: Who ran second in the US Masters’ in 1986, 1987 and 1996?
Too easy. Greg Norman.
Norman has played in 22 US Masters” and while he is now long odds to ever win one, he will surely never be forgotten as one of the best to never do so.
Beaten by a Jack Nicklaus last nine birdle blitz in 1986; Larry Mize’s amazing chip in 1987 and then squandering a six shot final round lead to Nick Faldo in 1996, Norman is back courtesy of his third in last year’s British Open at Royal Birkdale.
It will be his 23rd crack at his heartache event and his first competitive round at there since he finished tied for 36th in 2002.
But nobody is expecting any heroics.
Where in the 1980s and 1990s he often started the tournament favourite this time he is the rank outsider for golfing glory.
Sportingbet have him rated at $201.00 while golf’s number one Tiger Woods heads the betting at $3.75.
Norman was his usual hot and cold self in last weekend’s Cap Cana Championship where he fired a 73, 72, 71 for the three round tournament and tied for 36th overall.
Seven Australians are driving for glory at Augusta: Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Matthew Goggin, Greg Norman, Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott.
The current Sportingbet market is:
$3.25 Tiger Woods
$8.50 Phil Mickelson
$17.00 Padraig Harrington
$17.00 Sergio Garcia
$23.00 Geoff Ogilvy
$26.00 Retief Goosen
$29.00 Ernie Els
$31.00 Vijay Singh
$31.00 Anthony Kim
$34.00 Rory McIlroy
$34.00 Henrik Stenson
$34.00 Adam Scott
$34.00 Robert Karlsson
$34.00 Camilo Villegas
$34.00 Paul Casey
$41.00 to $201 others
Other Australians:
$TBA Matthew Goggin
$67.00 Stuart Appleby
$67.00 Aaron Baddeley
$81.00 Robert Allenby
$201.00 Greg Norman
To place your bet on this year’’s US Masters, Miller’’s Guide recommends Sportingbet. Sign up HERE and once you deposit $30 they will give you $100 FREE!! You cannot beat that offer.
Reward ready for big Slipper effort
March 29, 2009
TOP jockey Luke Nolen has warned punters not to treat next Saturday ‘’s Golden Slipper as a two horse race.
All the talk for the past fortnight has been about Slipper preview winners Real Saga and More Joyous and that suits Nolen just fine. He is scheduled to ride Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort and he is happy to stay in the background until race day.
Currently Sportingbet have Reward For Effort on the fourth line of betting at $9.00 for the Slipper behind Real Saga ($3.50), More Joyous ($3.60) and Rostova ($8.00).
Nolen said: “It doesn” t bother me that they are talking about the other two. We are very happy with the way things are coming along.”
Nolen rode Reward For Effort in a winning track gallop at Randwick last Friday but even then the talk of the trial was that runner-up Rostova would pay-up for the Slipper.
Nolen said: “He (Reward For Effort) did everything we wanted. He was a little awkward coming around the turn but he will be improved by that. “We have been a bit soft on him and he needed the hit-out.
“(Trainer) Peter (Moody) said he wouldn ”t run him unless he was 100% happy with him.”
Reward For Effort will need to break a decent run of outs for Blue Diamond winners who have gone on to contest the Slipper.
The last to do so successfully was Courtza in 1989.
Since then of the 15 Blue Diamond winners that have tried for the double only Canonise (2nd in 1991), Paint (2nd in 1996) and Alinghi (3rd in 2004) have managed placings in the Slipper.
Last year ‘’s Blue Diamond winner Reaan ran last of 16 in the Slipper.
Latest Sportingbet market is:
Golden Slipper, 1200m. Rosehill, April 4
$3.50 Real Saga
$3.60 More Joyous
$8.00 Rostova
$9.00 Reward For Effort
$11.00 Manhattan Rain
$13 Melito
$17 De Lago Bolt
$26 Indian Ocean, Phelan Ready
$41 Our Joan Of Arc
$51 Headway, Wanted
$71 to $401 others
Click on Golden Slipper at the top of the page to get all the statistics on previous results.
To place your bet on this year ‘’s Golden Slipper, Miller ‘’s Guide recommends Sportingbet. Sign up HERE and once you deposit $30 they will give you $100 FREE!! You cannot beat that offer.
Pocket rockets in a dash for cash
March 29, 2009
THERE is no horse racing in Victoria on Good Friday but since the TAB is still opening here is an event they might like to operate on.
While the nation’s pristine athletes gather in Stawell over the Easter weekend to contest the Stawell Gift a few hundred kilometres down south at Mornington the “pocket rockets” are having an event of their own.
A foot race “Dash For Cash” for members of the racing industry has been scheduled for contest over 100 metres down the straight at Mornington and so far there is a field of eight with plenty more likely to line up come “race day.”
The challenge is being arranged through the Facebook website which has a huge number of jockeys as participants.
Race organizer Daniel Schmitt said: “I put Good Friday as the date as there are no races on that day.”
And Schmitt fancies his chances with such posts as “Who wants a head start.”
Schmitt initially issued the challenge to all Mornington based track riders and/or stable staff but fellow organizer, jumps jockey, Jonathan Bowles said: “Anyone is welcome to participate, they don’t have to be a Facebook member so long as Matt Shirvington and the like don’t rock up.’’
The concept is a $10 entry fee with a prizemoney split up of 50%, 30%, $20% or it could become a winner take all.
The race is scheduled for 1pm on Friday, April 10.
Don’t know how he goes over 100 metres but I do recall seeing Brad Rawiller, in between races, gallop three laps of the Wangaratta race track in near 40C one day last year.
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!
Inter win sure Feels good
March 28, 2009
NORTH AMERICAN pacer Mr Feelgood created history at the Gold Coast tonight when he knocked off Australasia’s best pacers to win the Inter Dominion Pacers’ final.
Driven an absolute treat by Anthony Butt, the 2006 Little Brown Jug winner came three wide around the field in the final lap before switching back to the inside in the home straight.
It was a winning move by Butt who finally tasted Inter Dominion Pacers’ success in his 29th attempt at the big prize.
Three –time winner Blacks A Fake led the field into the home straight but although he fought back strongly after working fairly hard in front most of the way he could not hold off the American’s sprint.
Karloo Mick also fought on strongly for the minor placing.
Shock of the race was the atrocious performance from Kiwi champ Auckland Reactor who trailed the field home.
He had to do plenty of work to work up outside the leader but he was a spent force down the back straight and quickly compounded.
Butt said: “It is a great thrill, it has been a long time coming.
“I got a great run round the field. I saw Blacks A Fake drift off the fenced last week so I decided to go back to the inside.’’
Mr Feelgood was brought to Australia by high profile owner Kevin Seymour.
El Galo in the driver seat for Easter Egg
March 27, 2009
El Galo
Thompson’s trio of El Galo, Fedex and Mandingo are all top class sprinters and will play a major part in Sydney’s most prestigious greyhound race.
But there will be one major difference in the transport arrangements for the three contenders.
Fedex and Mandingo will be in the trailer while El Galo will travel in the car.
Not surprising when you consider that El Galo has been valued at up to $4,000,000.
Hot on the heels of his recent near record win at Sandown Park, El Galo is drawn ideally in box eight in the seventh heat, race seven.
Already the highest rated greyhound in Australia, in a sport that has a high attrition rate for it’s top performers, El Galo only seems to be getting stronger and better with age.
In the Bert Bryant Memorial at Sandown last week he flew the lids and equaled the record for the run to the post the first time, kept up the pace to break the record for the run to the mark in the back straight and finished off the race only two lengths off the long standing track record.
The $10,000 first prize took his earnings to just over $462,000 and if he takes out the Easter Egg he will top Rapid Journey’s Australian earnings record of $530,995.
Owner Seona Hood, partner of Thompson, said: “He is a remarkable dog, he just blows me away.’’
Tomorrow night’s wide draw should ensure that El Galo leads and although he is always a slight risk of fading near the end it will take a near record time to run him down.
His main rival looks certain to be fellow Victorian Velocette who did manage to run him down in the recent Australian Cup final at The Meadows.
His trainer Graeme Bate has generously all but conceded tomorrow night’s event to El Galo, saying “he would just lead and win”, but it might have been a bit of tongue in cheek commentary.
Since his upset win in the Australian Cup, Velocette has started twice for an unlucky placing in the Perth Cup heats then he broke the Cannington track record in the Cup consolation last Saturday.
Thompson’s other two runners: Fedex has been cleared of any injury after falling at his latest outing at The Meadows last week and a Mandingo, former Sydney sprinter, who has been in his care in recent months.
That pair have also drawn wide and look solid chance to earn a spot in the semi-finals a week later.
The leading home State chances look to be Mantra Lad who has drawn the cherry (box one) in the opening heat race one and boom sprinter Miss Elly Mint (race 6, No. 6), who has set track records at her last three starts.
The Slipper is on for Rostova
March 27, 2009
CONNECTIONS of brilliant filly Rostova will today pay the $150,000 late entry fee to get her into the field for the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehilll on April 4.
Trainer Steve Richards said it was “full steam ahead” after Rostova impressed her regular jockey Steven King in a track gallop at Randwick this morning.
“I’m really happy with her, she will improve out of sight on that effort,’’ Richards said.
A winner at four of her five race starts, Rostova has not raced since she outclassed her rivals over the 1400 metres of the VRC Sires’ Produce at Flemington on March 7.
Before that she didn’t have much luck in running when five lengths fifth behind Reward For effort in the 1200 metre Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 21, having scored three brilliant wins at her first three starts.Rostova is still rated third pick at $8.00 in the Sportingbet Golden Slipper market behind Real Saga and More Joyous.
Latest Sportingbet Golden Slipper market:
1200 m. Rosehill, April 4
$3.50 Real Saga
$3.60 More Joyous
$8.00 Rostova
$10.00 Reward For Effort
$12.00 Melito
$13.00 Manhattan Rain
$17.00 Delago Bolt
$19.00 Tickets
$26.00 Phelan Ready
$35.00 Common Interest
$41.00 Our Joan Of Arc
$51.00 to $401 others
Click on Golden Slipper at the top of the page to get all the statistics on previous results.
To place your bet on this year”’’s Golden Slipper, Miller”’’s Guide recommends Sportingbet. Sign up HERE and once you deposit $30 they will give you $100 FREE!! You cannot beat that offer.
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
Olly is the hoop
March 25, 2009
OKAY now we know, Damien Oliver will be riding Real Saga in the Golden Slipper.
As always that man Andrew “Hoss” Bensley got the word from Wayne Hawkes on Radio Sport 927 around 10am. this morning.
Hawkes said: “The decision has been made, Damien Oliver is going to ride the horse.
“He has ridden the horse twice and I suppose you could probably think of a million reasons why or why not but we have only put D Oliver on in the Slipper once before and it was a horse called Forensics and he won, so his record for us in the Slipper is pretty damn good.”
An informative Hawkes also said that punters should expect Real Saga to be improved even further from his easy win in last Saturday’s Todman Slipper trial.
Hawkes said: “He won really well, they might have been the B graders some of those horses but he actually had a good blow after the race, because it was a month between the Diamond the Todman Slipper.
“That just showed us that there was a bit of improvement believe it or not.”
Damien Oliver’s record in the Golden Slipper
2008 Anatomica ($21.00) 4th
2007 Forensics (12-1) Won
2005 Opportunity (15-1) 7th
2004 Alinghi (8-11 fav.) 3rd
2003 Halibery (15-1) 15th
2001 Regal Kiss (9-1) 7th
2000 Crowned Glory (11-2) 2nd
1998 Compulsion (16-1) 16th
1995 Zedrich (15-2) 6th
1994 Racer’s Edge (50-1) 3rd
1993 Star Of Nouvelle (9-1) 12th
1992 Chingquillo (25-1) 6th
Silly saga not helping punters
March 24, 2009
THE Golden Slipper is just over a week away and still we don’t have a jockey named for the equal favourite Real Saga.
A brilliant winner at Rosehill last Saturday, Real Saga is currently $3.60 equal top pick with More Joyous in the Sportingbet market.
But while we have miillions of dollars being wagered on this race, we have the Hawkes’ camp playing silly little ducks and drakes games with the press, the jockeys and the racing public.
There are two leading contenders, Damien Oliver and Glyn Schofield, who have both already won races on the horse.
Schofield won on the colt at his first two race starts in ordinary races before Oliver took over for a win in a Blue Diamond Prelude and a fast finishing second behind Reward For Effort in the Blue Diamond.
A third jockey, Darren Beadman, won on the colt at Rosehill last Saturday but he is already committed to ride More Joyous.
John Hawkes’ comments to the Herald Sun’s Adrian Dunn during the week were lamentable.
As Adrian kept pushing him for a response Hawkes said: “Jockeys are a dime a dozen.’’
Comments sure to inspire respect from the likes of Beadman, Oliver, Schofield and others.
Further pushed for an answer he quipped: “When I get around to it, there’’s no rush. I”ll get round to it eventually.” And then he cut short the interview.
Possibly it stems back to when the Hawkes were fined after misleading the press and the public when Viscount trialled at Moonee Valley several years back.
Maybe they figure it is better to say nothing than be caught out again.
Of course the Hawkes have always had a quirky relationship with the media but crikey, if they don’t know by now who is best suited to ride the horse maybe they might not be as good with horses as people give them credit for.
The current Sportingbet Golden Slipper market is:
1200m. Rosehill, April 4
$3.60 More Joyous
$3.60 Real Saga
$8.00 Rosotova (not yet nominated)
$10 Reward For Effort
$11.00 Manhattan Rain
$12 Melito
$17 Delago Bolt
$26 Phelan Ready, Tickets
$31 Headway, Our Joan Or Arc
$35 Sunday Rose, Common Interest
$51 to $401 others.
To place your bet on this year’’s Golden Slipper, Miller’’s Guide recommends Sportingbet. Sign up HERE and once you deposit $30 they will give you $100 FREE!! You cannot beat that offer.
