Postscript - Chris Beath (to his credit) has just been on TV and explained the VAR decision was for offside against Sotirio, not obstruction. Before Sotirio’s tangle with Zullo in the build up to the ‘goal’ he had been in an offside position, so once he became an active participant in the move he was at risk of being penalised.
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Summary
Another week, another big-city derby, another VAR controversy in the A-League. Just two rounds into the A-League season the competition is beset with issues over officiating following another controversial call during Sydney FC’s 2-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at the SCG.
Midway through the second half it appeared as though Roly Bonevacia has given his side a lifeline but his strike was chalked off by VAR for a foul during the build-up to the goal. Markus Babbel was apoplectic with rage and received a red card for venting his anger on the touchline. Social media erupted, leaving nobody in any doubt this will be another football news cycle dominated by a familiar story.
The VAR controversy overshadowed an excellent game. Both sides committed bodies to attack, both moved the ball quickly, and chances arrived frequently at both ends. Adam Le Fondre’s poaching instincts set Sydney on their way early, scoring for the second time in as many weeks to hit the ground running in his A-League career. Alex Brosque’s tidy finish early in the second half sealed the three points and continue the Sky Blues’ derby dominance.
The Wanderers did everything but score. Aside from the VAR they hit the post, had a shot cleared off the line, saw a decent penalty shout declined, and miscued a host of other opportunities. Their derby form now extends to just one win in the past 14 matches.
Thanks again for your company. We’ll be back to do this all again soon.
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Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre was understandably delighted by the victory, and the performance. “I thought we were outstanding tonight,” he said after netting his second goal in as many games. “The pocket players were causing all sorts of problems.”
Western Sydney’s Brendan Hamill was careful not to follow his coach into disciplinary trouble when asked about the controversial VAR decision. “I’m not on enough money to pay fines,” he said, “so I’ll leave that to someone else.”
Sydney FC 2-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
Sydney collect the three points at the SCG but that’s only a fraction of the story on another night dominated by VAR.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 27: Sydney FC celebrate victory after the round two A-League match between Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
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90+4 mins: Redmayne has been unconvincing tonight and he flaps at another ball into the box. From the resulting clearance the Wanderers win a free-kick, the second ball into the penalty area from that passage of play finds the head of Riera who plants a firm header into the back of the net. He wheels away in celebration, only to find the assistant referee’s flag raised and Western Sydney are denied yet again. What a torturous night this has been for them.
90+3 mins: Baumjohann has been replaced by Majok.
90 + 2 mins: The Wanderers again come desperately close to a goal, this time a near-post flick from Bonevacia’s wicked delivery skims beyond the far post with Redmayne in no-man’s land.
90 mins: Steve Corica has done his best to nurse his squad through this contest but he’s just been handed a nightmare. Siem de Jong has done a hammy. Stretching to control a bouncing ball the Dutchman immediately grabbed his right leg and signalled to the bench his night was done. Sydney FC are down to ten men for the six minutes of injury time and are likely to be without one of their key imports for some time. De Jong looks crestfallen.
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88 mins: It’s still end-to-end stuff at the SCG. Riera goes close then de Jong has a shot charged down after good work from Cameron Devlin, on as a sub for Paolo Retre.
85 mins: To their credit the Wanderers are not giving up. Their desperation to find a breakthrough almost becomes their undoing though with Sydney capitalising on a turnover in midfield and putting Brillante clean through, unfortunately for the Sky Blues the midfielder blazes over.
81 mins: The Wanderers have done everything but score tonight. Again they come close, four times in a matter of seconds! First Riera on the turn is deflected wide, then Baccus has a header cleared off the line by O’Neill, then Kamau has a dart, before O’Doherty fires from distance onto the outside of the post!
78 mins: Both sides are continuing to push for more goals but fatigue is starting to affect the quality. Corners from both teams come to nought and Bonevacia has a nice drive claimed comfortably by Redmayne.
The atmosphere has changed significantly since the VAR incident. A brief burst of energy has been replaced by a sense of disbelief.
73 mins: Brosque, another of the night’s outstanding performers, takes a breather. Charles Lokoli-Ngoy comes on in his place.
70 mins: The Wanderers have channelled their anger to good effect, dominating the past few minutes. Baumjohann has strong penalty claims waved away - on-field, and via VAR - despite van der Linden not appearing to make contact with the ball and his opponent hitting the deck on the edge of the area. You’ve seen penalties given for less.
66 mins: Ninkovic is being protected after a splendid game and de Jong is offered a 25-minute cameo.
A quick glance at social media tells you all you need to know about public opinion following that VAR interjection. The narrative for another week has been set. There will have to be a reaction to that decision, expect to hear plenty from Greg O’Rourke again over the next couple of days.
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64 mins: On-field Wilkinson and Retre pick up yellows while Kamau and O’Doherty come on for Sotirio and Mahazi.
Red Card - Markus Babbel
63 mins: Markus Babbel blew up as soon as the goal was chalked off and has been sent off. His frustration is understandable but he’s in for a decent ban for his dissent.
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VAR - Sydney FC 2-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
Out of nowhere the Wanderers are back in this. Bonevacia has repaid his teammates after letting them down earlier with a tidy low finish from the edge of the box. The goal owes plenty to Sydney FC mistakes though, first van der Linden makes a hash of a routine clearance, then Redmayne fails to deal with a shot he could save.
Oh no.
Hang on.
VAR is involved, and Beath has overturned the goal, presumably (because we don’t hear the VAR deliberations) for Sotirio blocking Zullo in the build up. It’s a soft decision, maddeningly so. How can that be justified to overrule a goal!? Another game descending into farce.
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GOAL! Sydney FC 2-0 Western Sydney Wanderers (Brosque, 54)
From the most recent of those Bonevacia misdemeanours Sydney FC eventually double their lead. The initial free-kick from the right is only half cleared and after neat play between Zullo and Ninkovic down the left the ball finds Brosque in a shooting opportunity on the edge of the six-yard box and he drills the ball across Janjetovic and into the far corner.
Sky Blue skipper Alex Brosque scores in his 200th game for @SydneyFC!
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 27, 2018
📹: @FOXFOOTBALL#SydneyDerby #ALeague pic.twitter.com/TMv6dp9Mnt
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53 mins: Bonevacia has conceded two needless cheap free-kicks this half already. For such a talented player he is an infuriating man to watch, too often a negative force for his own side.
49 mins: But Sydney almost double their lead twice in the blink of an eye. First Le Fondre is inches away from capitalising on a weak backpass, then the Englishman inadvertently blocks Retre’s goal-bound effort after good work down the left between Ninkovic and Zullo. The end-to-end pattern of the first half has continued.
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48 mins: Wanderers on the front foot early, causing Sydney FC a few problems with repeat set-pieces into the box.
46 mins: Second half underway at the SCG.
To my eye Sydney FC were well worth their lead at half-time and the stats back that up with the Sky Blues enjoying 58% possession and nine shots to Western Sydney’s three. However, those three, plus a couple of other botched approaches were dangerous and with greater efficiency in the final third the Wanderers could be ahead.
Everything good from the visitors has been direct and rapid with Sydney caught surprisingly often in transition. Expect Steve Corica to shut that aspect of the game down in the second half. In slower possession only Baumjohann looked a threat and he struggled to get on the ball as often as Markus Babbel would like.
For Sydney the familiar back six look to have found the same groove of recent seasons with O’Neill and Brillante once again setting a formidable platform. Ahead of them the interplay between Ninkovic, Le Fondre and Brosque was irrepressible.
Half-time: Sydney FC 1-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
A splendid opening half draws to a close with Sydney FC enjoying a one-nil advantage.
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44 mins: Right on cue Baumjohann weaves past a couple of Sky Blue opponents to set up a promising move, only to find Sotirio had drifted unnecessarily offside. Before that Janjetovic did well to claim a corner in a packed six-yard box.
41 mins: Baccus lets fly from range but it doesn’t trouble Redmayne. The Wanderers need to get Baumjohann on the ball much more in the final third, especially when possession is slow. Around him there isn’t an abundance of guile.
39 mins: A decent effort from the effervescent Brosque flashes just past Janjetovic’s post. His movement and interplay with Le Fondre and Ninkovic has been a feature of this half. Lots of one touch passing and moving, looking for the one-two release behind the Wanderers defence. Beautiful to watch.
38 mins: It’s been an entertaining half so far. Both sides are trying to maximise their attacking transitions, the Wanderers through the pace of Sotirio, Sydney through the guile of Ninkovic. The difference between the two is how composed the Sky Blues seem in slower play compared to the Wanderers. However, while the game remains end-to-end they remain in the mix.
36 mins: Lovely move from end-to-end by Sydney FC featuring Brosque, Ninkovic and Le Fondre but the final touch isn’t forceful enough to beat Janjetovic. That would have been some goal had the finish matches the build up.
35 mins: The first Sydney FC booking of the night goes to Rhyan Grant for a tactical foul on the right touchline.
33 mins: Bonevacia holds his head in his hands after slashing wide when a goal was on offer. A decent move down the left ends with Redmayne making a meal of a decent cross and punching the ball only as far as Bonevacia on the edge of the box. The Dutchman rushes his shot though and watches it slice wide with the untended goal at his mercy.
30 mins: Western Sydney need to get to grips with Ninkovic. The playmaker is finding space wherever he wants and setting up attack after attack for Sydney. The majority of his work is in the left channel where his relationship with Adam Le Fondre is blossoming.
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26 mins: The Wanderers have their second decent look at goal, Sotirio this time, but after being put through superbly by Baumjohann he ends up on too tight an angle to fashion a shot. It was a delightful through-ball from the German, perfectly weighted between defender and full-back to hit Sotirio’s flying arced run. A sign of Baumjohann’s quality.
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25 mins: Another booking for the Wanderers, Mahazi this time, for a full-blooded challenge in midfield.
23 mins: Milos Ninkovic has been excellent so far drifting between the lines and his trickery draws the first booking of the night, to Josh Risdon.
20 mins: Chance for the Wanderers! Poor turnover in midfield by Brillante allows Western Sydney to break at speed. Sotirio takes the ball down the right but his cross is a fraction behind Riera making his finish awkward. Just a fraction more precision in cross and shot and the Wanderers are level.
17 mins: Western Sydney with some time on the ball but it’s all in their defensive third. As soon as there’s an opportunity to press, Sydney pick off the interception and break menacingly.
14 mins: Another half-chance for Le Fondre. Grant pinged a glorious long free-kick onto his striker’s outstretched boot but the Englishman couldn’t regather his composure ot lift the ball over the onrushing Janjetovic. Le Fondre getting the better out of Hamill and Tongyik in these early exchanges.
11 mins: Better from the Wanderers and it’s the physicality of senior men Riera and Bonevacia at the heart of it. Their impetus gained the visitors some territory where the pace of Sotirio and craft of Baumjohann were offered the chance to shine. Grant and Wilkinson both do well to repel dangerous balls into the box.
8 mins: Le Fondre has a half-chance to make it two early goals but his curling effort is weak. It’s all Sydney FC so far though. They’ve settled comfortably, especially their back six, all circulating possession with ease and building attacking foundations for the men in front of them. The Wanderers lack some experience and steel in the centre of the park.
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GOAL! Sydney FC 1-0 Western Sydney Wanderers (Le Fondre, 4)
Sydney swing in a free-kick from deep that the Wanderers clear initially but the second ball drilled into the box falls to the unmarked Adam Le Fondre heading towards goal while Western Sydney defenders forlornly rush out to play offside. The Englishman’s first effort is superbly saved but he’s alert to pounce on the rebound and fire his side ahead.
Adam Le Fondre scores the first ever Hyundai @ALeague goal at the SCG with the #SydneyDerby opener!
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 27, 2018
📺: Watch LIVE on @FOXFOOTBALL 505, @tensporttv, the My Football Live app or TenPlay.#ALeague #WhereHeroesAreMade pic.twitter.com/TATkM0usJg
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2 mins: Sydney make the early running through Rhyan Grant down the right-hand side. He reaches the byline but his cutback is smuggled away.
1 min: Ok, so the first comment has to be about the SCG. As soon as the TV camera pans to the stadium view you realise the centre square is prominent and visible in the centre of the pitch. It remains to be seen how that plays out. Also, despite the terrific noise coming through the speakers, fans anywhere other than behind the goals are a mile away from the action.
Peeeeeeeep! Chris Beath gets us underway in the first Sydney derby for 2018-19.
The teams are making their way onto the SCG turf, Sydney in their familiar sky blue outfit, the Wanderers in a splendid new all-black change strip.
It took a while to fill up but the famous old stands have a healthy contingent of fans in them and the noise coming through the TV sounds like there should be no decline in atmosphere despite the change of venue.
Some of Opta’s finest stats to chew over before kick-off.
- Western Sydney Wanderers have won just one of the last 13 derbies (D4, L8), conceding 10 goals in the last three fixtures.
- Sydney FC have kept Western Sydney Wanderers scoreless in the second-half in their last seven matches; the last time the Wanderers scored a second-half goal in the Derby was in Round 15 in 2015/16.
- Western Sydney Wanderers will be out to avoid back-to-back losses against New South Wales opposition for the first time since 2015, having lost to Sydney FC in February 2018.
- Western Sydney Wanderers scored just eight goals in the final 30 minutes last season, the joint-fewest in the competition; last weekend, their only goal came in this period of the match.
- Sydney FC had the best passing accuracy of any team last weekend (81%) – last season they had a passing accuracy of 77%.
Sydney derby - Team news
Western Sydney are unchanged from the side that earned a point away at Perth Glory last week.
Here's how we'll be lining up in the #SydneyDerby tonight! #WSW pic.twitter.com/KZck98eBbw
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) October 27, 2018
One change for Sydney FC with Paolo Retre replacing Siem de Jong in a move that perhaps casts an eye to Tuesday’s FFA Cup final against Adelaide United.
LINEUP | Here's how your Sky Blues shape up for tonight's massive #SydneyDerby at the @scg!!
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) October 27, 2018
What do you make of the squad?#SydneyIsSkyBlue #ComeWithUs pic.twitter.com/0OgXC5G3NV
A-League: On to the evening’s main event, the A-League’s Sydney derby.
Since Western Sydney Wanderers’ introduction to the competition six years ago this triannual fixture has been a highlight of the Australian sporting calendar. Something potent occurred from the first moment the city’s blue blood establishment locked horns with the red and black upstarts from across town. Fans have flocked to matches creating memorable atmospheres and with both clubs enjoying success along the way there’s been no shortage of importance to the rivalry.
Tonight’s fixture takes both clubs into uncharted territory. With Allianz Stadium about to welcome the wrecking crew the derby has relocated a few hundred metres along the Moore Park complex to the Sydney Cricket Ground. It’s a rare (but not unheard of) tenancy for football at the historic old venue. Famously the Socceroos beat Uruguay at the SCG in a warm-up match before the 1974 World Cup. On that fateful night Ray Baartz’s promising career was cut short at the age of 27 following an incident with Luis Garisto.
The sense of unfamiliarity stretches to the dugout. Both clubs have employed new coaches this season, meaning both Steve Corica and Markus Babbel will be breaking their A-League derby ducks. Although that edge may be blunted slightly by their recent lower key FFA Cup meeting.
So early in the season there remains a sense of unknown about both sides too. Each recorded 1-1 away draws in the opening round with neither looking fluent after the long offseason.
For Sydney FC the majority of the group that has brought such success in recent seasons remains but there are changes at the very top end of the list and it remains to be seen if Siem de Jong, Adam Le Fondre and Jop van der Linden are adequate replacements for Jordy Buijs, Adrian Mierzejewski and Bobo.
The Wanderers are in a much greater state of flux after settling on their fourth coach in barely a year. Babbel has been outspoken since he arrived in Australia and has set low expectations for his first season in charge. A positive derby experience is just the catalyst he needs to earn the early support of Wanderland. His predecessor found out the hard way what can happen if an early derby result goes unfavourably.
A-League: Central Coast Mariners 1-1 Melbourne City
Honours even between Central Coast and Melbourne City in Gosford. An entertaining and open first half gave way to a one-sided second but City didn’t have enough guile to force the result their dominance deserved. The visitors enjoyed 62% possession and struck 22 shots to the Mariners’ four but the outcome is one-point apiece.
Five draws in seven matches to start a remarkably even new A-League season.
A-League: The substitutions work! Dario Vidosic smuggles the equaliser for City, who have dominated the second half. CCM 1-1 Melbourne City.
There were plenty of touches, but it was Dario Vidosic who scored the equaliser for @MelbourneCity.
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 27, 2018
📹: @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/C3C7vHMdvX
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A-League: 25-minutes left in Gosford and chances have been scant this second half meaning Central Coast remain a goal up on Melbourne City. Many of City’s problems have stemmed from the lack of attacking threat provided by auxiliary left-back Harrison Delbridge. The American is eventually switched to centre-half during a double substitution but Warren Joyce has not left a lot of time for his troops to rescue anything from a game they would have expected to win.
World Series: Boston Red Sox 2-3 LA Dodgers
All over in game three of the World Series too - eventually. It took seven hours and 20 minutes but the Dodgers prevailed.
Rugby: New Zealand 37-20 Australia
All over in Yokohama and that’s a clean sweep for New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup.
A-League: Ten minutes gone in the second half and the Mariners remain a goal to the good. Robbie Slater reckons it’s time Warren Joyce went to his bench and replaced either Lachie Wales or Florin Berenguer to provide more craft in the final third.
Rugby: Folau makes amends for his earlier error and crosses for a consolation try. Almost immediately the All Blacks hit back through Rieko Ioane. New Zealand coasting at 37-20 with time almost up in Yokohama.
Rugby: It’s going from bad to worse for the Wallabies. Down to 14 men with Tolo Latu in the bin for retaliation, Ben Smith picked off an Israel Folau Hail Mary and ran in New Zealand’s fourth try. Barrett missed the conversion but the All Blacks still lead 32-13.
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World Series: The baseball’s still going, by the way. They’re into the 18th (eighteenth) inning of Game 3 of the World Series with the Dodgers and Red Sox still tied at 2-2.
A-League: Half-time in Gosford with the Mariners leading City 1-0 courtesy of that Ross McCormack strike.
The visitors have enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked penetration in the final third. Central Coast have made the most of Matt Simon’s aerial threat and done well to pressure City into mistakes.
This one is bubbling nicely.
GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 27: Ross McCormack of the Mariners celebrates his goal with team mates during the round two A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City FC at Central Coast Stadium. Photograph: Ashley Feder/Getty Images
Rugby: That man Beauden Barrett is at it again. His penalty restored the All Blacks’ seven-point lead before he crossed in the corner for his sixth try against Australia this year. He converted (of course) to send New Zealand 27-13 up with 20-minutes remaining.
A-League: Another good chance for City to equalise goes to waste as this Mariners v Melbourne City match continues to entertain. It’s hard to imagine this one remaining 1-0 to Central Coast for too long, there’s too much space in midfield, especially for the impressive Riley McGree. The key battle looks to be between Bruno Fornaroli and his marker Kalifa Cissè who are having a fair old ding-dong that the Mariner is winning on points for the time being.
Rugby: A Bernard Foley penalty has kicked Australia closer to New Zealand in Yokohama. The All Blacks lead 17-13 with half an hour to go.
A-League: It’s an entertaining, open game of football in Gosford. City should be level but Fornaroli butchered a 1-on-1 after being played through by Wales.
A-League: CCM 1-0 City - and just a few moments later La Rocca’s poor clearing header invites Connor Pain to feed Ross McCormack and open the scoring in simple fashion.
21’ | RECAP | Last week’s goalscorer, Connor Pain turns from finisher to creator, to set up Ross McCormack for his first Mariners goal! 👏🏼 (1-0) #CCMvMCY #CCMFC #ALeague pic.twitter.com/J8c0FmNlrA
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) October 27, 2018
A-League: Vintage Matt Simon up in Gosford. Offside, the target man continues to contest a ball lobbed into the box and he skittles Eugene Galekovic and Iacopo La Rocca like nine-pins. Not finished, he then stands over both, berating them like an over-caffeinated drill sergeant for not accepting his outstretched hand to help them back to their feet. Never change.
GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 27: Matthew Simon of the Mariners assists Eugene Galekovic of Melbourne City and Iacopo La Rocca of Melbourne City after a collision during the round two A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City FC at Central Coast Stadium. Photograph: Ashley Feder/Getty Images
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It’s been a busy day in the Fast5 Netball World Series in Melbourne. Australia and New Zealand remain unbeaten ahead of their blockbuster later tonight but England are winless from their opening pair of matches.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 27: Kaylia Stanton (c) of Australia celebrates during the Fast5 Netball World Series match between Australia and Jamaica at Hisense Arena on October 27. Photograph: Mike Owen/Getty Images
Plenty of action approaching half-time in Yokohama with both the All Blacks and the Wallabies crossing for tries. New Zealand lead 17-10 in Bledisloe III.
HT l Super Sefa is OVER!
— Qantas Wallabies (@qantaswallabies) October 27, 2018
We lift the score to 10-17 heading into the sheds.#BledisloeCup #NZLvAUS #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/8q1vuFzTxn
The first A-League match of the day has begun in Gosford with Central Coast Mariners hosting Melbourne City. No early goals in that one.
Both sides have made one change each to their line-ups from round one with Aiden O’Neill making his starting debut for the Mariners and Riley McGree getting the nod over Anthony Caceres for City.
Usain Bolt is not in the Mariners squad.
If Major League Baseball’s your thing, game three of the World Series is into its 15th inning with the Dodgers and Red Sox tied 2-2. You can follow that in detail right here:
We’ve had a thriller in the NBL with Perth Wildcats inching beyond Melbourne United in double overtime.
WILDCATS WIN!!!
— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) October 27, 2018
What a way to celebrate our Pink Game for @BreastCancer_WA! The Wildcats defeat the reigning champs in double overtime, 101-96.
An absolute classic, #RedArmy! pic.twitter.com/C1C3E4KOOs
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Qualifying for tomorrow’s MotoGP at Phillip Island has finished, and it’s another pole for the phenomenal Marc Márquez. Australian Jack Miller starts from sixth on his Ducati.
Here's the grid for tomorrow's #MotoGP race at Phillip Island ⏱
— MotoGP™🏁🇦🇺 (@MotoGP) October 27, 2018
1️⃣ @marcmarquez93
2️⃣ @maverickmack25
3️⃣ @JohannZarco1 #AustralianGP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/OA1UzXeLaT
Midway through the first half in Yokohama the All Blacks lead the Wallabies 10-3 in the final Bledisloe Cup match of 2018. Follow all the action in that one here:
Ok, that’s the first big ticket item of the day taken care of, what else is happening in Australian sport right now?
Never in doubt. Hugh Bowman rode the perfect race. Winx’s jockey was understandably emotional reflecting on the success. “I can’t believe it,” Bowman said as he began his parade around the packed racecourse. “The electricity in my body turning into the home straight – I’m lost for words. Everyone gets so much joy from the superb ability of this horse.”
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Winx wins a record fourth Cox Plate!
Winx accelerating away, wins by a couple of lengths after a decent battle with Benbatl. Greatness confirmed.
History - Winx wins the @CoxPlate for the fourth time! @TheValley pic.twitter.com/eXqBfpeKRq
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 27, 2018
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Winx in prime position heading into the home straight.
Underway in the Cox Plate - Winx jumped safely.
Ten minutes or so to go before the Wallabies take on the All Blacks in Japan. Follow all the action with Padraig Collins right here:
Whenever I hear reference to Winx my mind flashes back to this anxiety-inducing rave masterpiece and hazy memories of misspent 90s weekends.
The Valley is going off! Daryl Braithwaite is belting his way through his eight-billionth rendition of - wait for it - horses! He’s taken his roving mic and offered it to the packed stands of suited and booted racegoers who are turning this into the most well-dressed karaoke session ever. Lovely stuff.
Before we head to Melbourne’s Moonee Valley and find out how the latest chapter in the Winx story unfolds, Chris Cook is on hand to appraise the supermare.
Winx is the subject of what one Racing Post writer called “a diplomatic incident” after the ITV racing presenter Matt Chapman queried the value of her form at a press conference in Australia. Having put together an unbeaten run of 28 races and won over £10m in prize money, Winx is revered in her home country, where her image was recently beamed on to Melbourne’s Flinders Street railway station, an “authorised” biography has been published and one eBay user offered what he claimed was 300g of her droppings, receiving a bid of A$200 (about £110).
Saturday Sportwatch
Hello everybody and welcome to another busy evening of sportwatching. I’ll be your dutiful St Bernard for the next few hours as an avalanche of sporting activity heads our way.
Out of the blocks early is the Cox Plate and the incredible Winx’s quest for a 29th consecutive race win and fourth successive triumph in the $5 million weight-for-age classic.
Also at 5pm is the third and final instalment of the Bledisloe Cup, coming to you from its traditional home of Yokahama. We’ll have this one taken care of on it’s own dedicated blog.
From 5.35pm we’ll be keeping an eye on Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne City in the A-League, a warm-up to the night’s main event, the A-League Sydney derby, which will occupy my full attention from 7.50pm.
Throughout the day there’ll be NBL, Fast5, cricket, tennis, MotoGP, and plenty more besides to keep us chugging along.
As always, feel free to contribute; a man typing alone into an unresponsive void for five hours is the kind of thing that might ordinarily prompt an intervention. Twitter is the best way (@JPHowcroft) and email (jonathan.howcroft.freelance@guardian.co.uk) is also effective. I’ll do my best to keep an eye on the comments section.
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