logo
Son of American and Kiwi winners on track for Gosford breakthrough

Son of American and Kiwi winners on track for Gosford breakthrough

The Age11-06-2025
He's bred along cross-continental staying lines, and the best is well and truly ahead for a promising four-year-old resuming at Thursday's Gosford meeting.
Unusual Prospect, a very lightly raced gelding in the John O'Shea and Tom Charton stable at Randwick, is set to open his account in a moderate Super Maiden Handicap over 1600 metres.
He hasn't raced since charging home from the back to be beaten under a length at Kembla over the same trip in late January on his Australian debut.
Prior to that, he had opened his career with a narrow second placing in New Zealand early last spring.
But Unusual Prospect was quickly on the plane across the Tasman to find his new home at Randwick, and after that eye-catching first-up run, connections are confident he can plot his way through the middle distance and staying ranks, especially on winter's often rain-affected tracks.
Unusual Prospect is a son of high class American sire Unusual Suspect who was a nine-time winner in the US before heading Down Under to finish his career.
And he's out of a Kiwi mare by Irish superstar Cape Cross who was unbeaten from only three starts, twice winning the Queen Anne (1600m) at Royal Ascot.
Unusual Prospect will likely jump a short-priced favourite behind two progressive trials on what will be an improved surface, with predominantly fine weather forecast.
If all goes to plan he could quickly be aimed at some of the better Saturday city middle distance and staying races through winter.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tennis player Matteo Gigante calls for video review after ball goes through the net during match at Canadian Open
Tennis player Matteo Gigante calls for video review after ball goes through the net during match at Canadian Open

7NEWS

timean hour ago

  • 7NEWS

Tennis player Matteo Gigante calls for video review after ball goes through the net during match at Canadian Open

Tennis fans have been left stunned by a bizarre moment when the ball went through the net during a second-round clash at the Canadian Open. Italian tennis player Matteo Gigante basically gave up on a point and called for a rare video review after believing opponent Gabriel Diallo's return went through the net. Gigante was trailing 0-3 in the first set and serving at deuce when the unusual incident unfolded. Diallo appeared to hit a regulation return that clipped the tape and Gigante continued the point before going for an all-or-nothing drop shot. Immediately after that shot hit the net, Gigante complained to the chair umpire that previous shot from his opponent and gone through the net. Normally, a player has to stop the point to call for a video review, but the umpire allowed it in this instance. And replays confirmed Diallo's return had somehow gone straight through net. The point was given to Gigante and while he went on to hold serve to get on the board, the Italian lost the match. 6-3 7-6(5). Fans were left confused by the bizarre point. 'How is that possible?' One fan asked. 'Well that's a new one to me lol,' another fan said. 'Never seen that before,' another said. 'Am I glitching or what this is kinda crazy lol' another said. 'That's great use of the video review!!!' another said. Meanwhile, Australia's Aleksander Vukic has pushed British No 2 Cameron Norrie through the Canadian Open exit door after coming out on top in a three-set battle. Norrie, 29, overcame a one-set deficit and a medical timeout to force a decider against the Australian world No.99 in their second-round clash in Toronto on Wednesday. But Norrie, who received a first-round bye, was unable to complete the comeback as his US Open preparations were dealt a blow by a 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 defeat in just over two hours. Vukic wrapped up the first set in 33 minutes after Norrie, the world No.39, had saved four break points but still dropped his opening service game. That proved to be the only break of serve across the opening two sets, with Wimbledon quarter-finalist Norrie ultimately levelling courtesy of a tie-break after requiring on-court treatment while leading 6-5 in the second set. Vukic survived two break points in game five of the final set, a pivotal moment compounded by Norrie immediately failing to hold. Vukic was one game from victory when a rain delay prolonged the match before returning to finish the job and set up a last-32 meeting with either American seventh seed Frances Tiafoe or Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki. Australian interest continues in Toronto with Alex de Minaur due to take on Argentina's Francisco Comesana and Christopher O'Connell facing Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, later in the evening.

Aussie record-holder Sam Clifford's ‘real' Olympic dream begins at Sydney Marathon
Aussie record-holder Sam Clifford's ‘real' Olympic dream begins at Sydney Marathon

7NEWS

time2 hours ago

  • 7NEWS

Aussie record-holder Sam Clifford's ‘real' Olympic dream begins at Sydney Marathon

The Sydney Marathon's debut as a world major marks the start of a new era for Australian distance running, but the landmark event shapes as one-and-done at the distance for 10km national record-holder Sam Clifford. At least that's the plan for the next few years as part of his long-term goal to make — and, more importantly, compete well at — the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympics. The 23-year-old from Tasmania catapulted himself into calculations for higher honours with an astonishing 10km time of 27:34 in May. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Clifford, having improved plenty in the six months prior, smashed Jack Rayner's previous record by nine seconds in the Tokyo Speed Race geared around Asics' newest supershoes. The performance was followed by mixing it with some of Australia's big-name runners in half-marathons in Launceston (1:02:00) and on the Gold Coast (1:01:49). Clifford stepped back to 10km racing during his training block last week to win the Harbour 10 (29:33) that took in some of the same streets forming the Sydney Marathon course. Loading Instagram Post Knowing he's got the 'buffer' from running two minutes faster in Tokyo, Clifford kicked away with 1500m to go to train himself in the art of winning a race — something he's used to in one sense, but still working on as he reaches new heights. 'It was pretty crazy,' he tells 'I wanted to practise making a move at a certain point that I had already pre-planned. I stuck to my game plan there .. the closer it got to the finish line, it played more into my hands. 'On that particular day (the time to win) was 29:33 but there could be other days where there's more competition or a better runner on the day. It's very good that I've got that range.' The Sydney Marathon on August 31 will be a different beast. A 'why not?' attitude is fuelling Clifford's first crack at the historic 42.195km distance, hyped up by the addition of the legend Eliud Kipchoge to the entry list. 'I'm going to be on the same start line as the greatest marathon runner arguably of all time and that's a big drawcard,' he says. For a man working part-time jobs while making his way in the world of elite running, the hope of finishing as the top Australian — and the $30,000 prize that comes with that title — is an even bigger attraction. Just considering that as a possibility is a far cry from a few years ago, when Clifford thought 'the idea of being an Olympian was probably more of a cool idea' than 'reality' at a time he was being held back by his own drinking habits. Having turned himself around and risen through the ranks faster than he expected, he's now got a future to look forward to. 'It's shifted my mindset into always trying to improve, which is good, I think, for the long term,' Clifford says. 'I've got some goals that I'm really passionate about and I have a reason why, and a few reasons why. So long as I have my 'why', that'll keep me going until 2032 and maybe even beyond.' Clifford's 'pretty clear pathway' stretches out beyond the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics to the goal of running the 10,000m (track) and marathon double in Brisbane four years later. And that's where his marathon debut in Sydney next month comes into play. 'It's probably one of the hardest doubles to do because it's the furthest distance you can run as an Olympian,' Clifford says. 'If I have the foundation of having already done a marathon and getting it out of the way early, at least it gives me a target and a marker in the sand. 'It's more enticing for me there, and it makes more sense to do it now and get it out of the way then not touch it for a while.' 'Then I can focus from the ground up. That means I can do a lot of shorter races just so I'm better prepared for when it comes round to LA and Brisbane.' A three-year run to LA 2028 is less daunting when, like the Sydney Marathon, it acts as a stepping stone to the ultimate goal for Brisbane 2032. 'It's all good to be an Olympian but I also want to be competitive as well,' Clifford says. 'And I need to prove myself that if I'm going to go to the Olympics I want to be competitive. 'It's the same mindset I'm going into with Sydney. I want to be competitive. 'I'm pretty confident in my training and I'm pretty confident in my abilities now to really test that, because at the moment it's, you know, what have I got to lose?'

Joint effort comes up just short at Canadian Open
Joint effort comes up just short at Canadian Open

Perth Now

time2 hours ago

  • Perth Now

Joint effort comes up just short at Canadian Open

Australian teenage sensation Maya Joint has pushed 28th seed McCartney Kessler to the limit before losing in three sets at the Canadian Open. The 19-year-old Aussie came flying out of the blocks in Montreal on Wednesday (local time), taking the first set, before the American bounced back strongly to claim the next two for a 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory. Little separated the players throughout the match, which threw up 14 break points for each. Joint converted three of those chances, while her American opponent managed four breaks. Joint had been hoping to back up her first-round upset of local favourite Leylah Fernandez, the world No.24 who was fresh off claiming the biggest title of her career on Sunday, the Washington Open. Despite the loss, Joint has shown she is finding top form ahead of the year's final major, the US Open, which kicks off in New York on August 24. Joint is already a two-time WTA title winner this year and will be looking to start making a real impact at grand slam level. She reached the second round at Flushing Meadows in 2024, but is yet to progress past the first round of the other majors. Australia's only remaining competitor in the women's singles, 15th-seeded Daria Kasatkina, plays her third-round match against 24th seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine on Thursday (local time). In other second-round results on Wednesday, six-time grand slam champion Iga Swiatek was all business in a 6-3 6-1 demolition of China's Guo Hanyu. The Polish superstar, seeded second in Montreal, is hot off her record-breaking win in the Wimbledon singles final, where she served up two "donuts" to American Amanda Anisimova. "I think I played a really solid match today," Swiatek said. "Playing the first match on hard court after a pretty long break from the surface is always tricky, so I'm happy that I just focused on myself, adjusted to the conditions and played well." American third seed and two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula remained on track for a title hat-trick by beating Maria Sakkari of Greece 7-5 6-4. Four-time major champ Naomi Osaka of Japan upset 13th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 to continue her impressive return to tennis after taking a maternity break. And sixth-seeded American Madison Keys crushed Germany's Laura Siegemund 6-2 6-1. - with AP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store