Latest news with #DamienLane
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Coonamble preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, June 15, 2025
Coonamble native Damien Lane loves heading 'home' when he gets the chance and taking a few horses with him is the perfect excuse. 'I still call Coonamble home now and I've been away for 20 years or something like that,' said Lane. 'I've still got a lot of family in Coonamble so taking a few horses to race is a bit of an excuse to go back out there and I like to support the club.' Rarely does Lane go home empty-handed and the Wyong-based trainer has some stronger contenders in ideal races, none more so than Sneaky Sofia in the opening event. The daughter of Merchant Navy contests the 2&3YO Showcase Handicap (1200m) where she is the only winner in the field and gets in with 57kg after the 4kg claim of apprentice Bronte Simpson. First out, first home! Sneaky Sofia leads the journey to secure a winning double for Anna Roper and Damien Lane ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 29, 2024 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'While going 1200m first-up isn't ideal, the conditions of the race really drew me to take her there,' Lane said. 'She is pretty much going from a Class 2 back to a Maiden and with the claim, she is nearly on level weights.' A winner of two races, the filly will appreciate the big drop in grade after a seventh Rosehill on January 18 and a 10th at Muswellbrook on March 28. 'She struck a wet track in a Midway at Rosehill two starts ago and didn't go great so I gave her a freshen up and then didn't pull up great after the Muswellbrook run. She had a quarter crack. 'She trailled really well on the Beaumont the other day once again on a really wet track which she doesn't love. 'Bronte just has to be mindful that she is first-up over 1200m and rate her for the first half of the race.' Lane saddles up All Too Sneaky in the Class 1 (1300m) for fillies and mare and gives the four-year-old a good chance. After a good third at Gosford first-up, she disappointed at Gunnedah while her latest sixth at Gosford was better than it reads. 'She didn't get much luck at Gosford the other day when three and four-deep the trip,' he said. All Too Sneaky runs away with a good maiden win! Anna Roper does a good job in the saddle for Damien Lane. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 13, 2023 'She is one that will appreciate finding a firmer surface and with her natural speed, will put herself in the first three or four and run really well.' Really Motivated lines up in the same race and while she will be better suited over further, Lane feels she can run well. The five-year-old resumed over 1250m at Gunnedah on May 5 and although she just beat two home, he said the run was better than it looks. 'Bronte rode her and I told her being first-up, not to circle the field and just ride for luck which she didn't get unfortunately,' he said. 'She should have finished a few lengths closer. 'She has improved off the run but has a tricky gate so we will ride her similarly. 'She will run a cheeky race if she gets the luck late.' Lane's other runner for the day is Oakfield Zena in the Super Maiden Plate (1600m). While placed in three of the 12 starts, two of those placings have been over the mile. 'This is probably D-Day for her,' said Lane. 'She went really well over 1200m at Gosford then went straight to 1400m at Newcastle on a really wet track which she didn't handle and over did it in the run. 'We ran her at Wyong over 1200m to get her to settle and hit the line which I thought was okay. 'Up to her right trip from a good draw, now it's time for her to show her best.' ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BETS Race 3 No. 7: WEST HEAD Has solid provincial form. Can break through. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 6: FETES DES MERES Made his NSW debut with a booming win. Can go back-to-back. VALUE BET Race 4 No. 5: DIVINE SINNER Racing well without luck. Back to his favourite trip. QUADDIE Race 5: 1, 2, 3 Race 6: 2, 6 Race 7: 2, 4, 8 Race 8: 1, 4, 5 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW KODY NESTOR and CLAYTON GALLAGHER have strong books of rides and should fight out the TAB Jockey Challenge. INSIDE MAIL – COONAMBLE SNEAKY SOFIA (1) has won two races and takes on a field of maidens. Was building a strong before failing at her last two runs with reasons. First go at 1200m but should prove too classy. BLUE DE BEERS (4) had trialled well and started favourite in the Silver Goblet at Dubbo last week where he raced keenly when fifth to Four Degrees. Will be better for the experience and a cross-over nose band goes on. GETTIN' TIPSY (5) battled way for second to Painite last start. THE GIT UP (10) is knocking on the door. Was runner-up to Pressnell when resuming at Dubbo before a sixth at Wellington. Came from midfield and loomed up to the leaders before Fetes Des Meres swooped past at Warren last start. BOUZY'S BABE (2) has improved with each run. Wasn't far away in her first two starts before a nose second to Jasper's Way at Narromine last start. TWINING CLASS (3) was a handy third in debut and has been just behind the placegetters in two other runs. WEST HEAD (7) makes his debut for the Brett Robb stable. Was a neck third to Miss Hvar at Kembla first-up and just behind the placegetters in both runs since at the same track. OAKFIELD ZENA (12) ran a nice race first-up when a length second to Dial A Destiny at Gosford but disappointed over 1400m second-up. Caught wide when dropping back to 1200m at Wyong last start. Placed twice over the mile. PILLAGER (5) finished just behind the placegetters in both runs over this trip. DIVINE SINNER (5) was a handy winner over 1100m at Narromine on Apr 29 and not much luck since. Came from last when beaten a little over two lengths in the Gulgong Cup last start. Back to 1100m where he has won three times. ROTHGATE (7) is racing in good form this campaign with three wins and two placings. Was third to Divine Sinner at Narromine. Won over 1000m at Warren before winning the Gulong Cup. DEION (4) has won two of his last three and will be prominent again. CRUSADER KINGS (1) gave away 2.5kg and race fitness when fourth to Micro Mikki first-up at Wellington without a trial. Met him on level weights and won nicely at Bathurst last start. Gives away 2kg but is race fit now and draw nicely. MICRO MIKKI (2) had a big trial win at Dubbo and a narrow victory over Best Defence at Narromine before going back-to-back with that Wellington win. Was a two-and-a-half length third to Crusader Kings last start. PRESS FORWARD (3) will make his presence felt. FETES DES MERES (6) ran a couple of fourths in Victoria before coming to NSW. Debuted for Garry Lunn with a barnstorming win from near last the he ran past The Git Up at Warren on June 2. ALL TOO SNEAKY (2) ran a handy third over 1200m when resuming at Gosford but was disappointing when last at Gunnedah. Trapped wide when sixth on a Heavy 9 at Gosford last start. Placed her only run here and will appreciate a firmer track. NEBIDA (4) has claims on his Wellington win. TAKEOVER LAD (4) was just behind the placegetters at Armidale and on the Beaumont before a third to Instead at Coonabarabran. Was rewarded for his consistent form with nice win at Gunnedah on May 5. Go close again. INJAIR (8) was given a break after his close third to Tavanasia at Quirindi on Feb 21. Won his Gunnedah trial before resuming with a win from Currumbin Alley there on May 25. HOLLYWOOD GOLD (2) ended his first campaign with a win. At his peak now with two runs and two trials under his belt. EGYPTOLOGIST (4) blundered soon after the start when fifth to Naval Officer at Parkes first-up before a second to Better Tomorrow at Moree. Gets winkers for the first time. STOCKHOLM (1) was third in that Moree race. Battled away for third to Zoomorphic at Dubbo two starts earlier before a tough run in the Parkes Cup. In his right grade here. IMEZAAKI (5) had some handy Queensland form before coming south and finishing third to Pappiana at Inverell for his new stable.
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Time to wield an axe on rotten system hindering housing crisis – my drastic solution would fix this national emergency
4 A GOVERNMENT incapable of doing very much is the greatest threat to democracy. Whether it's because they are useless at their jobs or the system is so damned rotten that progress can be measured in snail slides is debatable. Advertisement Truth be told, it's probably a dollop of both. But the perpetual inefficiency at the heart of The Electoral Commission published a study on Monday which revealed that a substantial cohort of voters are disillusioned with politics. One in eight who didn't vote at the last Advertisement Read more on Damien Lane The Commission didn't reveal the ages of those who feel this way, but I'd bet a dollar that the long-in-the-tooth and those starting out on adult life make up the majority of the people fed up to the gills with the entire charade politics has become I've always been a political animal. Since I was a kid, I was fascinated by elections and the processes that made democracy what it is. The demonstration of the will of the people is a powerful thing. But as the years went by, and the same two tired tribes (FF and FG) dominated at the top, the passion for politics I once had in abundance has evaporated to the point where deep cynicism has taken root. It's not that I don't trust politicians, I do. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun They try their level best to do their bit for their country. Of course they do. It's just they are largely unable to achieve much because they are forced to operate in a system designed to stymie their efforts at every turn. Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin reacts to record number of homeless people The lack of progress at a time in Irish history where rapid progress is required speaks to how the state works, or rather doesn't work. Taoiseach Advertisement But, despite sitting at the top of the tree, he's unable to do much about it. The bad news on the housing front just continues to roll in. BROKEN PROMISE Housing completions last year were just 30,000, way short of the 40,000 the previous government promised. The number of homes started this year is EIGHT TIMES lower than the same period last year and now at its lowest level since 2016. Advertisement Just 3,945 notices to build have been lodged in the first four months of 2025. Over the same period last year, 30,689 notices to build were lodged. What the hell is going on? How has it fallen off the cliff? The Department of Pull the other one. Advertisement 'HOUSING DELIVERY GOING BACKWARDS' Eoin O'Broin, Rory Hearne, the Abandon hope, all ye who enter The main obstacle to getting anything built is the unreformable Planning Board and a system that rewards naysayers and NIMBY busybodies. Advertisement An Bord Pleanala (to give it its Irish name) works to the Victorian clock. They pontificate for years and have a say in everything from the extension in your back garden to the building of a metro system for the capital. SIMPLE SOLUTION The simple solution to chronic infrastructural deficit would be to declare a national emergency and take An Bord Pleanala out of the equation entirely. The power to grant planning permissions in vital sectors such as housing, transport, climate and energy would be given to a powerful infrastructure committee in the Dail, made up of experts in building things and chaired by a minister whose sole remit would be infrastructure. Until they do something really radical in the area of planning, delays, cost-overruns and missed targets will continue to plague this and future governments. Advertisement It's time to wield the axe. But have they got it in them? They are currently devising a new housing plan (more bloody plans). It'll be full of actions and statements of resolve. There'll be a load of new Task Forces too, no doubt. Plenty of hand-wringing, in other words. And they wonder why all the kids are leaving the country. And why more and more people are turning off politics for good. Advertisement NO MATCH FOR GARY But Sunday night's show will be Lineker's last. 4 Gary Lineker is a fan favorite on Match of the Day Credit: BBC He quit the hugely popular BBC programme on Monday, less than a week after apologising for sharing a controversial post on social media which saw him accused of antisemitism. Advertisement Lineker, 64, faced a storm of abuse after The ex-England striker maintained he never noticed the rat emoji when he reposted the link. By then, however, the damage was done. He's spent 26 years at the A pal said: 'Gary remains passionate about speaking out over perceived injustices in the world, and will continue to call out things that he believes to be wrong. Advertisement 'He will be able to speak without the shackles of the non-partisan BBC, and has already had a lot of offers.' He won't be shy of a bob or two, but Match of the Day audiences will fall off a cliff. TRUMP IS ALL TALK But after a two-hour phone call with Advertisement 4 Donald Trump has yet to fulfil his peace promise Credit: AP:Associated Press Trump said the Russian dictator had agreed to 'immediately' start direct negotiations with Ukraine to broker a ceasefire and peace deal. Trump went on to say the conditions would be negotiated directly between Ukraine and Russia because 'they know the details nobody else would be aware of.' Not only has Trump seemingly washed his hands of helping to end the war in Ukraine, he now wants the Pope to lead the warring parties in finding peace. Advertisement Ukraine's What does Putin have on Trump that makes him bend to his will every time? HAS SUMMER BEEN AND GONE? HAVE we had our summer? The last time Ireland enjoyed a glorious May was back in 2020 when Covid was our companion. When the rains came in June, that was it, summer 2020 was a washout. The rains have come this week and with them, the temperatures have taken a bit of a tumble. Is it time to put the shorts back in the drawer for another year? Or will the sun win the fight this time round? FINALLY, IT'S HOPE THE Boys in Green haven't qualified for a European final in nine years. It's been 23 years since Ireland graced the Advertisement We've been second-raters for quite a while, struggling to compete with Europe's heavy hitters, despite having a talented bunch of youngsters and a few experienced pros. The next Euros in 2028 will be held here as well as across the pond in Wales, Scotland and England. It would be a disaster if Ireland failed to qualify. UEFA handed manager Advertisement If we're honest, it is probably the only way we can qualify. MURDERED FARMER'S FAMILY HELL Until the gruesome discovery they had hoped that somehow Michael would turn up alive. Now it's a murder probe, they will hope the gardai can bring the killer to justice and quickly. MAKE JOE OUR PRES Well, we could do worse. 4 Joe Duffy is leaving RTE after 27 years Advertisement Joe, who is to stand down as host of RTE Radio One's Liveline The 69-year-old wants to do more painting and he may continue to write books. He'll be missed on the wireless. Joe had an uncanny ability to tap into the nation's zeitgeist. And seen as the role in Ireland is largely ceremonial, he'd make an ideal President. He'd know what the mood would be at any given time. Advertisement With Joe must be high on everybody's list.
