Jess Tzaferis shines in wet conditions with early double at Morphettville Parks

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Jockey Jess Tzaferis travelled to Saturday's racing at Morphettville Parks with a good deal of confidence and it translated to success.
A gander at the forecast and clouds on the way into the nine-race card gave Tzaferis plenty of hope with her book of rides all expected to handle the rainy conditions.
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Tzaferis, who also holds a licence as a trainer, was able to chalk up an early race-to-race double with Grand Host and High Society Girl before running third on Exalted Fire in the sixth race on the program.
'Not going to lie I was very excited coming to the races today and seeing the weather I was driving through and what was forecasted,' Tzaferis told Racing.com post-race.
'I thought I had three nice rides and especially with the weather so it's a good day to be at the races.'
The first of those wins came aboard veteran galloper Grand Host at his 65th career start.
The seven-year-old son of Host enjoyed the wet conditions and fast tempo and was able to get the job done in style to chalk up win number 11.
'He's like fine wine because he just gets better with age,' Tzaferis said.
'Really great result for the team.
'He flew the gates today and I was really making sure he got that bum to switch him off and once he got that bum, I knew he would be very hard to beat.
'Especially given the conditions especially when it's getting wetter, he's only better.
'He's hard rock fit, a seasoned campaigner, knows his job and he's happy doing it.'
Just 35 minutes later saw High Society Girl turn in a strong victory in a race where the jockey showed plenty of patience.
Trainer Stephen Theodore noted to Tzaferis that High Society Girl is at her best when saved for one last dash and it's exactly what panned out.
'Steve honed it into me last start that she does have that one big dash,' Tzaferis said.
'Lachie (Neindorf) was under pressure quite early into the race and I knew I'd get a break into the corner.
'So I had to bide my time, which is sometimes hard to do when the horse is travelling so well underneath you, but you have to trust the trainers judgement and it paid off.'
Originally published as Jess Tzaferis shines in wet conditions with early double at Morphettville Parks

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Watching women's sport not just for women: Experts talk on levelling the playing field

ABC News

43 minutes ago

ABC News

Watching women's sport not just for women: Experts talk on levelling the playing field

In 2023, a nation held its breath as the Matildas took on England in the FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal. What followed wasn't just a gripping match, it became the most-watched television broadcast in Australian history. A post-tournament social impact report from Football Australia revealed that 44 per cent of the audience comprised men and boys. For the first time, a women's football game outperformed every other program ever aired in the country, breaking the myth that women's sport only appeals to women. Former Matilda and lawyer Moya Dodd says we have come a long way in the past decade. "Ten years ago, no one would have believed it," she told ABC International Development's Women in News and Sport, at the recent RCB Innovation Lab Sports Summit in India. Women's sport has been marketed primarily to women, and that marketing often focuses on empowerment rather than excellence. But Dodd said the skill, determination, and passion on display deserves universal respect, regardless of the gender of those on the field. She said boys were already growing up idolising athletes like Sam Kerr, the same way they do male stars. "When young boys see professionalised women's sport, they accept it as normal," Dodd said. "They'll happily wear a jersey with Sam Kerr's name on it. "There is no social stigma." In India, the Women's Premier League (WPL) is emerging as a game-changer. The second season in 2024 reached more than 103 million TV viewers, with digital platforms like JioCinema drawing millions more. Brands are investing big: Viacom18 signed a $117 million deal for WPL rights, one of the most lucrative ever for a women's league. But framing isn't the only challenge. Dodd said structural barriers persisted across leadership, infrastructure, and media. "Sport was built by men, for men, and run by men," Dodd said. "You can't just retrofit women into those systems. You need to redesign them." Sarah Walsh, head of women's football at Football Australia, and a former Matildas player, said the Matildas' rise was made possible by constitutional changes in 2018 that brought more women into decision-making roles. "We wouldn't have had the success we did, equal pay deals, post-World Cup legacy funding, without women in the room deciding where the money goes," she told WINS. Dodd said although there had been ground made, there were other areas that needed to evolve. "Storytelling is still skewed toward men's sport," Dodd said. "We need commentary and coverage that welcomes new audiences, not one that constantly compares women's sport to men's." She stressed that female voices in broadcast and journalism played a vital role in shaping public perception. Both Dodd and Walsh indicated that with the right leadership, inclusive policies, and a reframing of how women's sport was presented, there was significant opportunity for growth and equity. They both believe growth on the field translates to growing the game off it. Walsh said infrastructure remained a silent but critical barrier to participation, with a number of community football facilities still not female friendly. "You're not going to retain girls if they simply can't get dressed," Walsh said. Meanwhile, teenage dropout rates among girls are high due to issues ranging from lack of safety to body image concerns. Major events like the Women's World Cup helped boost participation by 20 per cent, but retention is still a hurdle. Recent trends in viewership and sponsorship suggest that interest in women's sport is not limited by gender. It delivers economic, cultural, and social returns. With the Matildas' semi-final appearance in 2023 and the growing viewership of WPL, sponsorships have increased, new demographics are being reached, and male audiences are growing across markets. "Women's sport brings audiences that have come to celebrate inclusion and a sense of social purpose. And this audience includes people of all genders and ages," Dodd said. Dodd and Walsh believe these developments raise a broader question — no longer whether women's sport has a place, but whether existing structures are prepared to meet the growing potential. Veechika Durga Pingali is a freelance journalist based in Bengaluru, India, with experience in both journalism and public relations. She has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and enjoys writing about gender, media and sports. Veechika is part of ABC International Development's Women in News and Sport Initiative, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Team Up program.