Son of American and Kiwi winners on track for Gosford breakthrough
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.
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The Advertiser
4 minutes ago
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The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach. Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback. Treloar won't play in the AFL against West Coast on Sunday, but father-son recruit Jordan Croft will. The 20-year-old was told he will make his AFL debut on Wednesday at training, after being drafted with pick 15 in 2023. Croft, who is 201cm tall, has kicked six goals in the VFL during the last two weeks and can play at either end of the ground. The son of Matthew continues a long line of father-sons at the Bulldogs, with Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore and Rhylee West already established in the senior team. Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games this year. The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend. The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach. Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback. Treloar won't play in the AFL against West Coast on Sunday, but father-son recruit Jordan Croft will. The 20-year-old was told he will make his AFL debut on Wednesday at training, after being drafted with pick 15 in 2023. Croft, who is 201cm tall, has kicked six goals in the VFL during the last two weeks and can play at either end of the ground. The son of Matthew continues a long line of father-sons at the Bulldogs, with Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore and Rhylee West already established in the senior team. Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games this year. The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend. The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach.
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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
What Taylor Swift has in common with Travis Kelce's mum
Travis Kelce has said Taylor Swift reminds him of his mother. The Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs player, 35, has previously said that his ideal partner would share some qualities with Donna Kelce. Speaking to GQ magazine as their September cover star, the American footballer said that his mother and his pop star girlfriend share the characteristics of kindness, generosity and 'their ability to say hello to everyone in the room'. He added: 'Their ability to show love and support no matter what. And on top of that, their work ethic. 'I saw my mother reach goals that she had set for herself, go from being a teller to working all the way up in the KeyBank building.' Kelce, who has been dating Swift since 2023, explained: 'I've seen Taylor do the exact same thing of setting goals for herself and exceeding the expectations and really captivating the world in that regard.' The player has been thrust into the global spotlight since their romance was publicly confirmed with Swift's appearance at Missouri's Arrowhead Stadium in September 2023, when she joined Mrs Kelce in her son's VIP suite. Since then, Swift has been pictured growing closer to both parents, who split up when Kelce and his older brother, Jason, were at university in Cincinnati.
