Latest news with #DaleSmith
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sunshine Coast Polytrack race-by-race preview and tips for Sunday
Queensland form analyst Graeme Carey has provided race-by-race analysis, tips and best bets for Sunday's Sunshine Coast meeting on the Polytrack. â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET: PEE BEE NOIR (Race 5 No 9) NEXT BEST: CHARMING NIC (Race 8 No 1) VALUE BET: LIMERO (Race 4 No 9) â– â– â– â– â– Quaddie numbers are: Race 5 – 3,4,9 Race 6 – 6,9,10 Race 7 – 1,2,5 Race 8 – 1,3 $54 = 100 per cent of the dividend â– â– â– â– â– Race 1 – 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m) BOURBON COUNTY (1) is bred for speed and won his trial in dominant fashion. With Michael Rodd he will be hard to pass. ANGEL'S TRUMPET (8) did all but win here last week over this trip. She has had a few chances, but Dale Smith stays on and will be in the finish again. VAREJAO (7) will strip fitter after his solid first-up placing at Ipswich when unfancied in the market. Kyle Wilson-Taylor stays on, and he won't be far away in running. SECRET SCOUT (5) has had a couple of solid trials and while longer may be better will get every chance with Angela Jones. Verdict – Watch market, BOURBON COUNTY (1) may be the one. â– â– â– â– â– Race 2 – Maiden Plate (1600m) UNDER ARREST (8) is a two year-old taking on older horses. He steps up in journey after leading and being found out late at Ipswich but meets a moderate field and is bred for this trip. He won't have to be a star to get the job done against these. PREFER TO DANCE (4) only battled at Toowoomba but wasn't beaten far at his only previous poly outing over this trip. He meets an ordinary field, and a positive ride has him in the finish. MISSILE AWAY (1) is yet to place in ten starts but was only a length off the winner last outing when resuming. He won't find a weaker field than this and with Luke Dempsey can make his mark. A good gate and winkers replacing blinkers helps GALAXY SUNSET (3) which has shown little to date but will appreciate 1600m. With a positive ride from Jai Williams he can get in the picture. Verdict – UNDER ARREST (8) the one with upside. â– â– â– â– â– Race 3 – Maiden Plate (1100m) EQUINE ART (6) disappointed on a heavy track when resuming at Beaudesert. Luke Dempsey stays on and won't be far away in running. BRAVE COWBOY BILL (2) has been trying for a while but his only placing came on the polytrack and his recent trial was strong. He is poorly drawn, but Ryan Maloney will take no prisoners. BIT OF GRUNT (1) has been trying for a while and may want longer but has speed and Adam Sewell can take advantage of gate one. CHIARO DI LUNA (5) is fitter for two outings and wasn't beaten far at her only poly outing over this trip. With Montana Philpot's 2kg claim she won't be far away in running. Verdict – EQUINE ART (6) can get it done. â– â– â– â– â– Race 4 – Benchmark 68 Handicap (1100m) Stuart Kendrick is leading trainer here for a reason and while the gate tests LIMERO (9) has been racing in stronger races than this and only just missed at his only previous poly outing. Kyle Wilson-Taylor stays on, he gets a tongue-tie, and it will be handlebars down from the outset. The tongue-tie comes off KING YOSHI (4) which is another drawn poorly, but showed the poly holds no terrors last start and will be prominent for Angela Jones. Bad gates have tested WHISKEY DANCER (11) at recent outings. She likes the poly, all the gear comes off and from the better draw over an optimum trip can show up for Brandon Lerena. RUBY CHICKS (5) has disappointed at her past two outings but is better than that and draws to do no work. This is her first poly outing but will be given every chance by 2kg claimer Rob Thorburn. Verdict – LIMERO (9) will be hard to pass. â– â– â– â– â– Race 5 – 3YO Maiden Plate (1400m) PEE BEE NOIR (9) ran in some good races last preparation and was far from disgraced when resuming at Ipswich. The extra distance suits and from gate one will get all the favours with Mark Du Plessis. The gate tests PARO (4) which keeps finding one better but has speed and with Like Dempsey staying on will be prominent for a long way. NORTHERN EAGLE (3) needs help from the gate but wasn't disgraced in a stronger Maiden than this at Ipswich when having his first outing for the Munces since coming North. This is his first poly outing but he may have more upside than the rest. JUST WALTER (2) has been around the mark at both outings and will get the gun run with Anthony Allen. The polytrack is an unknown but if he handles it will be in the frame. Verdict – PEE BEE NOIR (9) is the one for me. â– â– â– â– â– Race 6 – Benchmark 55 Handicap (1100m) The one with fewest convictions is CIRCLE OF LOVE (5) which is resuming after a change of stables. She has speed and Kyle Wilson-Taylor will take no prisoners. INTEGRITY LANE (1) won first-up last preparation here over 1000m and while this trip is his limit, has been readied by a recent trial, gets a 2kg claim for Corey Sutherland and has the speed to overcome a wide gate. SIR MAURICE (2) also needs help with the gate but beat a better field than this two starts back and has been kept fresh by a recent trial. Now having his third outing for Jack Bruce his Southern form is up to this. MR POLAR (4) has waited a long time for his first polytrack outing but can improve on his last turf effort here and will appreciate Ryan Maloney. Verdict – CIRCLE OF LOVE (5) has more to offer. â– â– â– â– â– Race 7 – Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) MAYNE (6) was easy in the market and worked too hard from a wide gate when resuming. His only win came when second-up and with Ryan Maloney from a good gate will get every chance to repeat the dose. BECAMO (9) has been knocking on the door and beat all but the winner here last start. Tiff Brooker stays on, and a positive ride has him in the finish again. OUT OF ACES (10) showed promise last preparation and looked good at a recent trial. He draws to do no work and can finish off for Kyle Wilson-Taylor. AMBASSADORS (8) couldn't get it done at Warwick when having his first start for Jack Bruce but has Sydney form good enough to test these and will get every chance with Angela Jones. Verdict – MAYNE (6) maps to win. â– â– â– â– â– Race 8 – Benchmark 55 Handicap (1400m) CHARMING NIC (1) has benefited from a recent trial. Blinkers come off after his moderate effort at Sandown and his facile Swan Hill maiden win has him more than competitive in this class. Winkers come off CHAPPARAL CHASE (3) which had support but only battled when resuming on the poly and has trialled since. He has less convictions than most of these, this trip suits and Corey Sutherland won't be afraid to go forward from the wide gate. WAR TOO ALL (10) led them up before fading on the polytrack last week. He has speed and with Jag Guthmann-Chester can give a sight again.  KETTLEBELL (9) won her only poly start and while this trip is an unknown has the speed to give a sight.
CNET
14-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
Don't Panic if You Clogged a Toilet and There's No Plunger. I've Got a Fix
A clogged toilet and a plunger typically go hand-in-hand. But if you don't have a plunger and you're dealing with a clog, don't panic. There are a few simple tricks that can save you. All you need is three items, then you let chemistry take it from there. Yes, the plunger-free approach is really that easy. Here's everything you'll need to make it happen. Clear a clogged toilet with these three household supplies Grab some dish soap, a bucket, and hot water to get things flushing smoothly again. James Martin/CNET You'll need just three supplies that can be found in almost any bathroom: soap, hot water and a vessel for transferring water to the toilet bowl. Dish soap, hot bathwater and a 5-gallon bucket work best, but if secrecy is paramount and leaving the lavatory would blow your cover, a few pumps from a hand soap dispenser and some hot sink water in a small plastic waste bin will do just fine. First, get the water in the sink or tub running hot, as hot as it will get. Don't outdo yourself though, no need to boil any water. At those temperatures, you could crack the porcelain or worse, injure yourself. Just let the tap water get as hot as it can and you'll be within range. While you're waiting for hot water, go ahead and clear everything off the floor -- scales, bathmats... pets. You're going to be very careful to avoid any spills, of course, but better to be safe than soggy. Pro Tip: Carry some Poo-Pourri Slip this inexpensive, small bottle of spray into your pocket or bag to keep whatever restroom you use smelling fresh. Details $4 at Amazon Careful chemistry is the answer Your objective is to get the liquid in the toilet bowl as hot and soapy as possible, as fast as possible, without letting it overflow. This is the step that requires the most finesse. If you've already tried to flush the clog down a second time and the toilet bowl is positively brimming, add the soap directly to the toilet and then pour in as much hot water as you can -- if you can. If you've got plenty of clearance, however, go ahead and mix up the soap and water first, then pour the soapy brew into the bowl as swiftly as you can. In a perfect storm, the heat and soap will lubricate the clog while the force of the water will push it through. That said, hopefully your reflexes are quick, because you may need to abruptly stop pouring if the clog doesn't immediately dislodge. A note on the soap: You really can't overdo the soap at this point. You're not going to agitate the solution all that much, so the bowl likely won't erupt in a suds volcano should you go overboard with it. I'm not saying you have to pour the whole bottle of soap in there, but I'm also not saying you shouldn't. Catch my drift? Dish soap works best, but in a pinch hand soap will do just fine. Then you just need hot water and something to put it into the toilet with, like a small waste bin. Dale Smith/CNET Don't get impatient and stir the toilet bowl Whatever you do, you don't need to stir it up to get the hot, soapy water blended in with the cold, dirty water that was there first. Science is going to take care of that for you via a process called osmosis. If the clog doesn't budge after your soap-water tsunami, your next move is simply to be patient. Most toilet backups aren't 100% blocked, so there's a good chance yours will drain slowly at first. Keep an eye on the water level and, as it drops, continue to add more hot water to keep it full. If the clog isn't too stubborn, the added pressure of a full toilet bowl plus the lubricating quality of the soap should help usher the backed-up matter through pretty quickly. Many bathroom waste bins are small enough to fit under the sink, but if yours is not you can use the tub or shower faucet. Dale Smith/CNET Still clogged? Keep waiting The worst-case scenario is that the clog is wedged too tightly in place and the above steps don't push it down right away. If that happens, you don't have to call a plumber or head to the hardware store just yet. Try giving it some time to let that hot soapy water work on breaking up the clog. Walk away, close the bathroom door, and wait 30 to 60 minutes before you check on it again. When you do, you may be pleasantly surprised to find your problem has disappeared down the drain. That may mean blowing your cover if you've been trying to unclog the toilet incognito. In that case, the best you can hope for is to not become the butt of any future jokes. Good luck with that, too. For more cleaning hacks, check out 14 of our favorite cleaning tools and how to speed-clean your kitchen in 15 minutes or less.
Reuters
30-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Canada economy down 0.2% in February, most likely up 0.1% in March
OTTAWA, April 30 (Reuters) - The Canadian economy contracted by 0.2% in February, on decreases in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, as well as transportation and warehousing, Statistics Canada said on Wednesday. March GDP was most likely up 0.1%, while first quarter GDP was likely up 1.5% on an annualized basis, the agency said in a flash estimate. The goods-producing sector was down 0.6% in February, while the service-producing sector declined by 0.1%. (Changes in percent) Feb Jan(rev) Jan(prev) Feb yr/yr All industries -0.2 +0.4 +0.4 +1.6 Goods -0.6 +1.1 +1.1 +1.2 Services -0.1 +0.1 +0.1 +1.7 NOTE - All figures are seasonally adjusted. Analysts in a Reuters survey had forecast February GDP to be flat. (Reporting by Dale Smith; Editing by Promit Mukherjee) (( opens new tab))
Reuters
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Canada February retail sales fall 0.4%; seen up 0.7% in March
April 25 (Reuters) - Canadian retail sales fell by 0.4% in February from January at C$69.33 billion ($49.95 billion), on lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, Statistics Canada said on Friday. Sales likely increased 0.7% in March, the agency said in a flash estimate. In February, sales were down in four of nine subsectors, representing 43.1% of retail trade. In volume terms, retail sales decreased by 0.4%. (Percent changes) Feb Feb Jan(rev) Jan(prev) mo/mo yr/yr mo/mo mo/mo Total -0.4 +4.7 -0.6 -0.6 Excluding autos/parts +0.5 +4.9 +0.1 +0.2 NOTE: All figures are seasonally adjusted. ($1=$1.3880 Canadian) (Reporting by Dale Smith)
Reuters
28-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Canada economy up 0.4% in January, most likely unchanged in February
OTTAWA, March 28 (Reuters) - The Canadian economy grew by 0.4% in January, on increases in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, as well as manufacturing, Statistics Canada said on Friday. February GDP was most likely unchanged, the agency said in a flash estimate. The goods-producing sector was up 1.1% in January, while the service-producing sector increased by 0.1%. All industries +0.4 +0.3 +0.2 +2.2 Goods +1.1 +0.4 +0.3 +2.4 Services +0.1 +0.3 +0.2 +2.2 NOTE - All figures are seasonally adjusted. Analysts in a Reuters survey had forecast January GDP to be up 0.3%. (Reporting by Dale Smith; Editing by Promit Mukherjee) (( opens new tab))
