Latest news with #MarkMilton
The Australian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Trainer Mark Milton saddles up Miss Couver at Scone
Trainer, owner and breeder Mark Milton is hoping his 'internet speck' Miss Couver can win back her meagre purchase price and start building a bank to pay for a stallion partner some time this spring or the next when she steps out at Scone today. The daughter of Golden Slipper winner Vancouver was originally housed at Leilani Lodge with Anthony Cummings who trained Miss Couver's Group 1-winning 'uncles' Outback Prince and Hotel Grand. Her most recent three starts were under the Ciaron Maher banner, prior to being put out to tender. Enter Milton, the former Mudgee trainer now firmly ensconced at the nation's thoroughbred capital. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'It was a bit of an afterthought to buy her when I was playing on the Inglis Digital,'' Milton said. 'I thought why not have a bid on this one? 'I only paid $3,500 for her which is not a lot when you consider what we are racing for. 'And she'd won at the provincials and had run a couple of placings at the metros and that.' Miss Couver's 13th and last run came on July 9 where she finished down the order in a Benchmark 72 at Canterbury. Her first assignment for Milton comes on Monday in the One Agency Scone Class 1 Handicap (1200m) with Kody Nestor to steer. 'I haven't done a real lot with her,'' Milton says. 'She hasn't had any hard gallops but she is certainly coming back in class a bit. 'She is a nice big, strong mare who came to me in good nick.' • RICHARD CALLANDER: Racing's rumour mill trips up punters with Shenandoah shenanigans Given how well-bred Miss Couver is, Milton is seriously considering breeding from the genetically blessed mare. 'Everyone keeps telling me, even down at Ciaron's that she would make a lovely broodmare,'' Milton said. 'She is a really big scopey horse. If you send her to the right stallion, she should throw a cracking sort of a foal. 'It's up to her to win her service fee.' Milton, meanwhile, has found another ideal race for Flying Molly who has the opportunity to collect $15,000 if successful in the Arrowfield Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m). Born and bred at Kingstar Farm, just like 2021 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside, Flying Molly turned six on August 1 yet has just five runs under her belt. In fact the time between her third and fourth starts was a staggering 86weeks, or 602days. 'I moved from Mudgee over to Scone and then there was a rigmarole to be able to train at Scone for a while so she just sat in the paddock and in no time at all, nearly two years had gone past,'' Milton explained. 'There was no injury problem or anything like that, it was just a change of location and the moving process and everything else.' The break has, it seems, worked wonders for Flying Molly who has posted back-to-back PBs at her two runs since her return to racing. Both were at Scone, one a closing third to the handy Kris Lees-trained galloper Herman Said. • Private Harry, Briasa step up Everest preparations with scintillating trial wins The other was a three-quarter-length second to the Rodney Northam-housed Nova Centauri who goes around in the last on Monday's Scone card. 'I am guessing this race is probably a bit harder looking at the prices on the TAB but she has been pretty consistent and a little bit green in her runs too but even though she is a little bit older, she doesn't have a lot of experience,'' Milton said. Flying Molly, a $10,000 Inglis weanling purchase in 2020, can lay a rare claim to boast a Golden Slipper winner hanging on her family tree. Her fifth dam, Light Of Peace, was the mother of 1987 Slipper hero, Star Watch.
Toronto Sun
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Argonauts bemoan three gifted TDs in high-scoring loss at Winnipeg
Published Aug 02, 2025 • 4 minute read Blue Bombers' Nic Demski evades the tackles of Toronto Argonauts' Mark Milton (27) and Benjie Franklin (23) in Winnipeg on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. Photo by Fred Greenslade / THE CANADIAN PRESS WINNIPEG — Trey Vaval told himself to relax before playing his seventh CFL game on Friday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Blue Bombers rookie did that in his head, but not with his feet. The defensive back from Montana dazzled a sold-out crowd when he returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and followed up with a 97-yard punt return for a major that helped Winnipeg snap a three-game CFL losing streak with a 40-31 victory over the Toronto Argonauts. '(I was like), 'Man, just buy in, just believe and trust God and don't stress,'' Vaval said. 'Cause like, this is a stressful game, especially as a rookie. I'm out there being the returner and I don't want to mess up. I'm carrying the organization in my hands when I have that ball. So, I just kind of relaxed today, trusted my blockers and hit the hole.' His first and second touchdowns of the CFL season impressed his teammates and the Argonauts. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Defence stepped up for us huge there down the stretch,' said Blue Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler, who started in place of injured Zach Collaros (neck). 'Special teams, returning two kicks is a massive game-changer. Back and forth all night. We've got to get better, I've' got to get better, but it's ultimately easier to learn from a win than it is a loss.' Streveler completed 17 of 21 pass attempts for 173 yards with three interceptions as Winnipeg improved to 4-3. He also ran four times for 25 yards and one touchdown in front of the team's ninth consecutive sellout at Princess Auto Stadium. The Argonauts dropped to 2-6. 'It was huge,' Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said of Vaval's scores. 'We gifted them three touchdowns, two on special teams and then the fumble. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We're not playing good enough football to overcome some of that stuff. But we had a chance, just didn't make enough plays. Our special-teams units, we've got to find a way to get better. A lot of missed tackles out there.' Nick Arbuckle was 22-of-39 passing for 327 yards with one interception and two TDs for the Argonauts. He was disappointed the offence got stopped from the one- and two-yard lines midway through the third quarter and had to settle for a field goal. Running back Khalan Laborn was tripped up by Arbuckle on the second attempt. 'But we still had chances throughout the game,' Arbuckle said. 'Our defence did such an incredible job giving us opportunities after opportunities to potentially win the game at the end and, unfortunately, we couldn't capitalize.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bombers running back Brady Oliveira had 17 carries for 50 yards. 'It took all three phases,' Oliveira said. 'Obviously, special teams played incredible and defence did a really, really good job today. I'm glad we got the win.' Dinwiddie said Toronto's offensive line 'struggled' and they didn't establish the run. Deonta McMahon had three carries for five yards and Laborn two touches for three yards. 'Us running for eight yards, that ain't getting it done,' Dinwiddie said. 'I don't think I've ever been a part of a game where we've had less than 10 yards rushing.' Winnipeg defensive end Willie Jefferson had four pass knock-downs and one defensive tackle. Dinwiddie said the veteran 'took over the game.' Arbuckle added Jefferson made his presence felt. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Willie looked like prime Willie,' Arbuckle said. 'Every time I feel like he's in the backfield either hitting me, making sure that after I throw it he's grabbing on and making sure I know he's there, tipping the passes as he's getting penetration.' The game kicked off on time after the Blue Bombers and CFL were monitoring the smoky air quality caused by forest fires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Air Quality Health Index was seven at game time, under the threshold of eight that would have delayed or postponed the contest. It had a very high risk of 10-plus in the morning. The Bombers led 14-7 after the first quarter, 31-13 at halftime and 34-24 heading into the fourth. Winnipeg defensive end Jay Person returned an Arbuckle fumble 28 yards for a score. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo connected on field goals from 46, 49, 34 and 31 yards, but hit an upright on a 45-yard attempt. He was good on four converts. Toronto receiver Damonte Coxie had touchdown catches of 16 and 56 yards, as he hauled in nine passes for a career-best 187 yards. Argos linebacker Cameron Judge returned an interception 47 yards for a TD after defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II tipped a Streveler pass and the ball bounced into Judge's hands for the game's first score. Kicker Lirim Hajrullahu was good on field goals from 44, 25 and nine yards and made three converts. John Haggerty booted an 85-yard punt for a single. UP NEXT Argonauts: Host the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, Aug. 9. Blue Bombers: Visit the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, Aug. 9. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025. Toronto Blue Jays Columnists Columnists Toronto & GTA Canada
