Costin ‘blown away’ by US experience

Winona Costin has gone to the United States to fast track her development. Pic: Richard Dobson Source: Richard Dobson / News Corp Australia

SYDNEY'S star apprentice Winona Costin punched around a couple of horses on the weekend — but she was more than 15,000km away from Rosehill.

Costin had her first rides at Gulfstream Park in the US where she was sent for a short working holiday by her master Gai Waterhouse.

As Waterhouse took to the slopes in Aspen, Costin was in Florida, steering Russian Night and Seekingtheperfect, who started at triple-figure odds.

While both horses finished well out of the money, the experience was priceless for Costin.

"Gai sent me over here a couple of weeks ago, I've been riding a bit of work for Wesley Ward and John (Gennadi) Dorochenko, who gave me my two rides today," Costin told The Daily Telegraph.

"One ran second last and the other one ran last. But it's been great.

"The turf I raced on today is completely different to the grass back home. It's very short, and the camber of the track is quite dramatic. It's a very tight-turning track, and it was probably a mile right the way around.

Winona Costin has learned a lot from her experience in the US. Pic: Richard Dobson Source: News Corp Australia

"The jockeys didn't seem to care if they raced two wide. In one of my races, they sat five wide, and that blew my mind.

"They don't race as tight, and I had a good chat with a few people, and they said even though they sit wider, because of the camber of the track, they can build some momentum out there and get a slingshot into the straight and run on.''

Costin was sent over with two other Waterhouse employees, and will be back in Australia next Wednesday. She'll be straight back to work the next day for the Wyong Classic meeting on December 18.

The gifted hoop, who has 20 city wins for the season — more than double the amount of victories than any other Sydney L-plater — did get the chance for some sightseeing on Friday, where she toured the Everglades, and had a couple of close encounters with alligators.

With Costin out of town and Tommy Berry in Brisbane on Saturday to ride Magic Millions hope Carriages, James McDonald is expected to steer Spurtonic in the feature Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

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Admire Ratki autopsy results due

The autopsy into the death of Admire Ratki is due this week. Pic: Ian Currie Source: Ian Currie / News Corp Australia

RESULTS of the autopsy into Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti may be known as early as Monday.

The Japanese stayer dropped dead in its stall after running last in the Melbourne Cup on November 4, having started the race a raging favourite.

Racing Victoria's chairman of stewards Terry Bailey has confirmed the exhaustive investigation in the cause of death was now "98 per cent" done and that the results would "be released this week, possibly as early as Monday."

Bailey made no apologies for the protracted process to determine the cause of death.

It's been reported, and suggested by RV's chief vet Dr Brian Stewart, that the cause of death was a heart attack. That's expected to be confirmed by the results.

Skikato Kayoshi, strapper of Admire Rakti, is reduced to tears after the horse broke down and died. Source: News Corp Australia

However exhaustive tests have been carried out to ensure "everyone knows the correct story" according to Bailey.

He said he was aware of rumours circulating after the death of potential drug usage but was not prepared to comment until all evidence was before the stewards.

Dr Stewart and Bailey have said repeatedly that they did not believe drugs were involved, and instead that the Japanese galloper had suffered a rate form of heart failure which also afflicts human athletes.

"But you leave no stone unturned in these circumstances and we have had every test done that is at our disposal," Bailey said.

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Bunnies close in on Keary extension

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HE is young, talented and already an NRL premiership-winner. Now it looks as though Luke Keary will also be a long-term Rabbitoh.

The Daily Telegraph has learned that contract talks between South Sydney and Keary are well advanced, with suggestions a new deal could be announced before Christmas.

The pressure is on Souths — who have already lost grand final heroes Sam Burgess and Ben Te'o to rugby union — to close a deal quickly, as the Gold Coast Titans are circling with a hefty chequebook.

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South Sydney are desperate to lock down as many of their in-demand stars as possible, but chief executive Shane Richardson was reluctant to comment on Sunday night.

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"We are down the track regarding an extension for Luke," Richardson said.

"We want him here long-term and are working toward a deal with his management."

Keary, 22, desperately wants to remain at Redfern despite solid interest from several rival clubs. Gold Coast is one club being mentioned as a possible suitor.

Keary though is known to be close to his coach, Michael Maguire.

He comes off contract after next year, a season where Souths will attempt to defend their title.

The length of Keary's offer is still being finalised and it could range anywhere from two to four years.

On the open market, Keary could command offers of at least $400,000 a season. He would be seeking a pay rise from his current deal, signed when he wasn't a regular first grader.

Born in Queensland, speculation has been rife that Keary may head home and sign with the Titans.

He actually played for Burleigh Bears as a youngster.

"Luke is a Gold Coast boy so of course we'd be interested in him," Titans chief executive Graham Annesley said.

"But there has been no formal offer made at this stage."

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Keary looks as though he has now found a home at South Sydney.

He made his Rabbitohs' NRL debut in 2013 and has now cemented a place at five-eighth after a wonderful 2014 season.

Keary and halfback Adam Reynolds look comfortable as the club's halves. Reynolds too is in contract talks with the Rabbitohs about re-signing.

"Contract talks are a work in progress," Reynolds' manager Steve Gillis said.

"Adam loves the club and he's a local junior. All going well he'd like to stay."

The Rabbitohs have added former Manly back-rower Glenn Stewart and are also looking to re-sign Test centre Dylan Walker.

Souths returned home last week from a high-altitude training camp in Arizona.

Maguire spoke last Thursday about his side's chance of winning successive premierships.

"It's been 22 years (since a side won successive titles). It's a big challenge." he said. "The bar in the NRL gets higher and higher."

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Schofield breaks both arms in nasty fall

Chad Schofield (left), pictured with jockey father Glyn, is recovering from a nasty fall in Geelong. Pic: Brendan Francis. Source: CAS Brendan Francis / News Corp Australia

CHAMPION young jockey Chad Schofield has two broken arms following a fall at Geelong races.

The 20-year-old fractured both upper arms when he was dislodged from Classic Charm near the 900m mark of the Briseis Cup.

After he regained consciousness and was treated by paramedics, he was rushed to Geelong hospital.

His manager Mark Van Triet said "he is not in a good way".

"He has two broken arms and is in a fair bit of bother. He is in the Geelong hospital and we're just hoping for the best possible outcome," he said.

The fall came just hours before Schofield, who won last year's Cox Plate as an apprentice on Shamus Award, was to begin a 12 meeting suspension for careless riding from Friday night's Moonee Valley meeting.

He has endured a dramatic past six months. He suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck in a fall at Cranbourne in early June and has mixed dazzling form with significant time under suspension.

He recently completed a 31 meeting suspension on an improper riding charge and immediately rode a double at the stand-alone Ballarat meeting, another at Moonee Valley and winners at the Valley on Friday night and at Sandown on Saturday.

This latest injury will keep him out of the saddle for some time, again stalling his quest to revitalise his fledgling but distinguished career.

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Handicapper gets it wrong

Trainer Robbie Laing may have some questions over recent handicapping. Pic: Tim Carrafa Source: Tim Carrafa / News Corp Australia

ROBBIE LAING has good reason to query the handicapping system after Lord Of The Sky lumped 60kg in the Listed Christmas Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

He went into the race with four wins over 1000m, as did the winner Danger Close.

Danger Close beat Lord Of The Sky over the journey in April when carrying 3kg more than his rival.

He carried only 54kg on Saturday.

YENDALL HAILS TYCOON TARA'S FUTURE

So despite having beaten the short-priced favourite over the trip, Danger Close met Lord Of The Sky 9kg better at the weights.

Go figure.

Running repairs at Flemington

FLEMINGTON racing on Saturday will be without straight races because of the need to allow a section of the track hooking up with the course proper to better recover from renovations.

And to protect the track as much as possible, the rail is expected to be out 12m.

Waller learns from O'Brien

CHRIS Waller has just returned from a hook-up with UK training legend Aidan O'Brien, where he gleaned a lot about Cox Plate winner Adelaide who now is in the Waller stable.

"Aidan taught me a lot about Adelaide," Waller said. "Aidan told me about his idiosyncrasies which will help."

Adelaide will be aimed at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April and is likely to have one lead-up run.

Trainer Chris Waller got some good information off Aidan O'Brien. Pic: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia

Tripp a major player

AUSTRALIA'S most successful wagering entrepreneur Matt Tripp has added the Australian Open Tennis to an imposing list of local sporting icons for his new company BetEasy.com.au.

Tripp, who launched the corporate bookmaking firm only in September, last week signed a five year sponsorship deal with the AFL.

Punters take note

PUNTERS need to take note when Dean Yendall goes to town. Although he is the leading jockey in Victoria with 55 wins, he rode only his third in the city this season at Sandown on Saturday.

He rode Tycoon Tara for Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde and reckons more city wins are in store for the lightly-raced mare.

Rain plays havoc with weekend

SUNDAY'S Traralgon meeting was abandoned because of heavy rain.

Stewards called off the Cup meeting at 9am due to surface water at the 500m of the track.

Officials hope to reschedule the Cup at a later date.

The loss of Traralgon followed the cancellation of Saturday's Benalla meeting because of storms and the threat of lightning strikes.

In other parts, Sunday's Nowra meeting was lost due to the storms sweeping NSW. Friday's Coffs Harbour meeting also was cancelled because of heavy rain, and Saturday's Cooma Cup meeting was abandoned after only three races because of deteriorating conditions.

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NRL looks at radical four quarter plan

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THE most radical changes in rugby league history — including four-quarter football over 100 minutes — are under consideration at the NRL.

The NRL's rules and competition committee floated the extraordinary idea at Moore Park headquarters last week in front of CEO Dave Smith, chairman John Grant, the game's most influential coach, Wayne Bennett, and Head of Football Todd Greenberg.

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The changes would generate hundreds of millions of dollars in extra revenue from the TV networks through quarter-time advertising breaks and an extra 20 minutes of game time.

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The committee also raised the prospect of expanding the premiership to an 18-team competition to get a fairer premiership draw over a shorter season with spare weekends to play State of Origin.

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While initial discussions have been positive, any changes of this magnitude would be several years away, if they are to happen at all.

From what I have been told by sources inside the meeting, this is roughly how it would work.

GAME DAY

Matches would run for over two hours instead of 90 minutes as it is now.

It's still much quicker than a gridiron game that goes for three and a half hours with all their stoppages.

There would be five-minute breaks for each quarter and 10 minutes at half-time.

Do 100-minute games appeal to you?

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Fans at the ground would get a better match-day experience with more footy and live interviews on big screens with the coaches and players during the quarter breaks.

Professional half-time entertainment would be a big part of the show.

The extra time and entertainment would justify clubs charging more at the gate and put them in a stronger financial position.

Interchange benches could increase from four to eight fresh players. Pic: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

THE PLAYERS

On face value, it appears a much heavier workload on the players.

The interchange bench would increase from four fresh players to eight.

In theory, most players would not be playing extra football because game-day squads would be 21 instead of 17 as it is at the moment.

TV AND EXPANSION

Potentially, the NRL television deal could be almost doubled to $2 billion from what the code is offering the TV networks.

The meeting also discussed adding two new teams, one from Brisbane and another from a capital city in Australia or New Zealand.

This would provide the networks with one extra game each week — plus the extra 20 minutes of football with the advertising possibilities during the long breaks.

From doubling the broadcast money, players would be much better paid and more cash would go into junior development to fight the AFL threat.

Should the NRL expand to 18 teams?

THE SCHEDULE

There were discussions about how 18 teams could play over a shortened season of 23 weeks plus the finals.

This would allow a longer pre-season for the Nine's, All Stars, World Club Challenge, Charity Shield or even an official and televised pre-season competition.

In an 18-team schedule, the clubs would play each other once over 17 weeks.

Each club would then play three "derbies" against their closest neighbours.

Who should be the new teams?

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For example, the Broncos would play the Titans, Cowboys and a second Brisbane side twice.

Parramatta would play Penrith, the Wests Tigers and the Bulldogs twice.

We'd have three free weekends for State of Origin to bring the season to a total of 27 weeks, including the finals series.

This would allow the possibility of an international series at the end of a season that would be three weeks shorter than it is now.

Local rivalries would be played more often under the NRL's proposed plan. Pic: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

THE CONCLUSION

Nothing this radical has ever been discussed by the NRL.

Cricket used to be played over five long days with eight-ball overs.

And then along came Kerry Packer to deliver the most spectacular change that probably saved cricket from dying a slow death.

Even if this rugby league plan never eventuates, at least we know there are some people within the game who are prepared to think left field and discuss big-picture ideas.

There are no limits to how great rugby league could be.

Would clubs playing each other once plus three "derbies" against closest neighbours work?

HIGHLIGHT

One sleep to go until the cricket Test. Bring it on Channel 9. And go you good thing Michael Clarke!

LOWLIGHT

Another loss for the Western Sydney Wanderers and now the situation of players complaining about their pay packets. This wouldn't have happened under Lyall Gorman's watch.

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SPOTTED

Dave Smith playing at the touch football State Cup over the weekend.

We hope he showed more speed than he does in his day job.

SHOOSH

We keep hearing the Parramatta Eels are close to securing an even bigger signing than Anthony Watmough. It will be one of the biggest stories of the new year.

COOKED CHOOKS

The Roosters are not happy about the opening round NRL schedule, revealed in The Sunday Telegraph. Instead of hosting archrivals Souths at Allianz in the traditional kick-off game, they are off to play the Cowboys in the Townsville heat.

FAREWELL BISHOP

Rugby league lost one of the most colourful characters of its history with the death this week of Jack McNamara (aka 'The Bishop of Manchester'). A Kiwi by birth, Jack wrote rugby league for the Manchester Evening News from 1954-1990, covering 10 tours to Australia, starting with the Ashes-winning GB campaign of 1958.

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Champion Kookas struggle to fire

Belgium's Florent Van Aubel (left) and Dorian Thiery (right) block Australia's Timothy Deavin. Picture: AFP/Prakash SINGH Source: PRAKASH SINGH / AFP

THE Kookaburras let a big lead slip at the Champions Trophy on Sunday when Belgium salvaged a 4-4 draw with a controversial last-second goal in their pool match.

In the Indian city of Bhubaneswar, Australia's world champion men's hockey team looked set for a comfortable win after racing to a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Chris Ciriello, Eddie Ockenden and Jake Whetton in a five-minute second-quarter burst.

However, Belgium clawed their way back to trail 3-2 at half-time.

Australia's Chris Ciriello celebrates a goal against Belgium. Picture: AFP/ Prakash Singh Source: AFP

Australia's Eddie Ockenden (left) celebrates a goal against Belgium with Matt Gohdes. Picture: AFP / Prakash Singh Source: AFP

Flynn Ogilvie's first international goal restored the Kookaburras' two-goal advantage, which lasted just one minute before John-John Dohmen made it 4-3.

And then for the late drama.

In a physical affair in which the sin bin was well used for rough conduct, the Belgians were awarded a penalty corner — from a video referral — for shirt-holding in the circle with one second remaining on the clock.

Tom Boom capitalised to send the ball into the back of the goal for the equaliser.

Belgium's Thomas Briels falls as he attempts a shot against Australia. Picture: AFP/Dibyangshu Sarkar Source: AFP

The Kookaburras, who have won the last five Champions Trophy titles, are struggling to fire at the tournament as the world's No. 1-ranked team.

Rebuilding after the retirement of veterans Liam de Young and Rob Hammond earlier this year and missing the injured stars Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles, they lost their opening match on Saturday night to England 3-1.

Their final pool game is against Pakistan on Tuesday night before the quarter-finals start on Thursday.

England thrashed Pakistan 8-2 in the other Pool A match on Sunday.

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Glasgow athletes lacked leaders: report

Eric Hollingsworth was sent home from Glasgow after his feud with Sally Pearson. Source: News Limited

A REPORT into Athletics Australia's Commonwealth Games debacle which resulted in its head coach being sent home has found a lack of leadership throughout the organisation contributed to the Glasgow mess.

The Herald Sun has obtained a copy of the 39-page report which was conducted by Sydney 2000 Olympic team coach Chris Wardlaw and three AA board members.

It is critical of the way the team performed and the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of head coach Eric Hollingsworth after his public falling out with Olympic hurdles champion Sally Pearson.

A lack of transparency in team coaching appointments and funding allocation was a major problem with communication between the hierarchy and athletes not good enough.

"The Panel found that leadership failures, at a range of organisational levels, contributed to the disappointing outcomes and incidents of the Glasgow campaign," the report says.

"This was not just a failure during the Games period but one for which the foundations had been laid in the years preceding the Games.

"There was limited leadership and genuine engagement from some AA senior staff with the athletes and coaches at Glasgow.

"Communication was generally impersonal and largely one way."

The panel found that Hollingsworth's removal from Glasgow "was appropriate" and that the scandal had hurt the sport.

"It was generally acknowledged that some difficult relationships had developed over time between AA's ex Head Coach and a number of athletes and coaches.

"Historically the incident at the games was not a one-off.

"Debate was virulent in the public domain – leading to potential brand damage in Australia and negative impacts on stakeholders.

"However impact was marginal within team with nearly all feedback indicating it had little or no impact on team or individual performance; indeed there was a sense of relief among some athletes. 'The team just got on with the job at hand'."

It was also critical of high performance director Simon Nathan's handling of the fining of Pearson and 800m national record holder Alex Rowe for missing the team camp because they were competing in critical Games lead-up events.

"The Panel found that the handling of the issue did not pass the test of common sense."

They also found that the sport's Winning Edge mentality to funding and performance - which made headlines after support for 100m record holder Melissa Breen was dropped - needed refining with more focus on the building of relationships with athletes.

Hollingsworth hasn't been the only head to roll since Glasgow with AA chief executive Dallas O'Brien resigning in October. The former head of Yachting Australia, Phil Jones, was last week appointed the interim AA CEO.

Another report into the state of athletics, commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission and headed by former Australian cricket coach John Buchanan, is expected to be complete in the coming weeks.

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