How a racehorse owner fired off a boozy message, and was proven wrong in front of the King
Prominent racehorse owner Rod Lyons has scaled some of the great heights of racing, including winning The Everest with boom sprinter Nature Strip, but there is one regretful moment he would love to take back.
At the end of a boozy Friday afternoon in the middle of June last year, Lyons fired off a 'tongue-in-cheek' message to trainer Henry Dwyer and the owners of Asfoora, saying they were 'wasting their time' taking their mare to Royal Ascot.
He went further than that. He said the horse was a 'second-rater' who would not only waste their money but embarrass great Australian sprinters who had won at Royal Ascot in the past.
With the benefit of hindsight, Lyons now admits he was made to look a 'fool'.
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Days after he sent his note, Asfoora became the sixth Australian sprinter to win the King Charles Stakes.
The ecstatic scenes after she thundered down the iconic 1000-metre straight, under the urgent riding of Oisin Murphy, were celebrated across the country.
Ballarat trainer Dwyer, who gave up accountancy to run a stable of horses, was ushered into the royal enclosure, resplendent in top hat and tails, and shook hands with King Charles.
The only one feeling uncomfortable in that moment was Lyons.
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Hungrier than us': Aussie-bound Lions mauled by Pumas
The British and Irish Lions' dream of an unbeaten 2025 campaign is over even before they fly out to tour Australia after a jolting opening Test loss to Argentina in a thrilling Dublin curtain-raiser. The party-pooping Pumas gleefully ignored all the hype surrounding the Lions as they ripped through the feelgood factor at Lansdowne Road on Friday night with a deserved 28-24 victory against Andy Farrell's predictably rusty but surprisingly outgunned outfit. It was the first time for 54 years since their famous 1971 triumph in New Zealand with Barry John and co that the Lions have lost their opening match of any tour - and the setback left coach Farrell quickly reading the riot act. He didn't hold back about his side's lack of intensity as he declared: "They were hungrier than us - and that's just not acceptable." There were moments, as the Lions scored three tries through centre Bundee Aki, a penalty try and lock Tadhg Beirne, when they showed what captain Maro Itoje called "glimmers of what we can do", the sort of cohesive attacking and forward domination they'll need in their nine Australian matches including three Tests. But their error count was horrendous, allowing the slick visitors, who Beirne had reckoned would be treating the match as their "World Cup final", to lead 21-10 at halftime and then hold out courageously after repelling the Lions' second-half comeback. The excellent counter-attacking Pumas also crossed the whitewash three times through Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero in a deflating evening for the Lions before they fly out to Perth for their first match against Western Force next Saturday. "It's disappointing. We've got to take the learnings from this," said Farrell, back at the Aviva Stadium where he's led Ireland to so much success. 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But Cordero then put the also under-strength Pumas back in front with a superb team score and they held on grimly under pressure near their own line only for the Lions to spurn their last chance when a penalty in front of the Argentina posts was reversed over a Beirne neck roll. "Argentina deserved the win and capitalised on all the errors we made," said Farrell. "There is a lot to do. You can't win a Test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off - and I take responsibility for that." There was at least some good news for the Lions in the performances of their three Australian-born players - Scotland's Tuipulotu plus the Irish pair of prop Finlay Bealham and replacement wing Mack Hansen, who all made excellent debuts in the scarlet. Melburnian Tuipulotu looked the Lions' most incisive attacker even if his handling may have been just a tiny bit off while Canberra's Bealham was instrumental in the Lions' scrum domination. The ebullient Hansen, another Canberra native much loved by the Dublin faithful, got one of the biggest cheers of the night when he came on for the last 20 minutes, and repaid the ovation with a couple of fine raids. The British and Irish Lions' dream of an unbeaten 2025 campaign is over even before they fly out to tour Australia after a jolting opening Test loss to Argentina in a thrilling Dublin curtain-raiser. The party-pooping Pumas gleefully ignored all the hype surrounding the Lions as they ripped through the feelgood factor at Lansdowne Road on Friday night with a deserved 28-24 victory against Andy Farrell's predictably rusty but surprisingly outgunned outfit. 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The excellent counter-attacking Pumas also crossed the whitewash three times through Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero in a deflating evening for the Lions before they fly out to Perth for their first match against Western Force next Saturday. "It's disappointing. We've got to take the learnings from this," said Farrell, back at the Aviva Stadium where he's led Ireland to so much success. Not for the first time, the Pumas, who crushed the Wallabies by 40 points the last time the teams met in the Rugby Championship, delighted in spoiling the send-off, the world's No.5-ranked side now adding the Lions to their victims for the first time after beating all three Rugby Championship rivals last season. The Pumas took the upper hand early when, after Mendy's try had been answered by Aki's score, Albornoz struck from a Puma's counter from their own 22 on the stroke of halftime. The Lions, deprived of almost half their squad because of recent club commitments and injuries, had a couple of scores ruled out in the first half - including one from Sione Tuipulotu - because of knock-ons. But Farrell was briefly enthused at the start of the second half when their robust response led to the penalty try and home favourite Beirne powering over. But Cordero then put the also under-strength Pumas back in front with a superb team score and they held on grimly under pressure near their own line only for the Lions to spurn their last chance when a penalty in front of the Argentina posts was reversed over a Beirne neck roll. "Argentina deserved the win and capitalised on all the errors we made," said Farrell. "There is a lot to do. You can't win a Test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off - and I take responsibility for that." There was at least some good news for the Lions in the performances of their three Australian-born players - Scotland's Tuipulotu plus the Irish pair of prop Finlay Bealham and replacement wing Mack Hansen, who all made excellent debuts in the scarlet. Melburnian Tuipulotu looked the Lions' most incisive attacker even if his handling may have been just a tiny bit off while Canberra's Bealham was instrumental in the Lions' scrum domination. The ebullient Hansen, another Canberra native much loved by the Dublin faithful, got one of the biggest cheers of the night when he came on for the last 20 minutes, and repaid the ovation with a couple of fine raids. The British and Irish Lions' dream of an unbeaten 2025 campaign is over even before they fly out to tour Australia after a jolting opening Test loss to Argentina in a thrilling Dublin curtain-raiser. The party-pooping Pumas gleefully ignored all the hype surrounding the Lions as they ripped through the feelgood factor at Lansdowne Road on Friday night with a deserved 28-24 victory against Andy Farrell's predictably rusty but surprisingly outgunned outfit. It was the first time for 54 years since their famous 1971 triumph in New Zealand with Barry John and co that the Lions have lost their opening match of any tour - and the setback left coach Farrell quickly reading the riot act. He didn't hold back about his side's lack of intensity as he declared: "They were hungrier than us - and that's just not acceptable." There were moments, as the Lions scored three tries through centre Bundee Aki, a penalty try and lock Tadhg Beirne, when they showed what captain Maro Itoje called "glimmers of what we can do", the sort of cohesive attacking and forward domination they'll need in their nine Australian matches including three Tests. But their error count was horrendous, allowing the slick visitors, who Beirne had reckoned would be treating the match as their "World Cup final", to lead 21-10 at halftime and then hold out courageously after repelling the Lions' second-half comeback. The excellent counter-attacking Pumas also crossed the whitewash three times through Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero in a deflating evening for the Lions before they fly out to Perth for their first match against Western Force next Saturday. "It's disappointing. We've got to take the learnings from this," said Farrell, back at the Aviva Stadium where he's led Ireland to so much success. Not for the first time, the Pumas, who crushed the Wallabies by 40 points the last time the teams met in the Rugby Championship, delighted in spoiling the send-off, the world's No.5-ranked side now adding the Lions to their victims for the first time after beating all three Rugby Championship rivals last season. The Pumas took the upper hand early when, after Mendy's try had been answered by Aki's score, Albornoz struck from a Puma's counter from their own 22 on the stroke of halftime. The Lions, deprived of almost half their squad because of recent club commitments and injuries, had a couple of scores ruled out in the first half - including one from Sione Tuipulotu - because of knock-ons. But Farrell was briefly enthused at the start of the second half when their robust response led to the penalty try and home favourite Beirne powering over. But Cordero then put the also under-strength Pumas back in front with a superb team score and they held on grimly under pressure near their own line only for the Lions to spurn their last chance when a penalty in front of the Argentina posts was reversed over a Beirne neck roll. "Argentina deserved the win and capitalised on all the errors we made," said Farrell. "There is a lot to do. You can't win a Test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off - and I take responsibility for that." There was at least some good news for the Lions in the performances of their three Australian-born players - Scotland's Tuipulotu plus the Irish pair of prop Finlay Bealham and replacement wing Mack Hansen, who all made excellent debuts in the scarlet. Melburnian Tuipulotu looked the Lions' most incisive attacker even if his handling may have been just a tiny bit off while Canberra's Bealham was instrumental in the Lions' scrum domination. The ebullient Hansen, another Canberra native much loved by the Dublin faithful, got one of the biggest cheers of the night when he came on for the last 20 minutes, and repaid the ovation with a couple of fine raids.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Who's the best expansion club? Giants, Suns test mettle
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Damien Hardwick's charges are boasting fresh legs after a timely bye. The Suns were left licking their wounds after back-to-back wins, losing to the Dockers by 11 points before a 24-point defeat to Geelong. But a weekend off doesn't necessarily pose as an advantage for the Suns, who have not won half of their post-bye matchs since their inaugural season in 2011. Still, Giants midfielder Xavier O'Halloran won't make the mistake of underestimating the Suns - given their record-breaking start to the season. "They're obviously going really well at the moment so they've got a great side," O'Halloran told AAP. "We will do our best during the week to prepare for it, and hopefully come out on Sunday and get the job done. "It would be nice to go into the bye with another win." A blockbuster engine room fight is set to take place at Engie Stadium. While the Giants hope the inclusion of star Toby Greene (glute) will perfectly complement midfielders Finn Callaghan and Tom Green, the Suns will boast quality in skipper Noah Anderson, midfield bull Matt Rowell and Touk Miller. Small forward Brent Daniels, who has often been deployed in the Giants midfield, has suffered an adductor issue and joins veterans Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward on the sidelines. All-Australian defender Sam Taylor is also out after fracturing his toe. The Suns have made three changes, with winger Lachie Weller returning from a hamstring injury to play his 150th game. Ethan Read and Connor Budarick return, while Sean Lemmens, David Swallow and Leo Lombard make way. Giants player O'Halloran is also pushing his case in the midfield after cementing himself in Kingsley's best 22. The 24-year-old has been called upon by Kingsley in 13 matches so far and is set to eclipse his career-best tally of 19 games played. "I've just tried to grab that with both hands and do as best I can," O'Halloran said. "The downside of it is seeing your mates go injured and have time away from footy. "But it opens up opportunities and I've been fortunate enough to have that through the midfield this year." Interstate bragging rights, a top-eight spot and a post-bye curse - there's plenty on the line in the so-called Expansion Cup. As GWS look to head into their mid-season bye with back-to-back wins, a refreshed Gold Coast outfit is out to reignite their season with a smash-and-grab mission at Engie Stadium on Sunday in the interstate clash between the AFL's two youngest sides. The clash looms as the biggest to date between them: GWS are seventh (8-6), while Gold Coast have shaken their status as rank outsiders to be sixth (8-6). The Giants boast a 14-5 record against the Suns and Adam Kingsley's men will hope to pull off a Queensland complete sweep after pulling off an upset over Brisbane in enemy territory. Their top-eight spot could come into question if a defeat is coupled with wins by eighth-placed Fremantle (8-5) over Essendon and ninth-placed Western Bulldogs (7-6) over Richmond. Should the Giants fall short against the Suns, redemption would have to wait after their round-16 bye. Damien Hardwick's charges are boasting fresh legs after a timely bye. The Suns were left licking their wounds after back-to-back wins, losing to the Dockers by 11 points before a 24-point defeat to Geelong. But a weekend off doesn't necessarily pose as an advantage for the Suns, who have not won half of their post-bye matchs since their inaugural season in 2011. Still, Giants midfielder Xavier O'Halloran won't make the mistake of underestimating the Suns - given their record-breaking start to the season. "They're obviously going really well at the moment so they've got a great side," O'Halloran told AAP. "We will do our best during the week to prepare for it, and hopefully come out on Sunday and get the job done. "It would be nice to go into the bye with another win." A blockbuster engine room fight is set to take place at Engie Stadium. While the Giants hope the inclusion of star Toby Greene (glute) will perfectly complement midfielders Finn Callaghan and Tom Green, the Suns will boast quality in skipper Noah Anderson, midfield bull Matt Rowell and Touk Miller. Small forward Brent Daniels, who has often been deployed in the Giants midfield, has suffered an adductor issue and joins veterans Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward on the sidelines. All-Australian defender Sam Taylor is also out after fracturing his toe. The Suns have made three changes, with winger Lachie Weller returning from a hamstring injury to play his 150th game. Ethan Read and Connor Budarick return, while Sean Lemmens, David Swallow and Leo Lombard make way. Giants player O'Halloran is also pushing his case in the midfield after cementing himself in Kingsley's best 22. The 24-year-old has been called upon by Kingsley in 13 matches so far and is set to eclipse his career-best tally of 19 games played. "I've just tried to grab that with both hands and do as best I can," O'Halloran said. "The downside of it is seeing your mates go injured and have time away from footy. "But it opens up opportunities and I've been fortunate enough to have that through the midfield this year." Interstate bragging rights, a top-eight spot and a post-bye curse - there's plenty on the line in the so-called Expansion Cup. As GWS look to head into their mid-season bye with back-to-back wins, a refreshed Gold Coast outfit is out to reignite their season with a smash-and-grab mission at Engie Stadium on Sunday in the interstate clash between the AFL's two youngest sides. The clash looms as the biggest to date between them: GWS are seventh (8-6), while Gold Coast have shaken their status as rank outsiders to be sixth (8-6). The Giants boast a 14-5 record against the Suns and Adam Kingsley's men will hope to pull off a Queensland complete sweep after pulling off an upset over Brisbane in enemy territory. Their top-eight spot could come into question if a defeat is coupled with wins by eighth-placed Fremantle (8-5) over Essendon and ninth-placed Western Bulldogs (7-6) over Richmond. Should the Giants fall short against the Suns, redemption would have to wait after their round-16 bye. Damien Hardwick's charges are boasting fresh legs after a timely bye. The Suns were left licking their wounds after back-to-back wins, losing to the Dockers by 11 points before a 24-point defeat to Geelong. But a weekend off doesn't necessarily pose as an advantage for the Suns, who have not won half of their post-bye matchs since their inaugural season in 2011. 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The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Hey, Torvill and Dean, remember the time I danced with you?
Fitz: What is it? Torvill: Bolero is obviously a very special routine because it opened the door for the future, and we wouldn't still be doing what we're doing without that. Fitz: So let's go back to the romance one! The personal chemistry and physical intimacy that you two display on ice as you dance is so wonderful; it dinkum is amazing that you can do it without ever having been a couple. Was there never a time, Chris, when you said to Jayne, surely, 'Let's go and see a film Saturday night?' And she said, 'No, forget it.' Dean: No, never like that. We have spent a lot of time together, seeing movies, going for drinks, and the theatre, all of those things. And of course, we've been together on many long tours, like when we were touring Australia for the first time. We were meant to be coming for just two weeks, but ended up staying for three months doing shows, and then stayed a further nine months putting a show together. So we were in Sydney area for almost a year, and we made lots of friends. Fitz: [ Painfully persisting ] So never in that year, two young English athletes a long way from home, did you exchange smouldering looks over your Vegemite on toast ... Torvill: No, our main focus was getting the work done. You know, we had just turned professional, and for us, it was an exciting time in that we weren't competing anymore and we didn't have any rules and regulations of competition. So, in fact, you know, we were free to be more creative, which is something that we've always enjoyed. Fitz: What about blues then? There must have come a time over the last 45 years when you two were dancing, when Chris lifted you up, Jayne, so you could do a twirly gig and the booger didn't catch you properly? Surely, there must have been times where, to use the Australian expression, you came an absolute cropper, occasioning strong words? Torvill: No. Lucky for us, we never did have any major falls in competition, which is what counts. Falls in training, you accept. But we trained so hard that to be ready for anything, that we didn't really make any mistakes. So, no 'blues'. Fitz: Moving on! By some reckoning, the pop group ABBA was said to be a bigger success in Australia, even than in Sweden. There was something about ABBA that Australia, more than pretty much any other country, loved. Is it possible that the same applies to you two, that Australia loves Torvill and Dean more than even Britain loves Torvill and Dean, and that we loved you more than anywhere else on Earth. Dean: Maybe. When we first came to Australia, it was such a surprise for us to be so welcomed. The Australian promoter had pre-booked the Russian Olympic figure-skating team, thinking that they would win everything at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, and they didn't. We did. And so the promoter said, 'We've got to get those bloody Poms down here.' And so within a very short time, somebody came over to see us and gave us a contract, and we came down to Australia and we were adored. I mean, they tell the story of when the tickets first went on sale, that the line instantly formed up right round the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Fitz: Which is very odd, yes? Because in Sydney, we're surfers, netballers, cricketers, footballers, but not really, as a people, ice skaters – with only a rink or two open on a good day? Dean: Yeah, I think what happened, Channel Nine were the host broadcasters at the Olympics, and we became very popular because they gave us a lot of air time. And we became the base of promoting the Winter Olympics in Australia. And, there were also a lot of British expats who took to us, right? Fitz: Whatever else, our love affair with you has been enduring. We also have a saying that a person has had 'more comebacks than Dame Nellie Melba', lately replaced by 'more farewell tours than Johnny Farnham'. Whoever, with you two, came up with the title for your tour, Our Last Dance, has to be commended, because it captures the imagination. But seriously, seriously, when you perform your last dance in Sydney [at Qudos on Sunday afternoon], when you come off the ice, is that really going to be it for you two? Your last dance? Dean: It will certainly be our last performance skating in Australia. But then we go back to Nottingham, our hometown, and we actually do four performances there, and then on the last day, that will be our last skating performance, live skating performance, that we will do. You know, we've been skating together now for 50 years, and we think that that's a good round number to sort of call it a day from the performing side. And the body is ready to say it's time as well. Fitz: But don't you think that five years from now, one of you might say, 'I'm in your town, I'm going to put on a red wig. You put on a blonde one, and I'll see you down at the rink, and just one last time in the moonlight, let's dance?' Torvill: It's not to say that we won't ever skate on the ice together, but we won't actually be performing together. So we may be together like choreographing or teaching somebody. We'll do other things together, but just not performing. This is it. Fitz: Chris? Don't you think that you might just do it one more time in the moonlight, when you're 80, one more time to capture the magic, one more time without anybody knowing, just the two of you? Dean: [ Thoughtfully ] I'm not saying that we won't do that ... but it's not something that we would show off to anybody ... It would be personal. Fitz: Bingo! Now, without being too mealy-mouthed about it, your dancing ability on ice must be comparable, in terms of how much it's celebrated, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Did you two ever watch footage of their dancing and swoon? T & D: Yes! Dean: They were very much a part of our viewing and we took a lot from them in their style and the movement and their performance quality. Yeah, absolutely, they were our idols. Fitz: You mentioned that you two have been doing it for 50 years. That means – dot three, carry one, subtract two – you must have started in the mid-70s. How much have your physical abilities waned? Are there many things you used to be able to do, that you simply cannot do now? Torvill: There are things that have got harder as we got older, and we're no longer 25, but we still feel that we can put on a show that we're happy with. And we've put it together with some amazing [younger] skaters from around the world. So we're really excited by the show, and the show itself tells a story, our story, right from the beginning, up until now. Loading Fitz: When Mick Jagger was 23 years old, he said, 'I hope I'm not still singing Can't Get No Satisfaction when I'm 30.' Could you two have conceived that you'd still be going 50 years later? And would you have been thrilled? Torvill: No and yes. We would never have imagined it would have been possible. Back then, when skaters turned professional, they would maybe do two years, three years in a professional show, and then, you know, sort of maybe go into teaching or just retire anyway. We've just been so lucky, with the way things happened for us that we were able to create several different tours, and then go back to the Olympics in '94 because that became a possibility, and that extended our professional careers. Dean: And then, in more recent times, television people came and said, would we be interested in teaching celebrities to skate? And that's when Dancing On Ice was born. And that extended us, too.
