SPORTS DIGEST Horse RacingJohn Oxx rectified one anomaly from a distinguished career when Saddler's Rock delivered his trainer the Artemis Goodwood Cup.
As Galway always coincides with Goodwood week, it would be understandable for Oxx to be pre-occupied with domestic affairs but this Group Two success was the first time he had ever made his mark on the Sussex course.
Although dependably rational – win, lose or draw – Oxx had felt Saddler’s Rock had not given his true running in the Gold Cup and the lightly-raced stayer proved him correct as he toppled the Royal Ascot hero Colour Vision.
Only third that day but sent off the 2 to 1 favourite in receipt of 4lb from Godolphin’s grey, Saddler’s Rock and Johnny Murtagh had a far more agreeable passage as a decent pace was carved out by Chiberta King and Electrolyser.
Slowly but surely, Oxx’s colt hauled them back in the home straight and held on by a length from a fast-finishing Askar Tau, with Colour Vision hanging tough for third.
Irvine sets his targets high as Omnium test set to get underway
CyclingSet to begin the Olympic Omnium events tomorrow, Ireland's Martyn Irvine has said that he is pleased with how things are going in advance of the biggest target of his career.
“Everything is going well and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in,” said the 26-year-old yesterday. Fifth in the European championships plus fifth in two rounds of the track World Cup, Irvine is hoping to step up a level and chase a medal in London.
His campaign begins with the flying lap, points race and elimination race, then concludes on Sunday with the individual pursuit, scratch race and one kilometre time trial. The best cumulative set of placings will determine the final winner plus the other medallists.
“I’m going in hoping for my best performance and I’m confident that that’s enough for a good result.”
– SHANE STOKES
McGrath quits intercounty hurling with Waterford
Gaelic GamesEoin McGrath has announced his retirement from intercounty hurling following Waterford's All-Ireland quarter-final defeat against Cork last Sunday.
McGrath, 31, confirmed last night he is calling it a day with the county team but will continue to line out for his club Mount Sion. The versatile McGrath, who was comfortable in the half-forward or full-forward lines, made his senior championship debut for Waterford against Cork in May 2002.
That season, he was part of the Déise team that won the Munster senior hurling championship title for the first time in 39 years.
McGrath would collect three more provincial titles and also won a National Hurling League medal in 2007.
McGrath was introduced as a second half substitute against Cork last Sunday but couldn’t help to prevent a three-point defeat against the Rebels. And he confirmed last night: “I’m calling it a day with Waterford.”
Speculation will now turn to the futures of other senior Waterford stars, namely Tony Browne and Séamus Prendergast.
Sharks hope to be fourth time lucky
RugbyA new Super Rugby champion will emerge when South Africa's road-weary Sharks lock horns with their ambitious hosts Waikato Chiefs in a sell-out final at Hamilton on Saturday (Sky Sports 2, 8.30am Irish time).
The Sharks will hope to make it fourth time lucky after losing their previous visits to the finals, but they will first need to deal with the final leg of a globe-trotting schedule after sneaking into the play-offs as the sixth-ranked qualifier.
The Durban-based franchise returned to South Africa last weekend for their semi-final in Cape Town against table-toppers Stormers after criss-crossing the Indian Ocean to beat 2011 champions the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
For the final, the Sharks have decided to break up their journey to Hamilton and have parked themselves in Sydney for three days in a bid to overcome jet-lag.
The Chiefs, who beat seven-times champion Canterbury Crusaders 20-17 in their semi-final, will be looking to go one better in their second attempt at the title after losing out to the Bulls in 2009.
