AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals vs Kansas City Chiefs

The AFC championship sets up to be a clash between two of this generation’s best quarterbacks in Kansas City Chiefs MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes and Cincinnati Bengals superstar Joe Burrow. The Chiefs were able to hold off the Jaguars in the divisional round despite Mahomes sustaining an ankle injury during the game. He was able to continue to play through the injury in the second half although visually you could see that it was impacting him although he was still as dynamic as ever throwing for 2 touchdowns among his 195 yards.

Not only has the Chiefs’ offence been dynamic (being ranked number one in the league), their defence has been able to come up with big plays throughout the year putting them in positions to win games. Against the Jaguars they were able to force a fumble on the three-yard line with the Jaguars looking to tie the game in the dying stages. They were able to constantly put pressure on Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Quarterback) and will be looking to do the same again this weekend against the Bengals as Burrow is known to hold onto the ball a touch longer than most quarterbacks and the Bengals’ offensive line is certainly no standout.

The Bengals however are one of few teams who can match Kansas City’s firepower on offence with weapons such as Jamarr Chase, Tee Higgins and Joe Mixon. They are coming off a huge dangerous game against the Buffalo Bills where they were able to keep them to a low score and nullify Bills star quarterback Josh Allen’s influence, keeping them to a score of 10 while scoring 27 themselves. There will be a fire in the belly after being beaten in last year’s Super Bowl by the Los Angeles Rams and if Joe Burrow is able to get in a rhythm and avoid multiple sacks they will be hard to beat.

Verdict: Bengals

Going to be a very interesting and tight-fought affair however, I am going to have to side with the Bengals. The Jamarr Chase and Joe Burrow connection is unmatched and has won them a college championship after losing the Super Bowl last year, will be looking to rectify that loss and add the Vince Lombardi trophy to the partnership also. The Chiefs certainly will not go down without a fight but I just think with Mahomes is not at full health due to his ankle it might restrict him from being able to pull off some of the ridiculous plays that we have become accustomed to that often get the Chiefs out of trouble.

NFC Championship – Philadelphia Eagles vs San Francisco 49ers

The NFC championship brings together an intriguing matchup that will see the top two seeds the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers do battle. Philadelphia has had a relatively easy run through the playoffs to this point with the first-week bye and then a dominant display over the New York Giants in the divisional round. They have been one of the better teams all year and have one of the more dynamic quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts who has been sensational all year leading one of the best offences in the league. The balance between their run game and their passing game keeps opposing defences honest and Hurts’ ability to extend plays and take off from the pocket and gain yards with his legs is what has held the Eagles in such good stead all year.

This offence may well be facing its stiffest test all year, however, coming up against the 49ers’ number one of the best defences in the league. Full of stars like Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead they are able to constantly put pressure on the quarterback without necessarily having to blitz, allowing them to have better coverage downfield as both Bosa and Armstead are so often able to get to the quarterback and win their one on one battles. The winner of the Philly offence and the 49ers’ defence may well determine the outcome of this game as one of the best defences in the league faces one of the better offences in the league. Philly’s defence has also been quality this year getting 5 sacks and 8 quarterback hits in their divisional-round victory over the Giants. They will certainly look to get to inexperienced quarterback Brock Purdy and put him under pressure from the outset and aim to force him into errors.

Another question mark over the game however will be whether it is actually Brock Purdy lining up under centre or whether Jimmy Garoppolo returns from Injury. Purdy has not stepped a foot wrong since stepping in for Garoppolo and has surprised many across the league with his play and has arguably made their offence better. Will be intriguing to see whether Garoppolo is fit and ready to play, and if so, whether he starts or whether they leave Purdy in who has gotten them this far. 

Verdict: Eagles

We are in for yet another blockbuster conference championship which really could go either way but I believe this may be the Eagles’ year to reach another Super Bowl since Nick Foles led them to an upset Super Bowl win. I think their offence has been so good on both sides of the ball this year and they were ultra-impressive in their victory over the New York Giants and should still be relatively fresh heading into this clash after getting the bye in the wildcard round. I’m with the Eagles to create a blockbuster Super Bowl matchup between two young elite quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts and the Eagles vs Joe Burrow and the Bengals.

Who Do You Think Makes The Super Bowl? Comment Below!

The post The Super Bowl – Who Makes The Big Game? first appeared on The Mock Sports.

Such a move will impact the whole spring dynamic and begs the question of whether it is really worth changing a 100+ year tradition. Racing Victoria sees a window in late October and into November with football codes AFL and NRL being done for the year and just before the cricket starts to ramp up. They have also considered the weather at this time of year and how that may attract more people to the races and may create more of a spectacle as well as more fair tracks with the weather really starting to warm up into November.

If this change were to occur, however, it will have major impacts on Coc Plate contenders’ Spring campaigns which may be detrimental to other major races on the Spring calendar. Regular kick-off points for Sydney siders like Anamoe and Mo’unga include the Winx stakes in mid-August but this race may be bypassed for a lot of contenders in order to avoid being up for too long and avoid an unnecessarily extended preparation. The Might and Power Stakes is often the final lead-up race before the Cox Plate held two weeks before the great race, however, this will no longer be the occasion with the new concept of Champions Day and the Champions Stakes on the final day of the Flemington carnival now likely to become the final tune-up for Cox Plate contenders should the move take place.

If the move of Australia’s greatest weight-for-age race towards the end of November, after the Melbourne Cup, were to occur it would send shockwaves through the racing community and no doubt come with its controversy. It will certainly be interesting to see if Racing Victoria goes through with its decision as it will change the shape of not only the spring carnival but the whole racing calendar.

The post 100 Years Of Tradition Broken! Cox Plate To be Moved? first appeared on The Mock Sports.

This year promises to be an exciting carnival with all the spring stars returning and many questions to not be asked and answered. Will Nature Strip return to his best and claim his 4th TJ Smith Stakes or will the baton be passed on? Will Anamoe continue his dominance over middle-distance racing and then go on to conquer overseas challengers? And will the star horses return from injury, like Incentivise, Hitotsu, and Think it Over return to their dominant best?

All these questions and more will be answered in what is set to be a blockbuster 3-month carnival and despite it being difficult to pinpoint exactly which horses will run where we are going to take a look at four races that are simply must-see TV throughout the upcoming carnival.

QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (2000M Randwick, 8th of April)

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is seen by many as one of the biggest races in the NSW racing calendar with the best middle-distance horses doing battle on Day 2 of the Star Championships. Last year the race was run on a bottomless track with Nash Rawiller giving Think It Over arguably the ride of the year as he came to the grandstand rail in search of dryer ground to just run down Zaaki in the shadows of the post.

Assuming Think It Over returns at full health, both he and Zaaki will likely do battle once again, while Cox Plate champion Anamoe will also be aimed up at the race with last year’s instalment his only proper fail in his career with the heavy track blamed for the poor performance. Going off of his Spring performances, however, he will likely be one of the horses to beat, although the chasing pack isn’t far away. Both El Bodegon and I’m Thunderstruck were a little unlucky getting too far back in the Cox Plate yet they still took late ground from Anamoe.

Other injured horses Incentivise and Hitotsu will likely be aimed at the race should they return to full health and both have shown that they have an extreme ability to win big races and light up the clock in doing so. Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip may also contest the race and has shown he is an extremely tough horse winning the Melbourne Cup and just being nosed out in the Caulfield Cup, carrying the top weight on both occasions, he was also unlucky in the Cox Plate, cluttered up between horses back towards the inside.

The real X factor in the race, however, provided he goes this way, may be international import Alenquer who is a group one winner in Ireland over 2112 metres and we know how far superior British horses can often be over the middle to long-range distances. If he is able to acclimatise well to the Australian way of going, he may be the one to beat. Either way this field is set to be absolutely stacked ensuring that it will be one of the races of the year and must-see television!

TJ SMITH STAKES (1200 M Randwick, 1st of April)

Well, all eyes will be on the big boy Nature Strip on Day 1 of the Star Championships at Randwick as he looks to become the only horse to win this race four times as he currently holds the joint record with the ‘Grey Flash’ Chautauqua with three.

He will be trained to the minute for this event by Chris Waller and we know how well Waller is able to get his horses to peak on the big day and will get the services of the best jockey in the world James McDonald. His job won’t be easy though with Giga Kick, Private Eye and Mazu, the Everest trifecta, the three horses that beat him that day, set to face off against the world champ once again and it is fair to assume that they may even have further improvement to come.

Lost and Running will also likely line up and I believe has been a little forgotten about since his flop in the Nature Strip Stakes. He was seen by many as the main danger to Nature Strip in the Everest before being scratched and a few form analysts even had him beating the champ the way that the race panned out. If he was there he would’ve gone extremely close. Exciting Godolphin sprinter In Secret is unlikely to, but may also contest the race by stepping up from races against its own sex and can add some X factor to this race and the Godolphin polish and professionalism.

This race will be the pinnacle of the sprint races throughout the Autumn in a blockbuster clash with Nature Strip aiming for a 4th TJ against exciting talent and Everest winner Giga Kick as well as other young talents In Secret and Mazu, and class speedsters in Private Eye and Lost and Running.

ALL STAR MILE (1600 Moonee Valley, 18th of March )

The All-Star Mile has become a feature of the Victorian Autumn Carnival in recent years with the concept of horses with the most votes getting into the field. It creates a sense of buzz around the race as racing fans can engage with the race in a whole new way and feel more a part of the action.

Such a concept always ensures there are quality horses within the field. The 2022 quinella – Zaaki and I’m Thunderstruck will most likely contest again and be highly competitive. The 1600 metre circuit, particularly around Moonee Valley may be tailor-made to a horse like Alligator Blood who is starting to really hit his straps again after a large injury lay-off and the controversy around his ownership. Alenquer may add some international flavour to the race along with Waller import El Bodegon who has already had a run around the Valley when running 3rd in the Cox Plate.

Fresh Waterhouse and Bott import Alcohol Free could be another interesting overseas runner that aims up at the race, as well as My Oberon who has a dominant Moonee Valley win on the resume. Anamoe is unlikely to run however another Godolphin galloper in Cascadian could line up and is always competitive in class races and is sure to be storming home late.

Golden Eagle winner I wish I Win may well find herself in this field and find himself a live chance with his blistering turn of foot. The consistent Mr Brightside is yet another A-grader that is set to make this year’s instalment of the All-Star mile one to watch and will ensure the Valley will be buzzing on the 18th of March!

GOLDEN SLIPPER (1200M Rosehill, 18th of March)

The only one of the 4 ‘majors’ that takes place in the Autumn, the other 3 include Cox Plate, Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Just being mentioned in the same breath as such races shows just how big and how prestigious this race is and is held in high regard by trainers, jockeys and owners alike and is the premier two-year-old race of the year. The Slipper is worth a lazy $5 million and is what every quality two-year-old is aimed at meaning it is the best of each year’s crop going head to head.

This year the race will likely be headlined by dominant debut winner King’s Gambit and undefeated Godolphin galloper Barber who will look to keep their unbeaten records intact. Magic Millions aspirants Platinum Jubilee and Empire of Japan will also likely take their place in the field and if either can replicate their dominant debut wins they will be extremely hard to beat, while other Magic Millions aspirant Sovereign Fund will be competitive after starting their career winning 2 from 2.

The Waterhouse and Bott trained The Instructor has flown into calculations after a dominant 3-length win at Pakenham while the unraced Snowden colt Don Corleone and Godolphin filly Apres Ski both have a big buzz around them.

The Golden Slipper is always an open race and takes a quality horse, often an extremely mature horse, to win the race and is no doubt going to be one of the highlights of the 2023 Autumn Carnival!

What race are you most looking forward to in the Autumn Carnival? And who wins it?

Let us know in the comments!

The post Autumn Carnival Preview: What Are The Blockbuster Races Of 2023? first appeared on The Mock Sports.

After two upset defeats in both the Everest and the Champions Sprint during the Spring, the career of the big boy Nature Strip is seemingly coming to a close sooner rather than later, marking the beginning of a new age of Australian sprinters. Below we are going to rank the 5 most promising or most likely horses to take the throne from the Waller-trained gelding as the best sprinter in the country, and even the world.

Honourable Mentions

I Am Me

Perhaps a little ambitious put this lightly raced mare on the list but she has come into her own this preparation and has been one of the finds of the summer winning 4/4 this time in, breaking the 1200m track record at Canterbury in the process. Only has had the 12 career starts and hasn’t been tested at the top level as of yet, but has the Maher and Eustace polish and will no doubt be contesting group class races in the near future.

Jacquinot

Been contesting races of the highest class since its debut running in 4 group ones plus the Everest in only 8 starts. He Flew home in the golden rose over 1400 then came back to 1200 metres in the Everest and was a little unlucky not to finish closer to the winner. Will be interesting to see whether the Price and Kent team keep him to the sprint trips or want to stretch him out further even up to the mile.

5. Mazu

Mazu has become a different horse since the gelding operation and has since won 5 races. He has also run into the money on three other occasions, including a third in what is considered the biggest sprint race in the world, the TAB Everest, in just 9 starts since the operation. He was immediately a different horse after the gelding with those 5 wins all being on the trot and all on soft or heavy tracks, culminating in his first group one victory in the Doomben 10,000.

After that preparation he was earmarked as more of a wet track horse however this spring he showed he can be competitive on any surface. Despite not winning a race he was ultra-competitive at the highest level running second to lost and running in the Premiere then getting a little further back than usual in the Everest and flying home for third beating home Nature Strip before ending the prep by beating all bar the flying private eye. Will be fascinating to see just how much further improvement is to come from the 4-year-old as we already know he is right in the thick of it at the top level.

4. Lost and Running

A little bit of an interrupted prep for the lightly raced John O’Shea 6-year-old. He has always shown plenty of talent and has been meticulously placed and continually risen through the grades showing he can match it with the best in the spring of 2021 running 4th in the Everest, then running second in the Winner’s Stakes (then Classique legend stakes) behind Eduardo and finishing the prep winning the $1M hunter.

His Autumn prep was light with a first up kill in Sydney before the messy Newmarket Handicap down the Flemington straight when Roch ’N’ horse won at enormous odds. His Spring prep began with a flashing light run in the shorts running 3rd to Nature Strip before winning the Premiere Stakes which led to many seeing him as the main danger to Nature Strip in the Everest, however, we all know he was then scratched on race morning.

The way the race panned out only leaves one wondering what may have been had he been in the race at full health as it was obvious in the Winner’s Stakes next start that he was not the same horse and wasn’t able to accelerate like he normally does. Should be able to reach full health and get back to his best in 2023 and will certainly win some big races throughout the Autumn and Spring

3. In Secret

In Secret is a seriously talented Godolphin filly who has only had 6 career starts for 4 wins and 2 seconds, one of those defeats being an unlucky second to Zougotcha who has since won a group one. The other came in the Golden Rose when she just got bloused late by Jacquinot at a distance possibly on her outer limit.

Her talent and blistering turn of foot were on display in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes when defeating the boys in emphatic fashion down the Flemington straight on stakes day. She has the ability to win races from anywhere in the field and looks to continue on an upward spiral. Being a filly, we won’t see her retire to the stud farm so will hopefully at least get a few more seasons of racing out of her. She still harnesses so much potential and has a serious upside.

We know what James Cummings and the Godolphin team are able to do with promising young horses so will no doubt continue competing at the highest level being extremely competitive if not the one to beat.

2. Private eye

Well, this time last year I wouldn’t even think of putting Private Eye on this sort of a list let alone at number 2, as it would have been a ridiculous call. But, he was stunning over the sprint trips last Spring, possibly stamping his claim as an out-and-out run-on sprinter. Earlier in his career, he’d been touted as more of a miler even winning the Group One Epsom handicap in 2021 while also contesting the Mackinnon stakes the same spring over 2000 metres.

His first-up run last prep down the Flemington straight was arrogant over 1200 metres and he was then runner-up in the Everest only being run over late by Giga kick showing he may just be a run-on sprinter. This was confirmed with his huge win in the Winner’s Stakes storming home from last over 1300 for a dominant win running the last 600 metres in 33.18, a sizzling pace. He was then stretched back out to 1600 in the Champion’s Mile and was well backed but did not quicken as he had over the sprint trips. I think after this prep Joe Pride will keep him at the sprint trips and he will be storming home in anything he contests.

1. Giga Kick

Well, what a story this horse has been for former jumps jockey turned trainer Clayton Douglas.

The 2022 TAB Everest winner has had 6 starts for 5 wins, the only miss when getting caught up in a bit of traffic in the champions sprint when still flying home for fifth. The upside of this horse is enormous, hence why I have him placed at number 1, as he has shown that he has the ability to perform in high-pressure races and on the big stage despite still being a 3-year-old. His win in the Everest was just huge and the racing world is now his oyster, his ability to quicken and accelerate is enormous and although he has settled to the back of the pack in his last few starts, he showed in his first 2 career wins that he can settle and win towards the front of the pack as well.

Being a gelding he still has so much racing to come and I am excited to see the improvement he has to come or whether he can live up to that Everest performance.

The post Finding Nature Strip’s Successor: Who Is Australia’s Next Great Sprinter? first appeared on The Mock Sports.