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Sport: Takeover Target Breaks Down; Tour De France; The Ashes.

  • July 11th, 2009
  • Posted by EUEditor

ashes-2009-reduced.jpgMuch striving as the weekend got under way, in the cricket and Tour de France, with sad news about Takeover Target from the racing at Newmarket.

AUSTRALIA SHOWS SOME FORM

Locating the first test in the Ashes series at Cardiff, in Wales, made no difference to the zeal of a patriotic local crowd – though by lunch on the fourth day there was less to sing “Jerusalem” about.

The Australians were at 5 for 577 in their first innings, no wickets lost in the morning session, ahead by 142.

All-rounder Marcus North, captain of Western Australia, was on 101, recording a century in his inaugural ashes appearance, following up an earlier century in his first Test.

TOUR DE FRANCE

Not too far away, Australian road cyclist Cadel Evans put in an attack on the longest stage of the Tour de France – Stage Seven, the upwards climb to Andorra.

He remained in 26th place, three minutes behind the leaders.

The come-back champion, Lance Armstrong, seven-times TdeF  winner from America, was in third position, behind Alberto Contador (Spain), and the leader Rinaldo Nocentini (Italy).

Evans was working to make up for earlier set-backs with members of his team coming down in accidents.

TAKEOVER TARGET

The sensational sprinter Takeover Target broke down in the July Cup at Newmarket (11.7.09).

The horse reportedly received surgery for a cracked bone in a lower hind leg, and at this moment, a weak prognosis for being able to race again.

The Australian ten year-old gelding had chalked up a run of wins in Australia, England, Singapore and Japan – and prize money of A$6-million.

The horse’s trainer, Joe Janiak, then driving a taxi, bought Takeover Target for $1250 six years ago, nursing him back from a knee injury to racing form, at the Queanbeyan race track.

Reference:

ABC News (Australia), “North makes Ashes debut in style”, ABC Grandstand Sport, 11.7.09, www.abc.net.au/news/ … (11.7.09).

ABC (Australia), Live scorecard, www.abc.net.au/cricket/results/scorecard/ …, (11.7.09).

SBS (Australia), Live Tour Tracker, http://tdf.sbs.com.au, (11.7.09).

Tom Reilly, “Takeover Target injured in July Cup – report”, TheAge.com.au, 11.7.09, (11.7.09).

Picture: First Test 2009, Cardiff