KELLY Schweida admits he’s still at a loss to explain why Cellargirl failed to keep up in the early stages last start and that’s his biggest worry ahead of her Doomben tilt on Saturday.

TRY as he might, Greg Hickman can’t avoid the hype.

HARLEM and Jon Snow will need to pass vet tests on Saturday morning after stewards expressed concerns about their fitness following an inspection of the 36 second acceptors for Tuesday’s $6.25 million Emirates Melbourne Cup.

GAI Waterhouse is still hopeful of having a Melbourne Cup starter with her tough stayer Cismontane in a must-win situation in the Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.

THE Melbourne Stars’ terrible start to BBL04 has continued, thanks to a Darren Sammy blitz and tight bowling from the Hobart Hurricanes.

ENGLAND has emphatically stated that exiled batsman and former captain Kevin Pietersen will never play for his country again.

GREG BIRD has apologised for “stupidly and regretfully” urinating near a police car, saying the incident had “put a real dampener on his wedding weekend.”

GRANT Balfour, Australian baseball’s $6 million a year man, says his longevity in the game is his greatest achievement.

ONE-TIME FIFA presidential candidate Luis Figo was scathing in his criticism of Sepp Blatter after the Swiss was voted in for a historic fifth time.

THE ARU is reportedly trying to lure one of rugby league’s most exciting prospects across to the 15-a-side game.

WITH all his brash and bravado, you’re either going to love or hate Nick Kyrgios. But at least he’s always honest.

ADAM Goodes’ post-goal celebration against Carlton seems to have divided the football and general public. Here’s what the footy world is saying following the Swans champ’s ‘war cry’.

ROHIT Sharma learned a handy life lesson after his sledge prompted a Mitchell Johnson onslaught with bat and ball. Don’t poke the bear.

SEMI Radradra’s sister has directly contradicted reports in the Fiji Times that her brother was leaving the NRL for French rugby.

HE WASN’T trying to be funny but it was difficult not to laugh as Sepp Blatter produced one of the most uninspiring victory speeches of all time.

SURE, there are plenty of benefits to being the offspring of the rich and famous. But sometimes it can come back to bite you.

MITCHELL Johnson has spearheaded Australia to a 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar trophy, defeating India by four wickets at the Gabba.

CRICKET curators are an innovative bunch when it comes to their pristine pitches. But one turf man got desperate when his season-opener was in jeopardy.

DANIEL Ricciardo has conceded Red Bull will be in no position to jostle with Mercedes or Ferrari this year — but hopes the team will take the fight to Williams at Silverstone.

VIRAT Kohli endured a fearful Mitchell Johnson ‘badging’ that revived the Phillip Hughes nightmare before turning the heat back on Australia.

THERE was a real irony in the result of the juvenile opener at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

THE Dockers have made it three in a row, with a resounding win over Port Adelaide at Subiaco Oval. The Power’s season is now all but over.

TORONTO Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson is renowned for pulling off the spectacular. But it’s doubtful he would have produced any better than this.

HE’S ranked higher than Shane Watson and has changed the course of Test matches with bat and ball. Here’s why Mitchell Johnson is a genuine all-rounder.

SCOTT Hend could only take so much and he nearly came close to breaking during the third round of the BMW PGA Championship in England.