22 Monday, December 11, 2017 SPORTS Highland Reel

Shasigns Tin victory in his farewell off race. aggressive in ride from Moore. stylemarked the end of an incredible ighland Reel brought his This last outing for the famed Japan’s Tosen Basil finished journey, encompassing four illustrious career to a close five year old horse could not have third, three-quarters of a length seasons in training and 13 starts in Hfitting style by winning the been scripted any better as old behind Talismanic, while Ralph outside Britain and Ireland, with Longines Hong Kong Vase at the adversary Talismanic loomed up Beckett’s Chemical Charge fared journeys to the likes of Australia, 2017 Longines Hong Kong menacingly while Highland Reel best of the British raiders in fourth. Dubai and the USA. International Races at was responding gallantly to jockey This was a second Hong Kong The victory extended trainer Sha Tin. Ryan Moore having taken the lead Vase for Highland Reel, who won Aidan O’Brien’s world record In his last start at the top of the final straight. in 2015 and was only narrowly tally of Group One wins in a year before heading to stud, Talismanic challenged but denied last year, and he ends his to 28. Highland Reel was was unable to make an impact as career having won more prize- “This is a really fitting way for challenged by Andre Highland Reel strode clear and money than any horse trained in him to finish,” said Moore. “He’s Fabre’s Talismanic had a length and three-quarters in Europe, with this success taking his been a brilliant racehorse and but held on for a hand at the line and was pulling haul to £7.4 million. there’s plenty to look forward to at seventh Group One away again after being given an This seventh top-level success stud now. (eurosport)

Highland Reel holds off his rivals to capture his second Hong Kong Vase (Picture courtesy: scmp) Giroud rescues a point for Arsenal Southampton bench despite his sparkling Europa livier Giroud League display in midweek. climbed off , the man keeping theO bench to rescue Wilshere out, set up a chance for a point for Arsenal Alexandre Lacazette, who turned in in a 1-1 draw at the area but fired sraight at Fraser Southampton. Forster. The French frontman Lacazette was then denied by a struck two minutes timely challenge from Pierre-Emile from the end as Saints Hojbjerg after a lightning counter- just failed to hang on to attack before Forster held Aaron Charlie Austin’s early Ramsey’s scuffed effort. opener. Forster has had his critics this Austin had punished season but the England World Cup Arsenal for a calamitous hopeful made a fine save on the half- beginning to the match hour to tip a well-struck Ramsey with his fourth goal in drive around the post. his last three starts. Southampton had another let-off With just two before half-time when Maya Yoshida minutes on the clock the striker clattered Lacazette in the area after he collected a loose clearance from had taken a shot but no penalty was Per Mertesacker and fed Dusan given. Their determination not to Tadic. allow Arsenal back in was summed Highland Reel was Austin timed his run into the area Arsenal’s scores the equaliser (Picture courtesy: theguardian) up when James Ward-Prowse and challenged by Andre perfectly, taking Tadic’s return ball time Cech blocked the striker’s low Arsenal eventually recovered from Jack Stephens double-teamed Sead in his stride and lashing it past Petr drive. their woeful start, but they struggled Kolasinac, both sliding in to rob the Fabre’s Talismanic but Cech. And there was more panic in to find a way through a dogged winger in the penalty area. held on for a seventh Things could have got worse the Gunners ranks with just seven Saints defence until Giroud’s late Saints were inches from a second moments later when Tadic sent minutes gone as Austin got in behind intervention. when Oriol Romeu took aim from Group One victory in Austin through again, with Arsenal’s again, crashing his shot against a Arsene Wenger had once again 25 yards and crashed his shot against his farewell race defence nowhere to be seen, but this post although he was flagged offside. started with on the the crossbar. (espn.in) DeGale suffers shock defeat

London Truax took the IBF world The shoulder - I had serious aleb Truax pulled off a shock super-middleweight title from reconstruction - there’s no pain victory over James DeGale at De Gale, as the 34-year-old but I’ll have to go back, have theC London Copper Box Arena. enjoyed his surprise triumph. a look and see. I’ve probably British boxer DeGale was a The defeat was only DeGale’s rushed back to be honest, heavy favourite before the bout second of his career, and was maybe I should have waited till started, with some bookmakers disappointed as he spoke to BBC next year.” rating him as a 1-00 favourite. Radio 5 after the fight: Truax was bullish after pulling DeGale was making his “I honestly did [think I’d off his shock win, saying: “All recovery from shoulder surgery won], I’ve got to go back to the week all I heard was who he’s in his fight since January, but was drawing board. going to fight next. Well guess defeated 114-114 115-112 116- “My nose is blocked what? Those fights are mine 112 on a judges’ decision. again, I’ve got to sort it out. now.” (eurosport) Caleb Truax (R) goes on the attack during his points victory over James DeGale at the Copper Box in London (Picture courtesy: theguardian)