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Group 1 racing returned to Melbourne with a double header at Caulfield, where the 1800 metres proved no issue whatsoever for Black Heart Bart as the Darren Weir juggernaut rolled on with victory in the Underwood Stakes. With three wins at the top level in his past five starts, and finishing second in the other two, the six-year-old gelding proved hes a serious performer as the distances increase.Ridden by Brad Rawiller, the $2.25 UBET favourite beat home the Hayes and Dabernig-trained He Or She -- who continues to impress -- with Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Lucia Valentina in third.The Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400-metres saw Ciaron Maher train his seventh career Group 1 winner as Bon Aurum had the race conditions pan out just to his liking.Bon Aurum, with just 52kg on his back, settled nicely in the second half of the field, finished strongly and fended off the Weir-trained Voodoo Lad ($3.80) who was shooting for a treble of wins.Legless Veuvue was a firmer ($17 into $12) in betting before the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) and delivered accordingly for trainer Stuart Webb. She is one of about 15 horses in work for Webb, who believed she would be at her peak in three weeks time as she still showed signs of her winter coat.New Zealander Tony Pike wasnt expecting Sacred Elixir to be ready to win over 1400 metres, but the Group 1 J.J. Atikins Stakes winner in Brisbane in June was too good for his opposition in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.Headline ActsBlack Heart Bart and Darren Weir: How does he do it? Darren Weir has more than 100 horses in work at any one time. Its a very big business and it is such a feat how he manages to notch so many winners week after week, including a treble on Saturday at Caulfield.The doubts whether Bart would be as effective at a mile and beyond were cast well aside after his stylish 2.5-length win. It shows that his second-placing to Palentino in the Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600 metres at Flemington a fortnight ago was just down to Palentino excelling at that track, and that Black Heart Bart might -- as Weir put it - have presented too early in the run that day.Weir said he never had any doubt over the six-year-olds ability to be just as good over the longer distances, but he mentioned the horse wasnt fully tuned up yet and there was still more improvement to come. The Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on Oct. 8 will be his next outing.Ciaron Maher: A bumper Spring Carnival may just have kicked off for the Maher stable with Bon Aurums Rupert Clarke victory. ESPNs feature last week, showed how there are some very exciting prospects still to come over the next six weeks.Talking PointsFacing the breeze head on: When visiting the Caulfield track next time, look towards the outside rail at about the 450-metres mark. Attached high on a pole is a very strategically placed yellow windsock. In the straight run of about 500-metres toward the home turn, there can often be a stiff breeze blowing towards the oncoming field. Cover in the run can often be a real advantage for those horses sitting off the pace.The breeze on Saturday was substantial enough to be noticeable, and it made the task of leading throughout and winning nearly impossible. Bon Aurum was one such beneficiary. Patiently ridden, as described by Maher, Bon Aurum was able to get the required protection from that headwind to save his best for last.Xtravagant was a failure once again finishing 12th behind Bon Aurum. Damien Oliver commented that he just wasnt coming up as expected this time, but facing the breeze while leading along the railway side wouldnt have helped.In the Rupert Clarke post-script, winning rider Kerrin McEvoy said that questions remained over whether Bon Aurum would be as effective over a mile or further. It will pay to keep a close watch.Taking on Winx:?Bring it on, Brad Rawiller said when asked about how Black Heart Bart would measure up against Winx in the Cox Plate. Second-placed aboard He Or She, Craig Williams was just as effusive in his assessment of Darren Weir causing a Cox Plate upset result.Wound in from $21 to $14 for the Oct. 22 weight-for-age feature, Weir was confident on Saturday that the 2040 metres at Moonee Valley would pose as little concern as the 1800 metres at Caulfield.EyecatchersRoyal Rapture: Winning form is good form. It is a very old racetrack cliche but it is spot on as far as Royal Rapture is concerned. Set aside the exceptions like Black Caviar and Winx, but horses just dont win five successive metropolitan races in the modern day. Starting at $3.30 -- which was a very unpopular result for bookmakers -- this Weir-trained seven-year-old has done just that across Flemington, Moonee Valley and now Caulfield.Weir said post-race that Royal Rapture was helped by Mihany kicking away at the top of the straight, and the resulting chase saw Royal Rapture stretch out nicely in running to take victory. Royal Rapture will now step up to Group 1 company in the Toorak Handicap over 1600 metres at Caulfield on Oct.8, when he may be one not to overlook with a light weight.Sacred Elixir: Another winner on the day but this gelding threw himself into Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) calculations with his unexpected victory; unexpected as far as Tony Pike was concerned anyway. Some punters were left lamenting their carelessness in overlooking his Group 1-winning class, especially starting at $8.50 with UBET.Pike and jockey Damien Lane agreed that Sacred Elixir would only get better over further. Most of all, we now know that he can handle the Caulfield circuit that has often brought a good three-year-old undone. Sacred Elixir was a mover in UBETs Caulfield Guineas market firming from $5.50 into $5.BlackbookersMissrock: She was unlucky at Flemington and circumstances failed to favour her once again in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m). Settling at the rear of the field and ridden very quietly by Dwayne Dunn, the Robbie Laing-trained filly began weaving her way through the field in the straight. Openings continually closed on her over the final 300 metres, but, once clear, only 50-metres from the line, she made late ground still to finish sixth.There is every reason to suggest that Missrock will be a live chance in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) on Oct. 15, for which UBET rate her at $13.Lucia Valentina: It may seem obvious to blackbook a horse who is already a Group 1 winner on two occasions, but this is more just a reminder not to forget her. Since her last trip to Melbourne, where she won over 2000 metres at Group II level, she has won in Hong Kong and Randwick over the same distance at Group 1 and her run-on third placing in the Underwood suggested shes getting back to that level of best. Lucia Valentina is currently a $15 chance with UBET for the Cox Plate, which will be her next start.FlopsWhispering Brook: Forgiven for running second at her first Victorian start at Moonee Valley a fortnight earlier, punters rallied behind the Perth-based Simon Miller-trained filly. Backed from $5 into $2.05, Whispering Brook led for much of the 1400 metres trip before wilting in the straight. Was she a victim of leading into that strong headwind? Either way, jockey Nick Hall said post-race that he would have liked to see more from her in the finish.Archives: Forgive this one or not? Archives was a drifter in betting from $3.90 to $5 but was still well-fancied by analysts. 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The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Corey Liuget Jersey . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Its only a couple of days into the New York Giants training camp and one thing is sticking out.New coach Ben McAdoo isnt going to be limited by the belief that rookies need time to adjust to the NFL before playing.Cornerback Eli Apple, receiver Sterling Shepard and safety Darian Thompson -- the teams first, second and third-round draft picks, respectively, -- were working with the first-team units Saturday as the Giants held their first outdoor practice since reporting to training camp.This isnt something that is happening because a veteran is hurt.Apple is rotating at cornerback with veterans Janoris Jenkins and Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie. There is no doubt that he will play when opponents use formations with three receivers, whether he is on the outside or in the slot.Shepard has replaced the departed Rueben Randle as the No. 2 receiver. Thompson has taken over the spot that opened when Brandon Meriweather was not re-signed.I trust them right now, McAdoo said. Were not going to be afraid to play young players.The Giants didnt start many rookies in Tom Coughlins 12 seasons; even Eli Manning had to wait half the season in 2004. Safety Landon Collins last year became the first rookie to start on defense to play all 16 games since tackle Barry Cofield in 2006.McAdoo told his rookies from the start he expected them to produce.Apple, who played at Ohio State, was the 10th pick overall. Shepard was the 40th pick overall and Thompson the 71st.We are really close, Apple said of the rookie trio. We always talk about what we can do to help this team out. We are talented and we know that, so we are just trying to push each other every day.Shepard understands that nothing will be given to him. Victor Cruz is trying to return to the starting lineup after missing most of the last two seasons with knee and calf injuries. Dwayne Harris and second-year pro Geremy Davis are looking for playing time, among others.Being drafted in the second round, youre expected to play, said Shepard, who had 233 cattches for 3,482 yards and 26 touchdowns at Oklahoma.dddddddddddd Along with the other rookies, I think we all understand that if you make plays, youre going to be out there playing on Sundays, so thats what were all striving for.Thompson came to the Giants from Boise State, where he had 19 career interceptions. Meriweather led Giants safeties with two last season.Collins definitely will start at one safety. Thompson will be challenged by a group of young players coming off injuries: Mykkele Thompson, Nat Berhe, Cooper Taylor and Bennett Jackson.The veterans have been stepping in to help the rookies. Shepard has been schooled by Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr. and Manning. Apple has been helped by Rodgers-Cromartie and Jenkins, and Collins is the leading voice among the young safeties.Apple, who has a reputation of using his hands a little too much for NFL standards, is impressed with Shepard.I see a competitor, Apple said of Shepard. He is someone who does not like to lose a rep. He does not let you get hands on him, he is quick off the line and does not like to lose. You can tell by his reaction if he does lose.Hes a great receiver and I expect big things out of him.Shepard noted the lanky Apple has a lot of range.You have to try and knock his arms down because if he gets his hands on you, its going to be difficult to deal with him, Shepard said. Hes got good feet, so you have a combination of both of those together, and you have a pretty good corner.Tight end Larry Donnell called Shepard lighting in a bottle. He said he has gone against Thompson a couple of times.Hes fast, a lot faster than me, Donnell said. I think he is going to be an awesome player.After two consecutive 6-10 seasons and four straight years out of the playoffs, its not going to be a surprise if the Giants go with the young players.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Stitched Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap Camo China NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Jerseys NFL China ' ' '