LONGTIME rivals on the field and now media personalities Danny Frawley, Tim Watson and Garry Lyon suddenly find themselves united for another cause, and one that could be a winning tip.

They are part of a syndicate of media and sports luminaries who has bought a share in one of the favourites for the Victoria Cup at Melton on Saturday night.

The Stable of Stars has bought into star pacer Shadow Sax, a 21-time winner from 33 starts, and syndicate manager Danny Frawley is excited.

VICTORIA CUP
TABCORP PARK MELTON, SATURDAY 9.09PM
“Sax is an absolute star and we’ve got the best harness racing trainer in the business in Emma Stewart looking after him, so we’re all going to have a lot of fun,” Frawley said.

Shadow Sax has been well-backed for the $200,000 Group 1 race — $6.50 to $5.50 with TAB — and will also participate in Australasia’s premier harness racing series, the Inter Dominion, which returns to Victoria in December for the first time in 10 years.

AFL Women’s star and boxer Tayla Harris, Essendon key defender Michael Hurley, Channel 7’s Hamish McLachlan, SEN radio’s Garry Lyon and Tim Watson and Sky Racing host Brittany Graham are all part of the Stable of Stars.

THE PUNT SPECIAL
Andrew Bogut to win the MVP and Sydney Kings to win NBL title at $17
NICK QUINN’S TIPS
RACING
SMART MELODY ($2.70)
Race 6, No.5
Caulfield, Saturday 3.10pm
Unbeaten filly Smart Melody who should carry on her winning ways and win her first Group 1 race. Has drawn to get an easy run in transit and looks a class above her rivals.

JUNGLE EDGE ($5)
Race 6, No. 3
Randwick, Saturday 3.30pm
Star wet tracker who has won seven times from 14 attempts on heavy ground. Has already been well backed after opening at $17 but represents a smart each-way play.

SPORT
Sydney Kings to beat Adelaide ($1.30)
The Sydney Kings have recruited aggressively in the off-season and should start the season strongly with a win over Adelaide.

New England to beat Kansas City ($1.50)
The Patriots are starting to heat up and should inflict Kansas City with their first defeat in the NFL season when the sides clash on Monday our time.

HORSE RACING
ALL HANGS ON TRAPEZE FOR ONE COMMITTED FAN
THE EVEREST, RANDWICK, SATURDAY 4.15PM
THERE are three equal favourites for the richest race on turf, Saturday’s $13 million Everest at Randwick.

Last year’s inaugural winner Redzel, Vega Magic and Trapeze Artist all sit on the top line of betting at $7 with Shoals at $7.50 and Santa Ana Lane $8.

One punter will be hoping the Gerald Ryan-trained Trapeze Artist is first past the post after having four huge bets on the three-time Group 1 winner.

The TAB customer placed $30,000 at $5 on June 8, then returned in August with two $10,000 wagers at $4.50 and, after the horse drifted to $8, following a disappointing fourth in the Premiere Stakes, had another $20,000 bet.

Despite those wagers, Santa Ana Lane is the worst result for TAB. The Goodwood and Stradbroke Handicap winner was $51 on June 9.

Since Tuesday’s barrier draw, Redzel has been the best-backed runner, ahead of Shoals and Brave Smash ($13).

With showers forecast in Sydney, there could be support for $21 outsider Le Romain, who has won two races, and finished second twice, on a heavy track at Randwick.

THE TAB EVEREST
Best backed since barrier draw
Redzel ($6.50) – 21 per cent of single bets

Shoals ($7) – 17%

Brave Smash ($14) – 14%

Santa Ana Lane ($9) – 8%

In Her Time ($12) – 7%

Viddora ($17) – 6%

U S Navy Flag ($8.50) – 6%

Le Romain ($19) – 5%

Vega Magic ($7.50) – 5%

Osborne Bulls ($17) – 4%

Trapeze Artist ($7.50) – 3%

Graff ($19) – 2%

Jungle Edge (Emg) ($41) – 2%

Dothraki (Emg) ($101) – 0%

Clearly Innocent (Emg) ($61) – 0%

Pierata (Emg) ($26) – 0%

Spright (Emg) ($61) – 0%

THE TAB EVEREST
$6.50 Redzel

$7 Shoals

$7.50 Vega Magic, Trapeze Artist

$8.50 U S Navy Flag

$9 Santa Ana Lane

$12 In Her Time

$14 Brave Smash

$17 Osborne Bulls, Viddora

$18 Graff, Le Romain

$26 Pierata (E)

$41 Jungle Edge (E)

$61 Clearly Innocent (E), Spright (E)

$101 Dothraki (E)

AUTUMN SPRINGS
CAULFIELD GUINEAS, CAULFIELD, SATURDAY 5PM
CHRIS Waller’s rock star colt The Autumn Sun is all the rage — and deservedly so — to win the $2 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

With James McDonald in the saddle the three-year-old attracted more than 37 per cent of the pre-post money wagered on the race with TAB.

The Autumn Sun reigned supreme in the Group 1 Golden Rose last start at Rosehill after a luckless third, on heavy ground, in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes at the same venue.

The $1.90 hot favourite drew perfectly in barrier five alongside highly-rated Darren Weir galloper Native Soldier ($7), with second favourite Leonardo Da Hinchi ($8.50) to jump from barrier 10 of 15.

The only filly in the race, Tony McEvoy’s Oohood ($10), will jump from barrier six.

After nine winless starts million-dollar filly Oohood finally broke through last start in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick.

The ultra-consistent daughter of I Am Invincible could be the knockout hope, having run well previously at Caulfield.

DISTANCE QUERY
THOUSAND GUINEAS, CAULFIELD, SATURDAY 3.10PM
UNBEATEN filly Smart Melody ($2.60) has retained favouritism for the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield, having drawn barrier two in the Group 1 race.

The 1600m might be the only query for the Kris Lees-trained daughter of Smart Missile after she appeared to tire late in the 1400m Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield last start.

Thrillster ($7) and El Dorado Dreaming ($7.50) will be running on strongly, while impressive last- start winner Amphitrite ($9.50) should also have no problems at the mile.

Thrillster charged into second behind Smart Melody last start, which suggests the extra 200m should be ideal for the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained filly.

Chris Waller’s Fiesta ($10) should be included in all multiples, having missed a place just once in 10 starts.

Seabrook ($23) looks the knockout hope back at Caulfield after failing to fire a shot last month in Sydney.

BEN’S TOUGH TEST
CAULFIELD STAKES, CAULFIELD, SATURDAY 4.35PM
CHRIS Waller will be watching the Caulfield Stakes with interest to see if any horse emerges as a genuine threat to Winx’s bid for a fourth straight Cox Plate.

The $1 million weight-for-age feature has traditionally been a nice form race for the Cox Plate.

Recent winners Gailo Chop, Winx, Criterion and Fawkner have gone on to run well at the Valley.

Benbatl ($6) is considered the international with the best hope of dethroning Winx, so should be winning the Caulfield Stakes in a canter.

If only it was that easy, as Waller pair Unforgotten ($5) and D’Argento ($4.40) look primed to figure prominently.

Darren Weir also holds a strong hand in the race with last year’s Cox Plate runner-up Humidor ($7.50) and the highly rated Night’s Watch ($9). English raider Blair House should improve from his fourth in the Underwood Stakes.

GREYHOUND TIP
ELLA ENCHANTED
Sandown, Thursday 9.28pm
Race 8 Box 1
Trained by Brooke Ennis, she is one of Australia’s fastest greyhounds. Expect her to make the most of her favourable draw.

HARNESS TIP
MARVELLOUS MAX
Race 4 No. 1
Tabcorp Park Melton, Saturday, 7.30pm
This fella launched with a powerful run in a similar race first-up and if he holds them wide into the first bend it will be race over tonight.

NBA
WARRIORS ODDS-ON TO NET HAT-TRICK
SEASON PREVIEW, STARTS WEDNESDAY 11AM
LEBRON James fever has gripped Los Angeles and given Lakers fans something to dream about.

The NBA superstar has breathed new life into a franchise starved of success since the Kobe Bryant era.

While James (right), who is seeking a ninth straight NBA Finals appearance after taking both Miami and Cleveland to the deciders on four occasions, can carry the Lakers ($11) back into playoff calculations, it’s impossible to ignore Golden State Warriors.

Steph Curry’s Warriors are $1.57 favourites to win a third consecutive title and fourth in five seasons.

The Warriors have attracted 46 per cent of all money wagered with TAB on the NBA Championship, well ahead of the Lakers (21 per cent).

New Orleans Pelicans poster boy Anthony Davis ($6) is the best- backed player to win the NBA’s MVP award.

James ($4.75) and Kyrie Irving ($26) have also been well supported.

Reigning MVP James Harden ($4.50) has been friendless, holding only 0.2 per cent of bets.

Davis could shorten amid trade rumours about possible moves to the Lakers, Boston or Philadelphia.

A depleted Boston ($8) defied all expectations last season to push deep into the post-season, while Houston ($9) and Philadelphia ($15) should again be thereabouts.

CRICKET
SHEFFIELD SHIELD
FAVOURITES FACE OFF IN OPENING MATCH
STARTS TUESDAY 11AM
VICTORIA and Western Australia are $4 equal favourites with TAB to win the Sheffield Shield, which begins on Tuesday.

Last year’s winner, Queensland, is on the bottom line of betting at $7.

The Bushrangers will be hoping to see spearhead James Pattinson pacing out his run-up soon, with the 28-year-old playing as a batsman for Victoria’s 2nd XI this week following major back surgery.

Victoria, which won three consecutive Shields from 2015-17, could be bolstered by the inclusion of Nic Maddinson and Fawad Ahmed, who impressed in the one-day series.

Victoria travels to Perth for a tough first match against West Australia, while South Australia hosts NSW and Tasmania will travel to Brisbane to take on Queensland.

YOU BETCHA WITH GILBERT GARDINER
HOOP DREAMS
NBL champions Melbourne United ($1.65) opens its account tonight against Illawarra Hawks, while glamour side Sydney Kings ($1.30) begins its championship tilt tomorrow night against grand finalists Adelaide 36ers. Expect both to come away with wins to kick-start the 2018-19 campaign.

Odds: $2.14 double
ROO BEAUTY
A new era for Australian rugby league with icons Billy Slater (retired) and Greg Inglis (withdrawn) exiting the national stage. NSW Origin star and Sydney Roosters premiership fullback James Tedesco steps into Slater’s shoes and should be more than capable of pacing the Kangaroos attack past traditional rivals New Zealand.

Odds: $9 Australia by 16-20 points
MULTI
LEG 1
The Autumn Sun has a vice-like grip on the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. Wins with leg in the air at Caulfield. $1.90

LEG 2
Shoals charged into second behind stablemate Santa Ana Lane last start and with natural improvement should be at the top of her game for the $13 million Everest. $7.50

LEG 3
Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles have been thereabouts in the first five weeks, but find themselves a very winnable game against conference rivals New York Giants. $1.62

Odds: $23