Michael Lynch on Robert Smerdon - Sport

Michael Lynch

Michael Lynch, The Age's expert on soccer, has had extensive experience of high level journalism in the UK and Australia. Michael has covered the Socceroos through Asia, Europe and South America in their past three World Cup campaigns. He has also reported on Grands Prix and top class motor sport from Asia and Europe. He has won several national media awards for both sports and industry journalism.

Black and Bent made to wait for record tilt

Michael Lynch Star hurdler Black and Bent will have to wait until Wednesday to try to set an Australian record of 10 wins in a row over jumps after Sunday's Mornington card was abandoned due to overnight rain.

Horse Racing

Star hurdler's bid for record delayed

Michael Lynch Black And Bent will have to wait until Wednesday to try to set an Australian record.

Jumps Racing

Brungle Cry wins Galleywood Hurdle

Michael Lynch, Warnambool Brungle Cry, the impressive winner of the $100,000 Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool on Wednesday will now chase a $300,000 Melbourne Racing Club bonus through the winter as he tries to add several...

Horseracing

Rich bonus nothing to Cry about

Michael Lynch Brungle Cry will chase a $300,000 Melbourne Racing Club bonus as he tries to add several more feature jumping races to his CV.

Horse Racing

Fatal fall mars the return of jumps

Michael Lynch The jumps racing season endured its first fatality at Sandown on Wednesday when seven-year-old gelding Scenic Buzz was euthanased after he came down at the last fence in the 3300-metre steeplechase.

Michael Lynch

Pateman jumps at the chance to chase the holy grail

Michael Lynch The Cheltenham Festival in England is jump racing's holy grail, the one meeting anywhere in the world where any cross-country rider worth his salt will do almost anything to get a ride.

Horseracing

Smerdon guilty, fined $10,000

Michael Lynch Top trainer Robert Smerdon has been found guilty of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the image of racing and been fined $10,000.

RVL vows crackdown on industry cheats

Michael Lynch Racing Victoria bosses announce initiatives to boost integrity and policing.

Horse Racing

Maund fined $10,000, and counts his luck

Michael Sharkie and Michael Lynch Trainers warned to expect harsher penalties for race-day treatments from now on.

Racing Victoria defends timing of Oliver case

Michael Lynch Racing Victoria did not stand down jockey Damien Oliver from a series of lucrative rides during the Melbourne spring carnival because it feared that to do so would stop him admitting that he had bet...

Racing

Out for 10 months: Oliver banned for illegal bet

Michael Lynch Disgraced jockey Damien Oliver has been disqualified for eight months after admitting to placing a $10,000 bet via a third party on a rival horse in a race in which he rode in 2010.

Champion jockey's 'single, isolated lapse of judgment'

Michael Lynch DISGRACED jockey Damien Oliver has been disqualified for eight months after admitting to placing a $10,000 bet via a third party on a rival horse in a race in which he rode in 2010.

Horse Racing

Imports can continue spring staying dominance

Michael Lynch Sandown Cup in some ways resembles what the Melbourne Cup used to look like.

Racing

Derby dream a family affair for Gelagotis boys

Michael Lynch Hvasstan could have the town of Moe celebrating after the Victoria Derby.

Move over, son, it's father's day in the racing spotlight

Michael Lynch John Hickmott was beaming when his son Robert prepared Green Moon to win the Melbourne Cup.

Dad's turn to be over the moon, also with a boilover win

Michael Lynch JOHN HICKMOTT was beaming with pleasure when his son Robert prepared Green Moon to score in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup, and he got his own moment in the spotlight on the Flemington undercard on Thursday...

Horse Racing

The Boss glows hot from winter's work

Michael Lynch Jockey Glen Boss is almost hot enough to cause a spike in global temperatures.

Moonee Valley Wrap

Boss springs into action with a treble

Michael Lynch On the big days it's the big players who so often rise to the top. And where jockeys are concerned there are fewer big-time players than Glen Boss.

Horseracing

Black Caviar easily makes it a double

Michael Lynch Black Caviar, the queen of Australian racing, has reinforced her status as a legend of the turf by landing the title of Australian Horse of the Year for the second season in succession.