nization since he was drafted. The entire organization knows the fiber of

James Cummings proved that he can do it on his own as Prized Icon produced one of the strongest three-year-old staying performances of recent times in winning the Group 1 AAM Victoria Derby over 2500 metres - the feature race of Day 1 of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.Cummings, 28, confirmed that success is definitely in his bloodline as he followed in the footprints of his great grandfather James Cummings; his grandfather Bart Cummings, the Cups King; and his father, Anthony Cummings, in saddling a winner of the classic.Ridden by veteran South African-born jockey Glyn Schofield, Prized Icon ($17) saw off the challenge by favourite Sacred Elixir ($2.70) by two-and-a-half lengths with the well-backed Inference ($9.50) a further length-and-a-quarter away in third.Oceanographer put on a slashing Melbourne Cup trial in winning the Group 2 Lexus Stakes (2500m). Sweeping from last to first, and just getting there by the official margin of a long-neck, this Charlie Appleby-trained visitor from England propelled himself into calculations for Tuesdays race -- he is now second favourite at $6 with UBET?-- and received a one-kilogram penalty for the Cup in which he will now carry 52kg.Shane Nichols, from the Mornington Peninsula, meanwhile, saddled his first Group 1 win as I Am A Star ($8.50) saluted in the Myer Stakes (1600m). Jockey Dean Yendall is also having a Carnival to remember in riding his second career Group 1 winner after he steered Thursdays Crown Oaks favourite Yankee Rose to victory in the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney three weeks earlier.The Mick Price-trained Flying Artie ($10) caused somewhat of an upset in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds. Billed as the Race of the Spring, most pundits had his expected his stablemate Extreme Choice ($3.60) and Godolphins Astern ($2.80) would fight out the finish.The fourth Group 1 race on the day saw Le Romain ($15) win the Cantala Stakes over 1600 metres for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, to give jockey Hugh Bowman a double after saluting aboard Flying Artie. In the very open race, favourite The United States ($6) finished just outside of the placings in fourth.Headline ActJames Cummings: Commenting that it might take a little while for the win to sink in, his reaction to the victory was as graceful as any post-race comments made immediately after the event could get -- especially when he paid tribute to the patient ride of Glyn Schofield in steering Prized Icon to victory.Away from the snapping photographers and glaring television cameras, the warm embrace between the trainer and his father, Anthony, said everything of their excitement at James achievement and the pride of a father seeing his son star on such a big stage. How often does the fourth generation of a training dynasty go on to win the same race over six decades?James was very quick to attribute any success he has had to the extraordinary situation of being mentored by his late grandfatherThe win was also a further family affair as James father-in-law, Filipino racehorse breeding magnate and major brewery executive Eduardo Cojuanco, bred Prized Icon at his southern New South Wales stud, while James wife -- Monica -- was also in the ownership.Talking PointDerby distance: It may not have been the first-choice topic of conversation among many of the 90,136 people who attended Derby Day, but the appropriateness of the 2500 metres Derby distance comes into question when many analysts are doing their form prior to the race.The Derby is run three months after the competitors officially turn three-years-old on Aug. 1. Is the race programming expecting too much of these young horses in training for and running in such an important race over that grueling distance? Is it too long?While Prized Icon looked to have handled the trip within himself, there is a case made by some trainers that once they have prepared horses of this age to race over such a distance, then it is more difficult to prolong their racing careers with success into their fourth year and beyond.Will we see a 2000 metre Victoria Derby sometime soon? Probably not. Tradition will weigh heavily on any decision.EyecatchersOceanographer: He was rated a $151 hope when Melbourne Cup markets opened in August. This Charlie Appleby-trained English raider confirmed he wasnt in Australia just to be a low-flying chance with his slashing third placing in the Geelong Cup, and he followed up with one of the most impressive Lexus Stakes performances for a winner of that race -- and as such produced one of the best Melbourne Cup trials in recent years.With the winner of the Lexus Stakes gaining automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup field, chief handicapper Greg Carpenter still allotted a one-kilogram penalty on the strength of the win to take Oceanographers Cup impost to 52kg. It drew this response from Appleby toward jockey Chad Schofield, who will take the Cup ride: It told Chad that he can have an extra cup of tea on the day then.UBET have Oceanographer as the second-favourite for the Melbourne Cup at $7.50.?Tiamo Grace: The Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) has historically been the best guide to the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) the following Thursday, and Tiamo Grace may well take it up to race favourite and Cox Plate third placegetter Yankee Rose in the classic. Tiamo Graces Wakeful win followed up a luckless run at Caulfield a fortnight earlier. While UBET have rated Yankee Rose at $1.95 in their Oaks market, Tiamo Grace is the second-favourite at $4.60.BlackbookersPure Pride: She was awkwardly away from the gates in the Group 1 Myer Classic and rattled home for fifth placing at $51. Should trainer Murray Johnson decide to line her up in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on Nov. 12, she may be one to remember.Rocketeer: There has to be a feature race win for this guy somewhere when the Autumn Carnival comes around in Sydney next year -- or earlier in the late summer features in Melbourne. He produced four consecutive second placings in lead-up runs and still ran a gallant seventh in the Derby at $12 having had to contend with starting from barrier No. 19.FlopAcatour: This colt may have jumped away from the barriers awkwardly and found to be lame in one leg post-race, but that gives no comfort to the punters who charged into him at $5 with UBET in the dying minutes before race time. Although there were those excuses, as noted in the Stewards Report, the colt also failed at its previous run at Caulfield as the $2.60 favourite.Cheap New Balance .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. New Balance Clearance Sale . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. http://www.cheapnewbalance.net/ . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. New Balance Shoes Clearance . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. New Balance Outlet Store . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No.The Chicago White Sox have suspended staff ace Chris Sale?for five days after his reported dispute over the teams uniforms for Saturdays game.Chris has been suspended for violating team rules, for insubordination and for destroying team equipment, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement Sunday. While we all appreciate Chris talent and passion, there is a correct way and an incorrect way to express concerns about team rules and organizational expectations.Hahn addressed the media shortly after the announcement and said Sale will be required to stay away from the team during the suspension.Its unfortunate that its become this level of an issue and a potential distraction, taking away from what were trying to accomplish, Hahn said.According to ESPN and multiple reports, Sale expressed displeasure over having to wear the White Soxs 1976 navy, collared throwbacks, and the matter escalated from there, culminating in a confrontation with a member of Chicagos front office. The team then decided to send Sale home from U.S. Cellular Field.FanRag Sports first reported that Sale cut up the 1976 throwbacks during batting practice so they couldnt be worn. Fox Sports reported that Sale disliked the uniforms because he thought they were uncomfortable and thought the White Sox were putting PR and jersey sales ahead of winning.The only thing that matters to Chris Sale is winning, his agent, B.B. Abbott, said in a text to ESPNs Jayson Stark on Sunday. If he perceives that something is distracting from that or being prioritized over that, he is going to have a problem with it. There is no better teammate or competitor than Chris, and there is no player that cares more about the city of Chicago and its fans than him.Manager Robin Ventura noted that this was not the first outburst from Sale, who was extremely vocal in the fallout from the Adam LaRoche incident in spring training, when friction surfaced following the clubs restrictions on the amount of time LaRoches son was allowed to spend in the clubhouse. Sale was openly critical of executive vice president Ken Williams decision in that case.We all know hes emotional, Ventura said.Hahn said he and Sale met Saturday to discuss what happened and the events leading up to the incident.We both expressed remorse that it got to this point, Hahn said. At that point last night, I think Chris stood by his actions. Part of what makes Chris great, Chris elite, is his passion and commitment. Weve seen that at times spill out from between the white lines. Yesterday was one off those incidents, and unfortunately, it led to events that required discipline.ddddddddddddAbbott said Sale and Hahn have talked at length about Saturdays incident and there will not be an issue once Sale returns from his suspension. Hahn declined to reveal much about the content of the discussion but said Sale has not requested a trade.Sales suspension began Saturday and runs through Wednesday. The White Sox recalled right-handed pitcher Anthony Ranaudo to take Sales roster spot during the suspension.Ventura said Sale remains one of the teams respected leaders but might have some fences to mend when he returns.Its possible, Ventura said. Its nothing that cant be smoothed over. This is not the first [outburst].Sales agent said he doesnt think Sale has to worry about fixing things when he returns to the team.I honestly dont think there are fences to mend, Abbott said. He has been with the organization since he was drafted. The entire organization knows the fiber of Chris Sale. They understand the passion and fierce, competitive nature. If they are on board with prioritizing winning, there will not be an issue at all.The decision to scratch Sale on Saturday was met with rampant speculation, especially considering that the five-time All-Star has been mentioned in trade rumors in recent days. The White Sox are reportedly asking for a massive haul in return for Sale; one source told ESPN that Chicago is seeking five to seven prospects. The Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers?are rumored to be among those interested.Hahn indicated that he did not feel this incident would have an effect on Sales market value.I want to be clear to all of you: The actions or behavior of the last 24 hours does not change in any aspect, any respect, our belief that Chris Sale can help us win a championship and win multiple championships, Hahn said. It does not move the needle one iota in terms of his value, his value to any other club that may be interested in his services or the likelihood of him being moved or kept whatsoever. None of that stuff is impacted at all by these events.Sale is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA this season. He had 274 strikeouts in 2015, the most in the American League.Asked if he could characterize the level of interest Sale has generated on the trade market, Hahn said: I could, but I wont.Information from ESPNs Jerry Crasnick and Doug Padilla and The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '