Favourites havent dominated the BMW Caulfield Cup winners list over the past 15 years but those who kept the faith were rewarded as Jameka blitzed her 16 rivals to claim the $3 million race.In an event of firsts, the 2015 Crown Oaks winner became the first mare to win the Caulfield Cup after winning that classic the previous year while Ciaron Maher claimed his eight Group 1 win overall and his first in one of the Big Three of Australian racing.Jockey Nick Hall notched his second Caulfield Cup victory, after Fawkner in 2013, with what Maher described as a cool ride. The four-year-old mare over-raced slightly at around the halfway mark, being too keen to take off, but Hall settled her into a position off the leaders and ready to make her run for home as they turned.Jameka, tipped by Scott Heinrich in the ESPN Weekend Preview, saluted at $4.20 with UBET.Scottish ($7), ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and trained by Godolphins Charlie Appleby, was three lengths away in second --the first of the international visitors home -- with recent UK import Exospheric less than a length away in third for jockey Damien Oliver and Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman and his brother Anthony.The AAMI Victoria Derby and Crown Oaks pictures continue to take shape with two lead-ups also run at Caulfield.The Group 3 Caulfield Classic over 2000 metres -- a key Derby pointer -- saw the James Cummings-trained Good Standing ($2.90) led all the way to win from Rocketeer ($6), whom jockey Brad Rawiller said produced an outstanding display, while Inference ($6.50) was desperately unlucky in third.The Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) was taken out by Eleonora ($7). Trained by Kiwi pair Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, the filly delivered a handy win for jockey Damien Oliver before he began a 20-meeting suspension that will see him miss both the Cox Plate and Derby days of racing. Eleonoras second win from six starts had UBET bring her into $7 for the Oaks.The feature short-course event of the day, the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint over 1000 metres, saw eight-year-old Our Boy Malachi swoop down the middle of the track to claim his 19th win in 26 starts, and a first win in Melbourne at this initial attempt.Headline ActJameka and Ciaron Maher: Even when ESPN featured Ciaron Maher and his spring team a month ago, there was a quiet confidence from the Caulfield-based horseman about Jamekas ability. She had shown that she was the best filly on the day in the Oaks at Flemington last November, but the way in which she won the Caulfield Cup in such dominant fashion sets aside all doubts about whether she is a genuine Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) contender. That is also despite the chatter and rumbles beforehand that it wasnt the most stellar line up of Caulfield Cup runners.Nick Halls effort in wasting so significantly to be able to ride Jameka at 52.5kg was especially noteworthy, and the weight loss was obvious to see as he looked very much like a different person on the day. An avid yoga participant and generally fit, this was a prime example of the punishment some jockeys put themselves through to be able to take these rides, then to win.Hall showed his joy in winning with a victory salute, but, appealing as it is to photographers, stewards rarely look kindly on jockeys celebrating while still aboard their mounts as they cross the line. As a result, Hall will be $Aus1000 lighter from a fine for his over-the-line celebration on Jameka.As Jameka now marches on to the Melbourne Cup on 1 November, UBET have wound her in to $9 from $5.50. Hall declared that she would win the Cups double after her Caulfield success.Victoria-born but Sydney-based jockey Blake Shinn, meanwhile, rode a winning treble aboard Jennifer Lynn ($11), Good Standing, and First Seal ($7.50), but he also copped at 10-meeting suspension for careless riding on fourth-placed Moqueen in the Ethereal Stakes.Talking PointsTo Derby or not to Derby: The Cummings name was to the fore with Good Standings slashing Caulfield Classic win. The race is usually a pathway to the Victoria Derby, but trainer James Cummings noted the smart colt may bypass the Derby in favour of the Group 1 Emirates Stakes over 2000 metres on Nov. 5. While the Derby is exclusively for three-year-olds, the Emirates Stakes is at weight-for-age conditions so Good Standing, as a three-year-old, will go into that race with the very competitive impost of 51kg. UBET now rate Good Standing the $6 second favourite for the Derby, but second-placed Rocketeer showed continued improvement to claim classic favouritism at $5.Jamekas win stamps Hartnell form: So now the Spring Racing Carnival attention turns to Moonee Valley and the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday. It is really the one weve all been waiting for: Winx ($2.15) v Hartnell ($2.70).Jockey suspensions: While Damien Oliver made headlines with his 20-meeting suspension, but stewards also whacked Craig Williams with a 10-meeting ban for what they deemed careless riding aboard Real Love in the Cup. It means he will miss the ride on the Godolphin-owned Hauraki ($17) in the Cox Plate. Williams is considering appealing the decision. Blake Shinns 10-meeting suspension will raise a slight headache for co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott as they had booked him for the ride on English in Friday nights Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. That was after they had already engaged Damien Oliver for the mount prior to his suspension. UBET have English at $9 in their Manikato market.EyecatchersSavvan: Jockey Craig Williams highlighted the effort of this fillys fourth placing in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes, saying she clearly defied the pattern in sticking on to finish two lengths from the winner Eleonora; she had been close to the pace in the early stages of the event, with track conditions more suitable to backmarkers. Starting at $8.50 in this event, UBET rate her a $26 chance for the Crown Oaks on Nov. 3.Almoonqith: The Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig-trained 2015 Geelong Cup winner flashed home into fourth placing in the Caulfield Cup after being held up on the home turn, and, as the stewards noted, he didnt see any clear running until the 200 metres mark. There has to be another feature staying race win for him somewhere soon. Firm tracks are the key, so dont overlook him next time. Hes marked a $14 Melbourne Cup chance with UBET.BlackbookersMortons Fork: The stablemate Peacock might have been successful at $19 but Mortons Fork ($3.70) was held-up significantly in the straight. Jockey Brenton Avdulla couldnt find a way clear to make a run then had to pull away from other horses heels, before the colt make up ground in the final 100 metres. Hell be one to include when he takes on the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on the bigger spaces at Flemington on Oct. 29.Tiamo Grace: 10/10 today. Oaks here we come. They were the words of jockey Dean Yendall after the Ethereal Stakes, in which the Darren Weir-trained filly ($9) was luckless over the last 400 metres. She was bumped left then right, squeezed and blocked, but still managed for pick up momentum in the very late stages finish second. Tiamo Grace is a $7 chance for the Crown Oaks with UBET.Inference: You can just about forget that Inference went around in the Caulfield Classic. Jockey Dwayne Dunn had to ease his mount off heels at the 1000 metres mark then, when building momentum on the turn, he was bumped again and still couldnt find clear room until around 200 metres to run. Even in that short distance, the Hawkes-trained gelding raised himself up to push through for third placing. UBET currently rate him a $8 chance for the AAMI Victoria Derby on Oct. 29.FlopsSylpheed: While punters hoped to start the day on a winning note with the $1.90 favourite Sylpheed, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained and Damien Oliver-ridden weakened in the closing stages after taking the lead at the top of the straight.Acatour: Much was expected of this three-year-old colt who was shooting for his fourth win in five starts. Poised to strike with the leaders on turn, the $2.60 favourite in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) finished third. However, the effort was still commendable enough given that the track was suiting those positioned off the pace into the straight and jockey Blake Shinn noted that Acatour would benefit from having had a run in the Melbourne anti-clockwise direction. Custom Chargers T-shirts . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Chargers Jerseys China . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.customchargersjersey.com/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Custom Chargers Jerseys . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Custom Jerry Tillery Jersey . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- My fellow Americans, this is exactly what youve been waiting for.All right, so maybe not all of it. Not the part where Rickie Fowler, who looked assured of a Ryder Cup qualifying spot with four holes to play at the Barclays, stumbled down the stretch and failed to get it done.And not the part where Zach Johnson, who hasnt won since last summer, backed his way onto the roster with a 48th-place finish. Or the part where Bubba Watson never made a serious run at those last spots this week, or where J.B. Holmes parlayed an impressive start into a 41st-place result, or where Jim Furyk also finished 41st, or where Matt Kuchar was 64th, each of them unable to mount a serious challenge for one of those automatic berths.Sooooo -- not exactly what youve been waiting for. But maybe, kinda, sorta what youve been waiting for?Thats because after three losing teams this decade, after watching U.S. player after U.S. player implode with the pressure on, after seeing too many of these instances of guys backing their way onto the team or collapsing when the pressure is greatest, along comes Patrick Reed.Reed knew exactly what was at stake entering the final round. Starting the week in the eighth and final qualifying position, he needed to retain that spot by days end in order to clinch a place on the team. But he was also trying to win the tournament, a task which may or may not have proved beneficial to the Ryder Cup subplot.Like every pro golfer since the beginning of time, Reed contested that he was only focused on playing his best golf and everything else would fall into place. Hell, Tiger Woods offered that idea so much that Nike once made it an advertising slogan: Winning Takes Care of Everything.Reed was no different. Even after he won, he insisted that he was only thinking about getting the victory, not the Ryder Cup residuals.Coming into the week, we said, Well, you know what? Go ahead and do what you can do and get the job done, he explained. If you go and win it takes care of everything else: Gets you into the Tournament of Champions, gets you into Ryder Cup, gets you to lead FedEx. It takes care of everything.Thats a rational explanation, except for the fact that the Ryder Cup tends to do irrational things to players.Guys who have hit a million tee shots in their lives freeze over the first swing and just hope to make contact. Guys who normally play with all the emotion of a bassett hound start pumping fists and slamming clubs.dddddddddddd And yes, guys who say theyre simply trying to play their best and everything will take care of itself often wind up thinking too much about the repercussions.So while its a mature stance for Reed to insist hes just attempting to compartmentalize a win at Bethpage Black without worrying about the impending Ryder Cup scenario, thats easier said than done.This is a player who bleeds red, white and blue. This is a player who received global appeal by shushing the home European fans two years ago. This is a player who earned a late opportunity to represent the U.S. at the recent Olympics and jumped at it.With all of that and much more on the line Sunday afternoon, Reed was solid and efficient, if not flashy and dominant.He entered the day trailing by one stroke, and finished it winning by one. He posted a 1-under 70. He hit a few brilliant shots and a couple that hed like to have back.As if he needed more pressure, Reed is the type who prides himself on being a winner. Four victories on the PGA Tour by the age of 26 have assisted in that idea, but he hadnt done much to add to that résumé lately. His most recent win had come in January of last year, while this season he owned nine previous top-10s -- including two runner-up finishes -- without any titles.Top-10ing is great, he said. Top-10ing is great for making a living. But at the end of the day, every time we play golf tournaments, we dont settle for top-10s. Were going out there to try to get a W and try to get hardware and try to get a trophy. Because at the end of the day, a bunch of top-10s, its great. But its going to make you be on that bubble, as you saw. Ive had -- it feels like a hundred top-10s this year, and Ive just kind of stayed there on that six, seven, eight, nine stretch, on the Ryder Cup (standings), and it takes something like a win to be able to solidify yourself.Reed solidified himself this week. He solidified his place on this leaderboard, which in turn solidified his place on the Ryder Cup team.The entire performance of U.S. players might not have been exactly what American fans have been waiting for, but Reeds ability to force his way onto the team rather than backing into it should be taken as a heavy dose of exactly whats been needed. ' ' '