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Lloyd Williams has become the most successful owner of Melbourne Cup winners with Almandin claiming Australias greatest horse race.Almandin overcame a potent international challenge to beat the Irish stayer Heartbreak City with Hartnell taking the minor placing.One of Australias most successful businessmen, Williams has now figured in the ownership of five Melbourne Cup winners while jockey Kerrin McEvoy has ridden two winners of the race.Almandin started a well-supported $11 chance and sat midfield before joining a charge of horses at the home.Hartnell surged to the front only to be challenged by Almandin with Heartbreak City making his run between the pair.Heartbreak City ($19) went clear and seemed certain to hold on before Almandin raised one more effort to claim victory on the line by a long head.Hartnell, the $5.50 favourite, couldnt match the quinella pair but ran bravely to finish third, 4-1/4 lengths further back.McEvoy, who won the 2000 Melbourne Cup as an apprentice on Brew, said Almandin was always travelling like a winner, and he paid tribute to Williams and his team headed by trainer Robert Hickmott.Lloyd, he knows what to do in these staying races. Its just a dream. Its great to be part of it again for my second Cup, McEvoy said.Qewy was the first of five Godolphin runners in claiming fourth with Who Shot Thebarman winding up fifth.Rank outsider Rose Of Virginia was last of the 24 runners.Williams won his first Melbourne Cup when Just A Dash saluted in 1981 but he said this years triumph meant more than most.He said it was his first day at a Melbourne Cup for 20 years, and he hadnt been trackside to watch one of his horses win since What A Nuisance scored in 1985.This horse [Almandin] had a tendon and he was broken down so Im quite emotional about this one, he said.The boys at Macedon [Lodge] have done a fabulous job getting this horse back.Jameka, the only Australian-bred horse in the race, failed in her bid to complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double.She finished 15th as the $8.50 second-favourite. Mike Scott Astros Jersey . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Jose Cruz Jr. Astros Jersey . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/jeff-bagwell-astros-jersey/ . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. J. R. Richard Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. Jimmy Wynn Astros Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Forget about ball movement and back-door cuts. Stop waiting for beautiful basketball. If the USA mens team is going to win these Olympics, it will happen with defense, pure talent, and good old American superstars.Thats how the United States smacked Argentina 105-78 in the quarterfinals, breaking a three-game malaise that had felt like a car wreck about to happen. But the team got back on course behind 27 points from Kevin Durant and intense D from Paul George, advancing to play Spain in the semifinals Friday. Two more games for the gold.We got our swagger back, said George, who had three steals, 17 points and eight rebounds against Argentina.Just focus, man. Got our focus level up high, said Carmelo Anthony, who was cold from the three-point line early and finished with seven points in 13 minutes. The focus was always there, but you gotta turn it up another level. This is one and done for real. We gotta take this serious, not saying that we havent been taking it serious, but its time to lock in.For years, basketball purists have bemoaned the Americans flaws in international competition, from the isolation offense addiction to the rotating cast of Olympians. Watching the four win-or-go-home games Wednesday was a picture of this culture clash. Australia had 30 assists as it thumped Lithuania by 26. Serbia used a flurry of back-door buckets against Croatia to open up a lead and win by three. And then there was Spain, which dominated France 92-67.The epitome of Spains fluid passing game came when Pau Gasol caught an entry pass near the elbow, spotted a back-door cutter with his peripheral vision, and threw a back-to-the-basket pass for a layup. Gasol, the best player in Spains history, took seven shots and scored five points, ceding the spotlight to Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic, who dropped 23.ddddddddddddWe arent like the Lakers, Kobe Bryant, said Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo when asked about Gasols unselfish play, perhaps forgetting where Gasol won his two NBA championships. We can do it with our team.The U.S. struggled against France on Sunday, holding on to win by a nerve-wracking three points. Asked about the main difference between Spain and the U.S, French coach Vincent Collet cited their defensive systems, then added, Im not sure [USA] has the same chemistry with their team. I think thats why its interesting to see how both teams will do Friday.The only chemistry needed when Durant gets hot is a fire extinguisher. He scored 18 in the first half and sank 7 of 9 3-pointers for the game. There were more highlight plays in the U.S. game than the other three combined -- a Durant double crossover into a sidestepping fadeaway; a Kyrie Irving crossover-behind-the-back-crossover-floater, a DeMar DeRozan 360-degree breakaway slam.The U.S. players have been making these plays their whole lives. Scoring on your man is the culture of American basketball. Gasol and much of his team, meanwhile, have been playing together in the Spanish system since they were teens, creating easy baskets for one another.Team USA beat Spain in the last two Olympics by 11 and seven points. Anthony declined to comment on those games. This is a new year, a new day for us, he said. Were a different team than we was in 08 and 12.But still a squad of superstars, playing the same style. ' ' '