The Score: Full points for Hayden Ballantyne as Fremantle forward trains his first winner

Hayden Ballantyne has gotten under the skin of rivals but punters were loving his work when the footballer broke through for his first winner as a horse trainer. But who else was left smiling?

Fremantle Docker Hayden Ballantyne is already looking at life after footy.

Fremantle agitator Hayden Ballantyne has pulled off an $11 to $3.40 plunge Belmont to register his first winner as a racehorse trainer.

Ballantyne’s gelding Mankind led from start to finish to win the 1400m dash despite tiring late.

The veteran Docker’s father, Graeme, trained 2013 Perth Cup winner Talent Show.

Ballantyne, Aaron Sandilands, Joel Hamling, Brandon Matera and Alex Pearce among others listed as owners.

The horse was smashed in betting. Wonder if Dockers end-of-season trip just got paid for?

'Mankind' saluted for Ballantyne. Pic: westernracepix.com

THE WORLD’S HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETES

Floyd Mayweather is certainly yesterday's man with the retired boxing star going from the highest paid athlete in the world last year to not even making the 2019 rich list.

After pocketing $410 million to lead all-comers in 2018 on the back of his fight with MMA star Connor McGregor, Mayweather failed to earn the $35.9 million needed to see him feature ahead of Virat Kohli — the No.100 highest earning athlete this year according to Forbes.

Football superstar Lionel Messi has returned to the No.1 spot for the first time since 2012, pocketing $182 million which puts him $25.9 million clear of his nearest rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar completed a sweep of the top three positions by footballers, coming in third with earnings of $151 million.

The fourth highest earner on the list was Mexico’s middleweight boxing star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez with $135 million.

Tennis star Roger Federer was a big mover, jumping to fifth with total earnings of $134.4 million.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the highest earner in the NFL at No.6 overall on $128.8 million, just ahead of Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers ($128.5 million).

Despite no finals appearance LeBron James maintained his standing as the NBA's richest man with $128 million ahead of Golden State Warriors pair Steph Curry ($114.8 million) and Kevin Durant ($94 million).

There wasn't a lot of love for female sports stars with Serena Williams the only one who featured in the top 100 coming in at No.63 with earnings of $42 million.

Lionel Messi is back on top. Pic: AP

DANDENONG CITY’S BIG-NAME SPREE

State League side Dandenong City have completed a recruiting campaign that has set tongues wagging, even at A-League level, in its bid for survival.

Former Melbourne Victory captains Carl Valeri and Adrian Leijer were signed in the mid-season transfer window alongside ex Western Sydney Wanderers and Perth Glory striker Brendon Santalab.

The Croatian-backed club — originally Chelsea Hajduk — was struggling in its first season in Victoria’s top tier, rooted to the bottom of the table until the new lads arrived.

The signing spree and the mid-season recruitment of up and coming coaching duo, former Olyroo Ante Moric (head coach) and ex Socceroos defender Sasa Ognenovski (assistant coach) has lifted City out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Undefeated in five games and fresh from big wins over South Melbourne and Pascoe Vale, Dandy City is plotting to continue the run when it hosts sixth-place Green Gully at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex, Endeavour Hills tomorrow night.

Dominic Thiem wasn’t happy when he was turfed from the main press room. Pic: Getty Images

THIEM TO END SERENA STOUSH

His tongue may have been firmly placed in his cheek but at least Dominic Thiem has tried to end his stoush with Serena Williams.

The French Open runner-up came up with an interesting olive branch suggesting he should play mixed doubles with Williams at Wimbledon next month.

“I want to make clear: What Serena achieved in her career is out of everyone’s imagination,” Thiem said.

"I feel a bit sorry for what happened — maybe we can play mixed doubles in Wimbledon one day.”

Thiem found himself in the middle of a worldwide storm when he rightly blew up when was asked to leave the main interview room at Roland Garros so the American superstar, who had just been knocked out, would not be kept waiting.

THE WHISPER

We hear an insight into another club's medical ways has resulted in an injured star asking serious questions about his own club's procedures?

Originally published as The Score: Full points for Hayden Ballantyne as Fremantle forward trains his first winner