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16 SPORT SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019
DELHI THE HINDU
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Ruffina is the overwhelming first choice

With a record 14 horses in the fray, the Stayers’ Cup wears an open look

Cyrus J. Madan India is under serious threat up for the Sprinters’ Cup 1 pot­boiler. Mauritania and
with the government’s deci­ with Ruffina (Excellent Art Tutankhamun are the other
HYDERABAD
The Hyderabad Race Club sion to impose 28% GST on ex Miss Danehill) towering two who will be right there
has the honour of hosting betting virtually bringing the above the rest. She won this and as always, it’s going to be
the 57th running of the In­ sport to its knees. race last year in Kolkata and an absolute thriller.
dian Turf Invitation Cup, The slide began in July has proved time and again to On the other hand, the
which returns to the ‘twin ci­ 2017 and since then, the col­ be one of the best speedsters Stayers’ Cup is wide open. It
ties’ after a lapse of five lections have gone just one ever. boasts of 14 runners — the
years, this weekend. way — downward! In 2016­ With 12 wins from 14 highest on record since it
It would be horse racing at 2017, the gross collection starts, she is bound to start was first run in 1981.
its finest, bringing together was ₹ 3,954 crore and in as the overwhelming first
the very best of horses, pro­ 2018­2019, it will not even choice and the crowd would Fast and furious
fessionals, owners, breeders cross ₹1900 crore. love to see her triumph. So what’s it going to be on Sa­
and aficionados from across The turf authorities have Trained by Dallas Todywalla, turday evening? It’s anybo­
the country for two days of done all they can to highlight Ruffina will have jockey San­ dy’s guess. With 14 horses in
unbridled excitement and the plight that threatens to desh steering her fortunes. the field, it is bound to be a
pageantry. Four Grade 1 Rac­ throw the ‘sport of kings’ off fast and solid run, testing the
es and one Grade 2 make it a the rails. Sibling rivalry stamina and endurance of all
connoisseur’s delight and But for now, let’s enjoy The other dozen are certain­ the contenders.
the prize money of the moment. Saturday will ly not going to let the ‘Flo Jo It will also be a pointer of
₹3,86,40,000 makes it the see the weekend blast off of the Indian Turf’ have things to come the next day
richest weekend of Indian with the Sprinters Cup, a things her way. Corfe Castle, as five four­year­olds take on
racing. blinding test of speed over her younger brother, is in older counterparts. Their
1200 metres, and that will be great nick and has the home performance would be
Adverse effect of GST followed by the Dr. M.A.M. advantage too. It would be watched closely as it could
But while this is the ‘Wee­ Ramaswamy Stayers’ Cup an amazing sight to see a well highlight what unfolds
kend of the Year’, the very over a gruelling 3000m. brother and a sister run in the Invitation Cup on Sun­
existence of horse racing in Thirteen horses will line against each other in a Grade day.

What the professionals say

Cyrus J. Madan a chance although they are ter a slight setback. But she’s will run well.
not well in on the scale when not a mare who needs much Warren Singh: Nanhipari
HYDERABAD
SPRINTERS’ CUP looking at the verdict in the work and I think she has won the Golconda Oaks last
Pesi Shroff: Captain Cour­ Kakatiya Million. bounced back very well. year and ikes Hyderabad.
age has tremendous ability L. D’Silva: Corfe Castle has STAYERS’ CUP She will relish the trip.
and when things go right for the home advantage and has Shroff: Sacred Roman has B. Suresh: Saving Grace will
him, he can beat any horse. done everything right. I really come up well this sea­ give a good account of
The 13 draw of course is a big hope he can beat his older son. He stays well and alth­ herself.
dampener. Clymene has on­ sister Ruffina. ough he may not be as ma­
ly just come to me so I would Satish Narredu: Tutankha­ ture as some of the older K. Sateesh: First time over a
not like to comment on her mun will be right there. He horses but we have decided trip of 3000 metres but Like
chances. just got edged out in the to take a chance. I am sure Wise has always shown that
S.S. Attaollahi: Accolade is Sprinters Trials to Maurita­ he will run well. she will be comfortable over
in good heart and I am sure nia, but he can reverse the R. Sequeira: Reunion and the same.
he will give a good account. verdict. Nimble Mind are both good Irfan Ghatala: Watchmy­
S. Padmanabhan: Maurita­ Ruffina comes after a stayers. I feel at this stage script is a mare with a lovely
nia with David Allan will be a slight setback and that may and over this distance, the temperament. She switches
force to reckon with. Ruffina give the opposition an added older horses with more ex­ off beautifully in a race and I
is the one to beat. advantage. perience have a better am confident she will get the
D. Netto: I have Titus and D. Todywalla: Rufina chance. The race is very 3000 metre trip. She will
Rahuls Pet and both run with comes into the Sprinters af­ open and both my horses run a big race.

Higgins pips Vafaei in a thriller Blasters fail to

break NEUFC’s
Wakelin jolts former World champion Murphy
#398299 resolve
INDIAN OPEN
M.R. Praveen Chandran
Stan Rayan KOCHI
KOCHI A 10­men NorthEast United
For almost three frames, FC courageously held Kera­
Hossein Vafaei could only sit la Blasters to a goalless
and admire four­time World draw in their Hero ISL
champion John Higgins dur­ match at the Jawaharlal
ing their second round Nehru stadium here on
match of the fifth Indian Friday.
Open snooker tournament The draw ended a sea­
at the Grand Hyatt, Bolghat­ Master at work: John Higgins, unfazed by Hossein Vafaei’s son of woes for the host
ty Island, on Friday. comeback, clinched the decider. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT which failed to take advan­
Defending champion Hig­ tage of its numerical supe­
gins, who went on to win the Inspired, he went on to win milton (Eng) bt Zhao Xintong riority.
match 4­3 and move into the three frames in a row to (Chn) 4-2 (80-50, 72-17, 77-7,
pre­quarterfinal, raced to a draw level. 5-77, 48-68, 75-44); Sam Crai- The 0­0 draw saw Blas­
3­0 lead before Vafaei sud­ However, World No. 4 gie (Eng) bt Peter Ebdon (Eng) ters end its campaign with
denly woke up and realised Higgins, the master that he 4-1 (63-57, 112-1, 67-12, 0-108 15 points while NEUFC fin­
that he had a job to do. is, shut out the Iranian in the (108), 76-1); Graeme Dott (Sco) ished its engagements with
bt Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha)
The 24­year­old, the first final frame with a 128 break 4-1 (73-48, 13-59, 78-25, 77-4, 29 points.
Iranian to play professional to clinch the thriller. 68-32); Lyu Haotian (Chn) bt It was a familiar story of
snooker, had lost two years Meanwhile, England’s Luke Simmonds (Eng) 4-3 (0- missed chances for Blas­
after winning the 2011 World Chris Wakelin shocked 83, 0-61, 119(114)-5, 67-14, 49- ters but the big moment
amateur title in Bengaluru Shaun Murphy 4­2. 61, 71-46, 69-55); Li Hang came in the 22nd minute
owing to visa issues and had (Chn) bt Joe Perry (Eng) 4-2 when NEUFC was reduced
The results (second round):
to miss the pro tour in (77-30, 0-102, 2-94, 70-31, 126 to 10 after defender Gur­
England. John Higgins (Sco) bt Hossein (109)-0, 120(116)-22); Lu Ning winder Singh was sent off
Vafaei (Irn) 4-3 (69-23, 71-22,
“Those were two golden 73-30, 1-106(106), 45-82, 1-71, (Chn) bt Yan Bingtao (Chn) 4-0 by referee Rahul Gupta for
years of my life,” said Vafaei, 128(128)-0); Chris Wakelin (81-1, 76-1, 93-0, 57-21); Stuart a foul on Matej Poplatnik.
the World No. 33, who (Eng) bt Shaun Murphy (Eng) Bingham (Eng) bt John Astley The result: Kerala Blasters 0
stormed back with a century 4-2 (13-85, 65-28, 16-109, 58- (Eng) 4-2 (0-94, 123 (123)-1, drew with NorthEast United
break in the fourth frame. 23, 72-18, 74-60); Anthony Ha- 67-36, 0-81, 70-32, 69-38). FC 0.

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THE HINDU CROSSWORD 12563 SUDOKU FAITH
(set by Dr. X)
13 English royal house beginning 3 What a cowboy might do to Immersed in devotion
to decline, crushed by speak recklessly without
revolutionary defeat (5) thinking? (5,4,3,3)
Durga is one of the names of Goddess Sakthi in the Lalitha
14 Opening batter ultimately
4 Consumer in topless drunken Sahasranama. As Durga, She revealed Her ferocious aspect
secures duck, gets more spree around America (3,4) and destroyed Durgasura. She thus assured Her devotees
miserable (6)
that She would always come to protect them. She showed
15 Player disheartened by duck 6 Be dominant in union but that none could oppose Her and get away with it. But this
for opener (7) shelter inferior members? protection that She offers Her devotees is seen not only
(4,3,8)
18 Ship’s crew in revolving when She manifests Her angry side, but also in the gentle
lounge, killing time (7) 7 Drama about man becoming ways in which She comes to the rescue of Her devotees. The
20 Intensely passionate and fired woman gets Oscar, say (5) story of Abhirami Bhattar illustrates this, said R.Narayanan
up securing victory (6) in a discourse.
8 Old soldiers, largely Subramania Iyer lived in the town of Tirukkadaiyur and
22 World poverty killing many (5) exhausted, protecting injured was a devotee of Goddess Abhirami. When he worshipped
mare (8) Her in the temple, he forgot himself andhis surroundings.
24 They drink alcohol freely and
move in vehicles (9) He was so immersed in his devotion. One day the King came
9 Runs out, pursues rogue but to the temple and noticed Subramania Iyer, who was not
25 Lament about cash destroyed tires out (4,2) aware of the King’s presence. The King asked Subramania
in fire (9) Iyer what day it was. Without giving the question a thought,
16 Common worry — Rupee
26 Director replacing liberal beginning to slide in value (9) Subramania Iyer replied, “Today is full moon day.” But it so
supporter of the arts relented happened that it was new moon day. The angry king or­
(5) 17 Climber races frantically to Solution to puzzle 12562 Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku dered that if the moon did not appear that night, then Sub­
■ ACROSS 27 Approaches and rushes around conquer tip (8) ramania Iyer would be killed. A fire was lit and the bhakta
in an excited state (3­3) was kept suspended in a swing above.
1 Result of monstrous asteroids 19 Rose steals heart almost in
striking globe? (8) 28 Largely agitated after wife minutes (6) The devout man started singing in praise of Abhirami,
5 Panics when wife breaks chairs fights (8) knowing fully well that She would not let him down. As each
rope that kept the swing suspended was cut, the swing kept
(6) 20 Hold back ring in panic (7)
■ DOWN getting closer and closer to the fire. But then the unexpected
10 Small role by star got Oscar (5) happened. The Goddess pulled off one of Her ear orna­
21 Whispers by assistants around
11 Run down a girl after dispute 1 Pure cocaine and ecstasy front of stage (6) ments and flung it in the air. The dark night sky began to
in end (9) concealed in pit (6) glow as if it were a full moon day. The king realised what a
12 They corruptly net posts, 2 Electronic chart in promenade 23 Brake contains special sticky great soul Subramania Iyer was, and from that day onwards
admitting kin essentially (9) that’s used for signalling (9) stuff (5) Subramania Iyer came to be known as Abhirami Bhattar.
CM A ND-NDE
YK