Sport - Racing : Horse

What the professionals say

Professionals voice their opinion on the The Hindu Sprinters Cup and Stayers Cup:

Jaggi Dhariwal: My ward Caprese should prevail in the Sprinters' Cup — she has beaten Hesperus recently; although Adolfito is getting on, he is consistent and I view him as a place prospect in the Stayers' Cup.

Rashid Byramji: The Sprinters' Cup lies between Caprese and Hesperus, although the latter is badly drawn. In the Stayers' Cup, Forever Elegance is my first choice, from last year's winner, Star Of Windsor.

S. Ganapathy: I have two runners in the Sprinters' Cup, Secret Warrior and Spectacular Quest, and both should run close. Of my three runners in the Stayers' Cup, Prakash has chosen Forever Elegance. Last year's winner Star Of Windsor is also in good form.

L. V. R. Deshmukh: I feel the Stayers' Cup is wide open; for the Sprinters' Cup, Onnu Onnu Onnu might get the better of Hesperus.

Sardar Singh: For the Sprinters' Cup, it's a straight fight between Hesperus and Caprese. In the Stayers' Cup, I prefer Forever Elegance.

K. P. G. Appu: I like my mount, Hesperus, in the Sprinters' Cup; in the Stayers' Cup, my choice is Forever Elegance.

Colm O'Donoghue: Last year I had ridden Caprese, the Sprinters' Cup favourite — she is very fast. My mount, Secret Warrior is fit and can figure. Although the Stayers' Cup is a tough race, Star Of Windsor, on whom I won in Mumbai in January, should run really well.

S. K. Sunderji: My ward, Oyster Cove, has defied the handicapper in each of his recent performances, most recently when winning the Dr. S. C. Jain Sprinters' Trophy, showing he belongs to this company. He will be right there in the Sprinters' Cup.

Rafaat Hussain: My choices are Onnu Onnu Onnu in the Sprinters' and Star Of Windsor in the Stayers'.

Satish Narredu: I hope my son, Suraj's mounts, Tribal Fantasy in the Sprinters' Cup and Thats The Touch in the Stayers Cup, win.

L. D'Silva: For the Sprinters' Cup, I give Hesperus the edge over Onnu Onnu Onnu; for the Stayers' Cup, everyone has to beat the Ramaswamy pair of Forever Elegance and Star Of Windsor, but my ward Friendly Fire is the next best. — Compiled by Anil Mukhi

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