My Gladiola has finally conquered the Group 1 challenge, clinching victory in the Moir Stakes held at Sandown.

This year’s Group 1 sprint over 1000 metres, usually contested at Moonee Valley, was shifted to Sandown as The Valley undergoes essential reconstruction.

The 1000-metre weight-for-age contest proved to be a thrilling spectacle. My Gladiola ($9.50), with jockey Jamie Mott in the saddle, surged past Cavalry Girl ($8.50) in the closing stages to win by a short-neck. The $3 favourite, Natural Fling, trailed a further three-quarters of a length behind in third place.

Prior to this Saturday’s triumph, My Gladiola had finished second to Tentyris on two occasions in both the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Lightning Stakes (1000m), races that are both run on the straight track at Flemington.

Trainer John McArdle commented that it was fitting for My Gladiola to finally break through at the highest level.

“She has run against the best her entire career,” McArdle said.

“We ran second to Tentyris a couple of times, in incredible times and she was deserving of this, but I didn’t think it was going to be today.

“I did before the rain came, but all the team at home have done a great job with her.”

McArdle had contemplated scratching My Gladiola when the rain arrived during the early hours of Saturday morning, softening the track surface.

The trainer had been considering reserving the mare for the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 19.

“Thank God, I second guessed myself a little bit,” McArdle admitted.

“We were thinking about scratching and thankfully they put it up as a (soft) seven.

“If it had been an (heavy) eight, we may not have been here.

“Things went her way today. The wind and the sun dried the track out a bit, and Jamie gave her a great ride.

“Getting a good barrier we didn’t have to go as far back as we normally do and she’s got the job done.”

McArdle expressed that it was particularly pleasing to secure a Group 1 win alongside Mott.

“Motty has been our stable rider for a long time,” McArdle stated.

“When he was getting a couple of rides in the bush, we were putting him on in Group races with Humma Humma.

“I always said, ‘you stick with me, I’ll stick with you’ and we have. We’ve been close plenty of times and now we’ve done it.”

Mott, who achieved his fifth win at the highest level, shared his emotional experience in guiding My Gladiola home.

“Just to do it for John is just unbelievable,” Mott said.

“He’s had a Group 1 winner in the past and he’s loyal to me as a jockey, and I’ve loved working closely with him and his team.

“Obviously with her coming along, she’s been so special. (She was) yet to tick off that Group 1, but we knew she was good enough.

“I’m absolutely over the moon.

“My fifth Group I and I haven’t been this emotional (for the others), so it’s pretty special.”

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Lindermann has returned to his peak form, while Fangirl may have raced for the last time following the delayed Group 2 $300,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick today.

A significant storm, bringing heavy rain and gale-force winds, swept across Randwick shortly after the Concorde Stakes, leading to a 20-minute delay for the Chelmsford Stakes.

The weather had improved by the time the weight-for-age mile race was run, and Lindermann, with Nash Rawiller in the saddle, led throughout, a near carbon copy of his victory in the same race last year.

The only notable difference this year was Lindermann’s more decisive win, finishing nearly two lengths clear.

Chris Waller, the Hall of Fame trainer who secured his ninth Chelmsford Stakes title with Lindermann, was full of praise for the horse and rider.

“That was Lindermann at his best, Nash at his best,” Waller said.

“He came through that first-up run which had a frantic pace and bounced back today.

“He has his confidence back now.”

Lindermann, the $2.70 favourite, shot clear in the straight and ran away to win by almost two lengths from the closing Ceolwulf ($3.60), with Fangirl ($3.30) a further three-quarters of a length behind in third.

Both Ceolwulf and Fangirl surpassed the $11 million prizemoney barrier with their placings in the Chelmsford Stakes, but the reactions from the connections of each horse were starkly different.

Trainer Joe Pride and jockey Chad Schofield were ecstatic with Ceolwulf’s fast-finishing second, which puts the horse in a strong position for a third consecutive victory in the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 17.

“He was huge,” Schofield stated regarding Ceolwulf. “We knew the race lacked pressure and we knew Lindermann would get the lead he got.

“We just didn’t want to go reinventing the wheel with him second up by putting him up on speed. I took him back from a bad draw and he ripped home late. I’m very happy.”

Fangirl had won the King Charles III Stakes in 2023, but Waller admitted the mare is not performing at her peak.

“Fangirl was brave again but I would say that will be her last run,” Waller conveyed. “I will have a talk with the Ingham family on Monday.

“She was gallant but nowhere near her best. She would have got them a year ago, even a few months ago.

“She has been an awesome horse for Sydney to follow but I would say she has run her last race. She has been so good for so long.”

Lindermann has also been a standout performer for the Waller stable, and as a seven-year-old gelding, he is racing as well as ever.

“We were going hard enough early and you don’t have to be in a hurry to get over with this horse,” said Rawiller after his fifth win in the Chelmsford Stakes.

“Once Lindermann got into that rhythm, he is tough to run down. He is a beauty.

“I trialled him and was so happy with him then his first-up he was too bad to be true but to Hugh Bowwan’s credit, he didn’t knock the horse around when he was beaten and that was why he was able to bounce back today.

“The last 12 months have been his best, he is going so well. There is some talk he might go to the Group 1 Underwood Stakes next – he would be hard to beat around Caulfield.”

Waller admitted he was unsure about Lindermann’s next step, though he hesitated at the possibility of a clash with stablemate, the champion mare Autumn Glow, in the Group 2 $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 19.

“I’m not sure where to go next with Lindermann, we will have a look at things,” Waller concluded.

“Then the 7 Stakes is going to be tricky in two weeks time but we will weigh everything up and see what is best for him.”

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India’s para-archer Sheetal Devi, left, and others compete during the World Archery Para Series. (PTI Photo)

India’s para archers enjoyed a strong penultimate day at the World Archery Para Series Stage III, with the men’s recurve and compound teams winning gold while the women’s recurve team secured silver.In the men’s compound team final, reigning world champion Toman Kumar and Shyam Sunder Swami defeated Iraq’s Abbas Kadhim and Anwer Aldawod 152-139 to claim the top prize.The recurve team of double Paralympic medallist Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi also finished on the highest step of the podium after beating Slovakia’s David Ivan and Denis Ivan 6-2.India’s women’s recurve team of Bhawna and Pooja, meanwhile, had to settle for silver after China won the final 6-0. The country also narrowly missed another medal in the women’s compound event, with Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag losing the bronze-medal playoff to China.

Toman and Swami deliver compound gold

Toman and Swami overcame a sluggish beginning to take control of the men’s compound final.The Indian pair managed only an 8 in the opening end but quickly raised their level. Their accuracy improved over the next 12 arrows, during which they dropped just five points.That consistency allowed the Indians to build a substantial advantage over their Iraqi opponents. They maintained their scoring pressure through the remainder of the contest to complete a convincing victory and secure the gold medal.

Harvinder leads recurve fightback

Harvinder and Sundi had to recover from an early setback before securing India’s second men’s team gold of the day.The Slovakian pair took the opening set 37-34 after India managed a 7 without finding a 10. The Indians responded immediately, producing stronger scores in the following sets.Harvinder, who won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics before becoming the first Indian archer to win Paralympic gold at Paris 2024, played a key role in India’s recovery.India moved ahead 4-2 after winning the third set 38-34, with the pair producing three 10s. They then held their nerve in the fourth set, winning it 35-31 to complete the 6-2 victory.

Bhawna and Pooja take silver

Bhawna and Pooja could not match China in the women’s recurve final, losing 0-6.China took the opening set 34-23 after India struggled with scores of 4, 5 and 6. The Indians improved in the second set, shooting three 8s and a 9, but still lost 33-35.The third set remained tight at 30-31, but India again struggled for consistency and failed to register a single 10 across the entire final.China did not produce its most clinical performance either, but India’s inconsistent arrow placement allowed the Chinese pair to retain their advantage and secure gold.

Sheetal and Payal miss bronze

Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag were also left without a medal after China’s Wang Huiting and Gao Fangxia won the women’s compound bronze-medal playoff.The Indian pair found it difficult to maintain their scoring level across the 16-arrow contest. Their strongest spell came in the second end, when they trailed by just one point at 73-74.However, a poor third end allowed China to open up a decisive gap. India could not recover from there and eventually had to settle for fourth place.With two golds and a silver on the penultimate day, India remain in contention for a strong finish at the World Archery Para Series Stage III.

All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey has urged the Tata group to reconsider its “shocking” decision of withdrawing Jamshedpur FC from the embattled Indian Super League (ISL).

The Tata group has made it clear that JFC’s exit from the ISL was a long-planned strategic decision to ensure that the company returns to its core ideal of grassroots football development. Tata Steel vice President (Corporate Services) D B Sundara Ramam has also insisted that the move has “nothing to do” with the uncertainty surrounding the ISL’s commercial future and would not be reconsidered.

However, Chaubey said the AIFF would still hope for a rethink by the legacy corporate house.

“AIFF would be happy if Tata remains in football, especially in senior top tier football. If an AIFF request or application can change their mind…the AIFF would like to appeal that for the interest of the players and football, Tata should remain in the senior football league,” Chaubey told PTI in an interview.

“The AIFF welcomes any suggestion (from them) and is ready to incorporate the suggestions to ensure the best outcome,” he said.

Tata Steel has assured that Jamshedpur FC will honour all existing player contracts and help footballers find new clubs.

The AIFF president said he has faith in Tata group and its decisions cannot be driven by commercial interests.

“It’s all about, I think, some decision in the boardroom. And I’m sure there are reasons, but it cannot be for Rs 1.1 crore participation fee or management fee. It is not that. When the board decided to withdraw the senior team from the top-tier league, I am sure they had a reason for taking this harsh decision.

“They are aware of the football fans’ reaction, but I assume this cannot be only a financial decision because Tata has many enterprises and businesses,” he observed. 

The former India goalkeeper said he has immense respect for the group’s contribution to the sport’s growth through the Tata Football Academy that has been in operation since 1987. Chaubey too has trained in that facility during his playing days.

“We have seen many corporates become very prominent over the last few decades, but we have also seen many corporates go bankrupt thereafter. But Tata is different. It has gained that respect, earned that respect among Indians,” he noted.

“Tata will never consider sports merely as a medium for business, revenue generation, profit, or loss. They have done so much for Indian sport. They have invested in archery and several other areas, and in football, I think most of the youth development system has come through the Tata Football Academy,” the former India player added.

Chaubey recalled how the academy survived a financial crisis in the ’90s.

“…it was rumoured that TFA would be closed down, the Archery Academy would start, the Engineer Hostel would start, and the Cricket Academy would start. Many rumours were there.

“But since we won two tournaments in Germany and the Netherlands at the junior level, it became a headline in London. So officers from the London Tata office came and met us. They gave us incentives, PK Banerjee and Ranjan Choudhury were the coach and technical director. So that’s how the Tata Football Academy continued, which was supposed to be closed down in 1992,” he revealed.

Chaubey fondly recalled his association with the Tata Academy as a cadet player.

“I learned football through Tata Football Academy. Since 1987 till date, nearly 275 or more player have graduated from TFA. I am also one among them and perhaps Renedy Singh and myself served the longest period in the Tata Football Academy,” he said.

FILE – EJ Obiena in action.

MANILA, Philippines —EJ Obiena continues to make up for lost time, winning his seventh gold medal of the season at the International Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany.

Obiena cleared 5.83 meters to capture his second straight title, just days removed from his triumph at the Halberstadter Hohenflug.

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The Olympic pole vaulter edged Qatar’s Siefeldin Abdelsalam, who also cleared 5.83 meters, on countback. Ersu Sasma of Turkey settled for bronze after clearing 5.77 meters in the 12-man field.

Obiena then attempted a season-best 5.93 meters but fell short.

“[It] was far from smooth competition and some struggles during warm up and earlier bars but happy to scrape an 80 bar,” Obiena said. “We continue to work and now a few trainings in before we go again.”

The fit-again Obiena, who battled injuries last year, set his season best of 5.85 meters at the Meeting Madrid in Spain, where he settled for silver.

In Pokemon TCG Pocket, Typhlosion ex is a Stage 2 Fire-type card from the Ruler of the Skies expansion. It is a powerful Pokemon ex thanks to its move Destructive Inferno, which deals 110. However, the move’s secondary effect is very useful as well. It requires you to flip a coin multiple times until you get a tails. For each head, you get to remove an energy from the opponent’s Active Pokemon.

So let us take a look at how to play Typhlosion ex, which cards work well alongside it, and the main strategy involved.

Best Pokemon TCG Pocket Typhlosion ex deck guide: Cards you need

Also read: Pokemon TCG Pocket: Best Mega Sharpedo ex deck guide

Best Pokemon TCG Pocket Typhlosion ex deck guide: Strategy breakdown

1) Typhlosion ex

• HP: 180
• Move: Destructive Inferno
• Move Damage: 110
• Move Description: Flip a coin until you get tails. For each heads, discard a random Energy from your opponent’s Active Pokemon
• Move Energy Cost: 2 Fire and 1 Colorless Energy
• Retreat Cost: 2 Energy

Destructive Inferno is a powerful move, dealing 110 damage for two Fire and one Colorless Energy. While setting it up can be difficult, Typhlosion ex is worth it. Especially thanks to its secondary effect, which allows players to remove energy from the opponent’s Active Pokemon as long as the coin flips land in your favor.

Also read: 7 best cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket Ruler of the Skies expansion, ranked

2) Victini (Pulsing Aura)

• HP: 70
• Ability: Victory Star: Once during your turn, after you flip any coins for an attack of 1 of your Fire Pokemon, you may ignore all results of those coin flips and begin flipping those coins again. You can’t use more than 1 Victory Star Ability each turn.
• Move: V-Flame
• Move Damage: 40
• Move Energy Cost: 1 Fire and 1 Colorless Energy
• Retreat Cost: 1 Energy

The Victini card from Pulsing Aura is useful because of its Ability Victory Star. This Ability will allow you to ignore a coin flip that does not go in your favor. As a result, if you get a tails from using Destructive Inferno, this Ability will allow you to ignore the first one.

3) Entei ex (Secluded Springs)

• HP: 140
• Ability: Legendary Pulse: At the end of your turn, if this Pokemon is in the Active Spot, draw a card.
• Move: Blazing Beatdown
• Move Damage: 60+
• Move Description: If this Pokemon has at least 2 extra Fire Energy attached, this attack does 60 more damage
• Move Energy Cost: 2 Fire Energy
• Retreat Cost: 2 Energy

Finally, we come to Entei ex. While it is a decent attacker, the main draw of this card is its Ability Legendary Pulse. By playing Entei ex in the Active Spot you will be able to draw another extra card at the end of your turn.

Also read: Pokemon TCG Pocket: Best Mega Rayquaza ex deck guide

Best Pokemon TCG Pocket Typhlosion ex deck guide: Support cards

• Flame Patch can take any discarded Fire Energy and attach it to your Pokemon as needed.
• Rare Candy is extremely important since this deck does not run Quilava. As such Rare candy will allow you to directly evolve Cyndaquil into Typhlosion ex.
• Juliana is a Supporter that will directly help you find a Typhlosion ex.
• Hiking Trail is a Stadium card that lets you draw a few extra cards.
• Copycat can help you get a better hand if you aren’t happy with your current one.
• Professor’s Research lets you draw two cards.
• Poke Ball lets you get a random Basic Pokemon.
• Wally is a new Supporter that allows players to attach an extra Colorless Enegy, accelerating the turn by which Typhlosion can deal damage by one.
• Finally, Cyrus will help you KO a weakened Pokemon on the opponent’s Bench by switching it into a powerful attack.

Also read: 10 best-looking cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket Ruler of the Skies expansion

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