Breeder profile
RUSSKIY AZART KENNEL - Maria Lazareva (Italy)
interview by Vida Klenovšek
published in European Borzoi No.50 winter 10
- Versione Italiana a cura di Annalisa Moschini - Clicca qui -
(cortesia del sito www.levrieroclub.it)
1. How did you get involved with borzois an who was your first borzoi?
Being of Russian origin ( I was born in St.Petersburg), I knew the borzoi.
My first borzoi was purchased in Russia in St.Petersburg in 1997 .At that time I was not interested in a particular genealogical line , I was not at all thinking about doing exhibitions, even less about breeding. My first borzoi : ZLAT NEVSKIY ( Sokrushay Severniy x Zolishka Nevskaya) - lived inly 17 months ....In one of our walks in the park the dog had eaten a poisoned piece of food .The veterinarians were not able to save him...The absence of ZLAT - was unbearable . Two weeks after his death, I organized the arrival of another puppy from Russia , a puppy that only two years later became CH RIPRODUKTOR MALJUTA IZ ZOLOTOI SVORY .This time, I had taken a subject from a specific genealogical line and specific tipe of the dogs
(Ch Rip. Maljuta iz Zoloty Svory)
2. How did you choose your kennel name ? And what is the meaning?
In Russian, the name of the kennel “RUSSKIY AZART” means Russian Hazard.
The decision to give this name to our kennel was natural – because for me the BORZOI is a “hazard race” – a dog that lives his life to the “maximum”! Hazard to live, hunt, run – all of this is contained in the “mysterious Russian soul” of the BORZOI.
3. When did you start to breed?
My first litter in 2001 from male and female of russian line MALJUTA IZ ZOLOTOI SVORY ans CH RUS ,ITA VESNA IZ ZOLOTOI SVORY - inbreeding of russian line .
4. Do you admire any of present or past borzoi breeders? If yes, why?
Beautiful borzoi existed in the kennels of 100 years ago as they exist now. The race selection goes forward. Only the preferences of the type have changed. Earlier, people selected more “work” types, more rustic and useful for hunting. Now many ( even myself ) prefer the “show” type. Showy and elegant.
5. What is your favorite type of borzoi?
I like the large size borzoi ( for the males not less than
6. What do you look or consider the most important quality in a borzoi? And which faults are to be excluded, in your opinion, from the breeding programe?
For me the fundamental priority is the TYPE of the subjects, present in the kennel. A kennel must be recognized exactly for the TYPE of its dogs. Another important thing, actually very important is the character and the movement. A nice subject, but with a bad character – does not please anyone…. That is why in my kennel I have present the lines that genetically possess excellent character and equilibrated psychological behavior. Through the experience of several litters, I can say that the equilibrated psychological behavior usually depends first from the breeder ( how he grows the puppies and the parents of the puppies ) and second from the owner.
The harmonious MOVEMENT – usually it depends from the correct structure of the subject ( and very rarely from the ability of the handler! ). I like very much a strong and powerful type, but at the same time elegant and noble, with a strong push from the rear legs, and an ample step that covers a lot of ground. For this you need: good shoulder and a wide chest and well-descended chest, excellent angles of the rear legs, slightly lengthened format with a good solid rear. This is the type of borzoi that I try to achieve.
Without doubt you need to exclude from the reproduction the subjects that have the following characteristics: aggressive or fearful psychological attitude, with any health problem, the light type with a very “flat” chest that has not descended much, small males ( below 79cm), with more than two premolars missing and with an incorrect bite. I have never used in reproduction, and I will never use them, subjects with such defects ( as I consider them).
7. What are, in your opinoion, the most serious faults/problems that you see in borzoi breeding today?
Through my participation to many Dogshows in
8. Which faults do you tolerate in a borzoi and why?
In a nice type subject, with a good movement, I can tollerate: slightly light eye ( but it needs to be large and well inserted with excellent pigmentation). With a large eye, even if slightly light, the borzoi has a good eyesight while hunting. With a small eye, even if dark, this is not the case.
I can tollerate missing P1 and P2, but not more than 2 premolars. Anyways, I prefer a complete bite.
In a female of a good type I can tollerate the straight and long back (but for her it will be required a male with a WONDERFUL back!!!)
9. Which are the common borzoi faults that you see, and are mostly tolerated in the shows by judges?
Sincerely, I have seen many Champions with PET defects….This means, that many defects are tollerated by judges, if they are not specialists of the race and they do not judge BASED ON THE STANDARD!
And another thing – many Championships are really too easy to complete. And becoming Champion when alone in a class, I do not know how satisfying it can be. Sometimes you need 2 CAC, or maximum 4, to become a Champion in many countries. In
10. We can see many different types of borzois at the shows. Are they all correct?
I think that any type of borzoi is correct if it corresponds to the BREED STANDARD. Personally, I do not like the type of borzoi that is very light or small in size, or very tall (90cm and above) and heavy. That’s because both types of borzois described are at the limit of the standard, if not to say outside of the standard….with serious defects of the type and constitution.
11. Which male and/or female is in your opinion the best one from your kennel that?
As a Sire in my kennel, I consider the following as the best:Multi CH,ITA,INT,CDL, CH RIP - RASSVET SVETLEYSHIY MIRAGE ,MULTI CH ,INT,ITA,CDL,SWISS,RSM,SLO, Multi BOB,BOG,BIS - RUSSKIY AZART DAGON, As a Female in my kennel are : CH ITA,CH RIP - RAZGULJAI TU TSARITSA , Multi CH ELEGHIYA PREKRASNAYA MECTA .
As Showdog Borzoi the best are : ELEGHIYA PREKRASNAYA MECTA , RUSSKIY AZART DAGON, RUSSKIY AZART DERZA, RUSSKIY AZART IDEAl,RUSSKIY AZART OLIMP IMPERIUM CIVILTAS .
As Dame the best are : RAZGULJAI TY TSARITSA, ELEGHIYA PREKRASNAYA MECTA, RUSSKIY AZART DERZA .
Excellent father - RUSSKIY AZART DAGON .
For now, the best male borzoi in my kennel remains the very famous RUSSKIY AZART DAGON, but a nice boy of 1 year is growing very promising ( already 2 times 1° BOG e 3° BIS) RUSSKIY AZART OLIMP IMPERIUM CIVILTAS ( CH ITA Borscana Hardcore Superstar x Multi CH Eleghiya Prekrasnaya Mecta).
And the two best females: ELEGHIYA PREKRASNAYA MECTA e RUSSKIY AZART DERZA, that ( breeded in out-crossing ) have produced puppies of excellent type and movement.
12. Who is/was the male or female, that is most important for your breeding programme?
I think that the most important carrier of the characteristics of the line and type is the female. The male has to be correct, with excellent character and excellent pedigree. Everything else is given by the female. Naturally, the female has to be descendant from beautiful lines and has to carry ALL of the characteristics of these lines, and be very well planted in the type.
At the beginning, two females - CH RUS, ITA - VESNA IZ ZOLOTOI SVORY ( Multi CH Antey Moya Radost x CH Charunyja ), CH ITA CH RIPRODUCTOR RAZGULJAI TY TSARITSA ( Multi CH Aldebaran De Nobile Veltrus x CH Sagaidak Jantarna) and the male CH RIPRODUCTOR - MALJUTA IZ ZOLOTOI SVORY ( CH Paleh Iz Zolotoi Svory x Gordeya)- bought in Russia) were the ancestors of my kennel. Vesna and Maljuta – aunt and niece( mated in inbreeding) – their puppies ( Multi CH ,ITA,INT, CDL, REPRODUCTOR RASSVET SVETLEYSHIY MIRAGE , CH ITA, KRASSAY SOLNECHIY LUC , CH ITA,CDL GEMCIUGINA SIBIRSCAYA METEL) are carriers of the beautiful lines: de NOROIS, von SMETANKA, van TROYBHIKO .
TSARITSA with MALJUTA and then with (son of MALJUTA and VESNA) RASSVET SVETLEYSHIY MIRAGE - ( mated in out-cross) –have produced a stable tipe of borzoi for dogshows with an excellent hunting instinct: Multi Ch,ITA,INT,CDL,Best Female :2004,2005,2006 ELEGHIYA PREKRASNAYA MECTA ,CH ITA ,INT -IMPERIA LUCISTAYA KRASA , JEUR 2005 ,CH ITA LUCEZARNIY ZOLOTOE SOZVESDIE ,Multi BOB IMPERIA RUSSKIY IDEAL. To arrive at : TOP BORZOI 2006,2007,2008,2009 ,EUR 2008,CH ITA,INT,CDL, SLO,RSM,Swiss,Multi BOB, BIG , BIS RUSSKIY AZART DAGON , CH ITA,INT ,CDL,Best Female 2007 RUSSKIY AZART DERZA ,Multi CH ,ITA,INT,SLO,CDL RUSSKIY AZART IDEAL, CH ITA,INT RUSSKIY AZART IDILLIA .
These lines ( VESNA, MALJUTA, TSARITSA) have given a solid foundation to be able to work in linebreeding and out-cross, without exiting from the type of borzoi that I like.
13. What is your opinion about breeding metods : inbreeding, linebreeding and outcross ? What metod do you use and why ?
In the breeding I use : line-breeding , inbreeding and out-cross. In all pedigree of my litters are present dogs from ancient Russian lines that go back to the kennels . " PERSHINO", " BOLDAREFF", and more recently : " DE NOROIS" , " VON SMETANKA", "
14. How many litters did you breed and which one is in your opinion the best one?
The first litter was born in 2001 ( CH RIP Maljuta Iz Zolotoi Svory x CH RUS, ITA Vesna Iz Zolotoi Svory ), mated in inbreeding. A female DIVNA at the age of 10 months won BOB in the International Special Hounds Dogshow in Milano, but unfortunately two weeks later died in a car accident. I had to start from the beginning….
In 2002 I repeated the same mating in inbreeding – my joy was born: Multi CH ,CH ITA,INT,CDL,RIP - RASSVET SVETLEYSHIY MIRAGE,CH ITA - KRASSAI SOLNECNIY LUC , CH ITA, CDL - GEMCIUGINA SIBIRSKAYA METEL . Excellent rappresentatives of their lines. Beautiful heads, elegant and noble Type, correct dorsal and tail.
2003 and 2004 – third and fourth litters with: CH RIP MALJUTA IZ ZOLOTOI SVORY x CH ITA,CH RIP RAZGULJAI TY TSARITSA . Other champions were born: Multi CH, ITA,INt,CDL - ELEGHIYA PREKRASNAYA MECTA and sister CH ITA,INT IMPERIA LUCISTAYA KRASA , JEUR 2005, CH ITA -LUCEZARNIY ZOLOTOE SOZVESDIE and sister Multi CAC,CACIB,BOB, BOG -IMPERIA RUSSKIY IDEAL . Borzoi very much for Shows, with beautiful heads and excellent movement.
2005 -fifth " D" and sixth " E" litters with : RASSVET SVETLEYSHIY MIRAGE x RAZGULJAI TY TSARITSA . Born are: Multi CH, EUR 2008, CH ITA,INT,CDL,SLO.SWISS,RSM ,Multi BOB,BOG,BIS -RUSSKIY AZART DAGON ,CH ITA,INT,CDL -RUSSKIY AZART DERZA , JITA, Multi CAC - RUSSKIY AZART DARINA . This litter for me was one of the most important ones, also because R.A.DAGON was born. I am very grateful to fate to have been able to breed and be the owner of this BORZOI! Subject of excellent type, strong, but elegant and with a beautiful movement and show temperament.
And then sixth with: Multi CH SNEGOVIK HOMIEROVITCH BOLDAREFFCHINO x CH ITA,CDL GEMCIUGINA SIBIRSKAYA METEL. Their daughter RUSSKIY AZART ELITA ( 2 CACIB) became an excellent dame: in inbreeding ( with RASSVET SVETLEYSHIY MIRAGE) and Linebreeding with ( R.A.DAGON).
Seventh litter “I” IN 2006 - ( RASSVET SVETLEYSHIY MIRAGE x RAZGULJAI TU TSARITSA) – my beautiful ones are born : CH ITA,INt,CDL,SLO -RUSSKIY AZART IDEAL e CH INT,ITA - RUSSKIY AZART IDILLIA – again a stable Dogshow type – correct, with a nice movement and excellent temperament for the ring.
Ninth litter “T” always in 2007, the father "Landysh" – lives in my kennel, carries the lines of Leicro's and Van Wissinskaya and Homierovitch Boldareffchino, was born in the kennel " SOLOVYEV" of M.Ostrovskaya in Moscow. ( CH ITA - SOLOVYEV LANDYSH FOR RUSSKIY AZART x CH ITA,INT,CDL - RUSSKIY AZART DERZA). Puppies of excellent type were born, with a nice movement and very elegant heads, but of colors that I did not expect: brindle and black! Two females of this litter: RUSSKIY AZART TAYNA and Young Italian Champion, Multi CAC - CACIB , CH INT ( pending ) RUSSKIY AZART TARINA participate with success in Dogshows in
In 2008 four litters are born:
Tenth “M” only two puppy females ( CH ITA SOLOVYEV LANDYSH FOR RUSSKIY AZART x CH ITA ,CH RIP - RAZGULJAI TU TSARITSA ) - Best Puppy of European Dogshow in Budapest 2008 is born, Young Italian Champion, CH CDL, 3 CACIB -RUSSKIY AZART MILLENIYA. Female of correct type, with excellent neck attachment, excellent shoulders and rear quarters angles, very correct tail, nice movement and temperament in the ring.
Eleventh litter “L” done with inbreeding and between uncle and niece ( Multi CH ,ITa,INT,CDL,RIP RASSVET SVETLEYSHIY MIRAGE x RUSSKIY AZART ELITA) . RUSSKIY AZART LOVELAS – Young Italian Champion. The other puppies live in
Litter “N” is the twelveth – I repeated the out-cross between CH ITA SOLOVYEV LANDYSH FOR RUSSKIY AZART and CH IT,INT,CDL - RUSSKIY AZART DERZA. This time we got puppies with brindle coats and a boy that is cream colored with a beautiful mask. Not even one black! One of the females: RUSSKIY AZART NAIS – Young German Champion, JCH DWZRV, female of excellent type and nice movement. I kept a male: RUSSKIY AZART NEKTAR who is very promising. He has an excellent character, very beautiful head and type of expression.
The father of my thirteenth litter “O” comes from
Anyways, the litter “O” born in 2008 from ( CH ITA BORSCANA HARDCORE SUPERSTAR x Multi CH,ITA,INT,CDL ELEGHIYA PREKRASNAYA MECTA ). All 9 puppies are borzoi of excellent type and very high quality, all dogshow subjects, with excellent movement and very correct, with good temperament. I count very much on the Dogshow future of this litter. The young male RUSSKIY AZART OLIMP IMPERIUM CIVILTAS at the age of 1 year has already won the Young Italian Champion title, 2 times 1° BOG , and was 3° in Best in Show. Another male: RUSSKIY AZART ORMAI PERFETTO lives in
2009 litter no. 14 – the letter " P" - linebreeding with Multi CH,ITA,INT,EUR2008,Swiss,CDL,SLO,RSM,TOP BORZOI 2007,2008,2009 ,Multi BOB, BOG, BIS - RUSSKIY AZART DAGON x RUSSKIY AZART ELITA . A litter that is very typical of this line was born: excellent heads, type, neck, dorsal, angulations, nice movement. Typical also in the color: all the puppies are white – cream. The two best males live in
In the future litters I would like always to maintain the type of dog of my kennel. Probably amongst the next breeding plans will be:
in out -cross : CH ITA BORSCANA HARDCORE SUPERSTAR x RUSSKIY AZART MILLENIYA born from out-cross and carrying the lines : Van Wissinskaya,Leicro's, Homierovich Boldareffchino from the side of the father( CH ITA Solovyev Landysh For Russkiy Azart ) and lines Aldebaran de Nobile Veltrus e Sagaydak Jantarna from the side of the mother ( CH ITA, RIP -RAZGULJAI TY TSARITSA). I think I will obtain puppies of excellenty type, with nice heads and angulations, excellent movement .The Pedigree of this future litter to comprise the best scandinavian lines and the best european lines . ( BORSCANA, JELISTAZ ,LEICRO'S x VAN WISINSKAJA , "POLJANKA" , italian lines ." Rocca Barbara" and Russian lines " Sagaidak" .
Another breedingplan will be amongst CH ITA Borscana Hardcore Superstar ( who has already produced very well the litter “O”) with CH IT,INT,CDL RUSSKIY AZART DERZA . I believe very much in this pairing! Two wonderful subjects with splendid Pedigrees unite!!
Then, I think I will repeat the breeding in out-cross between Borscana Hardcore Superstar e Eleghiya Prekrasnaya Mecta (their first litter was " O") that has given excellent results.
For Multi CH RUSSKIY AZART DAGON, I am planning the mating in out-cross with JCH ITA BORSCANA ISELIN and with my new female, purchased in Ukraine, with splendid and antique russian lines, SLAVIANSKAYA MUDROST.
And in due time, the puppies produced in these litters will do their breedingplan in linebreeding. All of this require time, work, patience and even a little bit of luck.
15. At what age do you decide which puppy will you keep and how do you do this?
I make the “first” choice of a puppy for myself or for exhibitions as soon as he is born. I choose the most harmonious puppy, one that most closely corresponds to the best characteristics of the lines of the father and the mother, and I keep a close eye on him. And this does not mean that the puppy needs to resemble the parents – it can easily be the perfect copy of the grandfather or the grandmother! You just need to know well the ancestors.
I make the “second” choice when the puppy is about 45-47 days old ( I want to see a strong puppy, self-assured, even a little bit dominant, with an excellent imprint of the type). For now, with this technique I made a mistake only once ( with Multi CH Rassvet Svetleyshiy Mirage. I preferred his brother CH ITA Krassai Solnecniy Luc, but instead exactly Rassvet gave me more satisfaction as a borzoi for dogshows and re production.)
16. How do you raise the litter ? What is most important for you to pay attention?
The puppies grow with the mother, as long as the mother can stand it ( the female decides, not me). Some females have excellent maternal instincts, that can stay with the puppies until 3-4 months and more. And females exist that can only withstand the puppies until 35-40 days. I never force a mother to stay with the puppies against her will. When the mothers are like this, I only give more attention to the puppies, more snuggles ( the little ones need to feel loved and protected anyways) . That’s it.
The weening begins at the age of 25 days with goat’s milk ( it does not cause allergic reactions and it is easily digested). Then I proceed with dry food, ground, and moistened with the same goat’s milk. I then arrive to the dry food ( with added vitamins and mineral salts for the growth of the puppies )
Lo svezzamento comincio al eta' di 25 giorni con il latte di capra ( non causa le reazioni allergiche e si assimila benissimo ) . Poi procedo con le mangime secco trittato , ammorbidito sempre con il latte di capra . Per arrivare al mangime secco of top quality at the age of 50-55 days.
In the growing litter I am very careful with the nutrition and the movement ! My puppies always have a lot of space to run. The earlier the puppy gets comfortable with himself ( with his own movement), the better it is.
At the age of 55-60 days, the puppy learns to run, fall and get up again, and to be strong on his legs. The more the puppy grows, the more available space he must have ( to run and explore).
17. What do you consider of great importance in choosing a good show puppy?
A good dogshow puppy needs to be perfectly of the type of paternal and maternal lines, to be correct and strong in structure, to have the “dogshow” character and excellent movement. And naturally, it needs to have a very equilibrated character.
18. At what age/weeks do you think a puppy should be placed in a new home?
I think that the puppy can easily change his home at the age of 70-75 days, if in the new home already exists another dog or dogs. If he is going to be the only animal in the house, then the right age to change home is about 3.5 months.
19. How important is the training to winning in the show ring?
The preparation for the dogshows is extremely important! It is absurd to take the dog off the couch or out of his pen, take him to the dogshow and pretend to have a good result!!
The dog needs to be prepared for the dogshow also psychologically – he cannot be afraid of other dogs or of being manipulated by the judge.
The dogshow dog needs to be accustomed to move well on any type of terrain ( with carpet, smooth floor or “english lawn”).
Anyways, a lot of the presentation depends on a good handler, who needs to be well prepared to react to the “movement” ( for example by increasing the speed or to move the dog more towards the center of the ring ( just 20-40cm is enough) if he is “pressed” by another competing dog)….Not only does the dog need to be prepared for dogshows, but also the handler!!!
20. How many champions did you bred? And who are they?
The champions that I bred are the following :
Multi CH, ITA, INT,CDL,RIP , Top borzoi 2004,2005,2006 - RASSVET SVETLEYSHIY MIRAGE ,
CH ITA - KRASSAI SOLNECNIY LUC ,
CH ITA,CDL - GEMCIUGINA SIBIRSKAYA METEL ,
Multi CH, ITA,INT,CDL - ELEGHIYA PREKRASNAYA MECTA ,
CH ITA, INT - IMPERIA LUCISTAYA KRASA ,
JCHITA - IMPERIA RUSSKIY IDEAL ,
Multi CH, Multi BOG,BIS,CH ITA,INT,CDL, WINNER DWZRV ,SLO,SWISS,RSM ,EUR 2008, Top borzoi 2007,2008,2009 - RUSSKIY AZART DAGON .
CH ITA,INT,CDL, WINNER DWZRV - RUSSKIY AZART DERZA ,
JCH ITA RUSSKIY AZART DARINA ,
Multi CH, ITA,INT,CDL,SLO - RUSSKIY AZART IDEAL .
CH INT,ITA - RUSSKIY AZART IDILLIA ,
JCH ITA - RUSSKIY AZART SOVRANA,
JCH ITA, CH INT - RUSSKIY AZART TARINA ,
JCH ITA RUSSKIY AZART LOVELAS ,
JCH ITA, CH CDL - RUSSKIY AZART MILLENIYA ,
JCH DWZRV RUSSKIY AZART NAIS,
JCH ITA RUSSKIY AZART OLIMP IMPERIUM CIVILTAS .
Champions that I bought from kennels :
CH RIP - MALJUTA IZ ZOLOTOI SVORY,
CH RUS, ITA - VESNA IZ ZOLOTOI SVORY ,
CH ITA, CDL, RIP - RAZGULJAI TY TSARITSA .
CH ITA - SOLOVYEV LANDYSH FOR RUSSKIY AZART ,
CH ITA - BORSCANA HARDCORE SUPERSTAR .
I also wanted to clarify that the Italian Championship and the Youth Championship are note easy!!!
For the Italina Championship you need 6 CAC amongst which: 2 CAC in the National Dogshows, 2 CAC in the International Dogshwos and 2 CAC in the Breed Specials.
For the Youth Championship you need 30 points – tallied up with 3 points ( only for the 1 EX classification) for the National Dogshows, and 5 points ( only for the 1 EX classification ) for the International Dogshows.
21. How many borzois do you usually keep in your kennel?
Right now I have 14 borzoi, with age between 10 years and 9 months.
22. Borzoi is a hunting dog. What is your opinion about racing tracks, lure coursing and original hunt?
Yes, the borzoi is an excellent hunting, coursing and racing dog. But he is also an excellent companionship dog! It is beautiful when the dog releases his instinct for hunting or running. I approve of breeders and owners that have the time to take their borzois hunting or racing. Personally I only do dogshows. My borzois run and hunt small hares in my park.
23. What changes have you seen in the breed in past decades – for better or worse?
Like every race, borzois have changed in the last several decades. Right now in the dogshows I see more borzois for shows than for work. I would say that their neck, depth of the chest, and the shoulder have improved. What has worsened: the back, feet, perfection of the coat color ( I see a lot of dogs with spots on their legs ), the tails are starting to become disastrous, very deviated and poorly carried !!!! Many dogs have the third eyelid.
24. Could you make a list of TOP 10 your favorite borzoi ever? And what are their most valuable qualities?
Sincerely – I cannot, without inserting one of my dogs….
Anyways, I like very much subjects in type, that possess an excellent imprint of the class and nobility of the breed. I do not like subjects that “simpletons”, even if they are correct in the structure. From a Champion I want nobility and class !!!
25. Have I forgotten to question you anything that you would like to answer?
The question could be: “What to do to maintain the type of borzoi with the imprinting of your own kennel?
This is the question that I ask myself everytime I mate my dogs.
I always answer in the same way:
“You need to study very well the pedigrees. You need to know as much as possible the lines of your own dogs ( type, color, character) and their defects. Mate only the types that are similar to each other, or that possess pedigrees with similar type and characteristics of the ancestors.
Do not have litters only toh ave puppies at home. Every litter needs to be programmed!
Sometimes it happens in inbreeding matings and out-cross, that puppies are born that do not correspond to the expectations of the breeder. The advice: do not repeat the error by mating the same subjects a second time!!
Better to wait for a right male or female for years, than to make litters with the subjects “readily available”. Breeding the right way is not a walk in the park. And you need a lot of time and lots of money to arrive at the right result.
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