Padmanabhan trained Desert God swamped the opposition in the Gr 1 Deccan Derby, the star event of the Hyderabad Monsoon Season in front of mammoth crowd at Malakpet on Sunday. English jockey David Allan who resumed his partnership with Desert God, rode a confident race on the favourite whose manner of victory suggests of exciting possibilities for the son of prolific mare Running Flame whose another progeny Borsalino had won this event a few years ago under the same jockey. Bred by Padmanabhan, Desert God is owned jointly by the trainer along with his wife Sharmila Padmanabhan and Col Swapan Bhadra.

Desert God was the obvious favourite as the progeny of Burden of Proof had already run over mile and quarter trip and was unfortunate not to have won the Kingfisher Derby due to severe interference. Desert God had won the Colts Championship Stakes in impressive fashion with a powerful effort in the final furlong. As such, he had imposing credentials. The only reason why he was quoted at good odds was the presence of Woman O War who had remained unbeaten in all her six outings including an impressive win in the Fillies Championship Stakes despite cutting an erratic course. That effort had created a formidable impression about her capabilities though those who strongly advocated her cause forgot the fact that she had beaten the local challengers on all her six outings though there were few modest performers from Bangalore in the fray on the last occasion who would in no way compare with the capability of Desert God.

Jockey Trevor Patel on Cameroon found himself in front as the pace initially was slow and he was followed by Columbus, Dazzling Bay, Royal Seal, Desert God, That`s My Darling, Woman O War and Fair Fax. Though Columbus took charge midway through, his lead was short lived as Cameroon was in command at the top of the straight. David Allan brought Desert God with a clear passage on the outside of the front runner and the favourite looked menacing even before he overhauled the front runner. Cameroon was under severe pressure to retain the lead and even as Desert God drew level with minimum of effort and he was travelling so well that the commentator could take the liberty of saying that the favourite romps home with a furlong still to go in the race. Desert God blasted away from the opposition to win by a widening margin of four lengths, with David Allan looking back to see if anyone was in sight and eased up the horse as none was near the shadow of the favourite. Woman O War who ran straight as an arrow, showed up briefly but ran out of steam and could not even pass Cameroon who held on to the runner up berth. Dazzling Bay was fourth while That`s My Darling who had finished second best to in the Fillies Championship, put up a dismal effort to finish a disappointing eighth.

Padmanabhan said that he was still open to the idea of running Desert God in the Mysore Derby. ``I will take a call in the second week of this month whether to run him or not. The fact that Desert God has plenty of class and has exciting possibilities in the winter classics means that Mysore Derby is not a must win Derby,`` he said. David Allan who has been enjoying a good run back home in England said that Desert God had physically strengthened and had improved tremendously since the summer campaign.

Whenever a stable runs two or more horses, it is invariably the one at longer odds that wins. Netto trained C Eleven was fancied strongly to win the 1200 metres Turf Authorities Cup, a Category I race due to the presence of jockey Trevor in the saddle though the tag of being a favourite fell on the shoulders of Always Together. The sixteen horse field was bound to pose a problem or two for those drawn on the outside or not having the initial speed. Parade Queen had no such issue as she rocketed into the lead from the inner draw and had a good break over the rest. C Elven swiftly improved places from the outermost draw and was in a handy position at the final turn while Always Together was not spotted with the front group. Parade Queen made merry in front and had an unassailable lead going into the final furlong which held her in good stead as C Elven came up with a strong charge. Parade Queen however had enough reserves to see off the threat. Bottom-weighted Lopamudra finished late in a typically patented ride of Carlos Henrique but just about failed to measure C Elven for the runner up berth. Blossom stayed in contention till the furlong but lost a possible chance of saving place money having to be pulled out wide from the rails to make her run.

Leo D`Silva trained Par Excellence had achieved a hat-trick during the season and looked imposing in the 1200 metres Bhagyanagar Cup, a Category III race as the trainer had requisitioned the services of Trevor. Par Excellence was however quoted at liberal odds and the expectations of odds layers looked like coming off when the favourite had some leeway to cover on the front running Ein Ein Ein who had a good cushion going into the final furlong. However, apprentice jockey Sameeruddin was unable to get that bit extra at a crucial stage as he lacked the experience and the aid of the whip to spur the horse. Under a relentless use of the whip and strong arm tactics by Trevor, Par Excellence measured the front runner in the shadow of the post. Trustful was faraway third.

Laxman Singh trained The Healer had already won back to back races and was bidding for a hat-trick in the 1400 metres Mumbai Cup, a Category II race and accordingly was backed down strongly to win yet again. Owned by Dr Pratap Reddy who is the Chairman of the Apollo Group of Hospitals along with his granddaughter Upasana Kamineni and film star Ramcharan Teja, The Healer was driven out by local hero Kuldeep Singh to a comfortable win over late finishing Vallee Secrete. O Miss Akilah put up a semblance of a challenge in the final furlong before fading out. The jockey dismounted on the favourite after the leading in parade and it could not be ascertained whether the three year old filly burst her blood vessels or suffered any other infirmity.

Satyanarayana trained City of Dreams was heavily backed to win the 1200 metres Bengaluru Cup, a Category II race and the favourite duly obliged in the hands of Trevor. Kohinoor Thunder led deep into the final furlong before he was displaced from that position by the eventual winner. Kohinoor Thunder managed to neck out Prince of Arabia for the third slot while the fourth placed Military Belle was not far behind.

Trainer Laxman Singh saddled a quadruple as apart from The Healer, he led in winners through Little Smart Heart, King Charles and Bellatrix. Little Smart Heart was poorly placed, racing in almost the penultimate position at the final bend and had lot of leeway to cover as Shatakshi had bolted away from the rest in the final furlong. However, a strong effort on the part of jockey Kuldeep Singh enabled Little Smart Heart to cover up the leeway with a ground saving run on the inside and overhaul Shatakshi and then survive a strong rally by Tinsel Town who failed to collar the favourite by a whisker more due to the fact that five kg claimer Naresh was on the runner up. He couldn`t be forceful without the whip. Bharat King finished late to take the third place ahead of long-time leader Shatakshi.

Vittal Deshmukh trained Vijays Joy continued to let down his supporters even though he was racing over a more suitable trip of 1200 metres in the Kolkatta Cup, a Category II race. Last start winner Numinous led from the start and battled it out with Vijays Joy to retain the lead right till the final stages of the race. There was a dramatic twist to the tale as long shot Gaarswood who was way back, began to devour good with such force that in a matter of fractions, he had swept past the battling duo in front. Celestial Fire managed to pip Numinous for the third place while Vijays Joy packed up like a punctured tyre and went out of the frame. Machine Gun too was involved in the cluster finish for the third place.

Laxman Singh trained King Charles who had completed a hat-trick of wins before finding himself out of depth in the Colts Championship, raced against a modest lot in the 1600 metres Chennai Cup, a Category II race. He was backed to the exclusion of the rest and King Charles had the race well sewn up long way from home. Escalante battled hard with Fabulous Jewel for the runner berth and got it by a whisker.

Jockey Pradeep Chouhan who was used to getting winners by the dozen these days is struggling to get them. Much to his relief, he had a lone winner through Found Money who recoded an encore in the 1400 metres Mrs K Lakshmi Bhupal Reddy Memorial Cup, a Category III race. Found Money shook off front running Karromshade in the final furlong and went on to record a comfortable win.

Lesser fancied Bella Trix from the stables of Laxman Singh shot into the lead in the final furlong of 1600 metres Commanche Cup, a Category III race and had no problem in reaching the safety of the winning post ahead of Lightning Streak and Ondha Ondha Ondha. Lightning Streak covered plenty of ground from way off the pace but ran out of ground.