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Hall of Famer passes the ultimate test in style

By: Frankel   February 5 , 2017
   

Padmanabhan trained Hall of Famer passed the ultimate test by winning the Gr 1 Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby, the summit of Indian racing in style in front of packed gathering at the Mahalaxmi on Sunday. David Allan showed character in reacting to the unexpected situation of having to make all the running. His fine tactical sense saw him recording back to back success in this event. Padmanabhan who bred, owned and trained last year`s winner Desert God was thus recording his third success in seven years. For David Allan too it was the third success in the event having earlier won this race through Moonlight Romance and Desert God.

The horse with impeccable racing credentials was Serjeant At Arms who had just lost once in his career to another Padmanabhan trainee Ice Glacier at Mysore. There was a feeling that the mile and half trip could hurt Serjeant At Arms` chances. The class took him close to winning but possibly his stamina failed him at a crucial juncture of the race when he essayed a strong challenge in the final furlong to the eventual winner. Temerity ran on to finish third but the surprise of the race was Winter Renaissance who despite being troublesome at the gates was a noteworthy fourth. Mathaiyus, who played up at the gates, was withdrawn from the fray in what was an eventful race.
  
  


The market sentiment was in favour of Serjeant At Arms to overcome any shortcoming on sheer magnitude of achievements. Hall of Famer was next in demand. With both these horses coming from Bangalore, the local sentiment ruled in favour of Temerity to win on the basis of her impressive performance in the India Oaks.

At the first turn, Lucas veered out violently resulting in David Allan finding himself in front on Hall of Famer. David reacted swiftly and decided to make his own running unfazed by the unexpected development. To his credit, he controlled the pace of the race well. Serjeant At Arms was placed in the midfield along with Temerity. Hall of Famer came into the straight a few lengths clear of the rest and in the long Mumbai straight she looked vulnerable as Serjeant At Arms began to cover the leeway with giant strides. In a repeat of last year`s drama, David was able to get Hall of Famer to respond to the challenge and the progeny of Win Legend fought on resolutely to eventually win by a length. Serjeant At Arms held off the late charge of Temerity and Winter Renaissance to get the runner-up berth. The winner was bred at the Dashmesh Stud Farm who earlier had bred three Indian winners through Chaitanya Chakram, Astronomic and Elusive Pimpernel. Hall of Famer ran in the colours of the Brars. The winner clocked a time of two minutes 31.2 seconds.

Jockey David said that he found himself in front which was against the strategy planned; he hoped that his horse would last out the trip the hard way overcoming the inherent dangers of running aggressively in front over a mile and half trip. ``I had no doubt that Hall of Famer will stay the trip. I was not worried when Serjeant At Arms came close in the straight. I knew my horse had the stamina and the will to fight out all the adversaries. ‘`

Padmanabhan who is winning classics with amazing consistency all over India, having saddled his third Derby winner in five months at various centres, said: ``I was confident that my filly will deliver the goods especially since she had maintained her conditions taken the travel well and stood remarkably well to the grueling campaign as well as the training regime. I think Hall of Famer would have won by more than one length which was the verdict between her and the runner-up if the other horses had come to challenging her earlier than they did.``

In the end, the best trainer in the country who had an ideal jockey and a top filly won the mother of all Indian Derbys. There was no hard luck story but there was one before the race was run. Ice Glacier had a setback last fortnight which prevented her from being in the lineup much to the disappointment of Poonawallas who had a great chance of winning an Indian Derby with their resident stallion Arazan.

 
 
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Total Comments : 2
Posted by x-punter on ( February 6 , 2017 )
It was a good horse/trainer/jockey combination which earned Hall Of Famer the Indian Derby. Watching the replay of the race I feel both Sandesh and Neeraj lack the confidence and experience required to win big races. They both knew the only horse they had to beat was Hall Of Famer and allowing David to open such a big lead and waiting till the last 250mtrs to make their final bid was unprofessional. Any other foreign jockey would have not waited and would have made his move earlier. In my opinion SAA and Temerity are capable of beating Hall Of Famer in the Invitation Cup.
 
Posted by Horse lover on ( February 6 , 2017 )
Excellent article exvept for.a printing error its Winter Rensissance It is going to be.a very onteresting Invitstion cup It will have Torroso and Temerity and Germsnicus will have sufficient race
 
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