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Padmanabhan hits a Classic Century

By: Tippu Sultan   January 27 , 2019
   

Trainer Padmanabhan hit a Classic Century when Indian Pharaoh won the Gr 1 Golconda Derby in taking style at Hyderabad on Sunday. The progeny of Excellent Art asserted his supremacy inside the final furlong and jockey David Allan had the luxury of looking back repeatedly to see if anyone from behind could pose a danger. There was none. Indian Pharaoh was bred by Padmanabhan at the Poonawalla Stud Farms out of the champion mare Running Flame which he owned and trained with outstanding success.

Overnight rains had rendered the track heavy and the intermittent drizzle also made things difficult. Barring Indian Pharaoh, the rest of the races were won by horses at big odds. Punters were at the wit`s end, unable to figure out how to spot a winner.

Despite a setback in health during the summer season, Padmanabhan has fought back adversity and has been winning the classics by the dozen. This is the tenth classic he has won in the last one year beginning with the summer season. He has won three Derbys and other classics and swiftly moved up to reach the coveted mark of 100 Classics. Aris David was the first Indian trainer to reach this mark followed by the legendary Rashid Byramji who has over 220 classics to his credit. Robert Foley also has achieved this distinction though one doesn`t have the count of his classics. Incidentally, Padmanabhan is the most successful owner-breeder-trainer in the history of Indian racing. India`s highest stakes money earner Desert God was also bred by him. The important thing about Padmanabhan is the consistency with which he has been winning the classics over an extended period.
  
  


Indian Pharaoh had narrowly failed to win the South India Derby at Chennai. His other ward Isn`t She Lovely also finished second best at the Bangalore Derby and thus he was destined to complete his century at the centre which has been a happy hunting ground for him as he saddled his first Derby winner Dynamic Dancer also in Hyderabad. The longstanding Chairman of HRC Surender Reddy said: ``I gave the first Derby trophy to Paddu and I am happy to be giving the trainer the trophy for the 100th classic as well.``

Indian Pharaoh looked outstanding especially after his second at Chennai. He was rapidly improving, and the Chennai effort ensured that he would be in better shape to win the Golconda Derby though the only hitch was that he was running in less than two weeks. Indian Pharaoh was the firm favourite with Golden Hind being the second favourite at odds of over 5 to 1 while the rest were all at 10 to 1 and over. David Allan got a trouble-free run to settle Indian Pharaoh in about the third or fourth position as Mark My Word moved up on the outside to set the pace within the first furlong. Mark My Word was followed by Bradfield College, Big Brave, Indian Pharaoh, Wave Rider, Golden Hind, Rikki Tikki Tavi, Egyptian Prince, Mystic Flame and Ulysses.

The order remained the same except for a few horses getting shuffled back. Approaching the final bend, jockey Neeraj Rawal pushed Bradfield College to take over the running with Indian Pharaoh cruising up. Indian Pharaoh raced for a while abreast with Bradfield College before David Allan pushed the progeny of Excellent Art to take charge. David Allan said that since his word tends to loaf if all alone in the front, he waited a little longer. Indian Pharaoh got stronger inside the final furlong and the jockey repeatedly looked back to check if needed to be more aggressive. Indian Pharaoh was eased up well before the winning post. Bradfield College managed to keep the second position by a whisker from late-finishing stablemate Rikki Tikki Tavi. Ulysses ran on from way behind to edge out Arrowfield to finish on the frame.

Neeraj Rawal put an objection against David Allan for crossing his path inside the final 300 metres due to which he had to change course, and this cost him the race especially since the underfoot conditions were shifty because of heavy overnight rain as well as rain during the race. The objection had no substance and it was quickly overruled.

Indian Pharaoh becomes the first progeny of Excellent Art to win the 2400 metres Derby. This is a welcome development for the Poonawalla Stud Farm as the general perception was that the produce of Excellent Art had limitations over longer trips.

Vittal Deshmukh trained High Acclaimed completed a hat-trick of wins when the lesser fancied runner held off the late challenge of Phenomenal Cruise by a whisker to win the 1400 metres Secretariat Cup, a terms race for horses four-year-olds and over. Highly Acclaimed took charge from stablemate Mr Baahubali at the top of the straight and apprentice jockey Surya Prakash managed to keep his horse in went despite a strong challenge from Phenomenal Cruise. That`s My Class finished on purposefully to claim the third position.

Donald Netto trained Palsy Walsy who had lost a winning chance a few runs earlier by losing the footing when shaping to win, got ample reward in the 1200 metres Rocky Plate, a race for horses rated 26 to 46. Apprentice jockey Rohit Kumar pushed Palsy Walsy to take over the running from the start and the progeny of Green Coast enjoyed the uncontested lead and skipped clear to win by a comfortable margin. Favourite Shimmers struggled to pick up speed and plodded in the second position. Closer home, Running Fire and the late-rallying Handsome Duo edged past the favourite to get the second and third positions.

Another Netto trainee Versailles who had the benefit of a good forward run pulled it off in the 1200 metres Allez Vite Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Jockey Suraj Narredu took Versailles to the front from the outside draw and the progeny of Green Coast who perhaps enjoyed the soft underfoot conditions stayed put there, staving off the spirited bid of favourite Flamboyant Lady and Shivalik Valley. The latter even snatched the runner-up berth position from Flamboyant Lady putting her head in front at the finish.


Ten to one shot That`s My Magic from the stables of trainer Faisal Hassan pulled off an upset win in the 1800 metres Sharvan Kumar Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 42 to 62. Last start winner King Maker led from the start and battled on resolutely all the way in the straight despite the strong pressure exerted by Ace Ace Ace who was coming on the back of two straight wins. However, the latter failed to quicken, and King Maker shaped to win but began to drift out under pressure. That`s My Magic who produced a good finishing burst managed to edge past the long-time leader in the closing strides of the race. Ace Ace Ace held on to the third spot ahead of On My Way and Durango who closed in aggressively. Exclusive Striker returned bleeding.

Whether the underfoot conditions had a bearing on the performances of fancied runners or that the favourites could not defy penalty for their previous wins, last start winner Trump Girl who was backed with conviction could not carry the weight of expectations in the 1100 metres Mother`s Boy Plate, a race for horses rated 42 to 62. Trump Girl shot ahead in earnest in the final furlong, but closer home faltered as Vallee Bloomer finished with a rush after being angled out for a clear run and edged out the favourite in the closing moments of the race. Vallee Bloomer was quoted at fancy odds. Lighting Fin nosed out Royal Green to save place money. For the breeders Gurpal Singh and his son Angad Singh who were present at the venue, it was a delight to lead in their winner.

There was spirited support for Satheesh trained Be Sure in the 1400 metres Telangana Cup, a race for horses rated 58 to 78. The presence of David Allan on Ashwa Bahula perhaps ensured that Ashwa Bahula was also a strongly fancied runner. Be Sure made it a one-horse race as the five-year-old mare skipped away from the top of the straight to record an emphatic win. Under a strong ride by David Allan, Ashwa Bahula covered ground but that was not enough to fetch the win. Sea Castle ran on from way behind to get the third place.

Srinivas Reddy trained Ashwa Arjun brought off an upset in the 1600 metres Bhagmati Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. In the hands of five-kg claimer Gaurav Singh, Ashwa Arjun led from the start and easily held off the challenge of favourite Nathu La who made the rally along the rails but was not good enough to overhaul the front-runner. The other fancied runner London Bridge was not spotted at the busy end. Yogastha was third.

Faisal Hassan trained Golden Hope was another long shot to win. The 20 to 1 shot took control of the race inside the final furlong to record an easy win in the 1400 metres Armagnac Plate, a race for horses rated 26 to 46. Two other long priced horses Humaaghar and Big Flash occupied the next two slots. The fancied pair of Freedom Fire and Top Contender was not spotted at the busy end.

Jockey Akshay Kumar had the lone winner of the day in the concluding race of the day when lesser fancied Royal Style took charge of the proceedings soon after turning for home and completed an encore in the 1400 metres Prince Pradeep Plate, a race for horses rated up to 30. Sisco was second ahead of Delphina. Favourite Symbol of Star`s made no show.


*******************



Palsy Walsy (Rohit Kumar up) winner of the Rocky Plate




Versallies (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Allez Vite Plate




That`s My Magic (Md Ismail up) winner of the Sharvan Kumar Memorial Cup




Vallee Bloomer (A A Vikrant up) winner of the Mother`S Boy Plate




Be Sure (Nakhat Singh up) winner of the Telangana Cup




Ashwa Arjun (Gaurav Singh up) winner of the Bhagmati Cup




Highly Acclaimed (Surya Prakash up) winner of the Secretariat Cup




Indian Pharaoh (David Allan up) winner of the Golconda Derby Stakes (Gr.1)




Golden Hope (A A Vikrant up) winner of the Armagnac Plate




Royal Style (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Prince Pradeep Plate




 
 
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