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Desert God reigns supreme with fifth Leger win

  July 28 , 2019
   

Padmanabhan trained Desert God proved that age has not withered him as he held off the spirited challenge of four-year-old filly Roberta to win the Gr 2 Bangalore St Leger, the fourth classic of the season, on Sunday at the Bangalore Racecourse. Desert God who is the highest stakes earner in the history of Indian racing proved that he is invincible over the gruelling distance by winning start to finish in the hands of jockey Sandesh who rode the champion with great understanding.

The seven-year-old Desert God was bidding to win the 16th race of his career from 25 outings in India, was strongly favoured by the racegoers to bounce back to winning ways after running third over a shorter trip earlier in the season. The progeny of Burden of Proof out of champion mare Running Flame has always been a game performer and Sandesh had no hesitation in hitting the front as the champion had always outstayed the others the hard way. Desert God led by a few lengths over Roberta while the rest were spaced out behind. Rounding the final turn, Desert God was still travelling well with the only challenger being Roberta while the others were struggling behind.
  
  


Sandesh was not perturbed by the challenge essayed by Trevor on Roberta and kept to his task, relying on hands and heels. The champion dug into his reserves and won with a measure of comfort. Roberta was second ¾ lengths behind. Point To Prove came from a long way back to finish third another four lengths behind.

Padmanabhan said that he was confident of Desert God pulling it off. ``Desert God is not getting any younger and he has logged miles in his illustrious career. It is a tribute to his tenacity and character that Desert God always strives to give off his best however demanding the challenge may be.Desert God has won all the big races in India including the Gr 1 Indian Derby, Gr 1 Indian Turf Invitation Cup besides a host of other classics.

After the suggestive third behind Knight Templar who went on to run a brilliant third in the Derby, Neil Darashah trained Tenno Sho looked a cinch in the1400 metres Manitou Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Tenno Sho went to the post at very cramped odds and readily justified such an expectation. Trevor Patel had Tenno Sho lead from the start and the progeny of Phoenix Tower had no problem in skipping clear of Cavaliere to win the race with a great deal of ease. Tenno Show spared more than three lengths at the finish to Cavaliere who in turn was another eight lengths ahead of Legendary Princess.

Rajesh Narredu trained Arrogance`s last run was suggestive of imminent success. Arrogance was eased up towards the closing stages of the race on the last occasion when finishing third to Singhsaab and despite which the horse had clocked a timing which was too good for horses in the lowest class. Arrogance ran at lucrative odds as Pradeep Annaiah trained Darahasini was backed strongly to resume winning ways. Yash Narredu took Arrogance to the front from the wide outside draw and the progeny of Burden of Proof stayed put there to record a comfortable win over the favourite. Show Girl ran on to finish third and those who put faith in her to place ended up getting a handsome dividend.

Sriram Komandur trained Life Awaits who was once a rousing performer having won five races in the early part of his career, hadn`t won for 884 days and despite his forward run on the last occasion, did not receive any support in the betting ring for the 1200 metres Marilingaiah Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 45 to 65. Satish Narredu trained Treasure Delight was backed to the exclusion of the rest with the others quoted at long odds. Suraj Narredu kept Treasure Delight a handy second behind Side Winder and pushed his horse to the front on straightening for home. Treasure Light went ahead and had a good lead, but he looked vulnerable to those charging from behind. Life Awaits finished on strongly in the hands of apprentice jockey Ryan Ahmed and overhauled the front-runner in the shadow of the post. Fair Warning too finished with a rush but missed the runner-up berth by a whisker.

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Angel Kiss who hadn`t won for 212 days bounced back to winning ways in the 1100 metres Allied Forces Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Kvasir was the betting rage but the favourite was found wanting. Jockey Anthony Raj got Angel Kiss to hit the front within the first furlong and the progeny of Tazahum stayed put there to win with a measure of comfort from Wings of Desire who tried har to catch up but failed. However, Wings of Desire managed to retain the runner-up berth from Kvasir who was warming up to the task too late for comfort.

Apprentice jockey Raghu rode a good race to guide Narayan Gowda trained Princess Holly to victory in the 1100 metres Allied Forces Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Raghu kept the well-backed Princess Holly in about the third or fourth position and remained unperturbed while looking for a run along the inside between horses. He got the spaces alright and rode out the fancied runner with all the resources at his command and had a good cushion going into the final 100 metres which held him in good stead. Hafnium finished with a big rush only to find the front-runner escape to victory. She`s Superb was third. Fantastic App who had no form to go by was made the favourite which was surprising, to say the least.

Prithviraj trained Depth Charge who had failed over an extended trip of seven furlongs was back at his best over the more comfortable distance of six furlongs in the1200 metres Smart Chieftan Cup (Div II), a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Ridden this time by jockey Sai Kiran, Depth Charge quickened well in the stretch from a handy position and took over the running from the front-running Armin inside the final 300 metres and then held off a strong bid by the heavily backed Helenka to land the spoils. Panama perhaps found the six furlongs trip sharp as she warmed up to the task too late to be of any use and had to settle for the third position.


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Tenno Sho (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Manitou Plate




Arrogance (Yash Narredu up) winner of the Lively Emprey Plate




Life Awaits (Rayan Ahmed R up) winner of the Marillingaiah Memorial Trophy




Desert God (A Sandesh up) winner of the Tetrasoft Inc. Bangalore St Leger (Gr.2)




Angels Kiss (Antony Raj S up) winner of the Smart Chieftan Cup (Div-I)




Princess Holly (Raghu K up) winner of the Allied Forces Plate




Depth Charge (A R Pradeep up) winner of the Smart Chieftan Cup (Div-II)




 
 
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