A trainer cannot put ability into a horse but what distinguishes a good
trainer from the rest is the talent to get the horse to perform at the
optimum level for a longer period of time and to ensure that the horse
reaches the mark it is capable of. It is on this score that Padmanabhan
rates as the very best in the business though this statement may not go
down well in a field marked by intense rivalry and backbiting.
Padmanabhan had one of the best seasons in his racing career, with two
classic wins besides finishing second in the trainers’ championship
behind Ganapathy who has had a vice-like grip over the trophy.
Padmanabhan is not in the numbers game but the fact that he ended up
with 19 winners is the best strike rate any professional could have
hoped for. On a relatively lesser scale was the performance of new
entrant to the sport, G. Nityanand who ended up with a haul of 9 winners
from just 9 racing horses and a high percentage of runners earning stake
money.
Though Forever Elegance had not displayed the form of last winter, the
daughter of Placerville was more fancied to win the mile and half race.
King of Hearts, who served as a work horse for the more illustrious
Holding Court, was also strongly supported to win though there was not
enough data to support his claim. There was muted support for Full Speed
though time and again, the son of Burden of Proof has cried hoarse about
his inability to get longer trips as effectively as the mile, where he
has few equals.
Formidable Force led the field as the starter dispatched the field for
the 2400 metres trip with The Zamindar and King of Hearts in close
attendance followed by the rest in striking distance of each other.
Approaching the final bend, Formidable Force dropped right back to the
rear of the field and King of Hearts came through the middle on the
inside of Full Speed to take charge. King of Hearts burst into the lead
quite comfortably and jockey Appu was not required to use the whip more
than once as he spared five lengths at the finish to top weighted Star
of Windsor. Formal Invitation was third ahead of Forever Elegance who
has clearly dropped form and a pale shadow of what she was last winter.
Padmanabhan had a
double for the day as Ranier edged out Imperialism in a thriller in the
Leading Stud Cup. The duo battled all the way in the straight. The up
and coming jockey Pradeep Chauhan out-rode his more experienced rival
Appu while steering the favourite to victory. Diamond Caves was a long
way third.
Trainer Michael Eshwer had a horrid season as luck seemed to avoid him
right through the season, with as many as 25 horses finishing second
best in close finishes. After he lost in a pulse pounding finish on
Imperialism, more frustration was in store for him as Splash of Class
was edged out close home by Thursday Nite. Apprentice jockey T. Rahul
could not get a good start on the favourite who was sluggish from the
gates and then he had to circle the field to hit the front in the final
furlong. However, jockey C.Alford, who enjoyed a glorious summer, got
Thursday Nite to stretch out in the nick of time to get the better of
the favourite. Alford, who is definitely on the upgrade, booted home
three winners during the day as Swing Lucky won at the expense of a
poorly ridden Sven in the day’s opener and Wild At Heart survived a
scare from Maggie Thatcher in the concluding race of the day. Alford
could be a jockey of the future if he curbs his tendency to celebrate
before crossing the winning post because this habit has often seen him
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!
Trainer Nityanand’s Time To Celebrate finally broke the jinx when
winning the Champion Jockey Cup (Div.I) with a great deal of ease from
Peakaboo and Winds of Fire. Forever Grande did not have the luck of the
race as the gelding suffered bad interference at a crucial stage of the
race. But this could not have made a material difference as Time To
Celebrate was too good for the field.
Eskimo Boy recorded an encore with consummate ease in the Champion
Trainer Cup (Div I). Prakash who rode the winner thus clinched the
Champion Jockey title with one point difference over Appu who however
won the major plums during the season. More often than not, the tipsters
have never got it right in the Leading Tipster Cup and it was not a
surprise when long shot Ondhu Ondhu Ondhu won this event at nourishing
odds from Custer. Favourite Pat On The Back did not enjoy the best of
rides from apprentice Shahbuddin who ended the season on a blank note.
