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DAVID, PADMANABHAN REGISTER GRAND TREBLE

By Ikram Khan | 13 Feb 2015 | BANGALORE


Trainer S Padmanabhan leading Equine Love (David Allan Up), winner of The K.Venkatesh Nayak Memorial Trophy

After a long long time most fancied contestants including three from trainer Padmanabhan’s yard piloted by Scottish professional David Allan provided the railbirds a reason to smile at the races on Friday.

Padmanbhan, who is on top of the leader board for the champion trainer crown opened his account through the public rage Desert God, who was backed to the exclusion his 11 rivals on the strength of his impressive debut, second behind the goodtype of youngster Oxford Opinion from Ganapathy’s yard who after recording two straight victories has shifted base to Mumbai to compete in the bigger plums at that centre.

Equine Love competing in the K Venkatesh Nayak Memorial Trophy looked a winner in the paddock. The last start winner looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and the spot on filly piloted in copybook fashion by David delighted the followers of form cantering home without really extending herself. 

In the concluding event, the lower division of the Siddaganga Plate, another Padmanabhan ward, Priceless Ace had the best credentials, but the fact that the big made son of Ace was making an appearance after seven months put the brakes on most big bettors who chose to ignore the favourite.  The few who trusted the abilities of the trainer and the horse were richly rewarded, Priceless Ace making every post a winning one to help Padmanabhan and David record a grand treble.

Earlier in the second race, the Doddaballapur Plate, Big Ben from trainer B Puttanna’s yard was a medium of a successful gamble.  After a educative effort over a seven furlongs trip won by Romeo, Big Ben was systematically prepared and all credit to the trainer for choosing to campaign him over a sprint and that really proved to be a master stroke, Big Ben romping home in the hands of jockey Imran Khan who has struck a good partnership with the M R Stud Farms.  

The long shot Amanda was the only outsider to score in the eight-event card, winning the Gumbaz Plate in emphatic fashion. The winner though consistent in his last three starts was ignored in the betting ring, money pouring in on Renee who had finished a game second in his earlier essay. But the favourite, it appeared lost his galloping shoes when the race came on a boil and eventually finished in the ruck.  Precious Glitter finished second ahead of Southern Fantasy who should be followed when next saddled.

The plum event, the Saptharishi Cup was an open affair, four horses in with a definite chance. Star Of Destiny and the last start winner Vivid Impression garnered fair support but it was the five to one shot Pippin who gained the day in the hands of Pradeep Chouhan.  Vivid Impression, it must be mentioned would have easily emerged the winner had she not suffered a bad check at the 800M mark resulting in Vivek losing his balance and that proved decisive at end. Iron Marshall caught the eye finishing a fair third and it will not be long before he enters the winners’ circle.

Back after his hard fought victory on Pippin, Chouhan had it easy on the favourite Ace Lexington from trainer Azhar Ali’s yard who proved too good for his 10 rivals in the upper division of the Siddaganga Plate. The winner is in peak form and is set to provide an encore.

The Narayan Gowda schooled She Loves It was strongly backed for place in the Amazing Grey Plate and after the on-money favourite Colour Of Gold was withdrawn at the starting gates, the public choice trotting lame, She Loves It made most of the opportunity flying home in the hands of Irvan Singh. The Jaguar again found one better and trainer Warren Singh must be wondering why the luck is continuing to desert him this winter.