Padmanabhan-trained Desert God (Burden Of Proof – Running Flame/ Kunigal Stud) picked up the third classic of his career when he lifted The Calcutta 2000 Guineas on Saturday. The colt had earlier annexed the Deccan Colts Trial Stakes and Deccan Derby before taking a tilt at the Calcutta classics.

An elated trainer Padmanabhan said quite emphatically that he was indebted to Dr Vijay Mallya as the colt was bred at Kunigal Stud, which has been in the limelight for the past few seasons and produced a number of classic winners. Padmanabhan further added that the connections were planning to make the colt a ‘final entrant’ for The Calcutta Derby in January before heading for western India and The Indian Derby – the dream of every trainer.  He concluded; “though Multitude, who finished fourth in the Poonawalla Million, is a fine colt, Desert God is the better animal and he proved it. The odds of 10-to-4-on conveyed the confidence of the public also.”

For his part, sprightly jockey David Allan said that he rode according to plan and was never unduly worried though “Setaflame did give me a moment of bother a furlong or so from home”.

As Cool Hunter was held back in check after veering out at the start, Setaflame and Dashrath decided to take up the running in the mile classic with favourite Desert God in tow. The south India challenger collared the front-runner after the bend and sailed ahead. However, Dashrath and his mount came back at him near the distance post before Desert God finally pulled away under Allan’s whip, to win quite comfortably. Multitude moved up late to pip his stablemate for the runner-up berth.

Jockey Dashrath Singh and trainer Bharath Singh combined fruitfully to bring home a treble. The professional duo opened their account with Yokumoku (China Visit-Amorina/ Usha Stud) who bagged the BOL Publication Cup after closing as the favourite. The ante-post favourite Regal faded out in the straight and it was left to Dayavan to issue a serious challenge which Yokumoku  thwarted under pressure.

Dashrath next guided the 16/10 public choice  Triumphus (Burden Of Proof- Arizza/ Kunigal Stud) to a fluent victory in the Maharaja of Burdwan Memorial Cup run over 2000 metres. Following pace-setter Ademaro till the bend, Triumphus skated clear without any trouble at all. Dashrath then completed the treble by bringing down the curtain with a well-earned victory while astride Noverro (Noverre – Erina/ Sohna Stud). Aided by a hanging bit after his last essay where he hung out, Noverro was powerfully handled by Dashrath, who must have been a trifle surprised to see the colt veer in during the closing stages of the race despite using the whip in his right hand. Both Triumphus and Noverro also provided a good double for sporting owner Mr Joydeep Datta Gupta.

The race for the youngsters, The CM Verma Memorial Cup, saw Vijay Singh – trained Sans Prix to be a cut above the rest. The two-year-old filly by China Visit out of C’est Bon (Usha Stud) ran like an experienced thoroughbred though it was her debut run. She quite easily collared Oath Of Allegiance in Kamlesh’s hands and pulled away.

The afternoon commenced on a memorable note for trainer James McKeown who led in his maiden winner Forest Hlls (Noverre-Almanzora Bay/ Sohna Stud) after David Allan had guided the colt past the winning post despite a threat of sorts in the final stages from top-weight Rani Thea.

As a mark of respect to the late Dr MAM Ramaswamy, who passed away a few days earlier, a minute’s silence was observed before the commencement of the races.