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DESERT GOD WINS MAHARAJA’S CUP IN STYLE

By Ikram Khan | 03 Jul 2016 | BANGALORE


Mrs.Sharmila Padmanabhan & trainer S Padmanabhan leading Desert God (A Sandesh Up), winner of The Maharaja's Gold Cup (Gr.2)

Double hat-trick it was. Six straight victories including the Indian Derby and the Indian Turf Invitation  Cup and the Padmanabhan-trained Desert God is the real Maharaja. The star performer who has made winning a habit, again produced a top drawer effort in the prestigious Maharaja’s Cup. The champion son of Burden Of Proof from the Kunigal Stud Farm is on top of his game and the St.Leger is also at his mercy.

While Desert God will continue to add more plums to his already fat kitty, it appears that the game is finally over for Be Safe. In his maiden essay this season after his satisfactory effort in the Invitation Cup, the Ganapathy ward finished second behind Alaindair.  In his next today, he finished second last. It is reported that the Indian Derby winner burst a blood vessel. But the fact remains that Be Safe who finished nine lengths behind the all-time great Quasar in the same event last year has not recovered.

 The Ganapathy ward failed to break level from the gates, and though he responded well to quickly cover lost ground and gain a favourable position, he was a spent force before negotiating the final curve.  Booker Jones again produced a solid effort to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Azzurro while Silver Chieftain, playing the role of a pacemaker to his distinguished stablemate took the fourth spot.

The talented Sheryl provided trainer Arjun Manglorkar a big reason to smile. Rated highly by Arjun, Sheryl had failed to make a winning debut, suffering a bad fall before she shed her maiden status in her next start. Up against another higher rated filly Proserpine from Neil Darashah’s yard and the vastly improved Splendid Splasher, Sheryl was fancied strongly and she justified the confidence of her camp producing  a winning gallop at the distance post to overhaul Proserpine and romp home an easy winner. Splendid Splasher finished second ahead of the Neil filly who cannot be written off and deserves another chance.

After pulling off a good gamble on Tronada on Saturday, the Sandhu camp attempted to pull out another rabbit from the hat, money pouring in on Masada in the opening event. But soon after the start it was clear that the Mallesh schooled Shield Of Achilles would power through and he did it in effortless style.  All Masada did was take a lot of good money his connections made on Tronada down the drain. Shield of Achilles is a goodtype of youngster and his progress is certain to evoke interest in Pune.

In the upper division of the Divine Light Plate, more than three horses came in for betting and this was the scene the bookmakers enjoyed the most. First  Talladega from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard, making his debut started the favourite and  Girl With Pearl  was second in demand at the betting ring  before the price on the Prasanna filly drifted big money coming on the Karthik schooled Snow Crystal who was backed down from (7/1) to (11/4) ending up a clear second favourite behind Talladega.

The French saddle artiste David Breux seized the initiative the moment the eight runners came under the starter’s flag and never let it slip pegging back Tallageda and the late finishing Harley Quinn in convincing fashion.

Earlier New Prince who moved to Sandhu from Darius and now is with the young Azhar Ali cantered home in the Marilingaiah Memorial Cup, his second success this season and the Inayathullah schooled Tea Wid Me too registered her second success, winning the upper division of the Epsom Plate in the hands of Amyn Merchant who guided her fortunes in her last winning effort too. The Narayan Gowda-trained Bazinga was fancied most in this event but the favourite despite Kirai Rai making free use of the whip failed to raise a winning gallop and had to rest content with the runner-up berth.

The lower division of the Epsom Plate was claimed by the Warren Singh schooled Go Green who after a ding-dong battle with lesser fancied Scorching all the way in the straight managed to gain the day at the shadow of the winning post. One To Note from Pradeep Anniah’s yard was the top fancy but the favourite lacked the enterprise and desire to make a race of it.

Darius Byramji led in his Goat who made every post a winning one in the Endorsement Plate run over a sprint. Irish Prince from Sharath Kumar’s yard was fancied most before the horse bolted and was withdrawn and this made the task of Goat a lot easier. Crazy Pineapple finished second ahead of Elegant Star who impressed most and is one for the notebook.