The best horse on the Indian racing circuit, Desert God completed his final assignment this summer without really needing to raise a sweat. The all-conquering Padmanabhan ward  donkey-licked his four rivals to add the St.Leger to his distinguished classic list and after the required rest is likely to head to Hyderabad for a couple of big plums which will help the nawab become the highest money-spinner in the Indian racing history. Another all-time great Quasar at the moment heads the list and all Desert God needs is two good victories to emerge the Richie Rich of the century old Indian racing.

The best son of Burden Of Proof out of Running Flame from the Kunigal Stud Farm has maintained his classic winning streak after his shock loss in the Mysore Derby last year and all credit to the maestro S Padmanabhan who sent out the champion spot on for all the big tests including the thriller against Quasar at Guindy in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup which many sporting buffs dubbed the thrilla at Manila, the legendary boxing bout between the two greats Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in Manila.

After emerging the biggest money-spinner will his proud owners take a shot in the Dubai Racing Carnival is the question many racing buffs are asking and Padmanabhan will answer that in the weeks ahead.

After  enjoying a good run on Derby-day, the punters have not looked back and again on Sunday, the followers of form returned home satisfied four firm favourites and one well supported second choice Rare And Bold coming through in the nine-event card. 

Trainer Prithviraj recorded a double winning the first and last race while Padmanabhan before Desert God struck through Burnished Gold who recorded his second straight success winning the Pronto Pronto Plate in convincing fashion.

After three horses were withdrawn in the opening event, the Kranji Plate, Fotogenic from Prithviraj’s yard closed on-money favourite and the public choice proved too good in the hands of the promising apprentice Prashanth Dhebe. The young lad who completed 10 winners on Saturday recorded a double, later, making every post a winning one on the ten to one shot Hillsboro in the upper division of the S M Ramakrishna Rao Memorial Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs.  The Padmanabhan-trained Feliciana on the strength of her impressive effort in her last essay was backed to the exclusion of her 10 rivals but the even-money favourite produced a below par effort to finish a tame third behind the winner and the runner-up Striking View in the no whips race.

The strongly fancied favourite Ayrton from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard justified his top billing in the lower division of the event in the hands of S John who produced a stellar effort biding his time before timing his final challenge to a nicety.  The winner is in good heart and is set to provide an encore when saddled next. The moody Madame Bovary finished a game second while Akha Teej was never in the hunt.

In the concluding event, Rare And Bold started the favourite before money came pouring on Lokanath Gowda schooled Topaz and All That’s Nice from the stables of Kishen Thomas.  Topaz finally headed the favourite list while All That’s Nice was backed down from eights to (7/2).  Arshad Alam astride the Prithviraj-trained Rare And Bold hit the front the moment the 11 contestants came under the starter’s flag and he never let the initiative slip romping home in emphatic fashion. The belated effort of All That’s Nice made no impression on the winner who proved too good while Topaz only took a lot of good money down the drain.

The Sriram Komandur-trained Life Awaits made every post a winning one in the hands of Srinath in the upper division of the Manjri Stud Plate run over a sprint. Another Padmanabhan ward Miss Adler garnered maximum support but the top fancy after raising hopes at the top of the straight packed up. Ambelside caught the eye while finishing second ahead of Native Elements and is one for the notebook.

On the strength of her fine showing, second behind the smashing debutant Et Voila in her last essay, Zafrina from Irfan Ghatala’s yard was fancied most in the Manitou Trophy. But the public choice found the lesser fancied six to one shot Papadokia too hot to handle, the winner cantering home in the hands of Imran Khan. Unbelievable too had her fair share of supporters but this Prasanna filly found the 1100M trip too sharp for her liking.

The Rashid Byramji schooled Noble Sapphire dropped a bombshell in the Noble Prince Plate. The winner who had finished down the field in his last essay made mockery of the book of form, producing a winning gallop at the all-important end to floor all. Feet On Fire and Real Generous failed to display their true potential while Anfield is fast sliding downhill.