Trainer S Padmanabhan has had an illustrious career and has worked his way to the top the hard way. Skilful, determined and a master tactician, Padmanabhan or Paddy as he is affectionately called, is recognised for his mastery in travelling his horses to various centres and picking up Classics with commendable frequency. His huge successes with champion horses such as In The Spotlight, Hall of Famer, Desert God to name but a few in the recent past, has consolidated his grip over the top classics across the country. From starting off as a simple low profile trainer way back in xxxx Paddy made painstaking progress rising to greater laurels on sheer merit and awesome results. From winning his first Classic with Golden Fantasy at Mysore, Paddy reached the remarkable landmark of 100 Classics when he led-in Indian Pharaoh returning triumphant in the Golconda Derby Stakes (Gr1) at Hyderabad yesterday.   

Indian Pharaoh (Excellent Heart – Running Flame) bred by the master-trainer himself, was the hot favourite among the eleven runners. Jockey David Allan settled Indian Pharaoh deftly along the rails up with the front bunch. Mark shot into the early lead with Bradfield College close behind, Big Brave and Indian Pharaoh and the rest following in a close bunch, with Ulysses at the tail end of the field.

Bradfield College led them into the straight with Indian Pharaoh looming large on his outside. The others were a couple of lengths behind, with Ulysses improving positions along the outside.  Jockey David Allan got going and Indian Pharaoh responded with a crisp gallop picking up speed with every stride. Bradfield College fought hard to survive but never looked a serious threat to Indian Pharaoh at any stage. Indian Pharaoh shifted in slightly but was moving the best of the lot and soon sailed away from Bradfield College. Rikki Tikki Tavi made good progress, weaving his way between horses to finish well. Ulysses gave his supporters something to shout for at one stage, but could not sustain it too long. It was Indian Pharaoh all the way, jockey David Allan repeatedly looking over his shoulders while bouncing away to won convincingly. Bradfield College returned a worthy runner-up. Rikki Tikki Tavi fought his way up to snatch the third place, while Ulysses managed to find a place in the glittering Derby frame. Arrowfield covered a lot of ground in the straight but just missed out on the frame-finish.  

An objection lodged by jockey Neeraj Rawal, rider of runner-up Bradfield College, against the winner for crossing and hindering his progress seemed more in hope than conviction and was duly overruled.

At the trophy presentation, Mr Surendra Reddy, Chairman of the HRC, while congratulating trainer Padmanabhan, fondly recalled that he had, at the same venue, presented the trainer with his first Derby trophy years back when Paddy’s ward Dynamic Dancer had won at Hyderabad. “It gives me immense pleasure to hand over the trophy now on your 100th Classic win and I wish you many more victories in future,” said Mr Reddy.  

Highly Acclaimed (Phoenix Tower – Play That Tune) trained by Deshmukh, stretch his win tally to seven while winning the Secretariat Cup. Mr Baahubali snatched the early lead from Highly Acclaimed and entered the straight with a handy lead. However, Highly Acclaimed covered ground briskly to tackle the leader and sped past him easily. With a little over a furlong to go, Highly Acclaimed was going well when Phenomenal Cruise started to draw closer. This pair fought the length of the final furlong; however, highly Acclaimed always enjoyed a slight upper hand. Jockey Surya Prakash ensured there was not let off and rode out aggressively all the way to smother the attack that Phenomenal Cruise came up with and carved out a win by a short-head. That’s My Class also finished well to take the third spot.

Trainer K Sateesh’s ward Be Sure (Bushranger – Miss Gally) won the Telangana Cup for Class II horses with relative ease. Jockey Nakhat Singh made quick progress way before the final turn to catch up with the front running Platinum ad King of Pop. He hurried off with a good burst soon on turning for home and galloped away merrily to remain out of bounds to his rivals. Ashwa Bahula covered a lot of ground as did Sea Castle to take the minor slots.

Ten to one shot Ashwa Arjun (Arabian Gulf – Fire Streak) from the stables of Srinivas Reddy, benefitted from the five kilo claim and with apprentice jockey Gaurav Singh doing nothing wrong as they set off at a good pace to garner a start to finish victory. Ashwa Arjun kept the momentum going once in the straight and had a decisive upper hand all through with no effective challenge brewing behind. Nathu La arrived far too late to make any impact on the winner while returning second best. Yogastha saved the place money.

That’s My Magic (Saamidd – Real Magic) saddled by SSF Hassan, produced a seething finish to collar King Maker, whose challenging effort went down close home. King Maker was sent out on a start to finish mission and led the field into the homestretch and galloped on relentlessly to stay ahead. Ace Ace Ace followed King Maker all the way homewards but could not quicken well enough to bother the long-time leader. That’s My Magic with jockey Md Ismail in the saddle worked his way up and arrived with a big run to storm ahead in the final fifty to score by just under a length. King Maker was beaten to second while Ace Ace Ace stayed on to take the place stakes.
Palsy Walsy (Green Coast – Genevieve) powered his way to an emphatic victory in the day’s opener. He was quick to start and shook off Shimmers who had tagged alongside for the first half of the race. Palsy Walsy entered the straight with Shimmers close behind and just when it looked like there could be a fight coming up, Palsy Walsy found an extra gear to race away from them all and he stole a march towards the finish to notch up a facile victory by over four lengths. Running Fire laboured his way up to end chasing the winner, while Handsome Duo ran on to peg back Shimmers to snatch the third spot.

Versallies (Green Coast - Delafruz) picked up a neat pillar to post victory showing a lot of gumption at the business end of the race. Jockey Suraj Narredu rode out aggressively soon on leading them into the homestretch and built a handy lead. Flamboyant Lady and Shivalik Valley start to mount pressure briefly approaching the distance post, but the D Netto trainee picked up acceleration again to fired away to score an aggressive victory her first on her third start. Shivalik Valley finished on well to pip Flamboyant Lady for the runner up slot.

Friendless Vallee Bloomer (Top Class – Russian Rhytham) put in a spirited finishing run to shock favourite Trump girl in the last couple of strides. Trump Girl was up in front with Lightning Fin as they turned for home, with Vallee Bloomer making a good forward charge as well. Past the distance post, Trump Girl looked in charge and was shaping up well picking up speed along the way. She was a couple of lengths ahead when Vallee Boomer stepped up his pace to inch closer. Trump Girl was now fighting hard to stick to the lead but Vallee Bloomer sprang forward to peg Trump Girl back to score by a neck. Trump Girl was a tad unfortunate as she had done everything right until the last stride. Lightning Fin held on to save place money, by a whisker from Royal Green.

Golden Hope (Ravel – Calliope) was another one who created a flutter on a day when horses with longer odds came to the fore. Charlie Brown and taken over from early leader Heaven Can Wait soon on straightening up and was under pressure himself with horses all around him. Big Flash moved up along the rails with Humaaghar poking through between horses and freedom Fire too in the mix of things. Charlie Brown fought hard to stay in contention and was tackling Big Flash when Golden Hope surfaced with a fiery gallop from the outside. Once he got going, Golden Hope stormed ahead in full flight to down Charlie Brown in the nick of time to notch up a well fought victory. Charlie Brown had no answers to that burst and ended a close second with Humaaghar and Big Flash finishing in a heap.

Royal Style (Tazahum – Nasheeta) had to dig deep to hold on to his lead with challengers appearing from either side. Jockey Akshay Kumar sped ahead soon on turning for home and had to ride out all through the long Hyderabad straight. Delphina looked a threat on the outside as she tagged right behind Royal Style all the way and then Sisco flashed on the scene with a big run along the rails. Royal Style galloped on relentlessly under the whip to stay ahead and bring about his second victory on the trot. Sisco ended a good second just ahead of Delphina.

For the professionals, trainer SSF Hassan saddled a treble, while trainer D Netto and jockey AA Vikrant scored a double each.