Why no one mentioned Adhiraj here, he is also a very good hard working trainer along with Deepesh Narredu (Future looks good for them, as Pesi and a few others are getting old)

I might have missed few other young trainers, but the above mentioned two will shine for sure in future

Hi everyone

A jockey above par and retained by Vijay Mallya, the pedigree is there, also nephew to Karl Umrigar. Of course he's in contact with the top owners and international jockey's who will help him when HE UNDERSTANDS the game.

I'm a big fan of Pesi, but let us not forget his biggest rival in riding ASLAM KHADER, unfortunately who was never given a licence.

Pesi keep going, no stopping you. Cheers

@ Equinelover, 

I appreciate a point you made on tax. It would take the topic of discussion away. But I don't know why is tax charged on placing a bet. I can understand it been charged like TDS on winning amount. But what's the logic in charging tax on placing bet from punters is beyond understanding. 

The bookies can be taxed on profit they make in a race. Because bookies pay tax which is actually paid by punter. Only thing is they show smaller bet. So bookies don't pay tax on bets out of their pockets. It's punters money. 

@Shekhawat Banna,

First of all why would the top owners and breeders will stop giving him horses? He is giving them classics after classics. And you expect them to stop giving best horses? Isn't that humourous?

I am sure if there would not have been stable number limit he would have had atleast 120/130 horses in training. 

Hi All,

S Padmanabhan and Pesi Shroff are two legends after RR Byramji who took the racing world forward post 2000's. They are legends in their own right. Don't compare the statistics, it's all about keeping the horse on top conditions for the main events which both the trainers are good at.

Miss you Paddy sir and wishing Pesi all the best for the Bangalore Summer season

Thanks

Not to undermine any talented proven biggies as such with Indian trainers n Jackie's. Indian horse racing doesn't have such a tough competition like international especially Brit Irish to name few. So to understand how they fair out side is something to think.

As few said trainers n owners who has support of big names n who passionately support horse racing always comes with best of best pedigree/blood line which almost helps skilled trainers who are good at work will score good number of wins under their kitty.

Having said this as few said Paddy n Prasanna with their limited owners done excellent. 

Gusto pedigree from no where become great under prasanna. If I am not wrong, first preference is given Pattu to train these Gusto kids.

For future of Horse racing in India to flourish,  proper reprentation from biggies like VB shirke dunjiboy Jaydev Mody not to forget ever supporting poonawalla need to take up issue n sort out taxation issue. No point imposing 30% tax on loosing bet also especially in tote wagering

In my sense betting tax needs to be Either zero  or 5%, as all bets doesn't reward winning dividend. These amount any way income to Turfclub n is taxed later. Winning amounts they can tax at 18% slab as this is earned thru skill not by chance like lottery.  This I am talikg especially for tote related as many punters depend on it. So justice is done.

Coming to bookies similar formulae  but it needs to be chanalised with prepaid digital account. Complete ban in  mobile except one for main bokkie who runs show. 

In nutshell 

This game winning is thru skill should attact 18%

Zero or minimal tax for placing bet 

Complete digitization of bokkie betting to evade tax

With this some respect n strength can be achi for Horse racing.

Before forgetting. Bring passionate people to run the Horse racing. 

Nothing is impossible but vision determination unselfish effort n sincere support from elected members n other members are need of hour.

My dear sir

Mystical was under the care of Ganapathy.

  ...

Let me refresh your memory with a few  not-so-hyped pedigree horses that S. Padmanabhan turned into classic performers:

Sir Cecil – Win Legend × Elusive Trust

Hall of Famer – same pedigree as above

Well Connected – Arzan × Guest Connections

Rain Splasher – Placerville × Rasant

In The Spotlight – Al Nasr Al Washeek × Radiate

These are just a few off the top of my head.

And just to be clear,I’m a big fan of Pesi Shroff, and I fully agree he operates in a different league. But what made Padmanabhan special was something else entirelly,his ability to manufacture champions out of horses that didn’t scream classic pedigree on paper.

A recent reminder would be Miracle Star—the way he turned the tables in the Mysore Derby says everything about that school of training.

Different styles, different strengths—but Padmanabhan was pure class in his own right.

Newcomers Don't no Wt Paddy Sir done in his Carrier. Top Breeders/ Owner's providing quality bloodlines to P.Shroff if not thein whole scenario will change.

@ Munesh, 

There was one horse Mystical who was too good. And he did achieve success in Dubai. 

But let's understand one thing, Shroff never targetted any horse for Dubai. Let's not compare apple and oranges. Understand one thing the got aborads imported to India are not some of great standards in Europe. We can afford a mare covered for 70/80 lakh Indian rupees at the most. And best got aborads in India have never costed more than 1.5 Crores. 

You are comparing horses in Dubai at an average price of 3/5 crore Indian rupees. That is not a fair competition. Tomorrow someone would expect Fynbos to win Epsom Derby. 

@ Abbas

I am not taking away any credit from the great late Sadakshara Padmanabhan. But you have similar examples with Shroff. Blue Ribbon his first Indian classic winner was a maiden till Mumbai. He matured it in 3 races to beat Guest connections the 1000 guiness winner. 

When we talk of breeding, Becket(Hawkwing * Boiling River) vs Jaquiline( King Charlemagne* Tailta Kumi) there is huge difference in class of blood line. Becket was far far superior. Only problem with Becket was it was injury prone. And for that 10/10 to Paddy for preparing him in short time for winning Bangalore Derby, runner up in Indian Derby (which I think he would have won, did not understand why rider like Martin Dwyer kept the rails open... That's the reason owner refused him the ride in Invitation) and the Invitation even after loosing couple of lengths at the start. 

But Paddy always trained only the top crop. I don't remember paddy producing a multi classic winner out of unproven pedigree. Shroff has done it. 

After R . R . PADDY was undoubtedly brilliant Trainer . 

MANSINH JADHAV" MK"  is also very knowledgeable trainer @ this age he is still giving excellent training. 

We all have to watch out for trainer P. Chouhan. This coming season.

Leave aside Epsom, this and that

Did he opene his account in Dubai?

Dear Libero and Golimar, 

You both exactly said what I wanted to explain. Why a Mysore trainer gets mediocre horses and is training at that centre. There are people like Sharath Kumar who came from Mysore and did well in Bangalore. Why can't others? Because they are simply not that good. They are good at Mysore with that limited competition. 

Padmanabhan was a wonderful trainer, but compare records with Shroff. Even Prassanna Kumar is a good trainer but again compare with Shroff. 

If you remember what was the first lot Pesi Shroff got as a trainer. It was full of unfit horses. Only his 3 years old were fit and they were not a premium crop. They all were average horses. But what were the results. Almost all the 4 years old that he got unfit reached class 1 by age of 5 barring 2/3 out of 13/14 he had. All 3 years old won consistently on upgrades in their career out of 10 he had, except 1. 

That's when owners understand and trust you and give purple bred horses. He earned it . That was not a privilege. 

There is no doubt that Pesi Shroff belongs to the elite league of Indian trainers. His consistency, access to top-class horses, and sustained success at the highest level are undeniable. However, placing him above S. Padmanabhan is a stretch.

The 2010 season perfectly highlights why.

Jacqueline, a top-class filly, stamped her authority by winning the Indian Derby and was widely regarded as superior to Becket. But when it mattered again at the Invitation Cup, it was Padmanabhan’s training brilliance that turned the tables. Becket defeated Jacqueline convincingly, showcasing not just improvement, but perfect conditioning and race-day execution.

That has always been Padmanabhan’s hallmark—his ability to transform and peak horses at the right moment. 

A prime example is In The Spotlight, who was initially losing to average horses but went on to win the Indian Derby and later the Invitation Cup. That kind of transformation doesn’t happen without exceptional training insight.

The same applies to Hall of Famer, a very ordinary horse with clear limitations, yet made to perform and finish in top company—again highlighting Padmanabhan’s ability to get the absolute maximum out of his horses.

Even Temerity, trained by Pesi Shroff, could only manage a third in that contest.

This is not to diminish Pesi Shroff’s achievements—far from it. He has built a dominant and highly successful yard over the years. But much of his success has also come with access to some of the finest bloodstock in the country.

In the end, greatness can be measured in different ways. If it is about sustained dominance and numbers, Pesi Shroff stands tall. But if it is about training brilliance, timing, and the ability to elevate a horse beyond its perceived limits, S. Padmanabhan remains unmatched.

True. Indian racing is dying 

If you have good breeds and powerful paisewale owners even Mysore trainers too will shine

Ask Pesi to train a local breed and make it champion

Oh come on, have you ever heard the name S Padmanabhan? Average horses performed throughout India. Have you ever listened the name Prasanna Kumar? Great performance with average Pedigrees. Pesi has cream of the lot, he is a good trainer.