Derby could be a jockeys' race: Padmanabhan

Padmanabhan with Gypsy Magic: Interestingly, the media-savvy trainer is non-committal when asked about his preference among his three runners [Pic: RacingPulse.In]

"This race is so open," said trainer S Padmanabhan to me on the phone, "it might finally boil down to a jockeys' race."

Excerpts from the interveiw:

PG: What do you mean by jockeys' race?

SP: Take for example, my yard. I have three runners going into the Derby (Gypsy Magic, Classerville & Polish Patriot) and all have credentials to run this race. If you go by that idea--having credentials to run this race--then I think half the field should qualify on that count. A lot could then depend on the jockeyship.

PG: Which of your three runners you will vote for?

SP: It's difficult to pick one over the other two. Polish Patriot is going into this race with 100% recrod, winning both his starts, the last one over 9 furlongs. Gypsy Magic is runner up of two grade 1 races, and it looks like the Poonawalla Mult-Million form is holding onto this track well (Jacueline-Gypsy Magic 1-2 in Fillies' Trial). And Classerville, who got beat short head over the mile trip in Bombay before running second to Aboline over seven furlongs here, has now gone a very good mock race over the Derby trip. So for me it's a difficult call to pick one.

PG: Do you think Jacqueline is the horse to beat?

SP: No, I don't. In an open race like this half the field has serious credentials to run in this race. That also means they have a realistic shot at the winner's prize. Derby trip (10 furlongs) is a different ballgame altogher, and there may be too many runners who could match one another horse-for-horse. That's why I said this could finally boil down to a jockeys' race at the finish line.

PG: Okay, so tell us how do you rate your jockeys?

SP: (Laughs) All three are in very good form. Wayne Smith (Classerville) has won three of the five big races that he has ridden so far, that's an excellent strike rate. Rajendra (Polish Patriot) is also in great form. Richard Hughes (Gypsy Magic) made headlines at Royal Ascot recently. He is coming here on Sunday morning. But I have given all my jockeys one mount before the Derby so that they get the feel of the track on that particular day. I am sure they all will do their best.

Prakash Gosavi

Farewell to a friend

Ever-flamboyant film star Feroz Khan (right) leading in Ilheus - Zyna's Glory filly Winning Pretty (J Lowe smiling atop), trained by the author (left) after winning the Poonawalla Breeders' Million, 1995 (Photo credit: Poonawalla archives)

By S Padmanabhan, trainer 

London gets up early on Monday, shaking off the weekend's inertia. The street visible from my hotel room was getting busier by the minute as it would on any typical Monday morning.  When I was about to order my third coffee, the cell phone rang. Zeyn Mirza, Vijay Mallya's racing manager, was on the line: "Feroz is no more; I heard it on television." 

There was a moment of dark numbness before the news stabbed me, and the enormity of the loss sank in. 

Feroz Khan was more than a horse owner to me—he was a very dear friend. Our relationship was based on mutual respect and love, and it was sparked off by an unusual incident in the Bangalore racecourse paddock.  

Dinner for winner

It was 1983, and I had recently donned the trainer's mantle. I had a horse owner called Subramaniam, whose horse was to run in a race in which Feroz Khan's horse, trained by SM Shah, was strongly fancied. I too was fancying our runner and the owner knew it. So when Feroz Khan, as always, full of life and ready to poke good-hearted fun at anyone, tried to underestimate our horse's chances, Subramaniam challenged him. Feroz accepted, and it was decided that whosoever loses will treat the winner to a dinner. 

We won the race, and Feroz Khan called us over to his farm that night. Horse racing is a business of egos, so I was shocked to meet a horse owner who was actually celebrating someone else's victory and his own defeat! But then, only Feroz Khan could have done it. 

First classic

For the next ten years we remained just friends, visiting each other often. Then one day in 1993, Feroz moved his horses to me and also told me to buy a juvenile for him. He wanted a colt, but when I went looking I liked a bay filly at the Dashmesh stud. 

"But I told you to get me a colt," Feroz protested. "You have a look at her and then decide," I said. When he set his eyes on her, she took his breath away. He approved the purchase immediately. 

I was expecting her to be a Classic winner, so I told him to choose a really good name for her. This set his imagination aflame. Then one day he called me to complain about the title of a book he was reading, Winning Ugly. 

"How can winning be ugly?" he was furious, "I want to make a statement winning is not ugly, can we name our filly Winning Pretty?" "Sounds beautiful to me," I endorsed. 

That’s how the filly got her name. Naming your pricey horse as an emotional reaction, just to make a statement against the title of a $10 paperback written by some unknown author, was weird. But then, only Feroz could have done it. 

Winning Pretty created history for both of us. She won the Poonawalla Breeders' Million on the Mahalaxmi racetrack, and Feroz Khan became the first, and so far, the only film star to have won the famous race. She also won the grade 1, Indian 1000 Guineas on the same track which, incidentally, was the first ever Indian Classic for both Feroz and me. 

Last desire

Two years ago Feroz called me to say that due to ill health he was planning to wind up his racing interests. His health deteriorated very fast after that. He was in and out of hospitals, but still maintained a happy, carefree facade through all the agony. The last I met him was three months ago at the Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai.  

Now I learn that he forced the doctors treating him to release him from hospital so that he could go and spend his last moments peacefully at his farm. And he had his way. 

It was a courageous move, abandoning medical help to embrace the eternal peace in his most favourite setting. But then, only Feroz could have done it! 

(As told to Prakash Gosavi, MiD DAY, April 29)