DESERT GOD ROCKS - By Usman Rangeela | Mumbai Mirror
Posted on - 08 Feb 2016
DESERT GOD ROCKS
By Usman Rangeela in Mumbai
Wins Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby overcoming spirited Myrtlewood in a thrilling finish
Desert God, which was co owned, trained and bred by S Padmanabhan, gave a gutsy performance in the hands of Englishman David Allan when winning the Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby in front of the packed Mahalaxmi stands.
After Colombiana set a cracking pace from the mile-and-quarter, which actually suited the winner, Costa del Sol and Phoenix Tiger made their move on entering the home stretch.Desert God was intimidated by Colm Donoghue astride Phoenix Tiger and almost got squeezed out.
But Allan kept his cool and allowed Desert God to find his own way and the chestnut colt slipped through the gap offered by Costa del Sol and Phoenix Tiger. Myrtlewood meanwhile came with a flourish and joined the issue with Desert God. It appeared for a fleeting moment that Myrtlewood would zoom past Desert God but the latter dug into his reserves when asked for by Allan and held on gamely to snatch a half-length victory over the Pesi Shroff trained filly.
Gestapo, also saddled by Shroff, devoured good ground towards the end but it was too late. Gestapo's late dash could only fetch him the third place ahead of Phoenix Tiger.
PROUD MOMENT
Desert God's third Derby victory, which in fact was the most important one of his career, fetch his joint owners Mrs Sharmila Padmanabhan, Mr S Padmanabhan and Col. Swapan Bhadra a cool Rs 1.79 crore in prize money plus a glittering trophy. Desert God was Padmanabhan's second Indian Derby winner and also for Allan. However, Desert God being sired by Burden of Proof, it was the first success at the Indian Derby for Vijay Mallya-owned Kunigal Stud Farm.
Desert God's dam Running Flame was a classic winner herself and had finished runner up to Supervite in the 1999 edition of the McDowell Indian Derby which was originally won Saddle Up, who was later disqualified for failing the post-race drug test.
FOLLOWING FOOTSTEPS
Desert God, interestingly, followed the footsteps of In The Spotlight as far as her journey before arriving at Mahalaxmi to win the Indian Derby for Pad manabhan in 2012 was concerned. Before showing up at Mahalaxmi for the big event, Desert God had won the both the Hyderabad and Kolkata derbies and unfortunately lost the Mysore Derby in between these two events.
It was a dream come true for Desert God's co-owner Col. Swapan Bhadra, who after short stint as a race-horse owner at Kolkata in the early eighties, convinced Padmanabhan to take him as an owner in his yard.
Since Padmanabhan couldn't find a suitable horse for Kolkata-based Col.Bhadra at a couple of stud farms he visited, he offered the retired army man a quarter share in Torch Bearer and Desert God. Torch Bearer may not have given Col. Bhadra the joy he was looking for but Desert God certainly provided him the exalted feeling which every owners yearns for.
