Well Connected will put up a bold show, says Padmanabhan - By Shailendra Awasthi | TOI
Posted on - 18 Dec 2019
Well Connected will put up a bold show, says Padmanabhan
- By Shailendra Awasthi | TOI
Mumbai:
As the Indian Classics competition is set to kick off at the Mahalaxmi racecourse with Guineas Weekend this Saturday (1000) and Sunday (2000), the presence of S Padmanabhan lends glamour to it. One of the leading trainers in the country, Bengaluru-based Padmanabhan will saddle Well Connected in the 1000 Guineas and is confident that his filly will put up a bold show
“She is in the best possible condition, her coat has improved, and is raring to go. Her preparations are well on track,” said Padmanabhan, who has won more than 100 Classics in his three-decade old career.
The three-year-old has won four of her six career starts including the Bangalore summer Derby while finishing third and fourth in the other two. But it is the defeat in her last two starts that has put question marks over her chances for the Indian 1000 Guineas.
Shedding light on the reason for her losses, Padmanabhan said, “In the Deccan Derby in Hyderabad, the race was suddenly postponed from October 2 to 16 which disturbed her preparations.
“In the two-week gap I couldn’t be with her in Hyderabad so can’t say what may have gone wrong. Also, before the race, punters made too much noise could have disturbed her while going into the starting stall,” he felt.
“In the Bangalore 1000 Guineas, she was running after nearly a two-month break since the Deccan Derby, and, in hindsight, I think she did not enjoy wearing the hood (it helps a horse focus by minimizing the noise of the crowd and other horses’ hooves),” said Padmanabhan adding that the long straight at Mahalaxmi racecourse would help her style of running.
Padmanabhan feels another Bangalore challenger Gift Of Grace would be the one to beat in the 1000 Guineas. “Among the local challengers I think Juliette will be in the reckoning. Missing You lost to an older horse (Pure Zinc) in a handicap race that too when he was running after a long layoff. That doesn’t speak well for her,” observed Padmanabhan.
Well Connected is the only multiple classic winner in the fray.
