Padmanabhan trained Zurbaran who has been something of a phenomenon since last winter, picked up his seventh graded race when winning the Gr 2 Golconda St Leger, the last classic of the monsoon season on Monday.

The presence of Zurbaran had scared away most of the opposition and the son of Peaks And Valleys was left to take on just three others in the fray. With the opposition expected to be meek, the trainer perhaps had not pushed the four-year old much in work so much so that he went into the race a trifle underdone. But the gutsy Zurbaran overcame whatever shortcomings with a resolute performance.

File Photo
Zurbaran (Malesh Narredu up) being led in by trainer S.Padmanabhan

Zurbaran led the field for the grueling 2800 metres trip from the word `go’ and though he came under tremendous pressure from Adolfito, the champion fought out grimly. Jockey Malesh Narredu was able to get the favourite to bring out his reserves to stave off the unexpected challenge. The fact that Adolfito was a no-hopper in the race is borne out by the fact that less heralded B V Krishnan was astride him. Retained jockey Pesi Shroff is recovering from a back problem while the second retainer Harish was surprisingly not declared to ride the Kunigal bred.

This was the seventh graded race win for the Nanoli Stud Farm product. Zurbaran had earlier won three Gr 1 races namely the Indian Turf Invitation Cup, the McDowell Indian St Leger and the President of India Gold Cup. He was won an equal number of Grade 2 races and has one success in Gr 3.

Mr & Mrs K N Dhunjibhoy, Mr & Mrs Z K Dhunjibhoy representing Five Star Shipping Co Pvt Ltd and Mr Byram Jeejeebhoy, jointly own Zurbaran. Zurbaran’s half brother Artois is already being hailed as an exciting prospect for winter classics, having made a fine impression by winning the Gr 1 Nanoli Stud Pune Derby in spectacular fashion. Jockey Malesh Narredu rates Artois as the best horse he has ridden in his illustrious career.