Holding Court is training forwardly. Under the watchful eye of trainer Padmanabhan, the Indian star went 1200 metres in 1.12.8 last Sunday. The
official Arlington Park track report characterized the work as
‘breezing.’
The $45,000 Rossi Gold Stakes to be run on Monday, September 3, 2007 is
Holding Court’s target. It is a race over 1900 metres on the grass and
is for horses three year-olds and up. The Arlington Park publicity wing
is going to extraordinary lengths to promote Holding Court’s debut on
American soil.
Monday is a national holiday in America. It is Labor Day. It is the day
on which summer vacations end and it is time for children to go back to
school. Technically, summer comes to an end at the beginning of the
fourth week in September.
There are nine races scheduled for Labor Day. The first race will be run
on the polytrack. Races two through nine, will be on the grass. Chicago,
after experiencing severe thunderstorms, is going through a dry spell.
If the weather holds up, grass racing on Labor Day should be a veritable
feast.
I talked to trainer Paddy on Sunday in a friend’s house in Naperville, a
suburb of Chicago. “I have come a long way. I was an assistant to
trainer B L Mohan in 1977 in Chennai. Later, I worked for trainer Mir Hyder
Ali Khan in Hyderabad. I went out on my own in 1981. If I remember
correctly, Insat was my first major winner in 1983. It was on Invitation
Cup day in Mumbai. I moved my base to Bangalore as racing in Chennai
deteriorated. M Subramaniam and C Krishnamurthy are names I readily
recall. Their early patronage paved the way for future successes.”
“I have about fifty horses in training. Thirty four of them are racing
and the others are two year-olds who will begin their careers when
winter racing gets underway in India. I have always been interested in
exploring new horizons. I took Classical Act and Zurbaran to race in the
Dubai festival in 2005. Despite tremendous adversity, they acquitted
themselves well. Classical Act, especially, made me proud. Holding
Court’s trip to America is an extension of my dream.”
Trainer Padmanabhan spoke in glowing terms of his help in Chicago.
“Vikram Singh has come from India. He knows Holding Court and is the
critical link. James McKeown from England has come to Arlington and he
will stay with Holding Court as we consider our future options.”
“Travel problems generated by quarantine restrictions set our clock
back. The presence of screw worms in horses coming from abroad is a
major concern in the US. Screw worms are more prevalent in tropical
countries. Holding Court had been assured a spot in the Million (on
August 11) but he was held up in New York. It was a logistical
challenge. From Bangalore, it was on to Chennai. The next stop was
Bangkok. The next stop was Seoul. From Seoul, Holding Court went to
Anchorage in Alaska. Then it was across America to New York, on the east
coast. Seven days in New York and finally to Chicago. It was unfortunate
that we did not get to Chicago to race in the Million. The time of the
race, the way the race was run and the ‘yielding’ ground would have
given Holding Court a realistic chance,” Padmanabhan averred.
In the case of Dubai, there is a detention center in Mumbai, run with
generous assistance from the Poonawallas. Horses from India can now go
to Dubai in a matter of hours because of the new ‘protocol.’ I wish a
similar scenario is created for other destinations as well,” Padmanabhan
noted.
“Arlington Park is beautiful. I am impressed with the all-weather track.
You cannot ask for better facilities. Above all, people are friendly and
helpful. We are being treated very well. I am very satisfied with the
way Holding Court is working. I am expecting a brisk pace in the Rossi
Gold. I am optimistic,” Padmanabhan continued.
Talking about the significance of the American visit, trainer
Padmanabhan was philosophical. “Holding Court represents the aspirations
of the Indian breeding establishment. Competing at the highest level in
the US is a big challenge. It needs meticulous planning. You have to
keep the horse in good condition. India is being put on the world racing
map. Personally, it gives me immense job satisfaction.”
Holding Court will stay on in America. After the Rossi Gold, trainer
Paddy is looking at a race in Kentucky in early October.
