Padmanabhan, a horse whisperer

A byword for excellence in training racehorses, Sadakshara Reuben Padmanabhan is a highly respected man on the Indian racing circuit.

Padmanabhan-trained horses have clinched the prestigious Invitation Cup four times. Till date, the Bengaluru-based trainer has notched up 80 classic victories and 170 graded race wins. His latest ward Desert God, fresh from winning the Indian Derby, is one of the favourites forSunday’s Invitation Cup here.

Padmanabhan has stamped his authority in turf clubs across the country, but a triumph in Chennai remains elusive. “This is the only centre where I haven’t won a Grade I race, so I am looking forward it on Sunday. It’s a homecoming for me as I was born and brought up in Madras before moving to Bengaluru in 1982,” said Padmanabhan.

Breeding and training horses, Padmanabhan said, are a scientific process. “We don’t always get it right. You plan various combinations to mate a horse. Some people do it so efficiently. I want to be remembered as a person who approached horse racing with his scientific methods,” he said.

Does he communicate with his horses “It would be a lie if I say I talk to my horses. It doesn’t happen. You can see subtle changes in horses’ behaviour. If they exhibit signs of discomfort, you should make life comfortable for them,” said Padmanabhan.

From an obscure horse lover to an “executive class” trainer, Padman-abhan’s journey to the top has been decorated by his work ethic. “My motto is working with integrity and sincerity. I didn’t have any racing background as my father was an ex-serviceman in Madras,” added Padmanabhan.

When Padmanabhan was plying his trade here, racing was a rage in the city. “During the Invitation weekends, the grandstand would be packed to the rafters. We had more than 30,000 people attending the races,” added Padmanab-han.