Narredus nail it!

Jockey Yash Narredu guides Enabler across the finish to win the HPSL Indian Derby at Mahalaxmi Racecourse yesterday. Pic/Sameer Markande

Enabler, ridden brilliantly by Yash Narredu, won the HPSL Indian Derby (Gr 1) in a dramatic fashion on Sunday. Two furlongs from the winning post, when P Trevor astride Jamari and Suraj Narredu on Synthesis were engaged in a neck-and-neck duel, Enabler and Yash Narredu were four lengths away, the young jockey frantically trying to shrug off favourite Christofle to whom jockey Tom Marquand was giving a desparate all-out ride.

But the moment Yash asked for an effort, there was an electrifying response from Enabler, and the game Ruler Of The World - Rozene colt surged ahead with astounding acceleration to bridge the gap. In a trice, Enabler drew alongside the warring duo of Jamari and Synthesis, and then imperiously put his head in front. Yash went for the jugular thereafter, quickly dashing ahead to spare a length-and-a-quarter to Synthesis at the wire, with Jamari a neck further off. Enabler clocked 2m:28.72s for the mile-and-a-half trip of the HPSL Indian Derby (Gr 1). Bred at the Sohna stud farm, Enabler is jointly owned by Mrs B E Saldanha, Sultan Singh, Vivek Jain, Balam Mohla & Anil Saraf.

Also Read: Enabler may shock Jendayi in HPSL Indian Derby

Winning jockey Yash Narredu (2nd from left) and trainer Malesh (right)

Unique record

This was the first time in the history of Indian racing that the Indian Derby was won by a father-son team as trainer Malesh and son Yash Narredu did on Sunday at Mahalaxmi. The 28-year old registered his first Indian Derby triumph, whereas for father, trainer Malesh, this was second success after having won with Be Safe nine years ago in 2015.

Interestingly, the Narredu clan this season has been collecting Derby trophies, making almost a clean sweep. Since the monsoons, they have won 7 regional Derby titles, with horses trained by Satish, Malesh or Rajesh, and ridden by Suraj or Yash, the Indian Derby on Sunday at Mahalaxmi serving as icing on the cake.

‘It's a very special feeling'

"It's a very special feeling for me, winning my first ever Indian Derby," winning jockey Yash said after the race, "on a horse trained by my father, and owned by a very supportive group of horse owners."

Trainer Malesh went a step further. During the prize distribution ceremony, he actually rattled out the name of each and every assistant and stable hand who, he said, "took care of Enabler like their own kid."

"I am blessed to have a very hard working team," he added, "and this victory is the result of team work "