MAN OF DESTINY

For a man who has one of the toughest jobs in Indian racing, S. Ganapathy is a remarkably cool person, carrying the responsibilities of being Dr. MAM Ramaswamy's private trainer lightly. I caught up with him for a long overdue chat a day after he had saddled Own Vision to a historic win in the Bangalore St. Leger.

Remarking on that moment when the Razeen filly went past the post to give Dr. Ramaswamy his 400th classic win and Prakash his 1000th win as a rider, Ganapathy says " I am extremely proud to have trained the horse that has given Dr. Ramaswamy his 400th classic and Prakash his 1000th winner."

In the short spell of four years that he has held a professional trainer's licence Ganapathy has done extremely well. Since November 2000 no one else has managed to train more winners than Ganapathy at Bangalore either during the winter or summer seasons. This year's summer trainer's championship also looks set to adorn his showcase. He is close to a personal landmark of training 300 winners which may even be achieved before this article is published. This is a remarkable achievement for a man whose first contact with horses came when he was already 20 years old.

Ganapathy arrived in Bangalore in 1970 to work in MAM's office and he remembers those days " It was the first time I had left the village and come to a big city. It was a strange feeling and I will always be grateful to the Rajah of Chettinad family for all their help. Rajah Saheb, Kumarrani, Dr. Ramaswamy and Mrs. Ramaswamy gave me tremendous support and helped me through those early days."

Ganapathy's first appearance on a racecourse was the Derby day of 1970. He remembers that Star Haven finished second to Prince Khartoum in the Derby. The seed had been planted and his racecourse visits grew more frequent. The turning point came in 1972 when Dr. Ramaswamy asked him to attend morning track work and evening stables at his trainer Aris David's yard. Being a god listener and a quick learner, Ganapathy soon picked up the nuances of training racehorses. As he says " Aris was my first master and he took very good care of me. He taught me a lot about horse care and the lessons I learnt in those early days have never been forgotten. I owe him a great deal.

In 1972 when Bangalore started its winter season, Aris David, who had his main base at Madras (as it was then called), left behind a few horses in Ahmedullah's care. Ganapathy became more involved with horses and dutifully carried out instructions that were relayed to him almost daily by trunk call. For the younger generation used to instant communication through the Internet and mobile phone it is probably hard to imagine what conditions were like in the early seventies. Ganapathy smiles as he remembers the hours spent waiting by the phone as the operator tried to connect his calls through to MAM and Aris David. This period was a huge learning curve for Ganapathy and as MAM's Bangalore stable grew in strength Ganapathy's confidence in his ability to handle his mentor's horses grew as well. He was part of the team that nurtured the great Own Opinion and travelled to Japan to see him run in the 1981 Japan Cup, the first time an Indian horse had been invited to participate in an international race. His interactions with Khalander and Robert Foley who were given charge of the Ramaswamy horses as the seventies gave way to the eighties sharpened his interest and knowledge. It soon became the norm that when Robert Foley traveled to the other racing centres Ganapathy took charge of the stable. In the late eighties Jim Foley, Robert's father, took over Dr. Ramaswamy's horses and Ganapathy became the de facto Racing Manager cum assistant trainer. He was involved in the day to day affairs of the stable but as he says " I had no thoughts on taking up a trainer's licence. It was only my curiousity and love for the game that made me spend so much time with Jim and the horses. Jim was a very special person who carried himself with great dignity and coolness. He treated me like his son and shared so much of his knowledge about horses with me. Today I am only carrying the baton that he has passed on to me."

This period marked the turning point in Ganapathy's career with horses. This was the time of Smart Chieftan. With Jim Foley's health beginning to deteriorate Ganapathy was spending most of his day at BTC. Smart Chieftan knocked himself on his tendon as a two year old and this would be a problem area throughout his racing career. Smart Chieftan went on to win the biggest prizes in Indian racing including the Indian Triple Crown, the Turf Invitation Cup and the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby. He had to travel across the country to win these races and it is significant to note that after he left India to race in Singapore he never won a race. Ganapathy is his usual modest self when he talks of this chapter in his life. " It was total team work from all those involved with the horse. Jim and I would plan out his programme in consultation with Dr. Ramaswamy and our work jockeys M.R. Singh and the Patel brothers would handle him accordingly in morning track while Mallesh Narredu rode him in his early races including that brilliant win in the Derby. When Richard Hughes came down to ride in the winter for Boss the situation was explained to him and he was a big help. Dr. Karthikeyan from Madras would check the horse regularly and advise us on the course of treatment. For the Bombay campaign Karan Singh was sent up. If we had not worked together as a team none of this success would have been possible." Smart Chieftan has a special place in Ganapathy's heart and he hopes that he will get another chance to be associated with a horse as good as him.

Smart Chieftan probably represents Ganapathy's finest achievement and must surely have been a deciding factor in Dr. Ramaswamy's decision to appoint him as his private trainer when Jim Foley passed away in 2000.

Ganapathy says "training came as a big surprise to me. Dr. Ramaswamy spoke to me and told me that under his guidance I would be a success and that I should accept the job. His son Muthiah also spoke to me and encouraged me take up the licence. From day one I have been groomed by Boss and I have been treated as one of the family. There could have been no greater reward that he could have given me. I am happy that his trust in me and my abilities have been proven right." "He has given me the best horses, a top class team of stable hands, riders and all the logistical support that I need. " He could have chosen any trainer in the game but he chose to put his faith in a non-racing person and I will forever be grateful to him for his trust.

Ganapathy is a total team man and his long apprenticeship under a number of trainers has given him a fine appreciation of the importance of good teamwork. He understands that he is very fortunate to have worked with the top trainers, riders and veterinarians that a large and powerful racing stable is associated with.

Good understanding with jockeys is a large part of a trainer's success and Ganapathy has struck a golden relationship with Prakash. This is very much in keeping with his character and he acknowledges that he owes much to the likes of Jagdish, Vasant Shinde, Karan Singh, Richard Hughes, Pesi Shroff, Robin Corner, Sinclair Marshall, Mark Gallagher and Mallesh Narredu, all of whom have helped him evolve into a top trainer.

Of his colleagues he has intense admiration for Rashid Byramji and is proud to be a colleague of this master trainer. It is true that when Ganapathy received his licence many eyebrows were raised and there were quite a few experts who foresaw a quick close to his training career. Ganapathy has answered his critics in no uncertain manner and today he has earned the admiration of his fellow professionals.

Asked about his biggest success as a trainer and he immediately states "winning the first Poonawalla Million in 2001 with Noble Opinion was my biggest thrill. To win in Bombay is a huge achievement and that to a competitive race like the Poonawalla Million in my very first season as a trainer."

With 7 trainers championships in Bangalore, 296 winners, 24 classics and 2 Poonawalla Breeders' Multi Millions already in the kitty the man from Chettinad has come a long way . There is no doubt that he will record many more triumphs before he leaves the place that has given him so much.

"I have learnt so much about life on the racecourse. Whatever I am today is because of the horse and this great sport. My only desire is to keep winning races for Dr. Ramaswamy to whom I am totally indebted."