The curtain rose on the day’s most anticipated contest as Race 8, The Indian St. Leger (Grade I), unfolded at Pune Racecourse on Sunday, 21st September 2025. A terms race restricted to four-year-old Indian horses, this 2800-meter test of stamina and class carried a glittering purse of ₹49,00,000. At precisely 4:20 PM, under the gaze of a packed grandstand, Odysseus (J: Neeraj Rawal, T: P. Shroff) stormed home in 2:54:789, delivering a career-defining triumph for the ownership team of Equus Racing, Mr K. H. Vachha, Mr Suhrud S. Jhaveri, Mr Gautam Lala (rep. Gainsville Stud & Agl Farm Pvt., Ltd.) and Mr Berjis Minoo Desai.
From the break, the race unfolded with a deliberate tempo befitting the testing distance. The pack remained tightly grouped in the early stages, each jockey conserving energy for the long haul. As they straightened for the final 600 meters, Odysseus began to unfurl his stride, responding fluently to Rawal’s urgings. In the final furlong, the colt showed both courage and stamina, shaking off his rivals with authority to etch his name into the history of the Indian St. Leger, one of the crown jewels of the Indian racing calendar.
The brave Pyrite (J: Mukesh Kumar, T: S. Waheed) battled gamely to finish second, keeping the winner honest until the final strides. Thalassa (J: A. Sandesh, T: Faisal A. Abbas), despite a late rally, had to settle for third but earned full marks for determination over the demanding trip. Their finishing efforts underscored the depth and competitiveness of this year’s field, though none could match Odysseus’s decisive kick.
With the echoes of this dramatic Leger still fresh, the day’s action rolled on towards the Warsaw Pact Trophy (Div I) at 4:55 PM, promising another clash of talent at Pune. For now, though, all acclaim belongs to Odysseus—the horse who conquered the marathon and claimed the glory of the St. Leger.
For more updates and results from the Pune Meeting 2025, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.
