All roads lead to Mahalaxmi on Sunday for the Villoo C. Poonawalla Indian Derby, the race every owner, trainer, and jockey wants on their record. Staged by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), the 2400-metre Classic goes off at 5:45 PM for ₹3.92 crore, and this year’s field looks deep across multiple stables.
The spotlight will naturally fall on a powerful line-up trained by P. Shroff, who will be represented by a formidable quartet. Red Bishop, to be partnered by the experienced P. Trevor, is set to carry strong expectations, while Rosario, under Kirtish Bhagat, adds further depth to the stable’s challenge. International flavour will be brought in by Fynbos, with Tom Marquand taking the reins, and Kings Gambit, ridden by Yash Narredu, will aim to play his hand at the highest level. Completing the Shroff brigade is Zacharias, to be guided by Vivek G., another colt expected to relish the Derby trip.
Standing firmly against them will be the resolute Adhirajsingh Jodha camp, fielding Baychimo, to be partnered by Suraj Narredu, and Sovereign King, with Antony Raj S. aboard. Both are expected to bring grit and staying power into play, traits that often prove decisive in a Derby run at an honest pace.
The challenge from M. K. Jadhav’s yard will be equally compelling. Stormy Sea, ridden by Prashant P. Dhebe, and Dreamer, under N. S. Parmar, are set to test their stamina credentials, while Kavya, with the seasoned David Allan in the saddle, will look to strike a telling blow in the closing stages.
Adding another intriguing dimension is Pristine Glory, trained by Karthik Ganapathy and to be ridden by C. S. Jodha, a contender who is expected to arrive at the Derby with quiet confidence and plenty still to reveal over the classic distance.
As the field assembles at the start, the Villoo C. Poonawalla Indian Derby is expected to unfold not just as a race, but as a theatre of nerves, tactics, and raw emotion. When the gates finally open at Mahalaxmi, Sunday evening promises a moment where months of preparation converge into one unforgettable run — a race that will crown a champion and etch new names into Indian racing folklore.
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