India boasts a rich sporting heritage, with horse racing standing tall as one of its oldest and most prestigious traditions. Once pursued for entertainment and as a show of strength, horse racing in India has transformed into a competitive, professional sport. In this discipline, skilled jockeys ride elite Thoroughbreds conditioned by expert trainers, while dedicated teams manage the horses’ health and well-being in state-of-the-art stables.
At the heart of Indian horse racing is selective breeding, meticulously documented in the Indian Stud Book. Among the country’s premier breeders, Poonawalla Stud Farms stands out as a hallmark of excellence.
Established in 1946 by Mr. Soli A. Poonawalla, the farm began with just 13 horses—12 mares and a British-imported stallion named Fitz Clarence. One of its earliest stars, Fitzcall, clinched the coveted Group 1 Indian 2000 Guineas, paving the way for decades of success. Today, Poonawalla Stud Farms has claimed a record 15 Champion Breeders’ Awards from the Turf Authorities of India and has bred multiple winners of Indian Classic races, including the Indian Derby. The farm operates out of Pune, with three specialized divisions focusing on youngstock and breeding.
A major highlight came on April 6, 2025, at the Mumbai Meeting 2024/2025, hosted by the Royal Western India Turf Club at Mahalaxmi Racecourse. The spotlight was on the Poonawalla Stud Farms Auction Sale Stakes, a 1400-meter contest for three-year-old Indian-bred horses foaled at the farm. With a prize pool of ₹60 lakhs, the race delivered a nail-biting finish.
Social Butterfly, sired by Excellent Art out of Lady Danehill, won in a photo finish, clocking 1:23.454 under jockey David Allan and trained by Dallas Todywalla.
All For Love (Excellent Art – My Lakshmi), ridden by Yash Narredu and trained by M. Narredu, came second with 1:24.287, followed by Tyrannus (Leitir Mor – Equine Lover), piloted by Neeraj Rawal and trained by Imtiaz A. Sait, with a time of 1:24.422.
Victorious Omen (Roderic O’Connor – Classic Sky), ridden by S. Zervan, and Allez L’Etoile (Leitir Mor – Sweeping Star), partnered by Mustakim Alam, rounded off the top five.
Finishing sixth was Ourense under A. Sandesh, followed by Charismatic (Antony Raj S) and Phantasmiqué (A. Prakash). Rafael (Leitir Mor – Elena), ridden by P. Trevor and trained by Adhiraj Singh Jodha, completed the field.
Post-race veterinary checks revealed that All For Love sustained a right hind pastern injury. Tote favorite Charismatic underwent a light jogging test and was declared sound. Social Butterfly showed reluctance at the gates—a recurring issue—prompting stewards to require the horse to pass a mock race before re-entry. Jockeys of Allez L’Etoile and Victorious Omen were officially warned for causing interference to Ourense by not maintaining a straight course.
The thrilling contest highlighted the class of Poonawalla-bred runners and reinforced the farm’s pivotal role in shaping the future of Indian horse racing.
