REDEFINED, a four-year-old Dark Bay Gelding,’s glorious victory in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup at Chennai on March 2nd has further cemented Ashok Ranpise’s status as the most formidable owner in Indian racing today. His extraordinary campaign now includes victories in the Indian Derby, Bangalore Derby, Pune Derby, and the Invitation Cup—an achievement that solidifies his legacy in the sport.
Racing enthusiasts have erupted with praise for Ranpise and his associates, with fans hailing them as “true legends” of Indian racing. The victory of REDEFINED, piloted to perfection by David Allan, in Chennai’s premier racing event only adds to this remarkable streak of dominance.
The Guindy Racecourse witnessed an unforgettable day of racing, culminating in REDEFINED’s emphatic victory in the Invitation Cup. The top-class thoroughbred, trained by Prasanna Kumar, showcased his exceptional stamina and turn of foot to claim the prestigious Grade 1 title, adding another feather to the cap of his connections, which, besides Ranpise, include Mr. S R Sanas, Mr. D R Thacker, DT Racing & Breeders LLP, Mr. Prasanna Kumar P, Mr. K Kamesh, Dr. Ram H Shroff, and Mr. Raj H Shroff of Stride Livestock Pvt Ltd.
The thrilling contest was a fitting conclusion to a high-profile day at the Madras Race Club, where India’s best horses, jockeys, and trainers clashed in pursuit of racing’s ultimate prizes.
David Allan, one of the most skilled riders in the circuit, showcased his tactical brilliance by positioning REDEFINED perfectly throughout the race. The duo surged ahead in the final furlong, leaving DYF (ridden by P. Trevor) and DUKE OF TUSCANY (ridden by Oisin Murphy) battling for minor places. REDEFINED stopped the clock at 2:28.29, securing a winner’s purse of Rs. 60,00,000.
The race day featured several thrilling contests, starting with The Japan Cup (Class 4 – 2000m), where ROYAL NOBILITY (Sah Farid Ansari | R. Foley) prevailed with a time of 2:07.515. The second race, The Olympia Tech Park Million (Class 2 – 1600m), saw MAYNE MAGIC (S. Antony Raj | Kishan Thomas) triumph in 1:37.875, marking the first win of the day for jockey Antony Raj S.
The AVT Centenary Million (3YO Only – 1200m) belonged to ECHOES OF TIME (Hindu Singh | Vijay Singh), who crossed the line in 1:11.693. Meanwhile, Antony Raj S clinched his second victory of the day in the Suresh Mahindra Multi-Million Trophy (Gr.2 – 1400m) aboard KNOTTY CHARMER (Prasanna Kumar), clocking 1:22.54.
The Maj PK Mehra Memorial Super Mile Cup (Gr.1 – 1600m) was a spectacular contest, with SHAMROCK (Suraj Narredu | Satish Narredu) showcasing his class to win in 1:35.69, taking home Rs. 30,00,000. In the RWITC Ltd Million (Class 1 – 1200m), RICARDO (C. Umesh | Arjun Mangalorkar) clocked 1:09.99 to secure victory.
The final race of the day, The Hyderabad Race Club Million (Class 3 – 1200m), saw DEL AVIZ (Akshay Kumar | S. S. Attaollahi) emerge victorious in 1:10.50.
With elite competition, stunning victories, and standout performances from David Allan, Antony Raj S, and Suraj Narredu, the HPSL Royal Arion Indian Turf Invitation Cup Weekend in Chennai was an unforgettable spectacle. Racing fans will be eagerly awaiting the next big showdown as the season continues to unfold.
