The curtain came down on the MUMBAI MEETING 2025/26, SPECIAL RACE DAY in style as Zafferano landed Race No. 8 – The Ram Zodge Plate, a Class IV contest for Indian Horses rated 20 to 46, over 1400 metres at 5:00 PM on Sunday, 28th December 2025. In what will be remembered as a fitting finale to the card and a key highlight of the Mumbai race results 28 December, Zafferano (J: A. Sandesh) delivered a polished performance for trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha, stopping the clock at 1:23:472.
Racing in the colours of Mr K N Dhunjibhoy, Mr Z K Dhunjibhoy & Ms Anosha Meyers rep Five Stars Shipping Co Pvt Ltd & Mr A S Narielwala, the winner showed both speed and maturity when it mattered most.
Settled into a handy position through the early and middle stages, Zafferano travelled smoothly as the field negotiated the bend, always looking comfortable under a confident ride. Once asked to quicken in the straight, the colt responded decisively, stretching clear with a telling turn of foot to assert superiority and seal the verdict without ever being seriously challenged.
Starseed (J: Antony Raj S., T: Nazzak B Chenoy) ran on gamely to finish second, keeping the winner honest into the final furlong, while Timeless Fortune (J: Yash Narredu, T: M. Narredu) stayed on resolutely to claim third, completing the frame in a competitive finish.
Earlier on the card, the action-packed Special Race Day had set a strong tempo right from Race No. 1, where Storm Cloud made a winning start in The P. A. d’Avoine Trophy over 1200 metres at 1:30 PM. Ridden with assurance by Avinash Paswan, the Narendra Lagad-trained runner justified favouritism for the large Green Turf Racing LLP ownership group, holding off Joondalup (C. Umesh, J. E. McKeown), with Shirsa (S. G. Prasad, Sangramsinh N. Joshi) finishing third.
Speed again dominated Race No. 2 – The Topspin Plate at 2:00 PM, as Elevate scorched home over 1000 metres under Yash Narredu for trainer Deepesh Narredu, defeating Spectra (A. Sandesh) and Tempo (R. Ajinkya) in sharp fashion.
Middle-distance honours in Race No. 3 – The Karl Umrigar Salver at 2:30 PM went to Ataash, who showed grit and class over 1400 metres. A. Omkar timed the run to perfection for trainer Nazzak B Chenoy, with Christophany (Ramswarup, Imtiaz A. Sait) and Chagall (Neeraj Rawal, P. Shroff) filling the placings.
The competitive theme continued in Race No. 4 – The Lt. Col. Govind Singh (VRC) Trophy at 3:00 PM, where Buckingham delivered a resolute performance under Antony Raj S. for Karthik Ganapathy, getting the better of D’Artagnan and Alexios over 1400 metres.
Sprint specialists returned to the fore in Race No. 5 – The Dr. I. C. Nagree Trophy at 3:30 PM, as Don Julio asserted his authority over 1200 metres, with A. Sandesh guiding the Rehanullah Khan-trained runner home ahead of Skandha and Mulan.
The day’s marquee event, Race No. 6 – The Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy (Grade III) at 4:00 PM, provided a touch of class, with African Gold producing a strong-staying effort over 1800 metres under Akshay Kumar for champion trainer Darius Byramji, outpointing Psychic Star and Thalassa.
Momentum carried into Race No. 7 – The D. W. Reid Plate at 4:30 PM, where Lightning Blaze stayed on gamely over 1600 metres, K. Nazil steering the Narendra Lagad-trained winner past Maratha Admiral and Baleno, setting the stage perfectly for Zafferano’s rousing finale in the concluding race.
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