The grandeur of equestrian excellence takes center stage on Saturday, 1st February at the illustrious Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai. This event marks the exhilarating first day of an opulent and most awaited yearly horse racing event in India, the two-day Indian Derby weekend. Drawing connoisseurs of the sport, seasoned bettors, and the country’s elite to witness a thrilling parade of speed, skill, and sheer equine brilliance, a total of eight races will set the stage for an unforgettable day of high-stakes competition tomorrow.
Among these, the most prominent one is the 5th race The Dr S C Jain Sprinters’ Championship (Gr.2), a race of sheer velocity and strategy. A formidable lineup featuring DREAM SELLER, IRISH GOLD, MAGILETO, MARKET KING, TIME AND TIDE will thunder down the 1,200-meter track, each guided by master jockeys Y S Srinath, Billy Lee, P Trevor, Neeraj Rawal, and A Sandesh. With a lucrative total purse of Rs. 20,00,000, the winner takes home a handsome Rs. 12,00,000, making it the most prestigious contest of the day. Spectators will have their eyes on whether MARKET KING can replicate his record-breaking feat of 1:08.65 seconds, set on 17th December 2023.
Not far behind in prominence is the 6th race – The Tattersalls Million, a high-stakes test for maiden three-year-olds. The sheer promise of raw talent makes this event a spectacle, with the likes of EASTERN MONARCH, IT’S GAME TIME, LIFE IS LIFE, MONEY FAIR, RAFAEL, and AMERICAN EAGLE vying for supremacy. Guided by renowned jockeys A Sandesh, T S Jodha, K Nazil, Mukesh Kumar, C S Jodha, and P Trevor, this 1,000-meter dash promises an electrifying finish. The Rs. 15,00,000 prize pool ensures fierce competition, and the historic 0:56.91 seconds record set by IRON AGE in 2019 remains a daunting benchmark.
The day commences at 2:00 PM with The Forest Flair Trophy, featuring a seasoned mix of five-year-old and older contenders. MOMENT OF MADNESS, MOONLIGHT KISS, COLLATERAL, MILLI, and SIM SIM will battle for a Rs. 5,00,000 prize under the guidance of trainers Bharat Singh, Mustakim Alam, S Saba, Aditya Waydande, and Amyn Merchant.
At 2:30 PM, the Weizhou Trophy Div-2 over 1,600 meters will challenge horses rated 1-26. A competitive field led by MA CHERIE, SPEAK THE BREED, ESCONIDO, and MARLBORO MAN, under the keen strategies of trainers S G Prasad, C S Jodha, S Zervan, and T S Jodha, ensures a dramatic finish.
The pace quickens at 3:00 PM with the Enigma Trophy Div-1 over 1,200 meters, where fleet-footed champions ESCAPE VELOCITY, BLUEBIRD, HOUSE OF LORDS, and QUICKER vie for dominance. Under the watchful eye of trainers Shrikant Kamble, N Bhosale, Mustakim Alam, and Aditya Waydande, this race will set pulses racing.
The Weizhou Trophy Div-1 at 3:30 PM will see a captivating showdown among GIMME, PRECIOSO, MADISON, and RED DUST, all meticulously trained by Bharat Singh, S Siddharth, R Ajinkya, and Amyn Merchant.
As the sun begins its descent, the 7th race – The Lexus Cup at 5:00 PM offers a high-stakes contest over 1,600 meters, featuring ARDAKAN, EXPEDITE, CHAGALL, FONTANA, and GOLDEN GLOW. The repetition of the names A Sandesh, Antony Raj S, P Trevor, Suraj Narredu, and Mustakim Alam as trainers highlights their consistent presence in elite racing circles.
Finally, as the day draws to a close, the 8th race – The Enigma Trophy Div-2 at 5:30 PM will see AMADEO, SOVEREIGN GREY, DAULAT MAI, FLASHMAN, and STORM CLOUD competing for victory. Under the guidance of P Trevor, Akshay Gaikwad, Mustakim Alam, Antony Raj S, and K G Likith Appu, this final race promises an electrifying conclusion to a day brimming with adrenaline and elegance.
As the curtain rises on this thrilling weekend of racing, Saturday’s action serves as the perfect prelude to the grand spectacle awaiting on Sunday—the 2025 Indian Derby. The Derby, India’s most prestigious race, will see the nation’s finest thoroughbreds battle for glory in a contest that defines legacies. With anticipation building for the big day, Saturday’s races not only offer high-stakes competition but also set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable showdown at Mahalaxmi Racecourse.
