The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) will host an eight-race meeting at Pune Racecourse on Sunday, October 11, 2026, with the prestigious Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby set to headline the afternoon’s action. The meeting will begin at 1:30 PM with The Sir Sultan Chinoy Trophy and conclude at 5:00 PM with The Vinayak Salver. The programme will feature races over distances ranging from 1,200 metres to 2,400 metres, bringing together established performers and promising three-year-olds.
The highlight of the meeting will be the Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby, scheduled for 4:00 PM over 2,000 metres. Restricted to three-year-olds, the premier contest carries a total prize allocation of ₹1 crore, making it the richest race on the programme. Avener, Beast Mode, Invincible Force, Iron Mirage, Jaandaar and Rampage are listed among the six runners for the prestigious event. Iron Mirage, rated 76, and Jaandaar, rated 78, feature among the highest-rated entries in the field. The race will be an important test of stamina and class as the young horses tackle the Derby distance.
The meeting will open at 1:30 PM with The Sir Sultan Chinoy Trophy, a Class I handicap for horses rated 80 and above over 1,200 metres. The race offers a total prize allocation of ₹10 lakh and features seven runners. Ashwa Kangto, Market King, Credence, It’s My Time, Ashwa Vedha, Fourth Wing and Your Unforgettable are entered for the sprint. Ashwa Kangto heads the field with a rating of 110, followed by Market King at 106. Credence and It’s My Time are both rated 99, while the younger runners will look to make their presence felt against experienced opposition.
At 2:00 PM, The Jimmy Umrigar Trophy (Division II) will bring three-year-olds together over 1,400 metres. The contest carries a total prize allocation of ₹12 lakh and features eight entries: David, El Nino, Chilton Lodge, G Valentino, Miami Vice, Shimmer, Styx and Tempest. El Nino is rated 31, the highest published rating among the listed runners, while David is rated 29 and Miami Vice 28. With several developing horses in the field, the race offers an opportunity to assess their progress over the middle distance.
The Jimmy Umrigar Trophy (Division I) will follow at 2:30 PM, also over 1,400 metres and with ₹12 lakh in total prize money. The eight entries include Field of Gold, Megatron, Minimus, Sir Churchill, Taaqath, Acrobatic, Irish Twist and Sky Bound. Taaqath carries a published rating of 32, while Sir Churchill is rated 29 and Acrobatic 27. The contest brings together a mixture of established three-year-old entries and runners whose published ratings are not yet available, adding interest to the afternoon programme.
At 3:00 PM, The Pune Police Commissioner’s Trophy will be run over 1,400 metres for Class IV horses rated between 20 and 46. The race has a total prize allocation of ₹5.5 lakh and features ten entries. Paloma, Sukoon, Bohemian Rhapsody, Avante, La Dolce Vita, Exotic Star, Marius, Sandokan, Ministry of Time and Absolute Serenity make up the field. Paloma is rated 41, the highest in the race, followed by Sukoon at 39 and Bohemian Rhapsody at 37. The varied field brings together younger horses and more experienced runners in a competitive handicap.
The fifth race, The J. M. Shah, C. M. Shah & K. M. Shah Gold Trophy, is scheduled for 3:30 PM over 2,400 metres. The Class III handicap is open to horses rated between 40 and 66 and offers ₹6.5 lakh in total prize money. Five runners are listed: Caccini, Little John, Land of Plenty, Looking Like a Wow and Merchant of Venice. Caccini leads the field with a rating of 65, followed by Little John at 61. The extended distance will place emphasis on stamina and the ability to maintain a consistent pace throughout the race.
The spotlight will then turn to the Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby at 4:00 PM. With ₹1 crore in total prize money, including ₹60 lakh for the winner, the 2,000-metre contest stands out as the principal attraction of the meeting. Avener, Beast Mode, Invincible Force, Iron Mirage, Jaandaar and Rampage are entered for the race. Beast Mode, Iron Mirage and Jaandaar have published ratings of 71, 76 and 78 respectively, while Invincible Force and Avener are also among the contenders listed for the event. The Derby distance will test the three-year-olds’ stamina, balance and ability to sustain their efforts in a major race of the Pune season.
At 4:30 PM, The N. K. Pudumjee Salver will provide another competitive contest, this time over 1,400 metres for Class II horses rated between 60 and 86. The race carries a total prize allocation of ₹7.5 lakh and features ten runners: Thundering Phoenix, Ashwa Pathan, Earth, Tyrannus, Zafferano, Giacomo, Bishop, Ashwa Changez, Bubbly Boy and Son of a Gun. Thundering Phoenix heads the published ratings at 78, followed by Ashwa Pathan and Earth, both rated 75. Tyrannus is rated 73, while Zafferano carries a rating of 72. The field combines established performers with runners seeking to make an impact over the sprint-to-mile distance.
The eight-race programme will conclude at 5:00 PM with The Vinayak Salver, a 1,200-metre Class V handicap for horses aged four and older rated between 1 and 26. The race offers ₹5 lakh in total prize money and has eight entries: Bravo Zulu, Adonis, Ashwa Ankara, Red Merlot, Prince Igor, We Still Believe, Hola Amigo and Lightning Blaze. Bravo Zulu is rated 26, followed by Adonis at 24 and Ashwa Ankara at 19. The closing sprint will bring the day’s racing to an end after an afternoon featuring a broad mix of handicap contests and races for younger horses.
With the Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby offering the day’s highest prize allocation, the October 11 meeting promises a notable afternoon at Pune Racecourse. From the opening sprint to the closing Class V contest, the programme covers a variety of distances and classifications, with the Derby serving as the centrepiece of the eight-race card.
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