The 2024–25 RWITC racing season came to an emotional end with the Hornby Vellard Million, a fast-paced 1000-meter dash that lived up to its billing as the final spectacle of the season. With the sun dipping low over the historic Mahalaxmi Racecourse, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation and nostalgia — and SHIRSA delivered the perfect finale.
Ridden with precision by S G Prasad and trained by Sangramsinh N Joshi, SHIRSA showed electric speed down the straight, stopping the clock at 0:57.915 and justifying odds of 7. The win handed connections a well-deserved Rs.7,05,000, from the Rs.15,00,000 total prize pool.
DIVINE STAR, the tote-favourite at odds of 1.40, came in a strong second under top jockey A Sandesh, trained by Aman Altaf Hussain, with a timing of 0:58.453. MOJO, piloted by P Trevor for Faisal A Abbas, was not far behind, finishing third in 0:58.514, with eight odds, and closing out what was a thrilling contest right to the wire.
As the dust settles on the turf and the grandstand falls quiet, the Hornby Vellard Million will be remembered not just as the last race on the card, but as the emotional full stop to a season filled with excitement, fierce competition, and standout performances. The gates may have closed for now, but the stories and memories of this RWITC season will linger until the horses return and the roar begins anew.
