A palpable sense of anticipation hung over the Mahalaxmi Racecourse on April 5th, 2025; as the gates sprung open for the marquee sprint event of the day—the Zavaray S. Poonawalla Sprinters’ Challenge. Run over a blistering 1200 meters, the sixth race on the card delivered everything it promised: speed, skill, and a nail-biting finish. The stakes were sky-high, with a lavish purse on offer—₹21,00,000 reserved for the winner, ₹7,70,000 for the runner-up, and ₹4,20,000 for the third-placed horse. With the sun dipping low and the crowd swelling along the rails, the scene was set for a heart-stopping contest.
The honours fittingly went to the firm favourite, TIME AND TIDE, who justified strong public confidence with a masterclass in speed and composure. Piloted flawlessly by jockey A Sandesh, the gelding, trained by the accomplished Adhirajsingh Jodha and owned by Mr Vikram Bachhawat (representing Bachhawat Farms Pvt Ltd), surged to the front and held on resolutely to clinch victory in a dazzling time of 1:08.781. Sent off at even-money odds, the performance was as dominant as it was elegant—an emphatic statement of sprinting superiority.
Hot in pursuit and never letting the winner get too far ahead was the game CONSTABLE, guided by Vivek G and conditioned by the elite yard of P Shroff. Racing in the silks of a formidable ownership group—Mr and Mrs Vijay B. Shirke, Mr Jay V. Shirke, Mr K N Dhunjibhoy, Mr Z K Dhunjibhoy, Ms Anosha Meyers (on behalf of Five Stars Shipping Co Pvt Ltd), and Mr Berjis Minoo Desai—CONSTABLE ran a blinder to clock 1:08.853, just missing out in a finish that drew gasps from the stands. Starting at 12-to-1, his bold run added an extra layer of drama to an already exhilarating contest.
Completing the trifecta was the consistent MAGILETO, piloted by the ever-reliable P Trevor and trained by Aman Altaf Hussain. Racing for an enthusiastic ownership group—Mr Solomon F. Sopher, Miss Jessy D’Cunha, Miss Veera D’Souza, Mr Ashok Ranpise, and Mr Anil Saraf—MAGILETO ran a solid race from start to finish. Clocking 1:09.129 at starting odds of 10, the gelding once again proved his mettle in elite company, reinforcing his reputation as a dependable sprinter.
The Zavaray S. Poonawalla Sprinters’ Challenge lived up to its top billing, offering a thrilling spectacle that showcased some of the finest short-distance specialists in the country. It was a race marked by its intensity, depth of talent, and a finish that will be replayed and remembered long after the dust has settled.
