Pesi Shroff seems to have arrived in Bangalore with a simple itinerary: collect every graded race, accept the trophies and head home before the locals realise what happened. His horses have turned the city`s biggest contests into travelling exhibitions, leaving the home team looking like reluctant extras in somebody else`s blockbuster.

Zuccaro, who had already strung together eight successive victories, proved that distance was merely a number by demolishing the opposition in the Gr 2 Maharaja`s Cup, a terms race for four-year-olds and over. Tackling beyond 2000 metres for the first time, the champion toyed with his rivals before exploding clear in the final furlong with breathtaking acceleration, winning eased up and rewriting the clock in 2:13.75. The consistent Mayne Magic was a distant second ahead of Alfonsine and Redefined, while Miracle Star, so impressive at Mysore, never threatened and finished a disappointing fifth.

Was this the greatest performance seen on an Indian racecourse? Racing scholar and keen student of the sport S K Sagar certainly believes so. “Zuccaro`s performance in the Maharaja`s Cup was, in my view, the best ever witnessed on an Indian racetrack and this performance is equivalent to Time Form rating of 126``, he said. It is difficult to dismiss the claim. This season, the Mumbai raiders have repeatedly found an extra gear while the local challengers have been left searching for one. At the centre of the storm stands Pesi Shroff, whose trophy cabinet, already overflowing from a glittering riding career, now appears determined to burst at the hinges through his achievements as a trainer.


Sent off a heavily backed favourite, Zuccaro always looked the horse to beat, particularly as his principal rivals had failed to inspire confidence. Miracle Star had disappointed in her previous outing and, rather ominously, the horses that had finished ahead of her that day did so again.

Jockey Vivek settled Zuccaro in the rear before producing him with impeccable timing. In a matter of strides, the favourite sliced through the field in the straight as though the others had accidentally hit the pause button. Once he surged to the front, the race was effectively over. Mayne Magic stayed on to claim second from Alfonsine, Redefined filled fourth, and Miracle Star remained stuck in the same gear from start to finish.

Another Mumbai raider to underline the gulf in class was Encino, trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha. Returning after a 245 day layoff, the well prepared gelding, sharpened by an impressive mock race, produced a performance that suggested the break had merely been an extended holiday. Clocking a blistering 1:10.03 for the sprint, Encino tracked the pace under Sandesh before being unleashed in the final 400 metres. The response was immediate and emphatic. He settled the issue in a few strides and streaked away to score by an expanding seven lengths. Gloriousness finished second, but only after the winner had disappeared into what looked like a different postal code. See The Light was a remote third in what was virtually a no contest.

The Mumbai contingent, meanwhile, continued to enjoy what resembled a guided tour rather than a race meeting. Pradeep Chouhan trained Azadi lived up to her name by enjoying complete freedom in the 1200 metres R R Byramji Plate for maiden three year olds. Backed as though defeat had been outlawed, Azadi dictated matters from the outset and coasted home in commanding fashion. Second favourite Aprameya followed her home without ever looking like catching her, while Shadai finished third.

The 1400 metres Southern Empire Plate for horses rated 20 to 45 saw Joseph Awale trained Absolute Force, a Mumbai discard, receive inspired support to start joint favourite with Destroyer despite not having won for over 600 days. The confidence proved well founded. Settled at the rear, Absolute Force swept past the field with a decisive burst approaching the final furlong and won with authority from the late finishing last start winner My Solitaire. Shahenshah finished third. Destroyer never landed a blow, while Oxytocin reverted to his familiar habit of flattering to deceive, once again finding a novel way to run below expectations.

Sajid Qureshi trained NRI Ace, whose recent form had inspired little enthusiasm, finally broke a barren spell stretching beyond 400 days. Making every yard of the running in the 1200 metres event, the mare established a decisive lead turning for home and clung on bravely. Favourite Power of Beauty flew home too late, failing by the narrowest of margins, while another fancied runner, Stellantis, was a disappointing fourth.

The only blemish on Mumbai`s otherwise flawless afternoon came in the 1800 metres Galilee Plate for horses rated 20 to 45. Arjun Mangalorkar trained Mandate locked horns with Pesi Shroff`s runner Angelisa in a stirring duel throughout the final furlong and, for once, the all-conquering Mumbai maestro was forced to play runner-up. Apprentice Aleenuddin showed admirable determination to squeeze every ounce from Mandate, who prevailed by a short head to shed his maiden status at the eighth attempt. The joint favourite Stalingrad never threatened, while Mandate rewarded his supporters with handsome odds and ensured that the locals had at least one reason to smile before the curtains came down.