Zuccaro dominates to win Zavaray Poonawalla Indian Turf Invitation Cup in Mysuru
Zuccaro, ridden by Vivek G and trained by Pesi Shroff, won the Zavaray Poonawalla Indian Turf Invitation Cup at Mysuru on Sunday, prevailing in the 2,400m feature of the meeting.
The six-year-old Zuccaro, by Kingda Ka out of Mahali, was settled mid-bunch by Vivek G and moved for home before accelerating clear; he has since compiled a sequence of six straight victories. For the Khushroo Dhunjibhoy silks the result completed a Grade 1 double after Dyf won the Zavaray Poonawalla Stayers’ Cup a day earlier, and trainer Pesi Shroff was credited with nursing Zuccaro back from an injury that forced him to miss the race in 2025, taking almost a year to 'produce' him in March 2026. The crowd hailed Zuccaro the 'Champion of Champions', and the report stated he certainly ranks among the all-time greats of Indian racing.
In the Invitation Cup, Zuccaro (Kingda Ka-Mahali) finished 10-1/4 lengths ahead of Redefined (Phoenix Tower-Symi), with Duke Of Tuscany third and Sovereign King fourth; the time for the 2,400m was 2m, 34.99s. The race card listed the owners as Mr. K.N. Dhunjibhoy and Mr. Z.K. Dhunjibhoy & Ms. Anosha Meyers rep. Five Stars Shipping Co Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Vispi R. Patel, Mr. A.S. Narielwala, Mr. Eruch Adi Mody & Mr & Mrs. D.P. Adenwalla, with P. Shroff noted as trainer and Zuccaro as the favourite.
The Major P.K. Mehra Memorial Super Mile saw two late withdrawals—Alfonsine and Once You Go Black—reducing the field to five before Echoes Of Time, a son of Planetaire trained by Arvind Ganapathy and ridden by A. Ashhad Asbar, produced a sustained effort to collar Pride’s Prince in the straight. Echoes Of Time won by a neck with Shamrock third and Prokofiev fourth, covering 1,600m in 1m, 38.33s; the owner was listed as Mr. S. Ganapathy and the trainer as Aravind Ganapathy.
Jockey Akshay Kumar enjoyed a standout weekend, riding four winners which included two Grade 1 victories on Saturday and a Grade 2 success on Sunday, while jockey-turned-trainer S. John saddled the winners of the Zavaray Poonawalla Sprinters’ Cup and the Suresh Mahindra Multi Million, both carrying the colours of Arun Kumar. The report added: "It might well have been another Grade 1 success for the same connections had Alfonsine not been withdrawn just before the start of the Super Mile."
Other winners on the card included Spotlight (Trevor) taking the Karnataka Race Horse Owners’ Association Million (1,200m) in 1m, 12.84s, Marzgovel second and Silent Achiever third; Spotlight was the favourite and the trainer was Aman Hussain. Maana (Trevor) won the Royal Western India Turf Club Million (1,800m) in 1m, 53.11s from Moon Oracle and Magnus, with Darius Byramji listed as trainer and Moon Oracle named as favourite.
Kiss Of Grey (Md. Talib) captured the Japan Cup (1,400m) in 1m, 28.01s ahead of Your Sri Shakthi and Shamsheer; the favourite was Your Sri Shakthi and the trainer was S. Narredu. Frederika (Akshay K) won the Suresh Mahindra Multi Million (1,400m) in 1m, 25.38s with Money Bags second, trainer S. John; Gold Kite (Antony) prevailed in the Smt Gayatri Devi and Sardar K.B. Ramachandraraj Urs Million (1,200m) in 1m, 13.08s, with K. Aditya listed as trainer. Ice Of Fire (A. Asbar) took the Bangalore Turf Club Ltd Million (1,600m) in 1m, 40.07s.
Betting and pool figures for the meeting included Jackpot: ₹11,892; Runner-up: 2,482; Mini Jackpot: 1,429; Treble (i): 2,225; (ii): 2,289 (c/o); (iii): 234.