The Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi Million saw another glittering day of fashion and festivities at the Mahalaxmi racecourse. A crowd of about 15000 – 20000 thronged the racecourse to witness the ‘Juvenile Derby.’ The Renault Duster offered as grand prize for a free contest of skill also had its huge share of hunters putting in their forms and keeping fingers crossed. The fashion divas were trotting around dressed to kill, making heads turn as they walked by. The atmosphere was electric as the race drew closer for the richest race in the country for three-year-olds horses.

Although the start was level, it proved ominous for the hot favourite Be Safe as the horse on his inside, Eragon shifted out and Be Safe was hindered in his first step. That seemed to have a sparked pressure upon jockey Sreekanth as he hurried on to go across from the outer most draw all the way inwards towards the railings, as a result he found himself in the last position with a wall of horses in front. Sreekanth, who had partnered Be Safe in all his three victories so far, then tried to make his move from the outside for clearer ground and in doing so took the turn wide, thereby losing crucial ground at the turn as well.

Meanwhile, up in front, War Command was leading them all into the straight, with Quasar and Solomon closing in. Sandesh was working hard on Shivlaik Storm and moved closer the front-runners soon on turning for home. Sandesh was constantly niggling Shivalik Storm (Dancing Forever – Badraan) right from the 800 meter mark and even handed him a strong reminder at the turn.

War Command started to drift under pressure as Shivalik Storm gathered momentum and started to breathe down his neck. Despite jockey CS Jodha’s efforts, War Command went wide across the track. Shivalik Storm quickened in the final furlong and got past War Command and Quasar. Be Safe still had a lot of running to do as he made his bid from the centre of the track, closer to the stand side than the ideal inner rails. As though numbed by the intensity of the high pressure race, Sreekanth was not half as aggressive as he is known to be. His use of whip also was sparing, when he needed to have gone all out in the homestretch. Be Safe finished on at a fiery pace, but all was over by then. Shivalik Storm had stolen the thunder and the winning post could not have arrived too soon for the Cooji Katrak ward.

It in a later development, after the last race, the Stewards questioned jockey B Sreekanth with regard to his riding astride Be Safe. They found him guilty of ‘incompetent riding’ and penalized him, suspending him for four race days starting from 13^th March 2014.

For the winning connections, this was a memorable moment. “I am delighted that Shivalik Storm produced his best when most required,” said a visibly jubilant Nirmal Singh, the part owner along with M/s Vikram Singh, Anil Lad & Shewakramani and also the breeder of Shivalik Storm. “This is a great moment of success and I thank trainer Cooji Katrak and jockey Sandesh for this victory. Shivalik Storm had shown improvement with every run and we were confident that he would run a good race. Of course we were weary of Be Safe, he was the universal first choice after all. Sandesh rode purposefully and pulled off a superb victory. This is sheer joy, said Mr Nirmal Singh.

“It was a tough race right from the start and honestly I did believe we could make it in a close finish,” said jockey A Sandesh. “Our strategy worked for us. Yes, I had to push him constantly past the 1000 meter marker. He never lost focus and when I asked him for an effort, he galloped very well. He accelerated tremendously in the homestretch from 300 onwards, which is when I realized that we may just make it. I didn’t know what was happening behind; all I focused on was the winning post ahead. It was only when we hit the wire that I realized that Be Safe was right alongside.  

There is always a thin line between winning and losing, and in this game of horseracing, it’s a ‘winner-takes-all’ proposition. Shivalik Strom got it all precisely and deservedly won the title of the Champion Juvenile.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Zavaray Poonawalla was in good humour. He spoke in English, Hindi and Marathi to the amusement of the crowded stands. “We thank you all for turning up in high numbers and supporting the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million for all these years. Twenty five years have gone by and we hope you all keep coming for the next 25 years as well. From our end, we will try to bring you the best races and entertainment. This time we have offered the Renault Duster as the bumper prize and we will keep offering bigger and better prizes in the years to come. I hope you all have enjoyed the day and we look forward to your presence next year as well,” said Mr Zavaray Poonawalla.

One gentleman from the public enclosure, Mr Pradeep Nayak cracked the placing code of the top four positions of the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million race. He was the lucky winner of the Renault Duster and received the keys to the car from the Poonawallas. “I am immensely happy to win this car. I don’t know how to drive the car, but I will take it happily. I thank the Poonawalla family for this generous offer and this is a memorable moment of my life,” said the winner Mr Nayak.   

Twenty Five eyars have gone by since Le Gris Cheval won the inaugural Poonawalla Breeders’ Million as it was then called in 1990. The Poonawalla brothers, Dr Cyrus and Zavaray have always been the favurites of the masses. Free entry and tote betting vouchers of Rs 50/- were distributed to each of the first 5000 entrants to the public enclosure. The crowd cheered the winning connections of Shivalik Storm enthusiastically. The cheers grew as loud when one amongst them, Mr Diwakar Nayak, walked to the podium to receive the keys to the Renault Duster Car  to claim his grand prize. The concept of the contest of skill, a first by the Poonawallas starting way back in 1990, has only increased the participation and the interest and endeared the first family of Indian racing like no other to the masses.