Invitation Cup weekend: Royal Legacy runs to glory in the Mysore Derby

Royal Legacy’s trainer James McKeown, jockey Akshay Kumar, co-owners S.R. Sanas and K. Kaliyaperumal, Mysore Race Club chairman K.T. Balakrishnan along with Zavaray Poonawalla, Behroze Poonawalla, Simone Poonawalla Pandole and Delna Poonawalla and other invitees at the award ceremony for the Zavaray S Poonawalla Mysore Derby
| Photo Credit:
M.A. Sriram

Rieko (Akshay Kumar astride) winning the Zavaray Poonawalla Sprinters’ Cup.
| Photo Credit:
M.A. Sriram

Sprinters’ Cup winner Rieko (Akshay Kumar up) being led in by owner P. Arun Kumar, right, and trainer S. John
| Photo Credit:
M.A. Sriram

Zavaray S. Poonawalla and Mysore Race Club chairman K.T. Balakrishna presenting the Zavaray Poonawalla Sprinters’ Cup to Rieko’s owner P. Arun Kumar as jockey Akshay Kumar and trainer S. John look on.
| Photo Credit:
M.A. Sriram

Tote favourite Dyf, ridden by Yash Narredu, winning the Zavaray Poonawalla Stayers’ Cup.
| Photo Credit:
M.A. Sriram

Owners K.N. Dhunjibhoy and Anita J. Captain, bringing in Dyf (Yash Narredu up) after the success in the Stayers’ Cup.
| Photo Credit:
M.A. Sriram

Dyf’s trainer Adhiraj S. Jodha, jockey Yash Narredu, A.S. Narielwala, Anita J. Captain, Mysore Race Club chairman K.T. Balakrishnan, Zavaray S. Poonawalla, K.N. Dhunjibhoy, Delna Poonawalla & Simone Poonawalla Pandole after the presentation of the Zavaray Poonawalla Stayers’ Cup.
| Photo Credit:
M.A. Sriram

The Mysore Race Club raised the bar on Saturday afternoon as it showcased three Grade 1 Races, each of which was an absolute thriller. A slow track meant there were no records broken, but racing was definitely the winner under cloudy conditions.

Royal Legacy, the three-year-old daughter of Leitir Mor gave jockey Akshay Kumar his second Grade 1 success of the day when she waltzed away with the Zavaray S Poonawalla Mysore Derby. For trainer Mckeown it was a classic double as she had won the Mysore 1000 Guineas earlier in the season. More than that, it must have rekindled memories of winning the Invitation in Mysuru six years ago with Adjudicate.

Earlier, Rieko, the five-year-old son of Phoenix Tower, trained by S. John and ridden superbly by Akshay, pulled off a huge upset to land the spoils in the Zavaray Poonawalla Sprinters’ Cup. It was in many ways a re-enactment of what transpired six years ago. The fancied duo in 2020 were Multifaceted and Iron Age but both failed to deliver. This time around it was between Moneybags and Time And Tide and both fell by the wayside as Rieko pulled off his greatest victory.

Dyf, the seven-year-old son of Cougar Mountain, rose to the occasion to win the Zavaray Poonawalla Stayers’ Cup. Ridden by jockey Yash Narredu, Dyf picked up his second Stayers’ Cup in three years and gave trainer Adhiraj Singh Jodha some consolation from missing out on the Sprinters’ Cup by a nostril.

The results:

1. MADRAS RACE CLUB MILLION (1,600m): DESERT SHIELD (S. Sachin) 1, Wanganui (Antony) 2, Golden Sabre (Neeraj) 3 and Valor Queen (Trevor) 4. Nose, 1-1/2 and Snk. 1m, 40.76s. ₹40 (w), 10, 15 and 36 (p), SHP: 27, THP: 130, FP: 211, Q: 128, Trinella: 2,069/1,576, Exacta: 13,740/3,533. Favourite: Sensuous. Onwer: Mrs. Deepa Devaney. Trainer: Neil Devaney.

2. COROMANDEL GROMOR JUVENILE MILLION (1,200m): GARZIAN (Jagadeesh) 1, Osaka (Yash) 2, Astraeus (G. Vivek) 3 and Crazy Love (Neeraj) 3. 3/4, Lnk and dead-heat. 1m, 14.09s. ₹75 (w), 20, 16 and 10 & 17 (p), SHP: 71, THP: 27/46, FP: 1,060, Q: 758, Trinella: 2,804/874, Exacta: 71,376 (c/o). Favourite: Astraeus. Owners: Mr. Rakesh Kumar & Mr. B. Vijay. Trainer: V. Lokanath.

3. MYSORE MILLION (1,200m): STAR SYMPHONY (B.R. Kumar) 1, Major Saab (Aleemuddin) 2, Satin Lass (Rafique S.K) 3 and My Solitaire (Antony) 4. 4-1/4, Nose and Shd. 1m, 14.44s. ₹53 (w), 16, 22 and 22 (p), SHP: 35, THP: 69, FP: 322, Q: 109, Trinella: 832/462, Exacta: 7,429/2,729. Favourite: Major Saab. Owner: Mr. K.V. Prabhu Dev. Trainer: Pradeep Annaiah.

4. ZAVARAY POONAWALLA SPRINTERS’ CUP (1,200m): RIEKO (Phoenix Tower-Little Treasure) Akshay K 1, Encino (Gusto-Choice House) Suraj 2, Money Bags (Leitir Mor-Maleficent) Trevor 3 and Black Eagle (Excellent Art-Classic Sky) Gaurav S 4. Nose, 1-3/4 and 1-1/4. 1m, 12. 21s. ₹60 (w), 34, 10 and 10 (p), SHP: 36, THP: 53, FP: 1,625, Q: 386, Trinella: 1,540/303, Exacta: 29,322. Favourite: Money Bags. Owner: Mr. P. Arun Kumar. Trainer: S. John.

5. ROYAL CALCUTTA TURF CLUB MILLION (1,200m): FLIGHT ON (Akshay K) 1, Vibrant Queen (A. Hangal) 2, Eagle Eye (A. Asbar) 3 and Sicyon (Trevor) 4. Not run: Art Collector. 3/4, 3 and 1-1/2. 1m, 12.52s. ₹69 (w), 17, 24 and 16 (p), SHP: 95, THP: 54, FP: 685, Q: 366, Trinella: 4,894/1,398, Exacta: 15,198/6,513. Favourite: Sicyon. Owners: Mr. Rajendran rep. Rapar’s Galloping Stars LLP, Mr. Ashok Ranpise & Mr. K. Kaliyaperumal. Trainer: Prasanna Kumar.

6. ZAVARAY S POONAWALLA MYSORE DERBY 2026 (2,000m): ROYAL LEGACY (Leitir Mor-Balmoral Castle) Akshay K 1, Mahogany (Phoenix Tower-Maisha) G. Vivek 2, Stud Poker (Kameko-Cat’s Claw) Suraj 3 and Garfunkle (Plumatic-Scarborough) Mukesh K 4. 1-1/2, Nose and 3/4. 2m, 08.06s. ₹62 (w), 16, 10 and 11 (p), SHP: 31, THP: 47, FP: 199, Q: 109, Trinella: 982/337, Exacta: 12,045. Favourite: Stud Poker. Owners: Mr. P.J. Vazifdar, Mrs. P.J. Vazifdar, Mr. M. Rishad, Mr. K. Kaliyaperumal, Mr. D R Thacker rep. DT Racing & Breeders LLP & Mr. S.R. Sanas. Trainer: James Mckeown.

7. ZAVARAY POONAWALLA STAYERS’ CUP (3,000m): DYF (Cougar Mountain-Soak) Yash 1, Red Bishop (Kingda Ka-Solar Midnight) G. Vivek 2, Dream Alliance (Planetaire-Shaktiroop) Akshay K 3 and Victor Hugo (Ampere-Edith Piaf) L.A. Rozario 4. Not run: Ramiel. 1, 5 and Shd. 3m, 35.79s. ₹13 (w), 10 and 13 (p), SHP: 21, THP: 23, FP; 22, Q: 13, Trinella: 37/26, Exacta: 37/24. Favourite: Dyf. Owners: Mr. K.N. Dhunjibhoy and Mr. Z.K. Dhunjibhoy rep. Five Stars Shipping Co Pvt Ltd, Ms. Anosha Meyers, Mr. Jiyaji Bhosale, Mr. Rishikesh Maloji Bhosale & Mr. Rama Seshu Eyunni. Trainer: Adhiraj S Jodha.

8. HYDERABAD RACE CLUB MILLION (1,400m): REFINED AGGRESSION (Trevor) 1, Shining Ways (Suraj) 2, Money Fair (R. Pradeep) 3 and Seize The Grey (N.S. Parmar) 4. Not run: Badshaah and Hazel. 5, 5-1/4 and 1-3/4. 1m, 26.14s. ₹44 (w), 19, 21 and 35 (p), SHP: 28, THP: 93, FP: 85, Q: 54, Trinella: 1,192/952, Exacta: 3,285/1,151. Favourite: Shining Ways. Owners: M/s. Blazing Saddles (PF), Mr. K. Manoj Kumar, Manjri Horse Breed Farm Pvt Ltd. Trainer: Prasanna Kumar.

Jackpot: ₹4,10,958; Runner-up: 11,008; Mini jackpot: 8,527; Treble (i): 2,593 (c/o); (ii): 5,737 (c/o); (ii): 959.