With three days of racing left in the Mumbai season, champion trainer Pesi Shroff stands on the brink of yet another milestone—his 24th championship across Pune and Mumbai.
Shroff has secured 29 winners, comfortably leading his closest rival, Adhirajsingh Jodha, who trails with 15. This commanding margin underscores his dominance, setting him up to claim his 18th championship title at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse.
While Shroff is not one to dwell on numbers, leaving the task of record-keeping to the statisticians and fans, his consistent success speaks volumes. “Of course, it’s always satisfying to win a championship,” he admits, though the accolades seem secondary to the joy of the sport itself.
Born in 1965 into a Parsi family, Shroff began his career as a jockey at the age of 16 when he was licensed by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) in Mumbai. His first victory came aboard My Squaw. Over a distinguished career, he competed in 5,614 races, claiming 1,751 wins, including 106 classic victories and 29 Derby titles.
Shroff’s name became synonymous with excellence when he won three consecutive Indian Derbies: on Exhilaration in 1989, Desert Warrior in 1990, and Starfire Girl in 1991. Notably, these wins came against renowned international jockeys like Lester Piggott, M.J. Kinane, and Walter Swinburn.
Transitioning to training in 2004, Shroff had to wait five years for his first Indian Derby victory as a trainer with Jacqueline in 2010, who went on to win four classic races under his guidance.
Remarkably, Shroff holds the unique distinction of achieving 1,000 wins both as a jockey and as a trainer. His 1,000th win as a trainer came with Khartoum, ridden by N.S. Parmar in 2018. Further cementing his legacy, Smashing’s triumph in the 2012 Indian Oaks saw Shroff saddle the winner, runner-up, and third-place finisher—all from his stable.
As the Mumbai season nears its close, Pesi Shroff's enduring excellence continues to set the gold standard in Indian horse racing.
