Pesi Shroff, the undisputed conqueror

With 36 wins, trainer is all set to wear another champion crown

With just two days of racing left this season, ace trainer Pesi Shroff is all set to annex another title at the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC).

The champion jockey-turned trainer, Shroff is a run-away-victor with 36 wins as opposed to his nearest rival Imtiaz A Sait, who trails by 18 wins.

Purists refer to him as ‘champion trainer,’ Shroff, though, prefers: ‘we are the champions’. For, the humble man that the legendary Shroff, he is more than happy to give due credit and respect to all the people behind the iron curtain (syces, the handlers, and everyone involved with the stables).

“It is teamwork and it would be unfair to take the entire credit myself. This could not have been accomplished but for the effort of the entire team,” Shroff said while talking to FPJ.

Since his racing days and even now as a trainer, Shroff has always been in the limelight and along the way has won cupboard-full of silverware. So, when asked if is aware about his achievements, he succintly said: “To be honest, I don’t keep track of that, I am thankful to all the people, and they also deserve the same place of pride for this collective effort.”

But, the greatest triumph among all his wins is winning the Indian Derby. “I am sure that this is one race every trainer, jockey and the owners would want to win. It is like winning the World Cup or the Grand Slams,” said the 57-year-old Shroff.

Tina, Shroff's wife also joins in applauding her husband’s achievement but there is something more to it. “Yes, it's a great feeling. For him this is not the job but the passion which has been a driving force,” she said.

Meanwhile, the race for the jockey’s title is an edge-of-the-seat thriller. PS Chouhan with 22 wins and P Trevor with 19 wins under their belts are involved in keen tussle. And with two more race days on the cards the title race could go to the wires.