In a career spanning over 29 years, Pesi has written and re-written the history books several times and will undeniably be remembered as one of the greatest jockeys to grace the Indian turf during his era. A man who has thrilled and enthralled horseracing audiences across India he is now set to do as a trainer what he did as a jockey.
     Soon after retiring from the saddle, he took up the training of equine athletes and over the last five years his stable has steadily progressed up the ranks. Armed with some of the best pedigrees in the country, interspersed with very impressive gotabroad bloodlines, his yard looks ready to take-on all challengers. His youngsters are forward, the classic hopefuls are peaking, and the older horses are well placed at the scales. Another champion trainer trophy looks rather cozily inevitable.
      An extremely rare Guineas double by Jacqueline is testament to the fact that when a horse is in peak form, Pesi doesn’t hold back. He firmly believes that the top form any horse possesses, can last for only 2-3 months at a stretch, and he surely knows how to exploit that. Says Pesi, “Jacqueline is a very good filly, and the Indian racing public can definitely expect big things from her. She is a small filly with an enormous heart.”
      Three Champion Trainer trophies have already been added to the endless silverware he has accumulated whilst capturing his 19 championships when in the saddle, and his training career is only five years old. This soft-spoken man is rather cavalier about the aura that surrounds him and doesn’t get perturbed by the constant pressure to win, imposed by an adoring racing public.
      Pesi explains, “Look, I am a realist…things like this just happen on a day. You can hope for it but not really plan for it. We didn’t think we were going to win six races. All the horses were running with a fair chance. The racing public in Mumbai has always been my friend and I am glad that I didn’t let them down. The horses are so well-bred that they have to give a good account of themselves. If you notice some

of my runners were still maidens while a couple of them were winners in class IV. What they do from here on matters more than winning six in a day.”
      Typical Pesi! He will always downplay his achievements and look forward to his next challenge. But when reminded that he had bettered his record of five in a day as a jockey, Pesi allowed me an insight into the way he approaches the game today.
     “Being a trainer is very different from when I was a jockey. I was very lucky to have had the opportunity to observe legends like Rashid Byramji and Uttam Singh ply their trade. The knowledge they gave me is invaluable. It is imperative that all my horses get a good education. Horses can have so many different problems, that we need to first understand and then correct them. Some will sweat too much, some don’t eat well, and some are just a bag of nerves. It is my job to know my horses and make sure they put their best foot forward on the track. I also allow my horses to take their own time to mature. With humans we first go to Nursery, then School and finally College. I allow my horses the same logical leeway and never push them along too fast. When the time comes they will perform. They are top quality race-horses and I assure you they know it.”
      It is as simple as that in the mind of the great horseman. A feat such as this has never been achieved in Western India and I felt a little aggrieved by the lack of enthusiasm the local press displayed. To win six races in a day is unheard of and I personally felt that it was the kind of thing that would encourage any editor to yell, ‘Stop the presses!’. The local media disagreed and polite mentions were made. I asked Pesi whether he felt that there could have been a bit more coverage.
      He replied very honestly, ‘I’m sure they have far more important things to report!’

- Niall Sadh