Veteran trainer S S Shah has called time on a remarkable career spanning 55 years—an era defined by excellence, grace, and an unwavering commitment to the sport. In that time, he not only saddled countless winners, including three Indian Derby triumphs, but also won the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Shah was the rarest of gentlemen in the racing world—a man who never let success weigh him down. Despite his towering achievements, he remained unassuming, ever willing to lend a hand even at his own inconvenience. I recall a moment that perfectly encapsulated his generosity—spotting me waiting for transport one day, he took a detour on his way home just to drop me at the Pune racecourse, brushing off my protests with his characteristic warmth. That was S S Shah: kind, humble, and always within reach, no matter how high his stature soared.

Fittingly, his farewell to the sport was scripted in poetic fashion. Golden Rule, a horse bearing a name that reflected Shah`s very philosophy of life and racing, signed off his career with a thrilling victory, nosing out the favourite Mriga in the concluding race of Sunday`s Mumbai card. It was a farewell as dignified and memorable as the man himself.

The Shah brothers—S S Shah in Mumbai and S M Shah in Bangalore—were synonymous with success, earning respect and admiration in equal measure. Their influence on Indian racing will remain indelible, much like the legacy S S Shah leaves behind—one of quiet greatness, dignified triumphs, and a lifetime devoted to the sport he so dearly loved.

Nazzak Chenoy-trained Shambala seems to have cracked the code over shorter trips, winning with the sort of ease that suggests he could probably get a few more wins. Having already racked up four wins in similar fashion, it was no surprise that the betting public threw their weight behind him in the 1400 metres Seth Ramnath Daga Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above. And, true to expectations, Shambala delivered with minimum fuss, keeping Snowfall at bay—a horse that continues its personal mission to never actually cross the winning post first, no matter how ‘reasonable` the effort.

The race lost its already dwindling competitive edge when Christophany bowed out before the gates even opened, leaving it to the remaining contenders to try and make something of it. Cellini, seemingly on a caffeine rush, set off at a blistering pace, trailed by Son Of A Gun, Shambala, and the ever-hopeful Snowfall. The latter, despite an unenthusiastic start, decided to show some urgency for once and moved up alongside Shambala.

However, Anthony Raj, aboard Shambala, barely had to flex a muscle before his mount took charge, cruising into the lead while Snowfall huffed and puffed in pursuit. As for the rest, they might as well have been running in a different postcode—Son Of A Gun trailed home a distant third, while Cellini seemed to run out of steam the moment the serious business began.

M K Jadhav-trained Midnight Express was handed what could best be described as a "softball assignment," and the five-kilo allowance courtesy of apprentice Bharath Singh only made the task easier in the 1000 metres M H Ahmedbhoy Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. With the kind of opposition on offer, all the young jockey had to do was keep things straightforward—settle the filly in third, find the rails, and hold on. Midnight Express took care of the rest, storming past Ocean and Storm Cloud in what was essentially a formality rather than a contest.

Meanwhile, Maysara seemed to have misplaced her invitation to the race, choosing instead to finish last in what can only be described as an invisible performance. Demetrius, on the other hand, had his own drama—he jumped out with the blinds still on, reared up in protest, and never got a fair shot. Rightly, the Stewards ruled him a non-starter, sparing his connections from an afternoon of avoidable heartache.

In the 1200 metres 1805 Trophy, Aman Altaf Hussain-trained Art Collector played a game of ‘now you see me, now you don`t.` After an inexplicable flop last time despite an impressive win before that, he was now sent off at long odds under Mustakim Alam. But racing, like life, enjoys irony—this time, Art Collector made a mockery of the odds, pouncing on the front-running Esperanza to score with surprising ease.

The betting market had a different vision for the race, throwing big money behind Esperanza and Quicker. But Esperanza`s front-running gamble didn`t pay off, while Quicker lived up to its name a bit too late, finishing strongly but forgetting that winning requires urgency before the final furlong. As for Aperol, well, the horse continues its career as an enigma—showing up, but never really showing up.

The 1600 metres Cursetjee Dhunjishaw Salver, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, delivered a nail-biter as Thundering Phoenix, trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, swooped in at the very last stride to break Ultimo`s heart. Ultimo, under Ajinkya, seemed to have things under control, leading all the way like a horse that had read the script—until it decided to drift away from the rails, generously opening the door for the favourite to shoot through and snatch victory. It was the kind of plot twist that made punters groan in disbelief. Alexandros, meanwhile, had the small consolation of nosing out Lord And Master to pick up some place money.

Trainer Pesi Shroff had every reason to expect a winning performance from Matisse in the 1400 metres Jimmy Bharucha Salver, a race for three-year-olds. And the colt didn`t disappoint. Jockey Vivek G wasted no time, pushing the favourite ahead in the final furlong, where Matisse took command and stayed in control. Caradoc attempted a dramatic late charge, but the script had already been written. Ember Tower picked up third, while Bee Magical spent the final 200 meters battling imaginary traffic, eventually finishing eighth—a position best described as ‘not even close.`

The 1600 metres S A Wahid Plate, a race for the bottom-rung brigade, saw Remy Red, from Shazaan Shah`s yard, deliver a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners performance. The favourite casually shadowed Major Saab into the straight before storming clear, winning as he pleased. Chandrayaan ran on to grab second ahead of Yuletide, while The Flutist, who had attracted enthusiastic betting, never at any stage looked like a horse that knew it was in a race. Perhaps it was playing a slow tune—one that didn`t involve reaching the post in time.