Show me the Derby, and I’ll take it home” might as well be engraved on Pesi Shroff’s coat of arms—if he ever needed one. Winning Derbies at every racing centre isn’t just a habit for Shroff; it’s practically a reflex. He doesn’t just win them; he collects them like stamps, except instead of sticking them in a book, he puts them on his trophy shelf with the casual ease of someone rearranging furniture.

As a jockey, Shroff won more Derbies than most riders could even dream of participating in. Now, as a trainer, he’s proving that excellence doesn’t just fade with time—it evolves. With total dedication bordering on obsession (he might as well live in the stable), and armed with a battalion of blue-blooded horses, Shroff has turned Derby-winning into a boringly predictable routine. His results? Monotonously brilliant, year after year. It’s the kind of monotony everyone dreams of having.

His secret? A hunger so insatiable that yesterday’s glory is forgotten by breakfast, and the grind begins afresh. For Shroff, success isn’t just a destination; it’s a treadmill—and one he’s sprinting on at top speed. The man approaches every day as if his reputation is on trial, and given his results, the jury has been delivering unanimous verdicts of greatness for decades now.

What Shroff has achieved is something most can only fantasize about. He rode with the finesse of an artist and now trains with the precision of a chess grandmaster. His sheer dominance has drained the competition to the point that challengers might as well wave the white flag before entering the paddock. Truly, the man at the top isn’t just Pesi Shroff; it’s Pesi Shroff and a mountain of trophies no one else can seem to climb.

Duke of Tuscany, the standout performer of the Gr 1 2400 metres HPSL Golconda Derby Stakes—the crown jewel of the Hyderabad winter racing season—dominated proceedings in a manner befitting royalty. Ironically, the gelding’s arrival in his current stable was less about strategy and more about circumstance, stepping in as a late entrant after trainer Laxman Singh earned himself a suspension for a medication breach. Yet, if there were doubts about the transition, the progeny of Cougar Mountain dispelled them entirely. Striding into the paddock in the pink of condition, Duke of Tuscany already looked like he had the race in his pocket before the gates even opened.

The opposition, truth be told, was never expected to challenge his supremacy. The fillies who had shown promise in the Oaks appeared outclassed, and Duke of Tuscany’s authoritative Guineas victory had already hinted that this Derby was his for the taking. The only lingering questions were whether he’d handle the mile-and-a-half trip under Trevor Patel with the same ease and, perhaps more tantalizingly, whether his potential stretched beyond this local dominance.

The former query was answered with clinical precision—Trevor guided the Duke to a decisive and almost arrogant victory. The latter question, however, remains. While Duke of Tuscany looked untouchable at Hyderabad, the choppy waters of the Indian Derby may prove a far sterner test. For now, though, the Duke sits atop his winter throne, leaving the racing world to ponder if this local hero has what it takes to step onto the national stage.

As the gates flew open, Dapper Look sprang forward with Akshay Kumar keen to play pacemaker. The long shot set a modest tempo, trailed by Duke of Tuscany, Nyx, Secret Saint, and White Pearl. Meanwhile, Seek Alpha seemed to have an existential crisis right out of the gate, questioning his life choices as he trailed the pack from a very safe (and socially distant) position.

White Pearl, however, had her share of woes too, getting checked mid-race as if she’d stumbled upon a speed bump and decided to step back rather than step up.

The field straightened for home with Dapper Look still hanging onto the lead, but Duke of Tuscany, with the effortless power of a sports car stuck in second gear, loomed large. Trevor Patel, cool as ever, let the gelding loose with a gentle nudge, and Duke of Tuscany surged ahead, leaving the rest looking like they'd missed the memo on race day. The gelding cruised to a widening three-length victory, Trevor hardly breaking a sweat.

Dapper Look clung onto second, fending off Nyx and Secret Saint, while White Pearl ambled home in fifth, possibly reminiscing about her mid-race misfortune. And then there was Seek Alpha—finishing so far behind you’d be forgiven for thinking he was merely out for a leisurely Sunday stroll.