THE F. D. WADIA TROPHY (GR.III)
This race was formerly called “The Poona City Cup”, and was established as one of the two top races for three-year-olds during the Pune Racing Season. From 1976 it was renamed “The F. D. Wadia Cup” (later “The F. D. Wadia Trophy”), in memory of Mr. Faly Wadia’s contribution to Indian Racing and Breeding. During the inaugural running of this race in 1976, the cup value was Rs.5000/- and the winner’s stakes were Rs.40,400/-. The first winner of the renamed race was “CHASHM-E-SHAHI”, carrying the famous cherry and black Goculdas colours, trained by B. K. Lagad and ridden by E. Alford.
Faly Wadia is acknowledged as a pioneer of thoroughbred breeding in India. With his sister-in-law, Ms. Perin Dalal, he established the Yeravada Stud Farm in 1938-39. During his time, eight Indian Derby winners were bred at the stud and the ninth reared there, among many Classic winners. Three of the most celebrated horses in Indian turf history were foaled there: HER MAJESTY (the first filly to win four Indian Classics), “PRINCE PRADEEP” (Indian Triple Crown & later champion sire), and “SQUANDERER” (Indian Triple Crown and only beaten once in 19 races).
For much of his life, he worked for the cause of Indian breeders. His most important contribution to the turf came when racing was threatened with extinction by the Bombay (now Mumbai) and Madras (now Chennai) Governments between 1947 and 1953, and the breeding industry suffered incalculable damage. During those dark days, he spearheaded the unrelenting efforts of the National Horse Breeding Society to persuade the State Governments to reverse their decisions, when appeals by the race clubs had met with adamant refusal. These efforts were finally crowned in 1953 thanks to the intervention of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel.
Faly Wadia died on 1st February 1976 in the paddock at Mahalakshmi a few minutes after horses bred at Yeravada finished first, second and third in the Indian Derby.
In 2015 it was reclassified to Gr.III, after the Indian Pattern Committee decided to implement the National Pyramid from the pattern 2014/2015 starting from 1st November 2014.
