Two fillies who will feature in the first classic of the season, the Fillies Championship stakes made a fine impression on the opening day of the summer season. The Arjun Manglorkar schooled Aster Rose despite racing green in the straight proved too good for a good type of colt Rafa who had remained unbeaten from his two starts, making a winning debut before coming up tops in Hyderabad.

And Siobhan who has joined Suleiman Attaollahi’s string after her fair yet satisfying stint in Mumbai, donkey-licked the opposition in the lower division of the event, the Maj Newton Davis Memorial Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs.  Though Siobhan clocked a better time for the seven furlongs trip and she won with a measure of comfort, Aster Rose who has big scope for improvement appears better suited for the mile and this daughter of Multidimensional is one of the frontline contenders for the first classic of the season.

Arjun Manglorkar who proudly led in Aster Rose later led in Storm Ahead in the Littleover Plate to start the season on an emphatic note. Storm Ahead who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring  opened the favourite before money came pouring in on the Dominic schooled Pull The Plug but the Dominic ward  disappointed most failing to even make the frame. The ten to one shot My Transcripts from Neil Darashah hit the front and assumed command at the distance post before John astride Storm Ahead packed punch and edged out My Transcripts close home. Amazing Skill did well to finish third ahead of Ravelnation who caught the eye producing a good final burst without sufficient assistance from the stable.

John earlier had it easy on the Prithviraj-trained on-money favourite Rare And Famous  who cantered home in the Malenahalli Plate run over a sprint. The winner is on top of his game and is set to provide an encore. Queen’s Ace impressed most while finishing second and it will not be long before this Lokanath ward enters the winners’ circle this season.

Leading pro Suraj Narredu was one another who recorded a double through the goodtype of youngster Namid from trainer Nel Darashah’s yard and Aster Rose.

Serena Ballerina from the stables of Prithviraj garnered the maximum support on the strength of her brilliant performances in the morning trials in the Esquire Trophy. The on-money favourite hit the front the moment the nine youngsters came under the starter’s flag for the seven furlongs before she surrendered the initiative in the final furlong to debutant Namid who produced a sparkling gallop in the final furlong to record a good victory on debut. All credit To Neil, back after registering a classic double at Ooty,  for sending out  Namid in top condition. The winner is a goodtype of youngster and more will be heard of him in the weeks ahead.

The first plum of the season was claimed by the four to one shot Starlet from trainer Dominic’s yard who easily snuffed out the challenge of the favourite Super Sunshine  to take home the Mayor’s Cup. Starlet winner of the 1000 Guineas in winter before she was disqualified testing positive for a banned drug  was confidently fancied by the knowledgeable  who declared that the Dominic filly had  successfully contested against higher rated and more importantly higher ranked  horses at this centre and that Super Sunshine and Sea Fairey on the strength of one victory held no threat  to Starlet. The pundits were duly rewarded, Starlet confirming that she is a top class filly.  Sea Fairy appeared rusty all through the sprint trip and this run of the talented Suleiman ward is best ignored .

The opening race of the season saw the 10 to one shot from Mahesh’s yard, Splendid Splasher  romp home in the hands of Vinod Shinde. The favourite Intrepid Warrior who was fancied very strongly by the insiders and the right connections  failed to jump well and gain a favourable position early on in the race and though Akshay Kumar did well to keep him in the hunt, he was out of gas in the final furlong and eventually finished in the ruck.