Despite the fact that the bookmakers chose not to operate due to the cash crunch following the demonetization, more than six crore collections at the strong Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) tote satisfied the administrators at this premier centre and with the Mumbai bookmakers agreeing to open shop from the first day of the Mumbai season on Sunday, the Bengaluru bookmakers, it is learnt are ready to follow suit and soon will be back with the chalk and duster.

After the opening week-end went in favour of the punters before the one-day cancellation last week, the punters again had the better of exchanges, five favourites justifying the top billing while providing the punters, who understandably have reduced the unit of betting, a big reason to smile.

The Irfan Ghatala schooled Salazaar emerged the best of the public choices to score, winning from a no hope position. The on-money favourite alarmingly shifted out wide and lost considerable ground half-way home and just when all seemed lost for his supporters, the Irfan ward in a never-say-die bid produced an astounding gallop in the final furlong to win the upper division of the Adichunchunagiri Plate from Cadillac Sky and Golden Bow. The second in demand at the betting ring, African Emperor from Sulaiman Attaollahi’s yard who had chalked out a facile victory on the second day dropped his rider Ryan Marshall and Perfect King too finished riderless. Salazaar, like I mentioned before his victory in summer is in the classic mould and his progress this winter is certain to evoke interest.

The fact that he was shouldering a welterweight of 60 kilos and that he was pitted against Sang Royal whose connections were very bullish didn’t stop the followers of form going big on the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Pallas and the favourite piloted in copybook fashion by John proved his mettle, taking the Talkad Trophy home without really extending himself. Stablemate Swiss Eagle who at one stage threatened to drop a bombshell before John pulled out all stops on Pallas finished a game second ahead of Back Of Beyond while Sang Royal after streaking ahead at the distance post lacked the gas in the tank and eventually failed to finish in the frame.

The S Ganapathy-trained Magistero who had let down a large following on the opening day was one other favourite who donkey-licked the opposition in the Kokkarebellur Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Leading pro Pradeep Chouhan pushed Magistero to the front soon after the dozen runners came under the starter’s flag and the talented Ganapathy ward did the rest, detonating all his rivals the moment he entered the straight. On the strength of this performance the connections of  Magistero, it is likely  will take a shot in the 2000 Guineas before he shifts to Guindy to stake his claim in the South India blue riband. How long will Cape Cross continue to find one better. It is needless to mention that her trainer Inayathullah and owner S Pathy  are most frustrated, the filly finishing second in all her five starts.

Trainer Imtiaz Khan after a good Mysore season struck with Love Is Life in the Bellary Plate run over a mile. The Imtiaz ward was fancied most and he justified the confidence of his supporters pegging back the late challenge of Winsomeness.

Luc Divine from Neil’s yard was the fifth favourite in the nine-event card to oblige. Apprentice jockey Nazerul Alam after gaining a favourable position early on in the sprint event stuck to the task and pegged back the belated effort of Takecover who was injudiciously piloted by another apprentice Manjunath, taking the Sirajuddin ward miles wide at the top of the straight before gaining momentum and at end losing out by less than a length. Chicago was quietly fancied in this event, the right connections having a good win and place touch and like Takecover, Chicago too was not ably piloted by apprentice Girish and finished third in this no whips event.

The unfancied White Snowdrops recorded a shock victory in the opening event. The winner from Samar Singh’s yard edged out Dontworrymonday while the favourite Granada was never in the hunt.

The first race for youngsters saw Rajesh Narredu schooled Phoenix Falcon start his career on a winning note. The winner looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and the moment he jumped from box 10 to hit the front, it was clear that he will be hard to down and though Turf Star from Mohd. Khan’s yard did make an attempt, Phoenix Falcon put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong.

Ignored in the betting ring simply because he was making an appearance after a five-month lay-off the double classic winner at Udhagamandalam, Battalion made Neil Darashah proud doing what he did in the Ooty Derby, making every post a winning one in the hands of jockey Zervan. The winner is back at his best and it will pay to follow his progress this season. The well fancied Siobhan raced in patches and finished a tame third behind Feliciana while Speed Hawk took the fourth spot.

Secret Pursuit from trainer Padmanabhan’s yard partnered by the Scottish pro David Allan garnered the maximum support in the concluding event, the lower division of the Adichunchunagiri Plate but the public choice after a lethargic start only could finish second behind Handsome Stash, a smart and deserving winner from Gregory Sandhu’s yard.