Her trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi and URBB managing director Mr Zeyn Mirza first planned to race her in the Fillies classic at Hyderabad before her owners suggested that she compete in the Million on the second day of the Mysore season. But after consulting Suraj Narredu, who was engaged to partner her they stuck to the original plan. The classy Cosmic Ray to the surprise of most railbirds didn’t race in Hyderabad nor  was she in the fray for the Million in Mysore. Had she suffered a setback  in training? was the big question making the rounds in the Bangalore racing campus. But the moment she walked into the paddock for the Raghulal Mysore 1000 Guineas, the first classic of the season on Thursday, she looked supremely fit and ready for the big battle. The Arjun Manglorkar schooled Thailand who had comfortably beaten the classy daughter of Burden Of Proof - Corsican Gal from the Kunigal Stud Farm was the one to beat after her heart warming effort against the top gun Well Connected and the Parvati-trained Gift Of Grace in Hyderabad. Thailand on paper appeared the best and was rightly fancied by the bookmakers too opening her the overwhelming favourite, quoted at (5/4) while Cosmic Ray had not many takers at (5/1).

Trevor guiding the fortunes of Thailand pushed her to the front soon after the relatively small field of six contestants came under the starter’s flag for the mile long trip and set a decent pace all through the backstretch. But the moment Thailand entered the straight she seemed under pressure and soon it was Cosmic Ray, who had stolen a march and the Sulaiman ward to the delight of the Kunigal camp romped home to register her first classic success in record time. Cosmic Ray clocked 1:33.65 seconds bettering the existing mark of 1:33,70 registered by Field Marshal five summers ago. It was a superb effort and Sulaiman, it is needless to mention was most pleased. So too Mr Zeyn Mirza who always rated Cosmic Ray high and was very hopeful that the filly will make a big presence on the classic scene. Abira, stablemate of Thailand, who many thought would find the mile long classic journey beyond her compass did well to gain the runner-up berth ahead of the local mainhope Lap Of Luxury while Thailand disappointed most.

Earlier in what appeared a very open affair, the Neil Darashah schooled War Hero and Castaway from the stables of Dominic garnered maximum support in the Gool & Soli Poonawalla Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. Last start winner Air Command from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard and the Chennai hopeful Breaking Bounds too did have their fair share of followers, but it was the other contestant from Chennai who cornered glory. King T’Chala from trainer Fazal-Ur-Rahman won the principal added attraction in style in the hands of Yash Narredu. Castaway was a trifle unlucky not getting a clear run when the race came on a boil and had to rest content with the runner-up berth though the Dominic ward was seen finishing on fastest at end. Air Command only managed to save place money while War Hero and Breaking Bounds failed to figure in the frame.

Disappointed that War Hero performed below par, the smile was quickly back on the face of Neil Darashah after the on-money favourite Defender trounced her rivals in the upper division of the Sidapur Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Leading pro Imran Khan confidently hit the front on the public choice the moment the dozen contenders came under the starter’s flag and never let the initiative slip cruising home without unduly extending the Neil ward who is set to record an encore. Decisive surprised most finishing ahead of Scarlet Princess.

Leading trainer Rakesh emerged the most successful pro in combination with jockey Umesh recording a double on the first classic day. The duo first struck through a long shot Turf  Legend in the  Original Vel R Ashok Kumar Memorial Trophy and later signed off in style, Umesh booting home the strongly fancied Vijaya Arjun in the concluding event, the T Dougall Memorial Plate run over a mile. Stablemate Eudora provided the icing on the cake finishing a game second ahead of Veni Vidi Vici.

Ultimate Power from Lokanath Gowda’s yard and Honey Trap from the stables of Arjun Manglorkar were the two other favourites to oblige while the public rage Cuban Pete from Sulaiman’s yard took a lot of good money down the drain in the lower division of the Sidapur Plate finising a tame second behind the five to one shot Memoriter from Azhar Ali’s yard confidently piloted by Chetan Kalay.