Wow what a opening day the Bengaluru contingent had on the Invitation Cup week-end at Guindy. Six winners from the eight advertised races, including the winner of the Sprinters' Cup and boy O boy the Bengaluru boys are delighted. The ten to one shot Devils Magic from Neil Devaney's yard set the ball rolling for Bengaluru. And on a day the Bengaluru contingent could do no wrong, fancied horses from this premier centre called the shots and at end when Akshay Kumar punched the favourite Pink Jasmine home, it was a massive effort,  six against the one recorded by Hyderabad and the success of Mumbai challenger Theon from Pesi Shroff's yard in the Stayers' Cup. 

Now before I start Saturday's racing tale, we need to doff our hats to the managing committee of the Madras Race Club (MRC) spearheaded by M A M R Muthaiah. Guindy really rolled out the red carpet for the racing carnival and Muthaiah and his team made sure that MRC raised the bar of the biggest racing spectacle. The racing professionals and administrators, the horse owners and the railbirds including the many big wigs from the corporate world, while lauding the effort of the host club disclosed that they enjoyed the carnival and will be back again for the Champion Of Champions event, the Indian Turf Invitation Cup on Sunday. 
"The idea is to make it memorable. And we want it to be a joyous occasion for all and we have really worked hard to set the standard," said Muthaiah pointing out that the big-ticket event at Guindy has attracted the best horses on the Indian circuit and that only confirms the trust MRC enjoys with the other premier clubs. 
 
Coming back to racing, Multifaceted  recorded his second straight success in the Zavaray S Poonawalla Spriinters' Cup and all credit to Darius Byramji for sending out the champion sprinter in top condition. The winner looked the best in the paddock parade and he readily justified his ranking, rating and top billing, sprinting home in emphatic fashion. Top gun Trevor Patel astride the best sprinter had it easy, tracking the speedy Iron Age all the way before he reminded Multifaceted the task ahead at the distance post and the Darius ward readily sped through to assume command and put the big race to bed in the final furlong. The Hyderabad hopeful Ashwa Bravo finished third behind Iron Age, while Corfe Castle, who ran Multifaceted close in the event at Mahalaxmi last year failed to repeat the effort much to the disappointment of the Hyderabad camp, who fancied the D'Silva ward to settle a score. 

While Corfe Castle failed miserably in his attempt to settle a score, Theon from Pesi Shroff's yard, who went down by a `neck' to My Opinion in the energy-sapping Stayers' Cup event at Mahalaxmi last year settled a score in style. The winner cleverly piloted by leading `Knight' Pradeep Chouhan was favourably placed all through the gruelling 3000 metres journey before Chouhan decided to move up and assume command at the top of the straight. The overwhelming favourite was challenged strongly by the Golconda Derby and Oaks winner Faith Of Success partnered by Neeraj Rawal  and the Bengaluru hopeful Speedster from trainer Warren Singh's yard, but in the hands of the wily Chouhan, Theon dug deep into his reserves and produced the extra bit which helped him seal the issue in the final 100 metres. Speedster did well to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Faith Of Success, while the second in demand at the betting ring, My Opinion only managed to fill the frame. The results of the Sprinters and the Stayers delighted Ameeta Mehra most, both champions bred at her famed Usha Stud Farm. Incidentally Ameeta also is the owner of Theon in partnership with Liane Luthria. 

A model of consistency, Pink Jasmine from the stables of Sulaiman Attaollahi helped punters sign off in style, producing a stellar effort in the concluding event, the Delhi Race Club Million run over a distance of nine furlongs. Akshay Kumar pushed the public choice to the front soon after the creditable field of 13 runners came under the starter's flag and never let the initiative slip, packing punch in the final furlong to record a double. The Mumbai challenger Key To The Mint from Dallas Todywalla's yard had his share of supporters and so too Top Dancer from the stables of Arjun Manglorkar. But the two found the winner too hot to handle. Gangster from Behram Cama's yard caught the eye finishing a game second in his debut and it will pay to follow this Behram ward in the weeks ahead. 

Surprisingly Devils Magic back after recording his maiden success in style at his parent-centre (Bengaluru)  was ignored in the betting ring, the two Mysuru hopefuls Magic Circle and Prince Corporate, both facile last start winners heading the betting board followed by the lesser fancied John Connor and Shanaey. The 10 to one long shot partnered by John tracked the leaders Magic Circle and Magellan till the big field of 17 runners negotiated the final curve and at this juncture John drove Devils Magic to the front and soon the Neil Devaney ward put the issue beyond doubt, producing a good turn of foot to romp home in splendid fashion. Magic Circle gamely held on to finish second ahead of Flying Quest while Magellan completed the frame. 

Douglas from leading trainer Padmanabhan's yard, who let down large following in his last essay was again fancied strongly to score and this time out the public rage in the hands of Trevor Patel managed to peg back the challenge of lesser fancied Queen Regnant from Aravind Ganapathy's yard. Douglas after streaking ahead and establishing a good 2-3 lengths winning lead approaching the distance post suddenly had all the on-money big bettors gasping the moment Neeraj brought Queen Regnant into contention, but to the relief of all, Douglas gamely hung on to enter the winners' circle. The topweighted Diamond And Pearls fancied strongly in place, to the delight of his supporters gained the third place ahead of Pinatubo. 

Padmanabhan later led in the talented grey, Lord Frankel, who donkey-licked his 14 rivals in the BTC Million run over a distance of 2000 metres. The Irish pro Shane Gray astride the vastly improved Padmanabhan ward tracked the local mainhope Arc De Triomphe for most part of the journey before he eased Lord Frankel into the lead approaching the final curve and soon it was all over bar the shouting, the grey romping home by a widening margin of nine lengths. 

The Prasanna Kumar schooled Obsidian and The Awakening from the stables of Mallesh Narredu opened joint favourites before the Prasanna camp went bang-bang on Obsidian in the betting ring and Obsidian it was who closed firm favourite before the 15-horse field came under the starter's flag. for the Hyderabad Race Club Million run over a sprint. The Awakening piloted by Yash Narredu and Black Coffee from Neil Darashah's yard hit the front and called the shots before John got busy on Obsidian at the top of the straight and the public choice zoomed past the leaders to score in resplendent style. The Inheritor finished on strongly at end to take the runner-up berth ahead of Black Coffee, while The Awakening came home fourth. 

Victory Parade provided the Hyderabad nawabs a reason to smile, winning the RWITC Million in the hands of Akshay Kumar. The Netto ward produced a sparkling gallop at the all-important end to snuff out the challenge of Electra and Sea Of Cortez, who at one stage threatened to take control. The favourite Knight In Hooves raced in patches and finished a poor fourth.