A couple of close calls which went in their favour helped the punters start the summer season on an even-steven note, four public choices including the two strongly fancied favourites from champion trainer Pesi Shroff's yard, Miracle and King's Ransom just about scraping home to the relief of all the big bettors on Saturday. In the first plum of the season, Miracle after her only loss in her distinguished career in the Mumbai Derby from her nine starts was expected to canter home in the Speaker's Cup  run over a mile, but the classy filly struggled to produce her best despite leading pro Pradeep Chouhan packing punch in the straight and after a long duel only managed to peg back Pride's Angel close home, a `head' separating the two at the wire. The third-placed All Attractive too was not too far behind and that makes it clear that Miracle is yet to regain top form and fitness after she failed to successfully negotiate the mile-and-half Derby journey at Mahalaxmi.  The testing exercise will benefit the top filly and it is needless to mention that the top filly will prove to be a different proposition when next saddled. 

Competing in the principal added attraction, the Lt.Col.Gaunt Memorial Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs, the talented King's Ransom  was the overwhelming favourite  despite her shock loss to Dangerous in the Forbes Breeders Juvenile Championship in her last start in Mumbai. The bred in the purple filly from the famed Usha Stud Farm failed to gain a favourable position early in the race and even after Chouhan picked up the stick and reminded the Shroff ward of the task ahead, King's Ransom took time to raise a winning gallop and only managed to get home first in the last few strides, a `neck' separating her from the runner-up Arthur, who is certain to earn his cornbill in the weeks ahead. Keystone from trainer Arjun Manglorkar's yard surprised most finishing third, while Scruples considered a cinch in place, finished down the field much to the chagrin of her supporters who expected the game galloper from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard to bounce back  after her dismal performance in her last start. Now that it is clear that Scruples has gone sour, she should be ignored until she shows some spark in the morning trials late in the season. 

It was good to see Neil Darashah start the season on a winning note, the well supported Rhapsody In Green from his yard proving too good in the opening event of the summer season, the New Market Plate run over a mile. The winner on the strength of this impressive effort is certain to provide an encore when saddled next. Shan E Azeem from Sriram Komandur's yard gained the runner-up spot ahead of Lightning Flame, but knowing that Shan E Azeem is a moody customer one cannot recommend his chances in his next start. Lightning Flame from Ganapathy's yard produced a satisfactory effort to finish third despite looking a trifle gross at the paddock and it will pay to follow her if her connections choose to quickly test her out. 

Leading trainer Prasanna Kumar, on a slide in winter, recorded his first victory, Tenali in the hands of Shamaz Shareef edging out the favourite Air Blast. In what was a very open affair, Air Blast from Pradeep Annaiah's yard garnered the maximum support, but the public choice met a tartar in Tenali, who readily provided Prasanna a reason to smile winning the lower division of the Diablo Plate in convincing fashion.  Millbrook, another fancied contestant from Arjun Manglorkar's yard finished third ahead of Silver Swift, while Striking Point it was clear was not in the hunt. 

Like Prasanna, leading trainer Padmanabhan who also struggled to get a fair number of winners in winter dropped a bombshell in the Santorini Star Plate, the 20 to one shot in the hands of Vinod Shinde gallantly pegging back the belated effort of Knotty City. The runner-up from Azhar Ali's yard looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and this saw most punters pin their hopes on the Azhar ward who it must be mentioned did produce his best despite her rider Ashhad Asbar failing in his attempt to judge the pace, allowing the front runner to gain a uncontested  lead which proved decisive at end. Aircraft did well to save money in place while Belvedere completed the frame. 

Place Vendome from Sulaiman's yard on the strength of a couple of good efforts in winter was rightly fancied to score in the Southern Empire Plate, but the on-money favourite piloted by Trevor Patel found the Irfan Ghatala schooled tough Cookie a hard nut to crack and much to the disappointment of followers of form had to rest content with the runner-up berth. Aguila from Arvind Ganapathy's yard caught the eye while finishing third and is one for the notebook. 

After proudly leading in Tenali, Prasanna Kumar recorded a double, the well fancied Seige Perilous from his yard justifying the confidence of his supporters in the Mystic Memory Plate run over a mile. The winner appears in good nick and is likely to add one more win in the months ahead. Etosha finished a game second ahead of Pink Jasmine while Winmylove made the frame. 

The lesser fancied Flying Quest from Mohd Khan's yard stunned the public rage Shabelle in the concluding event, the upper division of the Diablo Plate run over a sprint. The winner piloted by apprentice jockey Salman Khan established a winning lead at the distance post before putting the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Shabelle rated highly by most old hats in the game produced a below par effort and it will take a while for this filly from Sulaiman's yard to get into the winners' circle this summer.