It appeared that Santa first landed at the Bangalore Turf Club. And the railbirds loved it. The goodies and the gifts (Golden Time, Cool Rider and Evaldo) from Santa, a day before the Christmas eve set the mood, the stars shining, bells ringing and people humming and singing the famed Merry Christmas and Happy New Year line. From pushing the pedal on the Four Wheel Drive to Activated, it was one dream run. And the punters enjoyed the action. Long queues at the cash collection counters in the bookmakers ring made it clear that it was the punters day out. And on a day six strongly supported favourites and a solitary well supported second choice galloped to fame, punters returned home with money in their bags and a spring in their step. 

The Dominic-trained Four Wheel Drive was fancied most in the upper division of the Krishna Plate. The favourite piloted by Imran Khan needed to push a gear to snuff out the challenge of Classic Charm and Imran made sure that he did in time to deservingly enter the winners' circle. Second in demand at the betting ring, Katana finished third and this grey from Warren Singh's yard will prove to be a different proposition next time out. The topweighted Golden Time from Lokanath Gowda's yard was touted a `moral certainty' in the lower division of the event. And the short-priced favourite in the hands of G Vivek proved that right, powering home without really being extended. The bred in the purple winner is in good nick  and is set to provide an encore when saddled next. Dr Logan gained the runner-up spot ahead of Embosom, while Silver Swift completed the frame.

Spurred by the success of Golden Time, Lokanath and the promising Delhi-based Vivek combined effectively to record a double, the lesser fancied King Of War flashing home first in the second division of the Kisan Divas Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Opus One caught the eye gaining the runner-up berth, while the well fancied Alcides Synergy failed to even save money in place. 

A facile last start winner, Cool Rider from Neil Darashah's yard was a banker in the combinations worked out by most Jackpot ticket seekers in their effort to crack the five-horse puzzle. And the on-money favourite in the hands of leading pro Srinath produced another fine effort to reign supreme in the Y S Surender Memorial Trophy. Elder brother Gautam presented the trophy in memory of his father to Srinath. And the brothers enjoyed the result and will certainly cherish the moment. Advantageously placed in at the scales, Benediction from M R Singh's yard partnered by Shreyas Singh surprised most gaining the runner-up berth ahead of Devils Magic, while the speedy Eternal Princess from Satish Narredu's yard flopped badly in her attempt to make every post a winning one, finishing down the field. 

Next, the even-money favourite Evaldo from champion trainer Prasanna Kumar's yard proved too good in the Ashoka Chakra Cup, the plum event run over a distance of nine furlongs. The public choice tracked the two leaders, Kensington and Shubankar for most part of the journey before the leading saddle artiste Akshay Kumar .packed punch approaching the distance post and after a brief duel with Kensington, the favourite shot ahead in the final furlong to record his second straight success after his win on the Derby day in Mysuru. Kensington hung on to finish second ahead of Automatic, while double classic winner Faith Of Success came home last.

On the strength of his impressive effort, second behind Silver Canyon in his last effort, the Darius Byramji-trained Balor garnered the maximum support in the upper division of the Kisan Divas Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Last start winner Sociable from Irfan Ghatala's yard and Nikolina from the stables of Prasanna with a suggestive run under her belt had their share of followers. But it was the Darius ward, who to the delight of the followers of form produced a gutsy effort in the hands of Ajinkya to maintain the favourite winning streak, snuffing out the start to finish attempt of lesser fancied Czarevitch close home. Sociable managed to save money in place, edging out Nikolina at the shadow of the winning post. 

 After her fair effort in the first race of the season, Activated from Warren Singh's yard had the best credentials to come out on top in the upper division of the Yamuna Plate and the five-year-old mare  justified the confidence of her owner K Kamesh and Warren, cruising home in the hands of apprentice Rozario to the delight of all punters. Air Display from Inayathullah's yard finished on purposefully at end to take the second spot ahead of the topweighted Dallas Drifter who was sweetly fancied in place. 

Earlier, Spirit Dancer from the stables of Ganapathy dropped a bombshell, winning the opening event, the lower division of the Yamuna Plate run over a sprint. The winner piloted by R N Darshan paid a rich dividend of Rs, 488 on a tenner at the tote window. Phoenix Surprise partnered by B Darshan followed the shock winner, while Perfect Halo finished third. The favourite War Trail from Azhar Ali's yard was never in the hunt. 

After Spirit Dancer's shock victory, the eight to one shot Galloping Ahead from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard produced a sparkling gallop to edge out Capriati in the third division of the Kisan Divas Plate. The favourite Listen To Me raced in patches and eventually finished a tame third ahead of George Everest. Now that the winner has broken ice, it will again pay to support the Sulaiman ward in his next essay. 

The second in demand at the betting ring, Czar from Arjun Manglorkar's yard made a winning debut, coming up trumps in the Abbey Falls Plate for juveniles. The in-form Antony Raj produced a heartwarming effort on the debutant, who edged out lesser fancied Fort Nelson from the stables of Neil Darashah by the shortest of margins. Fearless Joey finished third, while the heavily backed Julio from Sulaiman's yard failed to live up to the promise he showed in the morning trials.