It was a day to remember and a night to forget for the Chennai sporting fans. They enjoyed a good run under a hot sun at Guindy, picking out winners and making money before the dark night, Indian cricket team losing the final of the World Cup against the Aussies in Ahmedabad. While most of the favourites waltzed to victory to the delight of the sporting buffs at Guindy, Team India the favourites for the crown lost out to a side, who know how to win a World Cup, Australia's sixth World Cup triumph.

Coming back to racing at Guindy, form played true and most fancied contestants produced sublime efforts to enter the winners' circle. Golden Bella, a medium of a king-sized gamble and the well supported Schnell emerged the two best performers on a day five firm favourites and one strongly supported second choice helped punters make the moolah in the eight-event card.

Competing in the lower division of the Dansili Handicap, Golden Bella from Anil Kumar's yard was backed to the exclusion of her eight rivals including arch rival Vijaya from the stables of Deepesh Narredu despite the fact that Ayaz Khan was listed to guide the fortunes of the talented filly, who was touted a `moral certainty' by the insiders and the right connections. Backed down from (9/4) to (11/10), the smart winner provided Ayaz an arm-chair ride to success, while justifying the confidence of the Anil Kumar camp. It was as easy as sweeping autumn leaves from the garden path and Golden Bella on the strength of this victory is certain to add a couple more to her kitty in the weeks ahead. All credit to Anil for pulling off a successful coup and it will pay to keep an eye on a couple of others from his stable, who are displaying a spring in their stride in the morning trials.

Wolf Creek from the stables of James McKeown and the Deepesh Narredu-trained Schnell started favourites in the Hennessy Handicap run over a mile before Schnell piloted by Yash closed firm favourite. The public choice tracked the two early leaders, Sparkle And Shine and Abnegator for most part of the mile long journey before Yash eased his iron grip on Schenll at the top of the straight. And in a flash the overwhelming favourite shot ahead and drew clear to score by a widening margin of nine lengths. Sian followed the winner home ahead of the Vijay Singh schooled Confidential, while Wolf Creek was left `crying wolf' again. Schnell is on top of her game and is set to provide an encore.

Excellent Star was another well supported favourite who came good in the concluding event, the Brigadier Gerard Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner confidently piloted by apprentice Koshi Kumar produced a good turn of foot in the final 100 metres to overhaul two rankoutsiders, Reign Of Terror and Masterpiece close home. Dazzling Dynamite from Fahad Khan's yard was strongly fancied in place, but in the hands of Inayat the Fahad trainee failed to make a race of it and eventually finished off the board much to the disappointment of her supporters.

Earlier, the public rage Smash Shot from Anil Kumar's yard to the relief of his large following just held onto to score by the shortest of margins in the upper division of the Dansili Handicap run over a sprint. The half-money favourite piloted by Hindu Singh and the speedy Armoury called the shots for most part of the six furlongs trip before Smash Shot streaked ahead and grimly held on to score from the Rupa-trained Relic Warrior who finished on fastest at end. Zaneta too produced a good gallop on the wide outside and charged through to take the third place in front of Lady Luck. Will it pay to support Smash Shot again? the answer is a big no, on the contrary it will certainly pay to punt big on Relic Warrior when next saddled taking into account that this Rupa ward is consistently producing spirited efforts in competitive sets.

A facile last start winner, Amazonia from Deepesh Narredu's yard was fancied most in the upper division of the Nearctic Handicap and the in-form mare produced another heart-warming effort to come up trumps in the hands of Yash. Pense'e from Ramanathan's yard too had her fair share of supporters, but she failed to display her true potential and only managed to finish a poor fourth, a good three lengths behind the winner, who is likely to complete a hat-trick of wins when saddled next.

Despite the fact that Lord Moi struggled to score in his last effort, punters surprisingly chose to go with the James McKeown ward only to lose their shirts in the Zafonic Handicap run over a mile. The public choice partnered by leading pro Antony Raj graced the wrong end of the field while the second in demand at the betting ring, Key To The Mint hit the front and dictated the pace all through the backstretch before galloping home in emphatic fashion. Lord Moi's unfancied stablemate Loch Lomond finished ahead of the much hyped up `Lord'. Key To The Mint, it is clear has regained form and fitness and is strongly tipped to score again.

The 15 to one long shot Royal Mayfair and the lesser fancied Angel Heart were the two other winners. The former surprised most making every post a winning one in the opening event, the Chantilly Handicap run over 1100 metres, while Angel Heart piloted by the in-form apprentice Koshi Kumar edged out another long shot Mutant a `neck' separating the two at the wire in the lower division of the Nearctic Handicap. Ashwa Dev from Ramanathan's yard was fancied most in the opening event, but the public choice, it was clear was not in the hunt eventually finishing down the field much to the chagrin of the followers of form.