The start to the much-awaited Mumbai Racing Season 2023-24 was not exactly the way race-goers would have hoped for. A couple of hours before the first race was flagged off came the tragic news of trainer Altaf Hussain's sad demise. As for the day's proceedings, the small card proved tricky as several contestants, whose chances looked good on paper, ended up as expensive failures.

Moreover, the day's main event, the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy, was declared null and void due to a starting-gate malfunction which saw three horses barring Son Of A Gun put to a disadvantage. The starter had failed to signal that it was a false start, however, following a Stewards' enquiry at the behest of the stipendiary stewards, the Stewards' body declared the race null and void. The stewards' relied on the starter's testimony that it was an error on his part which apparently affected three out of the four horses in the fray. Narendra Lagad trained Son Of A Gun, who had won the race leaving the others stranded, was at the receiving end of this unfortunate incident. For the record, Joaquin was the strong favourite.

Pesi Shroff saddled Cordelia, who had scored a smashing victory over seven furlongs at Pune, went out as the overwhelming favourite to win the A Hoyt Plate, the day’s second highest-rated event. However, the bay filly found the experienced runners tough to handle as she was handicapped by a lethargic start. On the other hand, S. Waheed-saddled Believe (Planetaire-Noble Lady), who had won the F D Wadia Trophy at Pune beating some good horses but ran disappointingly in his two subsequent efforts, gave a rousing performance. Apprentice Haridas Gore was at his best on Believe whom he produced with a powerful surge in the final furlong to measure Golden Glow and Ameerah closer home. Cordelia did not get a clear run in the straight as she ran into a wall of horses when trying to essay her challenge and ended a disappointing fourth.

The outcome of the inaugural day’s races did not favour those who backed the fancied runners as barring success of Fashion Icon all other races were cornered by the long shots. The first race itself, the Welcome Trophy, saw Imtiaz Sait trained Christophany show vast improvement to get the better of favourite Democracy in the shadow of the post. Democracy seemed to be on the right course in the hands of apprentice Navnath Bhosale when taking the lead in the final furlong. But Christophany came from a long way back and edged out the favourite. New Dimension  who led all the way till being overhauled by Democracy, ended third.

Shroff's ward El Greco won the P B Avasia Plate run over a mile much to the chagrin of punters, who did not fancy his chances against barnmate Zuccaro. El Greco (Multidimensional-Alice Springs) looked a picture in the paddock and had no problem in achieving a start to finish victory. Kimiko came late on the scene to finish second ahead of Fancy Nancy. Favourite Zuccaro, who had lost in a tight finish at Pune, failed to raise a fluent gallop and could not reproduce the acceleration seen in his previous run, which promised an early success. Meanwhile, El Greco had to retain the race in the Stewards room as well. A Stewards enquiry was initiated to look into the fall of Neeraj Rawal astride Chenevix Trench, the winner's stablemate. Midway in the straight, El Greco shifted out and went across Chenevix Trench, which led to the latter clipping the horse ahead and, in the process, dislodging the jockey. The stewards deemed Umesh’s riding as careless and allowed the judges' original order of placing to prevail.

Dallas Todywalla trained Fashion Icon, who had been a big let down thus far, managed to graduate from the maiden ranks by winning the Secret Star Plate. Four-year old Fashion Icon (Roderic O’connor-My Lakshmi) unleashed a powerful run along the inner rails to provide apprentice Navnath with an easy win over runner-up Dagger's Strike. Lightning Blaze, who led for most part of the race, repelled the late challenge of Charming Star to retain the third spot. Lagad-trained Zip Along was the favourite but the public fancy was never in the hunt and finished down the field.

Lagad however was not to be denied success as he brought off a big upset through Northern Singer (Chinese Whisper-Octagleam) in the Kazakh Plate, run over a five-furlong scurry. Apprentice jockey A. Karande drove out Northern Singer with all the resources at his command to get the better of favourite Superimpose, who was being hailed as a winner in the dying moments of the race. Zukor was third ahead of stablemate Dowsabel.