Punters started on a winning note, most fancied contestants justifying their rating and ranking on the opening day of the Udhagamandalam season on Saturday. The on-money favourite Neziah from James McKeown's yard proved too good in the upper division of the Nilgiris Municipality Trophy, while Pneuma posted a shock result in the lower division. 

Neziah looked outstanding in the plum event run over a sprint, despite the fact that the six furlongs trip is a trifle sharp for the talented in-form filly. Sai Kumar astride the public rage produced a copybook effort on the winner who is set to provide an encore. Berrettini, a ten to one long shot followed the winner home ahead of the second in demand at the betting ring, Anzio, while Priceless Ruler completed the frame.
 
The railbirds fancied McKeown to record a double, Andorra from his yard, the top fancy in the lower division, but all that Andorra did was take a lot of good money down the drain finishing down the field. The seven to one shot Pneuma from Suraj Shaw's yard in the hands of MS Deora made very post a winning one gallantly pegging back the  late challenge of Speculation and Knotty Wonder. The runner-up appears in good nick and this Suresh trainee needs to be supported next time out considering the fact that Speculation loves the Ooty track. 

On the strength of his two victories from as many starts, Knotty One was fancied most in the Welcome Trophy, the principal added attraction run over a sprint, but the Ramanathan ward in line for a hat-trick found the two Vijay Singh hopefuls, the winner Light The World and the runner-up Lavish Girl too hot to handle and had to rest content with the third spot. Light The World in the hands of Hindu Singh chalked out a pacey pillar to post victory and on the strength of this win is set to add another when saddled next. Lavish Girl has improved and it will not be long before she makes her trainer proud in the weeks ahead. 

 The well-backed Multi Crown produced an astounding gallop in the `run in' home to come up trumps in the concluding event, the Kurinji Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs. The bred in the purple B Suresh ward confidently piloted by Nakhat Singh seized the initiative at the top of the straight and powered through to score in emphatic fashion. Stablemate Royal Baron finished second ahead of Suryakrishi, while the public choice Amazing Attraction from Sebastian's yard raced in patches and failed to even save money in place. 

The Ajit Kumar schooled Queen Anula, who had caught the eye with a couple of close contests at the end of the Mumbai season struck it rich in the Lovedale Handicap, snuffing out the challenge of rank outsider Gajabo Grande in the final furlong. The winner, second in demand at the betting ring was sweetly fancied by the insiders and the right connections. Lesser fancied Dancing Queen strongly fancied in place, to the delight of her supporters finished third ahead of Black Label, who lacked the willingness to display his true potential. 

Earlier, the overwhelming favourite All Stars from Sebastian's yard helped the punters start the season on a high, showing a clean pair of heels to her eight rivals in the opening event, the Blue Mountain Handicap run over a sprint. All Stars, it must be mentioned is on top of her game and it will pay to again support her next time out. Knotty Power, who had his fair share of followers too finished second behind the smart winner, while Mr.Starc finished a creditable third and is one for the notebook.