First things first. After the five members of the Managing Committee of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) resigned on Monday, a four-member ad hoc committee was quickly formed and in the absence of steward Uday Eswaran, the experienced and dynamic Chaduranga Kantharaj Urs and the enterprising KA Jagdish in their effort to get racing back on track in the next five days ran pillar to post along with the BTC secretary & CEO MK Kiran and gained  the required license on Friday evening and  the thunder of the hooves provided a lyrical ring on the first day first show on Saturday. 

To the credit of the ad hoc committee, it must be mentioned that Kantharaj, Jagdish and Kiran  unperturbed by the anxiety and uncertainty and in no mood to give it away, kept at it and successfully gained the license and LK Atheeq, Additional Chief Secretary and Government nominated steward provided the icing on cake, presenting the Racing Patrons Cup, the first plum of the summer season. 

The lesser fancied Isn't She Beautiful from Imtiaz Khan's yard powerfully piloted by leading pro Sandesh reigned supreme in the feature event. The winner tracked the favourite Champions Way all through the six furlongs trip before Sandesh packed punch on the Imtiaz ward at the distance post and Isn't She Beautiful responding gamely to her master's call shot ahead and romped home a convincing winner. Aldgate finished on strongly to gain the runner-up berth ahead of the public rage Champions Way, while the Mysore challenger O Hansini performed below par. 

The principal added attraction, the upper division of the Welcome Cup produced a shock winner, the 20 to one long shot Puranjaya making every post a winning one in the hands of the Mumbai-based pro J Chinoy. The overwhelming favourite Don Carlos from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard tracked the winner for most part of the six furlongs trip and ended up only following Puranjaya home, much to the chagrin of the followers of form who to say the least started the season on a disastrous note, a lone favourite Super Sapphire coming through, while many unfancied contestants waltzed to victory in the nine-event card. 

The lesser fancied Victoria Doresaani from Irfan Ghatala's yard upset the applecart of another favourite Del Aviz after Don Carlos from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard bit the dust in the upper  division of the Welcome Cup. Del Aviz piloted by top pro Trevor Patel hit the front and established a two length break approaching the final furlong before Alex Rozario partnering Victoria Doresaani in a never-say-die effort produced an astounding gallop to snatch the verdict close home.  

Warren Singh who stunned the railbirds, the 20 to one shot Puranjaya  coming out on top in the upper division of the Welcome Cup cleaned out the punters, another unfancied contestant Grizzly romping home in the concluding event. The topweighted August garnered the maximum support in this event, but the Arjun Manglorkar ward lacked the gas in the tank to make a race of it after being favourably placed at the top of the straight and much to the disappointment of her supporters finished in the ruck. 

Earlier Darius Byramji dropped a bombshell in the opening event of the season, the lower division of the Welcome Cup, the  20 to one long shot Crimson Flame making every post a winning one in the six furlongs sprint. Golden Light from Parvati Byramji's  yard was the top fancy in this event, but the public choice piloted by leading pro Akshay Kumar found the shock winner too hot to handle and had to rest content with the runner-up berth. Second in demand at the betting ring, Desert Goddess from Imtiaz Khan's yard  was fancied strongly in place, but the debutant partnered by Sandesh lost out, finishing fourth behind Chotipari from the stables of Warren Singh. 

The next event, the lower division of the Ich Dien Stakes produced a thrilling cluster finish, the six to one shot Sling Shot from the stables of Lokanath edging out the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Estafania by the shortest of margins, while the lesser fancied Recreator, stablemate of the winner finished a `head' behind the runner-up, who led soon after the first furlong to go down in the last stride. Tankinika from Inayathullah's yard  was seen finishing on purposefully and is one for the notebook. 

Top gun Suraj Narredu started his summer campaign on a high note booting home the public choice Super Sapphire to a resounding victory in the upper division of the Ich Dien Stakes. The winner, who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring, without a fuss detonated his nine rivals including the second in demand at the betting ring, Avicena who failed to quicken at the all-important end and finished a tame fourth behind the runner-up Quick Witted and the advantageously placed in at the scales, Striking Eyes.  

Lokanath, who had struck it rich on the quietly fancied Sling Shot floored the punters, the friendless Infinite Spirit in the hands of apprentice Siddaraju edging out the hot favourite Emeraldo close home in the Newmarket Stakes run over a sprint. The rankoutsider paid a rich dividend of Rs 1,950 on a tenner at the tote window.  Pettes Love gained the third place ahead of Quevega, while Akasi strongly fancied in place by the Inayathullah camp failed to justify the support of his followers and finished off the frame. 

The Warren Singh-trained The Perfect Choice and Aherne from the stables of Imtiaz Khan topped the betting board in the Kunigal Stud Stakes. The former was heavily supported at end, Warren Singh camp confident that The Perfect Choice piloted by Sai Kiran would pull off a gamble. But after briefly heading the field at the top of the straight, the public choice quickly dropped out of contention and came back lame. At this juncture another rank outsider English Bay from Dominic's yard hit the front and comfortably pegged back the challenge of Aherne. Tignanello finished third, while Golden Time completed the frame. The winner paid  Rs, 752 on a tenner and after the double shock, Infinite Spirit in the earlier event, most railbirds were seen at the exit gates, deciding to quit even before the plum event with a big hole in the pocket.