The good news is that the bookies started to operate their business at the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC). The volumes exchanged in the betting ring on the first day of the Mysore season were not very encouraging from the bookmakers point of view and the attendance at BTC didn't really go up indicating that it will take a while for all the hardcore punters to return. The bookies too were of the opinion that the numbers will increase in the week ahead. And hopefully that will happen before the Mysore season comes under a boil. 

The results obtained on the opening day were satisfactory and punters enjoyed the better of exchanges. Casteel in a small field of four runners justified favouritism, winning the first plum of the season, the Srikantadatta Narasimharaaja Wadiyar Memorial Multi-Million and the well fancied O Hansini reigned supreme in the HH Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy. 

Del Aviz who too had her fair share of followers in the Million hit the front and in the hands of Akshay Kumar called the shots for most part of the seven furlongs trip. The Sulaiman ward who, appeared set to land the spoils a furlong from home drifted alarmingly and this provided the public choice Casteel a chance and Suraj in no mood to let the opportunity slip packed punch and to the delight of the Narredu camp gained the day close home. The topweighted Royal Defender from Sebastian's yard, winner of the Nilgiris Derby found the two Bengaluru raiders too hot to handle and finished a tame third. 

The Rajesh Narredu schooled Polished Girl opened the favourite in the HH Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy run over a sprint before money came pouring in on the local lass O Hansini who was enjoying a definite 3.5 kilos advantage from their last head-to-head clash. Antony Raj guiding the fortunes of the local mare produced a copybook effort on the Rakesh ward, biding his time before timing his final challenge to a nicenty. O Hansini comfortably edged out Polished Girl and this sublime effort from the consistent performer provided Rakesh the perfect start to the season after his overwhelmingly fancied Raise a Buck in line for a hat-trick was unfortunately withdrawn at the starting gates in the Star Of Mysore Trophy. 

After the lesser fancied Socrates, the strongly supported Raise A Buck and the nohoper The Republican Power were withdrawn, Divine Ray from the stables of Ruban topped the betting board in the Star Of Mysore Trophy. The favourite piloted by Sai Kiran hit the front and called the shots before the 11 runners negotiated the final curve. At this juncture Divine Ray shot his bolt and the seven to one shot Mystic Bond hit the front and assumed command and in the hands of Dhanu Singh gallantly pegged back the challenge of another long shot Heroism, while Nevada Gold, a smart last start winner finished third ahead of Marzgovel who was strongly fancied in place but failed to finish in the money.

The Michael Eshwer-trained Sira powerfully piloted by top saddle artiste Akshay Kumar edged out the second in demand at the betting ring, Drisana from JS Pillay's yard and the top fancy Absolute Kesari from the stables of Bipin Salvi.in a cluster finish in the concluding event, the upper division of the Varada Plate. Absolute Kesari in his attempt to make every post a winning one in the 1100 metres dash looked set to score before Akshay in a never-say-die bid  got Sira to get up and upset the applecart of the top favourite. Drisana flashed home late on the season to further push Absolute Kesari to the third spot. Drisana would have emerged a definite winner had apprentice jockey Abishek Matre provided adequate saddle assistance to the winner who needlessly was checked early on in the race, Matre choosing to make his run on the rails and this eventually cost him dear, taking into account that he was in a spot of bother before he pulled Drisana out and made his final challenge which proved to be a little too late. It was a clear case of  an experienced and top jockey snatching victory, while the inexperienced apprentice  threw away a race he should have clearly won. 

The lower division of the event was claimed by the well-backed Tower Quest from Girinath's yard partnered by Kiran Rai. D Golden Cup from Vishal Yadav's yard followed the winner home and is one for the notebook. The lesser fancied Valkyrie from the stables of Monnappa in his pillar to post effort hung on gamely to save money in place, finishing third ahead of Code Of Honour. 

The Imtiaz Khan-trained Mystikos proved too good for his 14 rivals winning the opener, the Lavasa Plate in a common canter from Polar Wind and the seven to one shot Double Vision. Now that the winner has broken ice, he is set to provide an encore. 

The four to one shot Southern Force from Faraz Arshad's yard brilliantly piloted by Akshay Kumar edged out the Pradeep Annaiah schooled Macron in a thriller to take home the BK Krishnadevaraj Urs Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. Joint favourite Free To Play from Azhar Ali's yard performed below par finishing more than six lengths behind the first two and this came as a surprise considering the fact that Free To Play had finished a creditable second behind the talented Zuri in his last start in the Bangalore summer season.