We told you that leading trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi has good ammunition under his belt and it will pay to keep an eye on his horses, this winter. Well the top pro started the season with a bang, leading in four winners, while the top gun Akshay Kumar went one better with a big high-five on the opening day of the season. The management committee of the club did well to start the season on Rajyotsava Day and the racing buffs at this centre enjoyed the better of exchanges on Friday.

Making her debut in the opener, Regal Reality from Sulaiman's yard competing in the Kentucky Plate was fancied most taking into account that the debuant had consistently impressed most in the morning trials. And the public choice made a smashing debut in the hands of Akshay Kumar, justifying the confidence of her supporters, while outclassing her 11 rivals without really extending herself. The winner, it is clear, is a goodtype of a filly and more will be heard of her in the weeks ahead. PowerOf Beauty from Pradeep Annaiah's yard piloted by Arvind Kumar followed the leader home ahead of Days Date. Next, Sulaiman struck through another public choice Nyx in the second division of the Kudremukh Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and attracted good support in the betting ring. Trevor astride the overwhelming favourite didn't really need to exert himself, the much improved filly cruising home nice and easy. Second in demand at the betting ring, Final Call expectedly gained the runner-up berth ahead of Inspire from Arjun Manglorkar's yard making a comeback after nine months. Antony Raj astride Inspire didn't push or punch the talented filly who made a mark in her debut before a setback forced to stay put in her shed. This satisfactory exercise on her comeback will benefit her and Inspire is certain to stake a claim in a couple of major plums this season.

In line for a treble, Sulaiman sent out Yukan looking fit and well in the first plum of the season, the Rajyotsava Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs and the favourite strongly piloted by champion pro Akshay Kumar produced a sparkling gallop in the final furlong to peg back the challenge of Mysore raider Iron Clad and help his master register a hat-trick. The topweighted Knotty Charmer despite his poor performance in his last two starts, one at Pune and the next in Mysore had his fair share of followers, but the Prasanna ward again called the shots till the heads turned for home before rapidly dropping back to finish last of the four contestants. It is cear that Knotty Charmer is not at his best and something is still bothering him and unless this is sorted out it is wise to ignore this game galloper.

Pleased with the start Sulaiman knew that Balmoral would make it four, winning the upper division of the Kudremukh Plate, the concluding event run over a distance of seven furlongs and the on-money favourite did just that to the delight of Sulaiman and Akshay who partnered the public choice. Balmoral lost a couple of lengths at the start, but Akshay not really perturbed pushed the top choice to the front and then packed punch to sign off in style. Yannick from Arjun Manglorkar's yard followed the winner home ahead of Joon, while Invincible completed the frame.

Lockheed from the stables of Darius Byramji and the Prasanna Kumar schooled Run For The Sun were fancied most in the upper division of the Dudhsagar Falls Plate before the former got loose at the gates and bolted resulting in his withdrawal. That made it easy for Run For The Sun, who provided Akshay an arm-chair ride to success, while suggesting that he has the ability and capability to match strides against higher rated horses at this campus in the months ahead.

The lower division of the event was claimed by another Prasanna trainee Scarlette Lady. The public rage also piloted by Akshay Kumar chose to play a waiting game before Akshay packed punch on the `Lady' to put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Sling Shot gained the runner-up berth ahead of Ladylion, while Bourbon Bay after making all the early running finished in the frame.

Trainer Dominic has put in a lot of good work on Jersey King, the winner of the Belgaum Plate run over a sprint. Dominic always rated Jersey King high and the speedy customer who recorded his fourth victory justified the confidence of his master producing a winning gallop in the hands of leading pro Suraj Narredu to come up tops in the Belgaum Plate. The top fancy Vivaldo partnered by Trevor Patel followed the winner ahead of the second in demand at the betting ring, Never Give In who in fact had beaten Jersey King in their last head-to-head clash, but found the Dominic ward too hot to handle this time out.

In what was a very open affair, the ten to one shot Divine Art from the stables of Satish Narredu proved too good, donkey-licking her 11 rivals including the two top of the betting board hopefuls, Del Aviz who ended the firm favourite and Disciple in line for a hat-trick after his success in the recently concluded Mysore season.  Disciple finished second ahead of Del Aviz, but the two fillies are not in the same class of the winner who appears in good shape after a dismal effort at Malakpet. Now that Divine Art is back at her best, her connections will certainly test her in the 1000 Guineas taking into account that her stablemate Excellent Lass is only the one with classy credentials at this campus.