The first-day, first-show at Guindy didn't go kindly for the racing buffs, only two public choices, the money back favourite Romping Home and the even-money top fancy Aspira, both from the stables of Deepesh Narredu piloted by brother Yash standing tall at the podium. 

Romping Home after her maiden success in the Bangalore summer season was head and shoulders above her seven rivals competing in the Mount Everest Handicap run over a sprint and Yash Narredu taking no chances pushed the talented filly to the front soon after the eight runners came under the starter's flag and Romping Home sprinting nice and easy all through the six furlongs trip never let the initiative slip pegging back the bold bid of Gold Ride, who did well to pose a challenge before Yash pulled out the stick and reminded Romping Home that the job is still not complete and the public rage responding brilliantly to her master's call sped through to accomplish her first task of the season. Gold Ride in defeat was not disgraced and lives to fight another day. All credit to the young trainer Ramanathan who sent out all his horses in fine condition and that helped him share the training honours with Deepesh, Ramanathan leading in Loch Lomond and Bold Show. Gold Ride after this good run under her belt is certain to earn her corn bill, when saddled next. The Sebastian-trained Swarga partnered by the promising apprentice N Darshan was strongly fancied in place and the Sebastian ward to the delight of his supporters finished third ahead of Bluemed. 

After starting the season on a winning note, booting home Romping Home, Yash astride the overwhelming favourite Aspira in the Welcome Cup, the first plum of the season, hit the front and Aspira readily showed a clean pair of heels to her eight rivals. Second in demand at the betting ring, Golden Marina piloted by the 3.5 kilo claimer Darshan followed the winner home ahead of stablemate Proposed, while the Fahad schooled Constant Variable, back after a satisfactory stint at Mysuru found the going tough against this opposition and only managed to complete the frame. 

Bold Show produced a bold effort in the hands of little known Shah Alam in the concluding event, the Red Rufus Handicap run over a sprint. Shah Alam, who had partnered the winner in his final two preparatory works was chosen by the Ramanathan think-tank to guide the fortunes of the winner and Alam did well to push Bold Show ahead, the moment the eight-horse field, following the withdrawal of Brook Magic, settled down after coming under the starter's flag for the six furlong exercise and then bravely held on to beat the fast finishing Dazzling Princess by a solitary length at the finish despite shifting out at the all-important end. Empire Of Dreams finished third ahead of the favourite Larado from Sebastian's yard who was never in the hunt. 

Earlier, Ramanathan led in the five to one shot Loch Lomond, winner of the Hovercraft Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner in the hands of Darshan produced a winning gallop in the final furlong to snuff out the challenge of the second favourite Element and the rank outsider Queen Anula who was seen finishing on fastest at end. This Ajith Kumar trainee appears in good shape and after this eye-catching effort is tipped to score when saddled next, preferably over a mile long trip. Element too is in good nick, but this Sebastian ward found the seven furlongs trip, a trifle beyond his compass and it will pay to support him over a sprint trip. 

The Vijay Singh schooled Whirlwind and Legacy from the stables of Deepesh Narredu topped the betting board in the Esquire Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs. Barring a few fluke seekers, a majority of followers of form made no secret of their opinion that there was no third in the race, who has the credentials to upset the top two fancied runners. But in this game no sooner an opinion is formed about one horse, the other horse will bolt in to render it a false opinion. This is what exactly happened in the Esquire Handicap, the 20 to one nohoper Balgownie from Sebastian's yard piloted by Inayat shocked the two public choices coming out tops much to the chagrin of the followers of form. Legacy followed the winner home, while Whirlwind injudiciously piloted by top `Knight' Antony Raj, who looked in a big hurry to make every post a winning one, shot his bolt at the top of the straight and failed to even save money in place. Whirlwind's stablemate Grenoble caught the eye while finishing a notable third and is one for the notebook. 

The seven to one shot Clean Slate from P Krishna's yard reigned supreme in the opener of the season, the Prince Regent Plate, producing an astounding gallop in the final furlong to zip past the favourite Crown Angel and romp home a deserving winner. Clean Slate appears in good form and is set to provide an encore. The B Suresh-trained Crown Angel too will not stay long in this lowest category and she certainly will earn her winning bracket in the weeks ahead.