Full marks to the Chennai trainers. They called the shots on the opening day of the summer season, winning seven of the eight races and this augurs well for the sport at this centre. The local Mysore-based trainers have the ammunition in their yard to hit back. The competition is welcome and it will help the sport to get to the next level. The fact that many new owners are ready to invest, purchase quality stock if the club provides an entry into the MRC campus only confirms that MRC is on the radar of many top racing promoters and investors and that's a good and healthy sign. 

MRC Chairman, KT Balakrishna in a telephonic chat disclosed that the club is full. "We don't have the stables to accommodate new horses. I understand that trainers want to add to the existing stock under their care, but at the moment it's a houseful scenario," said Balakrishna adding that the club is looking to retire nine-year-old horses (26) before the regular season in August and that will provide an opportunity to trainers to bring in good young stock. 

Now coming to racing on the first day. It was a mixed day. Four firm favourites and an equal number of lesser fancied runners entered the winners' circle. After the seven to one shot Fashionista from local trainer Ruban won the opener in a thriller from Anushtubha, the Chennai brigade seized control and cleaned up the card, trainers Mandanna and Sebastian sharing the professional honours, recording a double apiece. 

Mandanna first struck through the strongly fancied favourite Sira before he led in Silver Quest another public choice who justified his rating and ranking. Competing in the Melukote Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs, the judiciously prepared Sira garnered the maximum support in the betting ring. Natural One from trainer Mansoor Khan's yard too had his fair share of supporters, but the Mansoor Khan ward piloted by Ankit Pal found Sira a tough nut to crack and had to rest content with the runner-up berth. Cloudy Hills from Bobby's yard caught the eye while finishing third and is one for the notebook. 

Next Silver Quest was backed to the exclusion of her 10 rivals in the lower division of the Kushalnagar Plate run over a sprint and the overwhelming favourite confidently piloted by apprentice jockey Faiz bolted in nice and easy to the joy of the Mandanna camp. Silver Quest romped home by a widening margin of five lengths and on the strength of this performance is set to provide an encore. Second in demand at the betting ring, Chief Admiral expectedly gained the runner-up berth ahead of Secret Shadow. 

Though the Sebastian schooled Balgownie looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring, it was the Ranjeet Shinde schooled Miraculous Girl who enjoyed big support in the betting ring in the upper division of the Kushalnagar Plate. The favourite partnered by the promising apprentice Abhishek Mhatre after being favourably placed at the top of the straight went `phut' like a pricked balloon and eventually finished a poor fourth. Balgownie piloted in fine style by Brisson produced a winning gallop when the race came on a boil to assume command and cruise home an impressive winner. The ten to one long shot Super Stride from the stables of Fahad Khan followed the winner home ahead of the Ashwin Rao-trained Red Hills. 

In the concluding event, Sebastian led in Bluemed, who upset the applecart of the piping hot favourite Straordinario from the stables of B Suresh much to the disappointment of the followers of form. The favourite piloted by leading pro Antony Raj hit the front after the dozen horse field came under the starter's flag and held the advantage till the field negotiated the final curve before quickly retiring from the fray. Bluemed in the hands of Nikhil gained control approaching the distance post and gamely hung on to score from Splendido, a `neck' separating the two at the wire. 

The Fahad Khan-trained Rise Again proved too good in the first plum of the season, the Season Opener Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. It was good to see former trainer and the present owner Dhruv Kumar Futnani lead in the smart winner confidently piloted by leading pro Umesh. In what was a open affair, Rise Again opened the favourite before money came pouring in on the Suraj Shaw-trained Mother's Grace and Persian Rock from the stables of Zulquarnain. The two well-backed contestants failed to make an impression, the former finishing a poor fourth, while Persian Rock proved to be a disaster, never in contention in any stage of the race. A confident Umesh kept Rise Again in striking position before he reminded the winner of the task ahead approaching the distance post and Rise Again responding gamely to his master's call powered through to score in emphatic fashion. Drisana from Jaishankar Pillay's yard charged home late to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Heroism and it will not be long before Drisana and Heroism earn their cornbill in the weeks ahead. 

Gold Ride from trainer Ramanathan's yard was another impressive winner. Competing in the Beloved Prince Plate, the Ramanathan trainee was touted a good thing and the overwhelming favourite didn't disappoint his large following, outclassing his 10 rivals in the hands of Sah Farid Ansari. Gold Ride appears in good nick and it will pay to follow this speedy customer again next time out. Klimit followed the popular winner home ahead of Seolforbullet. 

The Zulquarnain-trained Habibti and Elsa from the stables of Suresh topped the betting board in the upper division of the Dubare Forest Plate run over a sprint before Elsa at end was installed the first favourite. Ashhad Asbar guiding the fortunes of the Zulquarnain ward pushed Habibti to the front soon after the dozen contestants came under the starter's flag and soon it was all over bar the shouting, Habibti  sprinting home a facile winner. Scout impressed most  finishing second while Elsa only took a lot of good money down the drain.