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CORFE CASTLE WINS KAKATIYA MILLION (GR3)

By Mahendra Mallya | 02 Feb 2019 | HYDERABAD


Trainer L D Silva leading Corfe Castle (Kuldeep Singh Up), winner of The Kakatiya Million (Gr.3)

L D’Silva trained Corfe Castle (Excellent Art – Miss Danehill) dazzled yet again showing tremendous acceleration at just the right time to clinch the Kakatiya Million (Gr3) looking right on course right through the business half of the long Hyderabad homestretch. 

Jockey Kuldeep Singh was up close behind leader La Magnifique and had Dream Catcher just ahead on the outside soon on settling down. Titus, Accolade and Rahul’s Pet followed close behind. 

La Magnifique had a slender lead coming into the straight and kicked on, trying to stay in contention. Corfe Castle had to wait for a stride or two for a clearer passage as Dream Catcher was right alongside. Accolade moved up along the outside and Titus took the rail route. The moment Corfe Castle got the gap he shot through, first to collar La Magnifique easily and then surged into the lead galloping with giant strides. His finishing throttle was just too powerful and even Accolade couldn’t manage to counter that to even make a worthy challenge. Corfe Castle won with more than a length to spare and looked the winner the moment he snatched the lead. Accolade was right there when Corfe Castle made his move, but then shifted lanes without reason and ended on the inside of Corfe Castle, a move that had little logic. Titus improved to beat La Magnifique for the third place. 

Hot favourite Isabelle (Excellent Art – Messalina) trained by Laxman Singh won well jockey Neeraj Rawal goading her on all the way. Isabella didn’t take too long to dart into the lead and cut a nippy pace. Champion Bull and Leading Legend were right behind her with the rest following more than a couple of lengths away. 

Isabella stole a march coming into the homestretch and galloped fluently to further her cause. Neither Leading Legend nor Champion Bull could match her pace. Air Strike moved up on the outside and bridged the gap alright, but never looked in the hunt. Isabella stayed well ahead to pocket the Sri S Ramakrishnam Raju Memorial Cup with a fair measure of comfort. Air Strike ran on to take the runner-up berth ahead of Western Wind, who improved well to finish in the money. 

Trainer K Sateesh ran through half the race card starting with a long-shot in Space Ship (Strategic Prince – Zvonareave) in the day’s opening race. Apprentice jockey Jitendra Singh sped away soon on start with Ispahan in chase all the way into the straight. 

Shaquille (Oath – She’s Hip) from the stables of trainer D Netto pulled off a start to finish victory. He took off at a good clip and entered the straight with a handy lead. Lazer Beam tried hard to get closer but could not make any impact on the leader. There was no threat lurking from behind either. Shaquille picked up further momentum and cantered away adding distance with every stride to pull off an emphatic victory, clean as a whistle. Lazer stayed put to take the second best spot, keeping the faster finishing Rapid Fire at bay. 
 
Space Ship quickened further once they turned for home and piled up a big lead approaching the distance post. Ispahan just could not produce anything worthwhile as he laboured on haplessly. Space Ship sealed the issue long way from home to score a facile win, his fourth in all and this one coming after a gap of 13 months. Ispahan ended second, while Cash For Rank improved to rake in the place money. 

Moon Walker (Noverre – Special Guest) provided Sateesh with his second for the day. It was not all smooth sailing though, at least not until the final 100 meters. Shakesphere had darted into the lead and worked up a good pace to enter the straight well ahead of the rest. Moon Walker followed him about five lengths in deficit. Jockey Nakhat Singh got busy approaching the distance post and inched closer with every stride. Moon Walker picked up speed inside the final furlong and flew towards the end to collar Shakesphere with less than 100m to go. Moon Walker finished with a flourish that took the wind off the sails for Shakesphere who even lost out the second slot to Marina Del Rey closer home. Moon Walker sizzled past the Grand Stands to win by two lengths.

That things going trainer Sateesh’s was pronounced when another long-shot from his yard pulled off an upset. King Of Pop (Noverre – Atmosphere) whose last victory was in July of 2017, came alive to create a flutter while winning the lower division of the Sparks Cup. Kamyar got past King Of Pop to lead them into the straight and was shaping fairly well approaching the distance post. King of Pop began to accelerate and came along the inside rails to tackle Kamyar and snatch the lead. Kamyar suddenly came into panic mode and it was curtains then and there. King of Pop was away and sprinting towards the winning post. One One One made one last ditch effort, but failed to catch King of Pop who held on by less than a length. Kamyar ended a tame third. 

Sateesh capped the day with Columbus (Gaswar – Stunning Rose) who finished on well to topple popular favourite Hurricane who led until into the final furlong and then squandered it away. Hurricane did everything right as he led them into the straight and worked up a handy lead. He was galloping at a good clip and just when it looked he could sustain it all the way, Columbus, with jockey Nakhat Singh in the saddle, arrived with a good burst of speed to storm ahead and then draw away from Hurricane to score a comfortable victory. Handsome Duo finished on well along the rails and took away even the runner-up position from Hurricane. 

Midnight Dream (Midnight Interlude – Cordoba) justified the strong support and obliged, but after a bit of anxious moments early in the straight. Zip Zip Zip entered the straight with a good lead and was kicking on. Augenstern, who was in second, put in a good gallop to draw closer to the leader. Midnight Dream at that stage was under whip and did look a wee bit under pressure as well. However, he warmed up nicely just when Augenstern drew level with Zip Zip Zip and had even surged past to grab the lead. Midnight Dream finished on powerfully to dash any hope that Augenstern had kindled and raced away to win by just under two lengths. Zip Zip Zip did well to take the third spot. 

For the professionals, trainer K Sateesh was the star of the day leading in four winners, while trainer Leo D’Silva and jockeys kuldeep and Nakhat Singh scored a double each.