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CORFE CASTLE WINS KAKATIA MILLION (GR.3)

By Mahendra Mallya | 27 Jan 2020 | HYDERABAD


Mr M Ramakrishna Reddy & trainer L D Silva leading Corfe Castle (David Allan Up), winner of The Kakatiya Million (Gr.3)

Corfe Castle (Excellent Art – Miss Danehill) showed out among the four runners and thumped his rivals with ease to clinch the Kakatia Million (Gr3) the feature race in style. His manner of victory stood out as the L D’Silva trainee won toying with a small but competitive set of rivals.  

Agni showed good early speed as he darted into the lead. Ace Ace Ace and Titus raced together close behind the leader. Jockey David Allan was confident right from the start and settled Corfe Castle in the rear until they entered the homestretch. While Agni, Ace Ace Ace and Titus were grappling among themselves, David Allan switched to the outside and made a forceful dash past them to seal the issue long way from home. He looked over his shoulders as if scoffing them and then raced away effortlessly to romp home by a healthy margin to score his seventh career win. Ace Ace Ace edged out Agni and Titus for the second spot in a close finish between the three.

The R Raghupati Reddy Memorial Trophy saw an exciting finish with a bunch of horses crowding the winning post with the top seven finishing less than a length between them. Sitara seemed well on course to pull it off as she shot into the lead and lead all the way until beaten on the last couple stride. Sitara had a handy lead coming into the final furlong and had a good momentum going as well. The field spread out wide and a bunch of horses came charging in with less than a furlong to go. Prince Caspian (Excellent Art – Entendu) trained by Sateesh and well ridden by jockey BR Kumar, produced a scintillating finish to shock Sitara on the post. The 20 to 1 shot warmed up well to finish with a blazing run and held off almost half a dozen rivals in a boiling finish. Sitara barely held on to take the runner up spot from the fast finishing Sporting Smile and Private Empire,

Laxman Singh trained Brilliant View (Tazahum – Regal Glory) notched up an impressive debut win in the hands of jockey Ashhad Asbar. Taking off well from the gates, Brilliant View settled along the rails close to the front running Greek Soul and Turf Treasure with the rest following in a close bunch.

Brilliant View didn’t wait too long as he pounced on the leader and stored ahead past the 400 and quickened extremely well to shut out the opposition there and then.  He strode out majestically and romped home by three lengths and considering it was his debut, he certainly has made a promising start. Royal Romance improved in the straight to run second well ahead of Look of Love and Just Incredible. Lamha went wide therefore squandering away an opportunity to finish in the money. Another debutante Golconda Diamond who was expected to shine, could not get going and finished two off the frame. He was never really in the hunt but has scope to improve after this educative outing.

Ten to one shot Mirana (Sedgefield – Song Dynasty) arrived with a breezy finish to collar the three in front in the final furlong to score a dashing maiden victory on her second start. Beauty on Parade showed good early speed and led the field into the homestretch. She was soon challenged first by Fashion Parade and then Belle Springs but she resisted stoutly to remain slightly ahead until the last 100 meters or so. Meanwhile, Asbar switched lanes and once he had a clear passage, he started to inch closer. Mirana responded well to his urging and soon swooped upon her rivals. Beauty On Parade tried her best but Mirana was relentless and she surged ahead in final few strides to snatch the verdict by half a length. Belle Springs edged out Beauty on Parade for the runner u berth, while Fashion Universe, who was very much in contention in the final furlong, just could not quicken well enough and had to be content with the last slot in the frame.

L D’Silva trained Alliston (Win Legend – Ray of Sunshine) finally found her touch and she finished on full of steam to rally well in the final furlong and achieve her maiden success on her 13th start. Rutilant was holding sway as they entered the straight and he kept galloping away leaving the others to chase him down. Alliston improved from the fourth spot to challenge Rutilant past the distance post. Rutilant resisted strongly for a while before Alliston wore him down to surge ahead and post a narrow victory. Vashishta arrived with a late charge to peg back Rutilant for the runner up slot.

Smarty (Surfrider – Anodyne) put up a gritty performance to hold on gamely to score a close win with a pack of horses snapping at her tail. She was up ahead alongside hot favourite Dumbledore until the turn and soon left the struggling Dumbledore far behind once they entered the straight.

Smarty was quick to compile a handy lead in the early half of the homestretch and that held her in good stead. She was clearly ahead past the distance post but as the winning post was approaching, Withrosemakeup, Bombastic and Golden Adara started to close in rapidly. Smarty, with Ajeeth Kumar in the saddle, had just about enough in reserve as she rolled on to keep the challengers at bay.  Withrosemakeup finished on fast and finished half a length behind the winner, while Golden Adara managed to pip Bombastic for the third slot.

Negress Princess (West Virginia – Argentina) pulled off a start to finish victory and had to gallop hard all the way. She got past Dance All Night and settled to lead the field into the homestretch. Negress Princess kicked on gamely and the challenge came from All Star General in the final furlong. Jockey Mukesh Kumar astride All Star General seemed indecisive on whether to go for the slender gap along the rails or switch to the outside and he dilly-dallied for a stride too along. By the time he eventually pulled out his mount, Negress Princess had that split-seconds advantage which proved decisive at the wire. All Star General gained on the winner in the last couple of strides and missed the mark by a head at the post. Vijay’s Empress covered good ground to finish in the money.

Barbosella (Dailed In – Bobby Chic) saddled by Deshmukh, thundered in the final 100 meters to post her maiden win on third start. She was racing close to the inner fence behind Spiritual who led them into the straight. Spiritual held on for a good part of the homestretch, but in the latter stages, Babosella warmed up to finish with a good burst of speed. The Special One put in a sustained effort in the final furlong, however, he could only manage to snatch the runner berth from Promiseofhappiness and Spiritual as Barbosella had sped away to win by two lengths.  

For the professionals, trainers L D’ Silva and Srinivas Reddy saddled a double each, whie jockeys Ashhad Asbar and Ajeeth Kumar scored a double each.