Only three runners went to post for the Kakatiya Million, the feature race on the day’s card, yet the finish was as exciting as it can get. The market trend was ‘see-sawing’ between Corfe Castle and Ashwa Bravo, both donning the same silks representing ZS Poonawalla family, while Smashing Blue was considered the underdog. However, to everyone’s delight, the three quality competitors put in an all-out effort galloping with all their heart into it and provided an exciting finish that took one’s breath away.

Smashing Blue hit the front and galloped freely in front with Ashwa Bravo and Corfe Castle about three lengths covering the three runners. Smashing Blue entered the straight with a slender lead and the way Ashwa Bravo was traveling, he looked well in control, steadily catching up with the leader. Leo D’Silva trained Corfe Castle (Excellent Art – Miss Danehill, Poonawalla Stud) seemed to have fallen back and that made Ashwa Bravo look right on course to deliver the final blow. The script changed slightly when Smashing Blue held on grittily and made Ashwa Bravo sweat as he stuck by and even regained the lead although only just. Corfe Castle, still about three lengths adrift with a furlong to go, churned out a terrific burst of speed and started to cover ground at a very good clip. There didn’t seem enough ground left for him to get to the pair fighting in front; however, he showed what a determined fight-back can achieve. Corfe Castle with CS Jodha astride, flew from the outside to nail Ashwa Bravo and Smashing Blue in the nick of time to carve out a thrilling, last stride victory. Ashwa Bravo and Smashing Blue fought extremely well and made the race a real treat to watch!

Followers of form were left perplexed at most of the other results of the day. Lesser fancied horses, some with indifferent form brought to the fore the uncertainties of the sport in no small measure. Almas (Charm Spirit – No Song) was the exception as the only strong favourite to oblige. Almas was up with the leader Star medal and traveled on a tight rein right through the early half of the homestretch, with jockey Ajinkya not moving a muscle. Sunderji trained Almas had “winner’ written all over her as she cruised past Star Medal effortlessly and thumped the opposition to notch up her maiden win on her third start.

Red Snaper (West Virginia – Shanghai Gal), trained by D-Silva, raced very well in the hands of Nikhil Naidu and shocked favourite Mirana to clinch the Gajasimha Rao Memorial Cup, the supporting event of the day. Mark My Day led the field deep into the straight, while Red Snaper and Mirana rallied from the mid-bunch to challenge the front runner in the first half of the straight. Red Snaper made steady headway and got the lead with a furlong to go and with Mirana coming along it appeared that the favourite was right in contention. However, Red Snaper kicked on gamely, putting Mirana under pressure. Mirana could not get past as Red Snaper sustained the pressure all the way and won by more than a length to spare. Aerial Combat arrived with a very late dash to beat Mark My Day for place money.

Trainer Magan Singh had a day to celebrate as he led-in his first winner to begin his innings at Hyderabad on a winning note. Long-shot Mireya (Planetaire – Win And Enjoy) provided him with this memorable start on his new home turf.

Top Diamond looked in charge as he led the field into the straight and galloped on to build a handy lead. On-money favourite Baudelaire soon crept behind Top Diamond and shaped well too. With a furlong to go, Top Diamond was still going well but Baudelaire looked in trouble. Mireya swung into action with jockey Kuldeep Singh setting alight Mireya inside the final furlong. Battle Ready too started covering ground at a brisk rate and these two went after Top Diamond.  It was a hard battle and Mireya came up trumps to win by a neck from Battle Ready and Top Diamond, with Baudelaire ending a close fourth. 

Garnet (Green Coast – Parade Queen) trained by Netto, added to his recent maiden win in December, with an impressive stretch run to score with surprising ease. The ten to one shot stalked leader Silk into the straight and then sailed ahead approaching the distance post. Silk fought briefly, but found the winner, ridden by Vikrant, tough to match. Indie, the lead fancy in the race, was too far back and could do no better than save place money.

Shehzad Abbas trained Unmatched (Crimson China – Enchanting Miss) added to her solitary win that came around the same time last year, drawing a blank in the six starts in-between. She chose the day to rise again and produced a dazzling gallop at the business end to floor a bunch of fighting rivals.

Furious Fun shaped well until the distance post when Royal Pal and Star Cruise got alongside. It looked headed for a three way fight at that stage and just when Royal Pal got the measure of the leader and was warding off Star Cruise, jockey Akshay Kumar burst on the scene astride Unmatched. The filly finished on full steam to zip past them all and score an assertive victory by just over a length. Royal Pal and Star Cruise followed the winner while Explosive improved to finish a tame fourth. Favourite Above the Law was below par.

Arcadian Angel Nett Whizz – Marry the Prince) finally found enough legs to bring about her maiden victory after her debut in 2019 and on her 20th attempt. Jockey Santosh Raj made his move up from the second, to race ahead past early leader Space Time soon on turning for home. Once in the lead, she worked her way on and built a handy lead coming into the final furlong. She encountered a strong challenge from the fast finishing Ayur Tej but the Waseem Ahmed trainee held her ground bravely to kick on. Another scare was thrown in when Good Tidings arrived with a mean gallop and had he not been as far back as he was, it could have been a different story. Arcadian Angel held on by just under a length; Good Tidings did very well to pip Ayur Tej for the second place.

Hitherto unplaced Blue Label (Planetaire – Real Magic) found his magic touch and provided his connection with a ‘high’ as he trounced the opposition to notch up his maiden victory on his eighth start. It looked a tough task as Blue Label was last to turn for home and went wide at the turn as well. Out in front, favourite Princess Shania squandered a good lead as Stark got past her to take charge. Stark shaped well momentarily but had no answer when Wild Card arrived with a big challenge. Wild Card surged ahead inside the last 100 meters, which is when apprentice jockey Deora got Blue Label to produce a fine finishing effort to zip past Wild Card and score a memorable victory by a narrow half-length margin. Wild Card was unlucky to have missed out, while Stark did fairly well to finish in the money.

Trainer L D’Silva was the lone pro to score a double.