Anupam Sharma trained Aakash Vani benefitted by the late surge of Legend and managed to reach the safety of the winning post to claim the 1200 metres Raja Sitharam Bhupal of Domakonda Samasthan Memorial Cup (Div I), a race for horses rated 46 to 70, the feature event of Monday`s races held at Malakpet. By the time, Legend warmed up to the task, Aakash Vani had established what turned out to be a winning lead.

Aakash Vani and Legend were both strongly fancied to win but by race time, the latter attracted huge volumes of betting with the odds on the former shooting up. The speedy Kohinoor Grace showed up in front with Aakash Vani in the second position while Legend was none too well placed and had to be goaded to improve places from the back. Aakash Vani quickly got the better of Kohinoor Grace in the straight and marched ahead with the only threat emanating from Picture Perfect who was in chase of the front-runner. Legend picked up speed only in the final furlong and though he was full of running at the finish, Aakash Vani escaped to victory. Legend could only succeed in edging out Picture Perfect to get the second position. Kohinoor Grace stayed on to finish fourth.

The lower division of the Domakonda Cup produced an absorbing finish with Fair And Square managing to pull it off in the hands of apprentice Koushik from Aston Doulton. Inside the final furlong, it was difficult to predict who could prevail as half a dozen runners were in contention. Sacrifice who took charge inside the final two furlongs managed to cling on to the lead till the closing stages of the race. However, there was a cavalry charge at the finish. Fair And Square squeezed out a narrow win over fast-finishing Aston Doulton, Catherine and Perfection. Sacrifice weakened to finish out of the frame.

Donald Netto trained Rahul`s Pet showed out in the paddock parade but the one to corner all the betting for the 1400 metres Don Micheletto Plate, a race for horses rated 66 to 90, was Aragonda Princess. Red Express set a fast before fading out in the straight. Rahul`s Pet who was travelling strongly, displaced Red Express from the lead inside the final two furlongs and sped away for an easy win over stablemate Preciosa. Ashwa Raftar made a late charge to get the third place. Aragonda Prince struggled to keep pace with the front-runners and looked to be in trouble well before the final furlong and eventually finished poorly.

The Capachino Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds produced an absorbing finish. Thundering was the on money favourite to win the race. Takisha led from the start and refused to budge from there. Thundering and Celtic Queen essayed a strong challenge down the final furlong. It was only in the closing strides that Celtic Queen could clinch the issue with Thundering managing to get the better of Takisha to finish second best. The lower division of the race saw Satyanarayana trained Moondancer smash the opposition in an excellent timing of one minute 11.7 seconds. Moondancer led from the start and spared nine lengths at the finish to Art of History who got the better of Destined Dynamite to get the runner-up berth. Moondancer appears a good type of a youngster.

Prasad Raju trained Creator swamped the field in the 1400 metres Illustrious Reign Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. After Rutilant expended his energy in front, Creator took charge with a furlong left in the race and stormed clear of the field to win in excellent fashion. Somerset was second ahead of You Can I Can.

Ravinder Singh trained Raja Hindustani was an impressive winner of 1400 metres Twin Cities Cup, a race for horses rated 26 to 50 with a last to the first performance in delightful fashion. Trevor was unperturbed while settling Raja Hindustani in the rear position before making his move on the wide outside in the run in for home. Raja Hindustani covered the leeway with great alacrity and was hailed a winner long way from home. Darakshan Setarah was second ahead of Samba who failed to live up to the expectations of recording an encore.

Apprentice jockey P K Gaddam drove out Rapidest to score in the 1200 metres Hussain Sagar Cup, a race for horses rated 26 to 50. The speedy Bouncer who was drawn the widest was pushed to take over the running and this effort itself had a disastrous effect on his chances. After leading the field well into the straight, he weakened allowing Rapidest who was in a handy second position to storm ahead. Rapidest swiftly established a good lead and was in no danger of being caught up with by favourite Act In Time who did not live up to his name and was late in his arrival. Military Cross was third.

Shezad Abbas trained Penthesilea was backed spiritedly to win the 1100 metres though the four-year-old filly was making a belated appearance this season. The favourite lost her chances at the gate itself with a lethargic beginning and thereafter did not raise a fluent gallop. Penthesilea did not recover from the bad start and was not spotted at the busy end. Supurinto produced a powerful effort with200 metres left in the race and bounced clear to win easily from Yes Baby, Divine Heights and War Lady who finished in a cluster and settled the minor places among themselves.