Leo D`Silva trained Corfe Castle bounced back to winning ways after a gap of 300 days when the seven-year-old produced the patented late burst to nail Ashwa Bravo on the post in the 1200 metres Kakatiya Million, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of races held at Malakpet on Monday. Incidentally, this was the third straight win for Corfe Castle in the Kakatiya Cup.

Though there were just three runners in the fray, the difference in weights ensured that the race would be a competitive affair. Corfe Castle who was getting weight from Ashwa Bravo who had reeled off five wins in a row was expected to be seen in a different light. Corfe Castle who had gone down narrowly in the Sprinters Cup at Mumbai last month was backed with conviction to resume his winning ways. Corfe Castle and Ashwa Bravo were quoted at almost identical odds.

Jockey Akshay Kumar took Smashing Blue on a start to finish mission with Ashwa Bravo in proximity, with Corfe Castle a few lengths adrift. The way Ashwa Bravo was travelling well within himself, it looked as though he would be able to collar the front-runner any time he wished to. However, contrary to expectations, Smashing Blue put up a dogged resistance and led till the dying moments of the race. Even as Pradeep Chouhan was about to get the better of the front-runner, Corfe Castle in the hands of C S Jodha too closed with a rush. The champion seven-year-old managed to put his neck in front at the finish, with Ashwa Bravo a similar margin ahead of Smashing Blue. Despite the disappointment of the small field in the fray, the absorbing finish made up more than for the absence of more contestants.

Shiraz Sunderji trained Almas was the short-priced horse for 1100 metres Aberader Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds after a fighting second on the last occasion. Almas was not hard-pressed to win by a widening margin of four lengths in the hands of Ajinkya. Star Medal and Carlisle occupied the next two slots at some distance from each other. It was a one-sided race.

Winner picking in the rest of the races was a nightmare for the punters, with long shots ruling the roost, much to the chagrin of punters who were at their wit`s end to identify a potential winner. Srinivas Reddy trained Mirana who was a late rallying second last time out was widely reckoned to have a decisive say in the 1400 metres Gajasimha Rao Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. However, it was not to be as long-shot Red Snapper who shot into the lead in the final furlong comfortably held off the challenge from Mirana. Aerial Combat was third.

Trainer Magan Singh Parmar who shifted based from Delhi saddled his first winner through Mireya in the 1400 metres Wishful Thinking Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. The long-shot produced a good rally from way off the pace to get the better of Battle Ready and Top Diamond who were battling it out for the spoils. Favourite Baudelaire though within reach of the battling horses in front, failed to find an extra gear to make a difference to the outcome of the race.

Lesser fancied Arcadian Angel from the stables of trainer Waseem Ahmed managed to win the 1100 metres Vegavathi Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category from the late rallying Good Tidings. Favourite Berkley made no show. Good Tidings who was also a preferred horse had too much ground to cover in the final furlong and despite an all-out effort fell short in the end. Ayur Tej was a close third. Despite trailing the field and taking the turn miles wide, Satheesh trained Blue Label covered ground rapidly in the stretch in the hands of apprentice R S Jodha and managed to nail Wild Card in the waning yards of the race to win the lower division of the race at fancy odds. Stark was third.

Donald Netto trained Garnet was another upset winner of the day in the 1200 metres Hovercraft Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Garnet kicked clear in the final furlong to win the race by a margin of three lengths over Silk. The fancied Indie was a tame third. Jockey Akshay Kumar managed to win on lesser fancied Unmatched who came home with a big effort from way off the pace to claim the lower division of the race with a measure of comfort. Royal Pal necked out Star Cruise to pinch the runner-up berth.