Patch Of Cosmo made a spectacular return from injury and Akashvani all but sealed his place in the Classic Mile on a day for the four-year-olds at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained Patch Of Cosmo had been absent since a striking win over course and distance in March, with a left fore tendon injury leaving him on the sidelines.

Sent off at $4.9 to defy the 315-days absence in the Class Three Tennis Handicap (1,600m), Zac Purton settled the Super Seth galloper in midfield and was forced to spin wide into the straight as the field fanned out.

That made no difference to the outcome, however, with Patch Of Cosmo making sustained ground down the centre – the place to be on Sunday – before getting the better of Aerodynamics by a neck.

It was a performance that impressed Purton, who will ride Sagacious Life in the Classic Mile, and left him praising Man after Patch Of Cosmo’s long absence from racing.

“First of all, it was a really good training performance. This horse has been off from 10 months with a tendon and he’s come back at the top of Class Three, carrying a lot of weight [135lb], first up at a mile and he’s won,” said Purton, who also won on City Gold Banner on Sunday.

“That’s not easy to do. So, they want to take their place in the four-year-old series now and he’s not going to be out of place. He’s a relatively lightly-raced horse, he’s got plenty more there.”

Meanwhile, Akashvani put his rivals to the sword and all but confirmed his Classic Mile berth in the Class Three Fencing Handicap (1,400m).

Rated 72 and outside the likely cut-off for the opening leg of the Classic Series, the son of Alpine Eagle now looks guaranteed a berth after routing his rivals with a three-length all-the-way success under Brenton Avdulla.

It was the perfect birthday present for Avdulla, who did not have a moment’s worry as he quickly assumed command from stall eight and faced no pace pressure from his rivals.

Turning in, Avdulla made use of the better ground in the middle of the track by shunning the inside rail and that all but sealed the deal, with the pair running away in impressive fashion to beat John Size’s Super Express.

“Last week he drew a bad gate and we had to take our time and Lyle Hewitson got off and said ‘I think he’s better if you ride him closer’,” said trainer David Hayes in reference to Akashvani’s seventh behind Lucky Sam Gor last week.

“We decided today to be a bit positive and because all the horses coming from behind, they let him lead – no one wanted to lead.

“I thought going towards the Classic Mile it was a very, very good run. I think he’ll get eight or nine points and that will probably get him in the big race.”

It was Akashvani’s third run at the 1,400m trip and he will now have two weeks heading into his first crack at the mile, but Hayes has no concerns on either fact and believes the best is yet to come.

“His father was a very good miler – his distance is probably better over a mile and further. Because he’s a young horse, we haven’t pushed him, but we did the quick back up and it really helped him,” Hayes said.

“That was his best win in Hong Kong and that was over 1,400m and I would say he has a mile written all over him. If you look at his pedigree and racing style, I think if he draws well he’ll run a good race.

“He’s very fit – there are some horses rated high but not in form, and he’s in form. I think that means a lot in Hong Kong and he’s got a nice gap now with two weeks to the race. We’re very excited.”