SANTOS CLAIMS
RTC SPRING AND SUMMER RACE DAY CUP IN STYLE
Santos and Jockey Nikhil Parmar claimed the RTC Spring and Summer Race Day Cup as the duo ended first, a few inches ahead of Baashagar and Jockey K. Sanjeewan at the RTC Spring/summer
Race Day worked off at the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse yesterday.
The champion duo, owned by Purni Edwards, had some serious competition from the start of the race as Meheran along with Jockey R. P. Shinde enjoyed an early lead.
As the group drew close to the finish line, Baashagar and Santos went head-tohead, which saw the latter claim the win after getting in front of the rest. Parushram and Jockey Ajeet Kumar were placed third.
Organised by the Royal Turf Club (RTC), the race day was packed with five thrilling races, and set the mood ahead of the ‘season’ of Nuwara Eliya.
Starting off the day was the Hill Club Challenge Trophy for Class V Handicap, which saw 12 horses compete; the most of the day for a single race.
Star Scholar and Jockey K. Sanjeewan, owned by Gamini Jayarathne, got off to an early lead but was challenged by stablemate Crimson Quest and Zulu Fantasy along the way.
The duo managed to hold on to the lead however, and finish first in an emphatic style.
Crimson Quest finished second ahead of Zulu Fantasy who had to settle in for third place.
The Alpine Cup race for Class IV Handicap was claimed by Vigorous and Jockey S. D. Janaka, owned by Ajantha De Soyza.
They held on to the early lead they had acquired and went on to finish the race with a massive gap ahead of the trailing pack at the finish line.
It was a very tight race at the end for the two places behind Vigorous as a cluster of horses were out against each other but Honourious and Stormont managed to claim Silver and Bronze respectively ahead of the tight competition.
Icelandic was placed first in The Sunday Times Trophy after a strong display put on show along with Jockey R. P. Shinde, which saw them hold on to the lead acquired after the first turn of the race.
The duo went on to claim the race in emphatic fashion, giving owner
Hasanga Jayaratne his first win.
Olive and Jockey Aneel caught up with Charming Grey and Jockey P. Dinesh from the outside of the track and leapfrogged them in to second just before the finish line.
Charming Grey had to settle in for third place. Glittering had to be withdrawn after refusing to enter the stalls prior to the start.
Meanwhile, the Ranjith Dahanayake Memorial Cup was won by Spirited Touch and Jockey Aneel quite convincingly.
Owned by Fearless Stables and Stud Farms, the duo enjoyed the lead for most of the race after taking the pole position from Areca Wonder.
They went on to establish a huge lead ahead of Celestial Fire and Jockey K. N. Darshan who finished second. Silver Streak and Nikhil Parmar claimed third place.
In the fifth and final race for the RTC Spring and Summer Race Day Cup, a tight race was on the cards as a few big names
were in the line-up.
And it proved to be nothing less than a spectacular win as Baashagar and Santos fought it out for top spot to the very end.
Santos and Jockey Nikhil Parmar were crowned winners of the race afteracloseinspectionbythejudges.
Baashagar and Jockey K. Sanjeewan were pushed in to second place while Parushram and Jockey Ajeet Kumar finished in at third place.
With the extravagant season of the month of April of Nuwara Eliya beginning today, the races will be held next on April 15.