RTC Spring and Summer Raceday Cup

• Santos claims top win after thrilling photo-finish

A fitting finale to a much anticipated horseracing season brought back the glamour at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya on Sunday 31 March, as Santos and Baashagar gave the crowd in waiting a perfect end to the RTC Spring and Summer Raceday Cup. 

The 1400-metre race for Class I Thoroughbred horses had seven top runners, and the judges had to thoroughly examine the thrilling photo finish before officially declaring Santos as the winner by a wafer thin margin. Santos, owned by Purni Edwards, trained S.D. Mahesh and ridden by Indian jockey Nikhil Parmar, made a great canter from the middle of the bunch to record an unexpected victory.  

Baashagar, owned by Gamini Jayaratne and his wife and ridden by K. Sanjeewan, fell short by a whisker to finish off at second. Parushram, owned by David Anthony and ridden by Ajeet Kumar, was deemed as one of the favourites, but had to settle in at third in a race where all seven runners were in a bunch from start to finish.

However, making a perfect start to the day, the Jayaratnes, under the trainer S. Sridher, had recorded two wins before missing out a rare hat-trick in the final Class I race. Earlier on, trainer Sridher made his efforts put into work by preparing a strong combination which could be ideal for the forthcoming two racedays in April.

The Jayaratnes opened the day after Star Scholar, ridden by K. Sanjeewan, took the Hill Club Challenge Trophy, a Class V race of 1070 metres. Zulu Fantasy, owned by Purni Edwards and ridden by Nikhin Parmar, came in at second, while Crimson Quest, one of the three horses owned by the Jayaratnes and ridden by L. Dayalan, finished at third. 

The Jayaratnes tasted their second win by claiming the Sunday Times Trophy, a Class III 1070 metre race, where six runners competed. Hasanga Jayaratne’s Icelandic ridden by R.P. Shinde took an easy win while Olive, owned by the Fearless Stables and Stud Farms and ridden by jockey Aneel, finished at second. Charming Grey, owned by Deepthika Jayakody, and ridden by K.N. Darshan finished third.

Earlier on, jockey S.D. Mahesh led Vigorous, owned by Ajantha de Soysa, all the way through 1070 metres to claim the Alpine Hotel Cup, the Class IV handicap race. A close fight was on for the second position which Honorious, owned by the Fearless Stables and Stud Farm and ridden by Aneel, snatched the slot from Starmont, owned by Purni Edwards and ridden by Parmar. 

Just before the thrilling finale, Fearless Stables and Stud Farms claimed a double finish, as jockey Aneel steered Spirited Touch to win the Ranjit Dahanayake Memorial Cup, the 1400-metre race for Class II horses. Following closely behind at second was jockey K.N. Darshan, who rode Celestial Fire and gave his stable a one and two finish. Silver Streak owned by Deepthika Jayakody and ridden by Parmar, came in at third.

The Royal Turf Club (RTC) will gear up to host the two important racedays in April, which promise thrills and spills, after Sunday’s show at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya. The RTC Governor’s Cup is scheduled to take place on 15 April, followed by the RTC Magic Million Cup on 21 April.