Alcazaba wins Governor’s Cup

Trophy presentation of RTC Queen’s Cup. From left: RTC Secretary Ranjan Kagnasabai, Trainer Manish Raj Sethi, Winning Owner Hasanga Jayaratne receiving the trophy from Purni Edwards, Nihara, Winning Jockey A. Imran Khan and RTC Treasurer Nisitha Rupasinghe

Trophy Presentation of RTC Governor’s Cup. From left: Nihara, RTC Treasurer Nisitha Rupasinghe, RTC President, Winning Owner Purni Edwards, Receiving the trophy from Governor of Central Province P.B. Dassanayake, Rienzie Edwards, Winning Jockey Kuldeep Singh, Mayor of Nuwara Eliya Chandana Lal Karunaratne, and RTC Secretary Ranjan Kagnasabai

Alcazaba the cover girl of the Royal Turf Club conjured up yet another magical performance to win the plum of the Spring Racing Season – The Governor’s Cup. 

The eight-year-old chestnut mare owned by Deepthika Jayakody and Purni Edwards stormed home to give jockey Kuldeep Singh an armchair ride to victory. Trainer S. D. Mahesh who topped the championship honours has done a great job in keeping Alcazaba in the pink of condition right through her Spring campaign.

The Royal Turf Club in Nuwara Eliya has really done a remarkable job in staging a successful, competitive, and entertaining Spring Racing Season which was punctuated with four race days, and now that they have earned themselves a ten-year lease on what must surely be one of the most picturesque racecourses in the world, they have got just the platform they need to take racing in Sri Lanka to the next level.

What a curtain call was laid on by RTC for Turfites on this last Saturday of April, the last day of the racing season. The Mayor’s Cup, the Queen’s Cup, and the Governor’s Cup provided an absolute mouthwatering card and there were thrills and excitement all around.

Krabi, owned by Dhanwardene Guruge, set the ball rolling with Frenchman Charles Perkins riding her to a hard fought victory. He slowed the pace from the start and then after being passed came back with a second run to land the spoils.

Nuwara Eliya is one of the greenest hill stations you will ever see and it was only fitting that the Mayor’s Cup should be won by mare named Go Green. Owned by David Anthony and ridden by Ramu, Go Green was trained by S. Alosoous.

Hasanga Jayaratne meant business and bringing down the top Indian jockey A. Imran Khan for the day, paid rich dividends with his horse Another Ace acing the opposition in the Queen’s Cup. Trained by Manishraj Sethi, Another Ace won well from Celestial Fire who was a gallant second.

The last race of the day and the season gave Hasinga Jayaratne a well earned double when his bay mare Waiting For Glory took over the running at the top of the straight and skated home in impressive fashion.

It was a beautiful sunny day at the Royal Turf Club in Nuwara Eliya and it belonged to Alcazaba, truly the champion of the Little England Turf.

Race 1: Daily Mirror Cup Class 5 Handicap 1400M 

1.Krabi (IND) b.m.6

Trainer: S.D. Mahesh

Jockey: Charles Perkins

Owner: Dhanwardene Guruge

2. Scarlet Prince

3. Stormy Petrel

Race 2: Mayor’s Cup 1400m 

1.Go Green (IND) b.m.9 Trainer: S. Alosious

Jockey: A. Ramu

Owner: David Anthony

2.Gazaki

3.Torpedo 

Race 3: RTC Queen’s Cup terms for 6y’o & Over 2000M

1.Another Ace

2.Gazaki

3.Torpedo

Race 4: The RTC Governor’s Cup terms for 6y’o & over 1600M 

1.Alcazaba

Trainer: S.D. Mahesh

Jockey: Kuldeep Singh

Owner: Deepthika Jayakody and Purni Edwards

2.Meheran

3.Charlemagne

Race 5: The Grand Hotel 

Cup 1400m

1.Waiting For Glory 

Trainer: S. Sridher

Jockey: A. Imran Khan

Owner: Hasanga Jayartane

2.Cosmopolitan

3.Miss Ivory