Magnificent ‘Meheran’ sizzles as ‘Alcazaba’ runs out of steam
The thrilling finish at the Royal Turf Club (RTC) Magic Million Cup race day, when Indian jockey Imran Khan led ‘Meheran’ to an exciting finish to end the winning streak of ‘Alcazaba’, promises an electrifying day of Horse racing when the April Holiday Season comes to an end next Saturday.
The marathon gallop gave ‘Meheran’ the RTC Magic Million Cup, along with a cash award of Rs 1 Million, in the RTC Magic Million Cup Race day held at the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse last Sunday (16).
Jockey Khan laid the foundation by winning the Blackpool Hotel Cup 1600-metre race for Class 2 Thoroughbred Horses on ‘Kingston Town’, and was obviously aiming for the 1800-metre Class 1 RTC Magic Million Cup race. Khan set the pace from the start by leading ‘Meheran’, owned by Hasanga Jayaratne, closely challenged by Deepthika Jayakody’s ‘Silver Streak’ ridden by S.D. Mahesh. Halfway through Jayakody’s winning Horse, ‘Alcazaba’, progressed from behind to the middle of the bunch, as it usually does. But it had to negotiate the challenge of ‘Charlemagne’ and ‘Rowald’, before edging up to ‘Meheran’ in the final 400-metre stretch.
Jockey Aneel Kolthur took ‘Alcazaba’ to the front 300 metres from the finish, but Jockey Khan and ‘Meheran’ were in their element, when they upped gears and pulled away to give ‘Meheran’ its first win in its second race on Sri Lankan soil.
Meheran (R) beat Alcazaba to win the RTC Magic Million Cup last Sunday
Overall, the Jayaratne Stables had a fine day for the first time in the races winning 3 races and placed 3rd thrice. Deepthika Jayakody had an off-day and it may have gotten worse when ‘Alcazaba’ gave up on 1st place for the first time. Nevertheless, her team put her back in winning ways by securing 2 wins- Ministry of International Trade Cup and Sporting Star Cup races, and a 3rd place in the RTC Challenge Trophy, which was won by the Jayaratne’s ‘Airborne II’.
However, soon after the main race, ‘Alcazaba’ jockey Kolthur, who came 2nd, lodged a protest against ‘Meheran’ jockey Khan, alleging Khan’s whip had touched ‘Alcazaba’s’ face in the final few metres of the race.
“The objection was filed on the Course, and the Stipendiary Stewards, on receiving the objection, immediately verified with Senior Veterinarian, Dr J. Thangaraja who declared there was no evidence of such mark or marks, following a careful examination of ‘Alcazaba’s’ face for any injuries. Then the Stipendiary Stewards interviewed both jockeys involved, and after taking into account their respective submissions, the objection overruled unanimously.
This chain of events will up the tempo for the 3rd and final installment of RTC’s April Holiday Racing calendar, the RTC Governor’s Cup on April 29 at the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse. As its two previous Race-days, the RTC Governor’s Cup will include a card of 7 Races with close to 50 top Horses competing for honours.
“We are happy to conduct two successful Race-days with the participation of top Horses and Riders, and of course, our supportive Horse racing fans and the energetic RTC Committee, who have collectively contributed to the success of the ongoing April Holiday Season Races. We hope to wind up the April season on a high note with yet another eventful day at the RTC Governor’s Cup on April 29, to mark another successful month of 3 Race-days. I’m sure the main race of the day will be as exciting as it was on April 16, and look forward to another memorable day of Horse racing next Saturday,” Keerthinanda added.
Deepthika Jayakody's horses won two races
 Results of RTC Magic Million Cup Race-day Â
-  Race 1: RTC Pony Welfare Raffle Cup (1000m for ½ Bred)
1: Sri Lankan Queen (L. Ravikumar / Nawaneetha)
2: Eye Touch (A. Dilan / r. Balachandran)
3: Misty Queen (M. Mohanraj / Ajantha Soyza)
- Â Race 2: Sporting Times Cup (1400m for Class 5 Thoroughbreds)
1: Honorious (S. Pradeep / Fearless Stables and Stud Farm)
2: Musical Treasure (JWDL / Ananda Bandara)
3: Augusta (K. Sanjeevan / Jayaratne Stables)
- Â Race 3: The Blackpool Hotel Cup (1600m for Class 2 Thoroughbreds)
1: Kingston Town (Imran Khan / Hasanga Jayaratne and J.R. Irugalbandara)
2: Celestial Fire (A. Vishwanath / Anura Delgoda)
3: Gazaki (Aneel Kolthur / Mr. and Mrs. Edwards)
- Â Race 4: RTC Magic Million Cup (1800m for Class 1 Thoroughbreds)
1: Meheran (Imran Khan / Hasanga Jayaratne)
2: Alcazaba (Aneel Kolthur / Deepthika Jayakody)
3: Roswald (Y.S. Srinath / Deepthika Jayakody)
- Â Race 5: Ministry of International Trade Trophy (1600m for Class 3 Thoroughbreds)
Members of Jayaratne Stables claimed the main trophy at the RTC Magic Million Cup - Pix by Indika Handuwala
1: Captain Haddock (Y.S. Srinath / Deepthika Jayakody)
2: Glittering (Aneel Kolthur / Deepthika Jayakody)
3: Icelandic (Imran Khan / Jayaratne Stub Farms)
- Â Race 6: Sporting Star Cup (1400m for Class 4 Thoroughbreds)
1: Supreme (Aneel Kolthur / Deepthika Jayakody)
2: Colorato (L. Dayalan / Deepthika Jayakody and Charini Suriyage)
3: Crimson Quest (S. Suganthan / Jayaratne Stud Farms)
-  Race 7: RTC Challenge Trophy (1000m for ¾ Breds)
1: Airborne II (S. Dasadaran / Jayaratne Stables)
2: Queen of the Hill (M. Ishan / R.M.C.K. Rajapakshe)
3: Cabresse (M. Mohanraj / Deepthika Jayakody)