RTC Governor’s Cup on April 15
Royal Turf Club (RTC) has made all arrangements to conduct the 2023 edition of the much anticipated Governor’s Cup horseracing event, sponsored by Nippon Paint, at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya on April 15, Saturday. RTC is set to hold its fourth raceday lined up in the VisitSriLanka Horseracing Season 2023, which consist of five racedays.
After three racedays conducted monthly through January and March, all eyes will be on the new sensations Mauritania and Legendary Princess – two frontline winners who had made their names in the Indian circuit before being brought to Sri Lanka. Former Governor’s Cup winner Western Wind will be another contender who could pull off an upset, but three-time Queen’s Cup winner Another Ace can emerge as the surprise package in the main race on April 15.
Meheran is also included in the lineup, but so far has failed to impress after two runs. With the absence of the champion chestnut mare Alcazaba, who had won the Governor’s Cup thrice, before being retired last season, the competition will be an open affair to all runners.
The Queen’s Cup, the second most anticipated race event of the year next to the Governor’s Cup, will be the other attraction of the raceday. The final declarations are yet to be confirmed by the RTC officials, yet the 2000m race will be of high importance to all runners and riders.
“So far RTC has successfully conducted three racedays with decent fields of runners. By now all runners and riders have been be able to regain momentum before the Governor’s Cup next Saturday. RTC has put all arrangements in place to conduct a perfect day of horseracing and we look forward to provide the thrills and fills as each year,” revealed Nisitha Rupasinghe, the Treasurer of RTC.
As last season Indian experts in horse racing are in Nuwara Eliya to conduct the RTC VisitSriLanka Horseracing Season 2023, including the Governor’s Cup and the RTC Magic Million Cup racedays. Senior stalwart Cyrus J. Madan will continue his responsibilities as the Chairman of Stipendiary Stewards of RTC, while B.J. Shyam continues as Handicapper and Steward with the able support of R. Manjunath, the Senior Stipendiary Steward.
Last season, RTC completed a squeezed racing calendar, with the Governor’s Cup and Magic Million Cup taking the centre stage. Sri Lanka’s most celebrated racing horse, Alcazaba, won her third RTC Governor’s Cup title, in her last run before retirement, a feat earlier only achieved by Double Eagle in the early 2000s.
Alcazaba also claimed the most coveted title in 2017 and 2018, after stable-mate from Edwards Stables Roswald’s win in 2016. But Spirited Touch managed to outrun the champion runner in 2019 by a whisker, before Western Wind claimed a thrilling win against the top two contenders in 2021.