Horse Racing: Alcazaba blazes to victory at Sports Ministry Spring Festival Race

Deepthika Jayakody's continual success was carried on for yet another weekend when Indian jockey Irvan Singh rode Alcazaba to victory at the Sports Ministry Spring Festival Race Day at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya on Saturday (23).
 
This was Alcazaba's second big win within a fortnight and jockey Singh's successive third win at a major level event of Royal Turf Club (RTC). 

The winning horse of the Class I Handicap 1400metre race carried away the main trophy and a cash award of Rs. 300,000 while Spearhead, ridden by local jockey Dhinesh and owned by Rienzie Edwards placed second pocketing Rs. 150,000. 

Augustus, ridden by N.S. Parmar and owned by Isira Dasanayake, claimed the third spot and a cash reward of Rs. 75,000. 

Atlantus and Mr. Majestic finished fourth and fifth respectively as they claimed Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 20,000 each in cash. 

However the most exciting race of the day took place in the Daily Mirror Challenge Cup where the winner was determined by photo finish. 

Eventually Icelandic ridden by S. Suganthan and owned by Hasanga Jayaratne claimed the win of the Class II and III Handicap 1600metre race, with the challenge cup and a cash award of Rs. 250,000. 

By a whisker Gazaki, ridden by Irvan Singh and owned by Rienzie Edwards finished second to claim Rs. 125,000 in cash while Indian Epic, ridden by Kishore Kadam and owned by Isira Dasanayake finished close behind at third to claim the cash reward of Rs. 62,500. 

Sandstorm ridden by S.D. Mahesh and Festival City ridden by L. Ravi Kumar finished at fourth and fifth. 

Deepthika Jayakody, who claimed wins at main events of RTC organised events since last month, received a special award from the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara for recognition of her efforts in instigating the push towards anti-doping testing for horse racing in Sri Lanka.

The horse racing festival of April season will come to an end with the final event of RTC next Saturday at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya followed by a three-month break. 

Results:     

Continental Plantations Cup (Div II, Class 4 & 5 Handicap 1400M): 1. Stockwell (N.S. Parmar/Isira Dasanayake), 2. Don Hasa (A. Vishwanath/Jayarathne Stables), 3. Christmas Cake (M. Mohanraj/A.N. Arumapura) 

EBC Ascot Trophy (Div I, Class 4 & 5 Handicap 1400M): 1. Beautiful Lankan (N.S. Parmer/Isira Dasanayake), 2. Joanna (L. Ravi Kumar/Sri Singhe Lokuhewa), 3. Captive Heart (Kishore Kadam/Isira Dasanayake) 

Sports Ministry Spring Trophy (Class 1 Handicap 1400M): 1. Alcazaba (Irvan Singh/Deepthika Jayakody), 2. Spearhead (Dhinesh/Rienzie Edwards), 3. Augustus (N.S. Parmer/Isira Dasanayake) 

Daily Mirror Challenge Cup (Class 2 & 3 Handicap 1600M): 1. Icelandic (S. Suganthan/Hasanga Jayaratne), 2. Gazaki (Irvan Singh/Rienzie Edwards), 3. Indian Epic (Kishore Kadam/Isira Dasanayake) 

St. Clair's Challenge Cup (¾ bred Handicap 1000M): 1. Airborne II (Dhinesh/Ajantha De Soyza, 2. Queen of the Hill (M. Mohanraja/R.M. Rajapaksha), 3. Legasi (S. Dasaradan/ Navin Madawa Bandara) 

Rupavahini RTC Cup (½ bred Handicap 1000M): 1. City Shot (L. Ravi Kumara/S. Laganathan), 2. Reabath (Dhinesh/Vasanthi Stables), 3. Johney (M. Mohanraj/Ananda Bandara)