Horseracing: Dayalan rides Alcazaba to Independence Cup victory

L. Dayalan rode Deepthika Jayakody's most elite thoroughbred Alcazaba, to victory in the Independence Race Day Cup when Royal Turf Club (RTC) inaugurated its 2017 calendar at the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse on Saturday (25). 

Trained by S.P.A. Raju, Alcazaba claimed the win and took home a cash reward of Rs. 490,000 in addition to the main trophy on offer. 

Chul Bul Panday finished second to claim a cash award of Rs. 125,000 while Silver Streak completed at third to win a cash reward of Rs. 75,000 in the main race of 1400metres for thoroughbred Class I horses. 

Yesterday's Independence Race Day set off with the first race for the Blackpool Hotel Cup, a 1400metre handicap race for Class III thoroughbred horses, where Jayakody's Captain Haddock won. 

Ridden by jockey K. Sanjeewan and trained by Raju, Captain Haddock won the trophy and a cash award of Rs. 255,000 while Arrabian Gold and Glittering finished at second and third respectively. 

The Daily FT Cup, a 1070metre race for Class IV thoroughbred horses was won by Anura Delgoda's horse Torpedo, ridden by A. Vishwanath.

The win ensured Torpedo, a horse trained by S.V. Mathialagan, a cash award of Rs. 187,500. Don Hasa and Supreme came in at second and third respectively. 

Prior to the main race of the day the Ranaviru Challenge Cup was in contention as Celestial Fire gave Delgoda's second win of the day. 

The win assured the Delgoda's a cash award of Rs. 335,000 as Spearhead and Icelandic claimed the second and third places respectively in the race of 1400metres for Class II thoroughbred horses. 

S. Pradeep rode Honourious to win in the 1070metre thoroughbred Class V handicap race as it claimed the Sunday Times Cup and a cash award of Rs. 145,000. 

Crimson Quest and Stormy Petrel were placed second and third respectively. 

Fancy Face, ridden by M. Ishan, won the Freedom Cup, a 1000metre race for half-bred horses where the top prize money was Rs. 97,500. 

Misty Queen finished at second followed by Action Lady at third. 

The British Ceylon Cup, the final race of the day of 1000metres for three-quarter bred horses, was won by Queen of the Hill, ridden by M. Ishan, who won his second race of the day. 

The winner received Rs. 97,500 as cash prize as Airborne II and Cabresse finished at second and third respectively. 

The racing activities of RTC comes alive after nearly three months since it had its major event back in November 2016 with a chain of race-days planned ahead. 

Saturday's race-day will follow with RTC's three important races on April 2, 16 and 29. 

Results 

Race 1: Blackpool Hotel Cup (1400m Class 3 Handicap) 
1: Captain Haddock 
2: Arrabian Gold 
3: Glittering 

Race 2: Daily FT Cup (1070m Class 4 Handicap) 
1: Torpedo 
2: Don Hasa 
3: Supreme 

Race 3: Ranaviru Challenge Cup (1400m Class 2 Handicap) 
1: Celestial Fire 
2: Spearhead 
3: Icelandic 

Race 4: Independence Race Day Cup (1400m Class 1 Handicap) 
1: Alcazaba 
2: Chul Bul Panday 
3: Silver Streak 

Race 5: The Sunday Times Cup (1070m Class 5 Handicap) 
1: Honourious 
2: Crimson Quest 
3: Stormy Petrel 

Race 6: Freedom Cup (1000m 1/2 Bred Handicap) 
1: Fancy Face 
2: Misty Queen 
3: Action Lady 

Race 7: British Ceylon Cup (1000m 3/4 Bred Handicap) 
1: Queen of the Hill 
2: Airbone II 
3: Cabresse