Sunday Mornings in Nuwara Eliya will not be the same again. You can forget about a late laid back wake up, followed by a leisurely breakfast  and then lounging around at home doing nothing. Now it’s an action packed, nerve tingling, exciting and happening Sunday morning  as all roads lead to the picturesque Royal Turf Club Racecourse. On offer the second Sunday of April was Fashion, Music, and a Carnival atmosphere all of which just went on to enhance the Racing – The 2^nd Day of the Nuwara Eliya Racing Festival, held on Sunday 10^th April, 2016.

A large and happy fun loving crowd watched in awe as the Royal Turf Club went through a morning punctuated with seven races. The outcome had everyone on the edge of their seats. It was Racing under Rules, conducted with professionalism and clockwork precision. It was Racing of a vintage that the lush green turf of Nuwara Elia’s Royal Turf Club had not seen in quite a while. And there was off course excitement as well as the day’s proceedings were beamed live across the country on Television Channels which reached the homes of over a million viewers.

The Dashmesh Stud and Agricultura Farm, one of the leading Stud Farms in India set the Morning’s proceedings alight by sponsoring the Dashmesh Stud Farm Cup. In a tight finish, a 7 year old bay gelding from India named ICELANDIC, (Ontario ex Concept) ridden  by S. Suganathan and trained by S. V. Madialagan, just about prevailed over the 7 year old chestnut mare SUPREME, (Burden Of proof ex Supervite / Kunigal Stud) ridden by the Bangalore based jockey Irvan Singh. Half a length was all that separated the pair. The winner  is owned by Mr. Hasanga Jayaratne, representing Jayaratne Stud Farms. The pair fought it out all the way down the straight but Icelandic was always travelling the better and prevailed in the end. Young Tegbir Brar representing the Dashmesh Stud did the honours at the presentation ceremony.

INDIAN EPIC, (Epicentre ex Cosmic Swirl) a 9 year old bay Gelding owned by Mr. Isira Dassanayake made the second race of the day – THE SPORTING TIMES CUP into a one horse affair. He put daylight between himself and the rest, giving local jockey S.D.Mahesh the proverbial armchair ride to  victory. The winner is trained by S.D.Lalith. The battle for second place however came right down to the shadow of the Winning Post with Don Hasa just getting the better of Crimson Quest.

The Blackpool Hotel Trophy was another hotly contested affair. The fun and games began before the start where the S.V.Madialagan trained 4 year old filly, named The Cardinal ( but showing no “GRACE “ whatsoever)  having a real tantrum behind the Starting Gates and come what may she just refused to enter the Starting Stalls. She eventually had to be withdrawn  and the field was cut down to just 5 runners. Christmas was celebrated early in the Jayantha Wijesinghe Stable with CHRISTMAS CAKE, (Lucifer Sam ex Run For The Roses) a 6 year old bay mare sporting the all yellow and brown star silks of Messrs A.N Arunpura and J.R. Irugal Bandara on the rails holding off a spirited bid from Stock Well and Cosmopolitan.  The winner was ridden by M.Mohanraj, and just 3 lengths was all that separated the first three.

The feature event of the day – THE RTC PRESTIGE CUP was an absolute blinder. In a riproaring finish that had the crowd on its feet the 6 year old chestnut mare – ALCAZABA, (Burden Of Proof ex Alhambrah / Kunigal Stud) ridden by S.D.Mahesh won by a whisker from the Irvan Singh ridden 10 year old – SPEARHEAD (Burden Of Proof ex Imposing). Both runners were saddled by trainer S.P.Raju and in the end the Judge gave the verdict to ALCAZABA and  it was by a NOSE.

 With about 150 metres left to run it appeared as though jockey Mahesh’s gamble of taking over the running just before turning for home had paid off. Alcazaba was at least 3 lengths clear of Spearhead at that stage. But Irvan Singh conjured a brilliant turn of foot from Spearhead, sporting the colours of Mr. and Mrs. Rienzie Edwards  which saw him narrow that margin with each stride before the Winning Post came to the rescue of Alcazaba and Mahesh. It’s something of a coincidence that both the winner and the runner up when trained in India hailed from the same yard – that of Suleiman Attaollahi and here too in Sri Lanka both horses are in the care of Trainer S.P.Raju.

The excitement did not let up after that spellbinding finish and in the very next race, THE MINISTRY OF PLANTATION AND INDUSTRIES CUP,  the 7 year old SANDSTORM (Tejano ex Summer Dust / Kunigal Stud) once again ridden by Jockey S.D.Mahesh and trained by S.P.Raju came up victorious. It a close contest where a mere length and three quarters was all that separated the first three runners and the Judge had to declare the first DEAD HEAT of the season between ICE MINT and SUSSEX DOWNS, who could not be separated in second spot.  The victory gave the Owner, Trainer, Jockey combination of Ms.DEEPTHIKA JAYAKODY, S.P.RAJU AND S.D.MAHESH a well deserved back to back double.

The last two races of the day were reserved for Threequarter and Half Breds and both were won convincingly. The first by a 3 year old Dark bay filly named LEGASI and the other by a 3 year old grey colt named CITY SHOT. Legasi in fact is the first this season to notch up a double having won comfortably on the first day – 20^th March, 2016.

The professional honours on the Jockeys side were cornered by S.D. Mahesh. A hard working local lad who ended up with a fine treble. Indian Epic set the ball rolling with a bloodless victory. Then Alcabaza just held on to make it two. And finally Sandstorm provided the Icing on the cake to make it three. Trainers S.P.Raju and Jayantha Wijesinghe shared the training honours with a double each on an entertaining day at the races.