In spite of heavy underfoot conditions, a thrilling and fitting finale was scripted to the RTC Governor’s Cup 2021 powered by EFL when Western Wind, ridden by jockey Vivek not only stole the limelight but beat two of the best fillies – Alcazaba and Spirited Touch – to clinch an enthralling win at the Race course in Nuwara Eliya on Thursday. Western Wind took the lead from the setoff in the Class 1 1800metre race for the prestigious silverware, which is now 145 years old. The field of nine runners went past the legendary Grandstand, once at the start and then the culmination, which forced all spectators on their feet.
Jockey Vivek made the owners, and Gamini Jayaratne, proud to claim a stunning victory from Alcazaba, who looked threatening in the final two furlongs. Reigning title holder Spirited Touch fell back to third position after jockey J. Chinoy navigated Alcazaba to the fore from the rear, looking threatening as usual and almost regaining her lost form as a two-time Governor’s Cup winner.
Eventually Western Wind sealed the win by three lengths from Alcazaba, who was four lengths ahead of Spirited Touch. The win by Western Wind helped Jayaratne Stables regain the Governor’s Cup after five years after the coveted title went to the hands of Edwards Stables thrice and Fearless Stables and Stud Farm once.
Prior to the grand finale jockey Vivek gave his stable masters their first win with the RTC Queen’s Cup powered by Classic Travel, steering Another Ace to an inspiring win in the race for Class 2 horses. This was the third successive year that Jayaratne Stables secured the RTC Queen’s Cup. When the 2000metre race was in its almost end with two furlongs remaining, Star Scholar and Silver Streak were battling out to finish ahead of one another, but Vivek made a sudden breakthrough from the outside to clinch a thrilling
and uncertain win to give Hasanga Jayaratne his only win in the RTC Governor’s Cup Raceday 2021.
Glittering, ridden by jockey J. Chinoy and owned by Edwards Stables, made another stunning finish to win the RTC Mayor’s Cup powered by Expolanka for Class 3 horses in a 1600metre race. Glittering pipped out Vigorous, ridden by S.D. Janaka, by a whisker as Olive, ridden by jockey Aneel, finished third by ten lengths.
Fearless Stables and Stud Farms completed a double in the Vegibest International Cup with Honorious and Torpedo making it a home-and-home battle in the Class 4 race of 1400metres. Jockey Aneel eventually steered Honorious to a win by half-a-length from Torpedo, ridden by local boy K. Sanjeewan. Jockey J. Chinoy rode Zulu Fantasy to a third place finish.
The day started off with the Sports Ministry Challenge Cup, a Class 5 race of 1400metres, which was won by jockey K. Sanjeewan. The winning horse is owned by Kosala Senaratne. Waiting for Glory, ridden by K. Vaibhav and Goldie Girl, ridden by J. Chinoy finished at second and third respectively.
The Governor’s Cup 2021 was organized and conducted by Royal Turf Club (RTC) with EFL partnering as main sponsors. Following the success of yesterday’s event, RTC will wind up its Horse Racing Festival 2021, which is held annually during the April holiday season, with the RTC Magic Million Cup on 24th of April at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya.
Results
Sports Ministry Challenge Cup for Class 5 Horses 1400m 1. Miss Ivory (K. Sanjeewa/Kosala Senaratne) 2. Waiting for Glory (K. Vaibhav/Hasaga Jayaratne) 3. Goldie Girl (J. Chinoy/Edwards Stable)
Vegibest International Cup for Class 4 1400m 1. Honorious (Aneel/Fearless Stables and Stud Farm) 2. Torpedo (K. Sanjeewan/Fearless Stables and Stud Farm) 3. Zulu Fantasy (J. Chinoy/Edwards Stables)
RTC Mayor’s Cup powered by Expolanka for Class 3 1600m 1. Glittering (J. Chinoy/Edwards Stables) 2. Vigorous (S.D. Janaka/Ajantha de Soyza) 3. Olive (Aneel/Fearless Stables and Stud Farm)
RTC Queen’s Cup powered by Classic Travel for Class 2 2000m 1. Another Ace (Vivek/Hasanga Jayaratne) 2. Silver Streak (L. Dayalan/Ramsis Peter Fernando) 3. Star Scholar (R. Vaibhav/Mr. and Mrs. Gamini Jayaratne)
RTC Governor’s Cup powered by EFL for Class 1 1800m 1. Western Wind (Vivek/Mr. and Mrs. Gamini Jayaratne) 2. Alcazaba (J. Chinoy/Edwards Stable) 3. Spirited Touch (Aneel/Fearless Stables and Stud Farm) (-A.N.)
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