RTC Magic Million Cup on 16 April

The RTC Magic Million Cup raceday of the Royal Turf Club (RTC) will be held at the Race Course in Nuwara Eliya with a lineup of seven races on Sunday, 16 April. This race is the second of the lineup of three races organised by the RTC for the April Holiday Season.

Despite being affected by heavy downpour, the RTC completed its first race of April with the successfully held Selvaratnam Challenge Trophy, which was won by Alcazaba on 2 April. The Magic Million Cup too has a lineup of seven races with the main attracted set on to the 1800metre Class 1 race. Six horses will run with the intention of winning the RTC Magic Million Cup and the attractive cash award of Rs. 1.5 Million.

“On 2 April, only four races out of the total of seven was conducted but overall it was a good show. We received positive feedbacks in general in particular from the chief guest, the Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilaka. This was the first occasion he came to one of our events as a chief guest and he was impressed with the upgraded facilities,” the RTC President Panduka Keerthinanda stated.

Unbeaten Alcazaba will be the attraction of all centres at the main race where close rivalry can be expected from Meheran and Charlemagne, the two runners who took the initial lead in the Selvaratnam Challenge Trophy race two weeks ago. Other runners lined up are Roswald, Silver Streak and Brilliant Cut.

The Class 2 1600metre race is competed by five runners, with Kingston Town taking the favourite’s tag. Two weeks ago Kingston Town won the Class 2 Media Ministry Trophy beating Celestial Fire and Spearhead, who will not be featured this Sunday. Celestial Fire will dish out a challenge to the favourite alongside Gazaki, Spirited Touch and What’s up.

Last time the Class 3 race was abandoned due to heavy rain and it will continue this week with four runners aiming for the Blackpool Hotel Cup. Icelandic, Arrabian Gold, Captain Haddock and Glittering are the runners of the 1600metre race.

The Class 4 1400metre race for the Sporting Start Cup will have eight runners with last time winner Crimson Quest coming in as the fovourite. Crimson Quest won the Daily Mirror Cup a fortnight ago ahead of Torpedo and Vigorous, who finished second and third last time. The remaining five are Stormont, Legal Legacy, Colorato, Supremacy and Supreme.

The most number of runners will be featured in the Class 5 1400metre race for the Sporting Times Cup. Last time it was not run and the runners lined up are Zulu Fantacy, Snow Queen, Honourious, Musical Treasure, Stormy Petrel, Cosmopolitan, Waiting for Glory, Tender Mist, Agusta, Krabi, The Cardinal and Slasa Dancer.

The 1/2 Bred 1000metre race for he RTC Pony Welfare Raffle Cup features seven runners. This is another race that was abandoned two weeks ago, with Misty Queen, Power Girls, Pray for Sri Lanka, Red Eagle, Eye Touch, Jungle Boy and Shining Girl are set to battle out.

The three top finishers – Queen of the Hill, Airborne II and Cabresse will have only one challenger in Spirite, that will form the final list of four horses for the 100metre 3/4 Bred race.

After the Magic Million Cup this Sunday, the April Horseracing Season of RTC will continue with the RTC Governor’s Cup on 29 April. The RTC hopes to draw more competitors and spectators as holiday makers make their way to the cozy and chilled town of Nuwara Eliya.