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by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy sports correspondent and P. Rajaratnam, Nuwara Eliya Group Correspondent

Horses from the stables of Nigel Austin once again excelled by winning two of the six races while tragedy struck Blue Pearl as she fell dead on the tracks following a heart attack at the Thai Pongal Race Meet organised by the Sri Lanka Turf Club and held at the Race Course Nuwara Eliya on Saturday, before a large holiday crowd. The Thai Pongal Cup was won by Court of Appeal owned by Anurath Abeyratne. Possibly the best performance of the day came from Helen of Troy which won the Kelani Valley Trophy with jockey R. Sivakumar powering the animal to a blazing win.

Jockey Ashok Kumar rode with tenacity the Millennium Debutant to score a needle finish win with the winner taking the lead in the last stages of the race.

Blue Pearl a horse owned by Imran Noohu and ridden by Dayalan died on the track in the last lap of the Mahaweli Trophy when it developed a heart attack and dropped dead while the jockey was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Nigel Austin, who has produced winners regularly at the Nuwara Eliya races, once again stole the show by winning two races. Pretty Girl first won the Sita Eliya Trophy in the lung opener and another of his horses Bold Venture was placed second in this event. His next win came in the final race of the day for the Kalu Ganga Trophy which was won by the favourite 'Satin Streak' and 'Tamana' another horse owned and trained by him picked up the second place.

Once again the races were conducted in a professional manner and a bouquet should go to the Sri Lanka Turf Club officials Dhammika Attyagalle (President), Rajan Sellamuttu (Chairman), Suranjith Premadasa (Steward/Starter) and other stewards Sirimewan Senanayake, Devinda Senanayake, Shantha de Zoysa, Raja Sinnathurai and Miss Rohini de Mel.The results:

The Sita Eliya Trophy sponsored by Sri Lanka Turf Club - 5 furlongs: 1. Pretty Girls (Owner Nigel Austin. Jockey: Ashok Kumar. Trainer: Nigel Austin). 2. Bold Venture (Owner and Trainer: Nigel Austin. Jockey: R. Selvaraj. 3. Titanic (Owner and Trainer: S. Selvaratnam. Jockey: Arul Prasad).

The Kelani Valley Trophy sponsored by D. P. Jayasinghe Tours and Travels Ltd: 1. Helen of Troy (Owner: Master Sasanga Jayaratne. Trainer: Gamini Jayaratne. Jockey: R. Sivakumar). 2. Simply Inspiring (Owner: Thiyagarajah and Monaro. Trainer: Chandika Brodie. Jockey: Punitha Raj). 3. Nuclear Power (Owner: Miss Nishara Jayaratne. Trainer: Gamini Jayaratne. Jockey: Ravi Kumar.

The Gin Ganga Trophy sponsored by Premadasa Riding School: 1. Millennium Debutant (Owner: Roshan Motha. Jockey: L. Ravikumar). 2. Singing Melody (Owner: Master Saveen Abeyratne. Trainer: A. Abeyratne. Jockey: V. Mathialagam). 3. Sonali (Owner: Mrs. Senalu Abeyratne. Trainer: A. Abeyratne. Jockey: A. Christopher).

Thai Pongal Cup sponsored by Master Divers: 1. Court of Appeal (Owner and Trainer Anurath Abeyratne. Jockey: V. Mathialagan). 2. Libo Queen (Owner and Trainer: Gamini Kodituwakku. Jockey: S. D. Mahesh). 3. Turn to gold (Owner and Trainer: Asif Noohu. Jockey: R. Rasick).

The Mahaweli Trophy sponsored by Upali Consumer Products Ltd: 1. Orange King (Owner: Mrs. Malani Abeyratne. Trainer: A. Abeyratne. Jockey: V. Mathialagan. 2. Dancing Brave (Owner: Mrs. Chamari Jayaratne. Trainer: Gamini Jayaratne. Jockey: Ravi Kumar). 3. Savage (Owner: Kumar Abeywardena. Trainer: G. Brodie. Jockey: Selvaratnam.

The Kalu Ganga Trophy: 1. Satin Streak (Owner and Trainer: Nigel Austin. Jockey: S. D. Lalith). 2. Tamana (Owner and Trainer: Nigel Austin. Jockey: Ashok Kumar). 3. Flowra (Owner: Sridaran Selvaratnam. Trainer: S. Selvaratnam. Jockey: Vijay Anand).

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