Elayathamby Canute of Sri Lanka has won the 2006 Godolphin Seven Stars
contest, the online horse racing competition which ended Sunday. Entering the
contest for the first time this past March, the 45-year-old selected seven
Godolphin runners who earned him a total of 329 points over the course of the
season.
Canute’s prize is $100,000, plus a trip to Dubai for the World Cup meeting in
March, comprising two first-class return air tickets with Emirates Airline and
seven nights in a duplex suite at the seven-star Burj Al Arab Hotel.
His Seven Stars included Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner Electrocutionist,
who scored 110 points prior to his untimely death; Cigar Mile H. (G1) hero
DISCREET CAT (Forestry), 90 points; Joel S. (Eng-G3) victor SATCHEM (Inchinor
[GB]), 62; English stakes victress REUNITE (Kingmambo), 47; and two-time English
allowance winner ASHAAWES (Kingmambo), 20. His other two selections, USHNU
(Giant’s Causeway) and GULF OF GOLD (Seeking the Gold), did not earn any points.
The Seven Stars runner-up was Andres Sanz Rios of Great Britain, whose
selections racked up 318 points to net him the $50,000 second prize. Third
place, worth $30,000, went to Andrew Vleck of the United States for earning 314
points. Rounding out the top five were Elton Figredo of Great Britain ($15,000)
and Natalia Krupa of Poland ($5,000), respectively.
Canute, who works for a tea broker in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, has
plans for his winner’s check.
“I want to buy my own house in Colombo City,” the father of four said.
This was the seventh year of the competition. For more information, visit
godolphin.com.