Eli, Eli lifts President's Cup

The question of who is the real champion horse at the Accra Turf Club remained deadlocked as Eli, Eli, owned by Mr Andy Wagner romped home victorious to lift the prestigious "Star President Challenge Cup" at the Race Course on Saturday.

Eli, Eli pipped "Derby" winner One Step Ahead to second place and in the process earned stylish jockey Sanisu Alhassa an indefinite suspension for "indiscipline behaviour" during the tension-packed competition.

Nine out of the original ten entrants faced the starter over 1,800 metres for the eight million-cedi prize money and the magnificent trophy.

As if obeying his trainer word for word, jockey Daniel Abeka shot off from the starting sole in a jet liner fashion and rode forcefully leading from start to finish as One Step Ahead struggled to conjure his proverbial finishing prowess to no avail.

Race fans cheered themselves hoarse expecting the usual to happen but Abeka retyped, pushed and steered his mount to the finishing post amidst standing ovation from the packed stands.

At the end of the race, Mr J.H. Mensah, Senior Minister who stood in for President J.A. Kufuor assisted by Turf Club Chairman and a representative of the Ghana Breweries Limited, sponsors of the event presented the trophy to jockey Abeka and his owner Andy Wagner.

A unit ticket fetched a good 3,700 cedis in a time of two minutes, 17 seconds for the first and second contest. Crack jockey G. Atuko had earlier in the third race, forced Senator to a grand win in their 2'B' outing over 1,600 metres.