Godolphin Seven Stars contest goes to Sri Lankan

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.