December 27, 2001	Thursday	Shawwal 11, 1422

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KARACHI, Dec 26: Lover’s Millennium the five-year-old bay filly owned by Ijaz Ahmed, shocked all and sundry on Tuesday afternoon, at the Winter Race Meeting, passing the winning post ahead of a very competitive field in the Quaid-i-Azam Trial Cup, contested by 14 runners over the gruelling distance of 10 furlongs held at the Karachi Race Course.

Ridden by Arshad, the bay horse from Knight Rider out of Shine On, lay in the distance when the race began with Diablo setting a scorching pace under jockey M. Rehan, returning back after a stint in Australia.

The crowd fancy Persian Arrow was second followed by Gambling Princess and King Of Hearts.

Approaching the bend, King Of Hearts lay a close second behind the front runner but turning into the straight, the thoroughbred bay colt just fizzled out and finished amongst the also rans. Diablo urged on by Rehan, sprinted for home still in the lead, followed by Persian Arrow and from absolutely no where Lover’s Millennium now in the third spot.

Half a furlong from home, Diablo began to run out of steam and Lover’s Millennium took over the running. Gambling Princess came in with a rattling burst but Lover’s Millennium managed to hold on and won this gruelling race just 3/4 lengths in a time of two minutes 10 1/5 seconds. Diablo leading the field for most part of the race finished third with Persian Arrow completing the frame.

The Christmas Cup was picked up by Amin Farooq’s bay filly Chantilly Lace, smartly ridden by jockey Shehzad and presenting trainer Zahid Hussain with his first winner and that too with a trophy.

The much talked about Qaswa Princess was installed as the raging favourite with stable companion Prince Khurram also in the reckoning.

Chantilly Lace playing the bridesmaid in her first three outings, could be had a big odds and the Flaming Arrow - Scarlet sibling this time did not let her stable down, beating Prince Khurram by one and half lengths. A further one and half lengths behind came in Qaswa Princess with My Darling completing the frame.

Baby Face completed a fine hat-trick for owner Mohammad Shafiq Siddiqui, romping to victory in the opening race with jockey Raees Ahmed once again in the saddle. Seven lengths behind sped in Smiling Senorita chased by Hamza Saheb.

Syed Taufiq Kamal’s grey colt Al Zarrar, having the services of M. Yousuf in the saddle, won the second event from Welcome Shahtab. In this race Al Kahir, a sound winner last time out under jockey Tariq and another impressive winner in his last outing Shaune Pollock, then running under his old name Satellite Star with Asif Sullah in the saddle, did not even figure on the board. Al Khair having the same rider aboard, was prevented from running on merit which resulted with the horse going lame. Shaune Pollock was also pulled hook, line and sinker by Asif Sullah and yet these two defaulting riders escaped the Stewards wrath. An absolute shame indeed.

Another upset was in store for the racing fans, when Feasible registered his second triumph in a row under M. Amjad, ending the pretensions of Slim Fit, Al Jarrar and Golden News.

This victory enabled trainer A. Hannan end the afternoon with a brace of winners. Earlier, Baby Face from his yard won the opener.

Abdul Raza’s impressive bay colt My Freedom partnered by jockey Ahmed, never let the connections down sprinting to victory over six furlongs, four and half lengths ahead of nearest rival Lover’s Lady.

Thunder Clap went lame a few strides from home and had to concede the third spot to Champion Star.

The trio of owner Syed Taufiq Kamal, rider M. Yousuf and trainer Razzak, completed a good double, when their bay filly Gambling Girl obliged the racing fans by beating the favourite Dur-e-Yamen by just 3/4 of a length in concluding event.

It was indeed a day of disasters for the followers of form. Only two favourites Baby Face in the opener and My Freedom in the fifth obliged the racing fans.

Except for the ugly incident in the second race concerning Al Khair and Shaune Pollock, racing was fair and square.

Following are the results:

CHRISTMAS PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 5F

Baby Face (Mr. Mohammad Rafiq Siddiqui) 9-2 Raees Ahmed 1, Smiling Senorita 8-0 Ali Sher 2, Hamza Saheb 9-1 Kashif Ali 3, Chardha Suraj 9-1 S. Khan 4.

Also ran: Lover’s King, Victory Princess, Science Fiction, Son Of None. Bright China, Mera Kiya Kasoor, Royal Wisdom, Giselle, Wondering Eyes, Nadan, Wonderful Boy and Little Sunny.

Surprise Again and Party Time were withdrawn from the race before coming under the starter’s orders.

Won by 7L, 2L, 5 3/4L. Time 1 min 6 4/5 sec. Winner trained by A. Hannan.

CHRISTMAS PLATE CLASS IV DIV VII 5F

Al Zarrar (Syed Taufiq Kamal) 8-2 M. Yousuf 1, Welcome Shahtab 8-12 Kashif Ali 2, Great Bakht 8-0 Raees Ahmed 3, Dushtiani 8-2 Ahmed 4.

Also ran: Splendid Winner, Jadeem. Ustadon Ka Ustad, Shaune Pollock, Blue’s Night, Touch Of Joy, Shining Steel, The Rock, Lucky Two, Small Wonder, Uncle Makrani and Al Khair.

Won by 5L, 3L, Sh-hd. Time 1 min 4 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Razzak.

CHRISTMAS PLATE CLASS IX DIV VI 6F

Feasible (Mr. Humayan Mirza) 8-10 M. Amjad 1, Slim Fit 8-10 Ghulam Shabbir II 2, Al Jarrar 8-10 Kashif Qamar 3, Golden News 8-3 Khalid Nawaz 4.

Also ran: Bonita, Magical, Lover’s Line, Pearl and Queen Of Hearts.

Won by 6L, 2 1/2L, 5L. Time 1 min 19 sec. Winner trained by A. Hannan.

CHRISTMAS CUP 5F

(Terms race for two-year-old Pakistani colts and fillies.

Chantilly Lace (Mr. Amin Farooq) 7-8 Shehzad 1, Prince Khurram 8-11 M. Yousuf 2, Qaswa Princess 8-8 Kashif Qamar 3, My Darling 7-8, Ghulam Shabbir II 4.

Also ran: Moving Ahead, Strategic, Xtasy and Wonder Thunder.

Won by 1 1/2L, 1 1/2L, 3 1/4L. Time 1 min 5 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Zahid Hussain.

QUAID-I-AZAM TRIAL CUP 10F

(Handicap race for Pakistani horses four years and above.

Lover’s Millennium (Mr. Ijaz Ahmed) 7-12 Arshad 1, Gambling Princess 7-11 Khalid Nawaz 2, Diablo 8-11 M. Rehan 3, Persian Arrow 8-9 Ghulam Shabbir II 4.

Also ran: Eye Dazzler, Admiral Way, Hard Press, Think Tank, Monstro, Rottweil, Mega Hit, King Of Hearts, Leo and Fantastic Light 7-0.

Won by 3/4L, 6L, 1 1/2L. Time 2 min 10 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Mohammad Rafiq Karim.

CHRISTMAS PLATE CLASS IX DIV IV 6F

My Freedom (Mr. Abdul Raza) 8-5 Ahmed 1, Lover’s Lady 7-8 Najam Iqbal 2, Champion Star 8-8 Jilani 3, Thunder Clap 8-2 Shahid Rehman 4.

Also ran: Al Ashia, Sparkling Lady, National Lining, Love, Dauntless, Snake Eyed and Star Flash.

Won by 4 1/2L, Neck, 4L. Time 1 min 17 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Mansoor Alam.

CHRISTMAS PLATE CLASS IX DIV III 6F

Gambling Girl (Syed Taufiq Kamal) 8-1 M. Yousuf 1, Dur-e-Yamen 9-3 Shahid Rehman 2, The Champion Strides8-4 Mujahid Ali 3, Charkh Bareen 8-10 S. Khan 4.

Also ran: Jungle Beat and Sandra’s Love.

Won by 3/4L, 6L, 2 1/4L. Time 1 min 6 4/5 sec. Winner trained by Razzak.