January 20, 2002	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 5, 1422

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KARACHI, Jan 19: Seven events have been carded for the Winter Gymkhana Meeting which gets under way at the Karachi Racecourse Sunday at 12-30 p.m. Off the seven events, the first three will be held over the sprinting distance of five furlongs and the next four will be contested over a furlong more.

The main event on the programme is the New Year Cup, with a big field of 17 runners contesting over six furlongs in the sixth race of the afternoon.

Of the lot, M. Ateeq’s bay three-year-old colt The New Champion, a sibling of King Of Sexony out of Small Pox, is fancied to run away with the cup, especially after his victory two weeks ago over the same distance under jockey Mujahid Ali.

The New Champion should be followed home by Feasible, Al Ashia, Sandra’s Love and the game Lover’s Lady.

Another runner on song to triumph Sunday, is the roan five-year- old gelding Leo, second behind Hard Press over the gruelling distance of 12 furlongs in the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup under jockey Raees Ahmed two weeks ago.

Participating in the last event with nine runners going over six furlongs, the speedy Leo will be challenged throughout the race by another speedy contender Edging Ahead, with Champion Star grabbing the third berth. Also in this race is M. Hussain’s bay horse The Law, a notable winner in his last three outings.

Ismail Shah’s five-year-old horse Slim Fit has let his band of racing fans down in his last two outings. Although carrying a top weight of 9-1 on his back, Slim Fit is our fancy to sprint home to victory in the fourth event, with Ray Of Light and Tomahawk chasing the winner till the cows come home.

In the opener with a big field of 18 runners going over five furlongs, the chestnut horse Much Better not ticking last time out, could win this event if called upon to do so, with Just In Fun, Wonderful Boy and Even Top joining the fray.

The second event also with a big field of 18 runners at the starting gate, should see the chestnut colt Aziz Love make it two winners in a row for owner-trainer Iftikhar Ali. Giselle, an impressive filly from the Faisal Farooq’s stables should grab the second slot from Black Champion, Touch Of Joy and Satellite Star.

Kamal Farooq’s bay filly Shab-e-Noor finished a disappointing third last week under jockey M. Yousuf, but if all goes well the filly should make amends and pick up the spoils in the third race of the afternoon from Queen Of Hearts and Chantilly Lace, unless Rahat Sultan’s bay horse Sachin, decides to cause another upset.

In the fifth race which should provide the racing fans with plenty of thrills and spills, the thoroughbred bay mare Bella, should gain a measure of revenge by finishing ahead of Bold Commander and Nudrat. The Cleopatra another bay mare, could provide the element of surprise.

Following is the field and our selections.

NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-II 5F

Mairay Naina 9-2, Just In Fun 9-2, Wonderful Boy 8-12, I Don’t Care 8-12, Royal Wisdom 8-12, Wondering Eyes 8-12, Striker 8-10, Richy Rich 8-9, Raysham 8-9, Zabyan 8-6, Jeedar 8-4, Even Top 8-4, Much Better 8-4, Little Sunny 8-3, Rip Off 8-2, Ever Smiling 8-2, Simple Prayer 8-0 and Kiev 7-12,

Win: Much Better

Place: Just In Fun & Wonderful Boy

Upset: Even Top.

NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 5F

Hamza Saheb 9-2, Lucky Two 9-0, Aziz Love 8-13, Dushtiani 8-12, Great Bakht 8-11, Satellite Star 8-11, Touch Of Joy 8-11, Black Champion 8-10, Giselle 8-7, Lady Killer 8-6, Smiling Senorita 8-5, Shahdad Star 8-4, Victory Princess 8-4, Blue’s Night 8-3, Guarantee 8-2, The Decent Style 8-0, Gold Money 7-12 and Millennium Era 7-11.

Win: Aziz Love

Place: Giselle & Black Champion

Upset: Touch Of Joy.

NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII 5F

Queen Of Hearts 9-2, Chantilly Lace 9-1, Welcome Shahtab 8-10, Guriya Phool 8-10, Be Warn 8-10, Lover’s Life 8-10, Shab-e-Noor 8-9, Maha Sagar 8-9, Son Of None 8-8, Sachin 8-6, Deniro 8-5, Lucky Prince 8-2, Jackpot 8-0, Splendid Winner 7-12, My Lucky Star 7-11, Black Magic 7-11, Devi Husn Ki 7-11 and Superb Star 7-11.

Win: Shab-e-Noor

Place: Queen Of Hearts & Chantilly Lace

Upset: Sachin.

NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV VI 6F

Slim Fit 9-1, Living Legend 8-10, Ray Of Light 8-0, Magical 8-0, Tomahawk 7-13, Golden News 7-13, Lucky One 7-13 and Lover’s Line 7-10.

Win: Slim Fit

Place: Ray Of Light & Tomahawk

NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV V 6F

The Statesman 9-0, Bold Commander 8-13, Nudrat 8-13, Snake Eyed 8-12, Bella 8-8, Hoor-e-Arab 8-8, Lucky Twinkle 8-5, Mr. Bond 8-5, The Cleopatra 8-3, Miss World 8-2, Inferno 8-2, Rabat 7-10 and Brook Star 7-10.

Win: Bella

Place: Bold Commander & Nudrat.

NEW YEAR CUP CLASS IX DIV IV 6F

Trillionaires 9-0, Feasible 8-10, Fantastic Lite 8-10, Sandra’s Love 8-7, Lover’s Lady 8-6, Love 8-5, Al Ashia 8-5, Sparkling Lady 8-3, The New Champion 8-2, Brave Shah 8-0, Bin Saroor 8-0, Micky Mikado II 8-0, Navaho Princess 7-11, Lucky Three 7-11, Saligna 7-11, Xtasy 7-11 and Star Flash 7-11.

Win: The New Champion

Place: Feasible & Al Ashia

Upset: Sandra’s Love.

NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV II & III 6F

Mega Hit 9-5, Royal Court 9-5, Edging Ahead 8-12, Leo 8-6, The Law 8-4, Salaaf 7-12, Champion Star 7-10, Charkh Bareen 7-10 and Red Baron 7-6.

Win: Leo

Place: Edging Ahead & Champion Star.

DAY’S BEST: Leo

GOOD DOUBLE: Slim Fit - The New Champion.