February 4, 2002	Monday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1422

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KARACHI, Feb 3: The magnificent roan gelding Leo, with Raees Ahmed in the saddle, won the Stewards Cup at the Winter Gymkhana Meeting at the Karachi Racecourse Sunday.

Owned by Tauseef Ali Siddiqui and trained by Shahid Ahmed, Leo held off main rivals Charkh Bareen and Edging Ahead, while scorching the turf going over six furlongs in one minutes 16 3/5 seconds on a heavy course.

Taking the early lead, Leo was closely challenged by his rivals. But once heads turned for home, Leo increased his pace going on to win easily.

The favourite Edging Ahead once again fizzled out in the straight and finished a very disappointing fourth, behind the late appearing Monstro.

Out of the seven events on the card, two had to be cancelled.

Kamal Farooq’s bay filly Shab-e-Noor won the six furlong sprint, but the Stewards cancelled the race when the rest of the field trailed in the far distance.

Then in the sixth race of the afternoon won by Bella, chestnut filly Nudrat, also owned by Kamal Farooq, finished among the also ran after being backed for a win and place chance.

After repeated protests, Stewards declared the race null and void.

The opening event was won by My Time, after joint favourite The Decent Style after passing the front runner a furlong from home, stumbled and fell dislodging riding boy Zubair Ahmed on the track.

Zubair escaped with only some bruises, but the bay five-year- old bay horse The Decent Style was not so lucky. With both shoulders dislocated, the bay horse lay on the track unable to even stand up. In immense pain, the poor animal was put out of its miseries with a bullet to the head a few minutes later.

Ever Smiling, the five-year-old chestnut mare ridden once again by Shahid Rasheed, completed a hat trick of victories for owner Ch. Sajid Rashid, beating Dushtiani by just 3/4 of a length in the second race of the afternoon.

Following are the results:

STEWARDS PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-II 5F

My Time (Ch. Maqbool Ahmed Malik) 8-8 Murad Ali 1, Simple Prayer 7-10 Najam Iqbal 2, Striker 8-10 Nisar Ahmed 3, Look At Me 8-0 M. Amjad 4.

Won by 5 1/2L, 3L, 2 1/2L. Time 1 min 7 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Sadiq Hussain.

STEWARDS PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 5F

Ever Smiling (Ch. Sajid Rashid) 9-1 Shahid Rasheed 1, Dusthiani 8-3 Ahmed 2, Touch Of Joy 8-7 Arshad 3, Just In Fun 8-0 Najam Iqbal 4.

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

STEWARDS PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII 5F

Lover’s Life (Sardar Kabir Ahmed Khan Sial) 8-0 Zahoor Ahmed 1, Sachin 7-13 M. Nasir 2, Welcome Shahtab 8-2 Kashif Ali 3, Son Of None 8-5 Saqib 4.

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

STEWARDS PLATE CLASS IX DIV VI 6F

RACE CANCELLED./

STEWARDS CUP CLASS IX DIV II & III 6F

Leo (Mr. Tauseef Ali Siddiqui) 9-4 Raees Ahmed 1, Charkh Bareen 8-0 Arshad 2, Monstro 9-0 Asif Sullah 3, Edging Ahead 8-13 Bashir Karim 4.

Won by 1 1/2L, 7L 8L. Time 1 min 16 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Shahid Ahmed 4.

STEWARDS PLATE CLASS V DIV V 6F

RACE CANCELLED./

STEWARDS PLATE CLASS IX DIV IV 6F

Lover’s Lady (Mr. Nihal Pervaiz) 8-2 Shafi Mohammad 1, Bold Commander 8-13 Raees Ahmed 2, Jungle Beat 9-1 Shahid Rasheed 3, Love 8-1 Khalid Nawaz 4.

Moving Ahead was withdrawn from the race before coming under the starter’s orders.