May 5, 2002	Sunday	Safar 21, 1423

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KARACHI, May 4: Akhtar Ali’s bay four-year-old colt Walking Distance is on the hat trick trail, when the Summer Gymkhana Meeting gets under way at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Two weeks ago the bay colt with M. Mazhar in the saddle, beat Xtasy by a comfortable margin of five lengths going over five furlongs, with Dusthtiyani, a further two and half lengths behind in third position, clocking one minute 6 3/5 seconds over the distance.

Walking Distance participating in the fifth race going over the same distance has Xtasy once again in the field with 16 runners in contention.

Last week Xtasy with a brilliant run beat Stragetic, Donatello and Bach Fly in a thrilling photo-finish, but the race went in one minute eight seconds.

Although the filly should make further improvements, our column still fancies Walking Distance to win this race from Xtasy in a close finish, with Ever Smiling edging out Chantily Lace for the third spot.

All in all, seven events have been carded on the afternoon’s programme, all going over the sprinting distance of five furlongs.

The first race begins at 2.00 p.m.

In the opener, Little Sunny is fancied to make amends for his last outing and pass the winning post ahead of Much Better and Even Top, although last week the bay mare reared up in the starting gate when the race began and finished miserably off the board under jockey Shahid Rehman.

The dark bay gelding Black Champion is our fancy to pick up the spoils in the following event, with Hogan and the game chestnut Always In grabbing the third slot.

The third race of the afternoon has a big field of 18 runners and should witness a keen contest between Small Wonder, the bay mare Great Bakht and the 11-year-old bay horse Zabyan.

Beaten in a photo-finish by Xtasy and Strategic, Donatello with S. Khan once again in the saddle should make amends and beat Strategic and Fly To The Sky in the fourth event.

Last Saturday, Queen Of Hearts was beaten by a neck by Najla, but it was quite obvious the rider astride Queen Of Hearts Inayat II, was not so keen to win the race, keeping his mount trailing in the far distance in third p