February 3, 2003	Monday	Zilhaj 1,1423

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LAHORE, Feb 2: The bay filly Feel The Freedom, after  an enthralling contest, won the 1000 Guineas Of Pakistan, a terms race for four-year-old Pakistani fillies called the ‘Ladies Derby’ run over a mile at the Racecourse on Sunday before a large gathering.

The five to one chance filly smartly piloted by jockey Shahid Rehman, fought with the leaders for supremacy in the early part of the race and entering into the straight lengthened her lead nicely to win the prestigious trophy.

Fancied bay filly Democracy struggled hard to catch up with her but lost stamina and settled for a second place, four and a half lengths behind. Red Storm and Daring Eagle completed the frame, with four lengths distance behind each runner. In all, eight top fillies competed for this fifth race of the day.

The winning owner Sohrab Khan received the cup from the former chairman Lahore Race Club (LRC) Syed Fakhar Imam soon after the race.

The bay filly Theatre’s Breeze owned by Raja Sher Mohammad Khan, posted an amazing victory in the Anarkali Cup, a term race for three-year-old Pakistani fillies run over 1200 metres.

This  daughter of Theatre’s Dream out of Desert  Breeze partnered by jockey Salah-ud-Din II, defeated with astonishing ease the odds-on favourite Fair Play by eight lengths. Freedom Dancer and Royal Jewellry completed the board among the  six starters.

Fair Play took to a flying start and though the pace she set was a strong one, she never looked like being able to draw clear of the field closing in from behind and was finally outpaced by Theatre’s Breeze, who enjoyed a stone’s handicap in weights.

James Curzon, great grandson of late Lord Curzon, the former Viceroy of undivided India, gave away the cup to the owner of the filly.

The four-year-old bay gelding Flight Alert enjoyed a good gallop to win the Nero Cup run over a mile. He beat Snoopy by three- fourth of a length, while fancied Dizzy Height finished third about two lengths further back with Prince Well completing the frame. Only seven runners took the start in this third race of the day.

The Kashmir Cup was won by long shot Great King, who lowered the colours of fancied Great Grandy defeating him by one- and-a-quarter lengths. Millennium Count and Blu’s Wendy made up the frame among 11 runners.

The lucky owner, M. Ilyas received the cup from LRC chairman Tariq Aziz, who misses no opportunity to see races while in Lahore.

Ace jockey Shahid Rehman once again stole the limelight of the day’s racing, romping home in two cup races. He first rode Flight Alert to win and then partnered Feel The Freedom to victory. Both his winners were sent out by trainer Amjad Ali II. Trainer Mian Javaid also saddled a brace of winners through Great King and Prince Khurrum. Both were available at long odds.

But indeed it was Pakistan’s ace jockey Shahid Rehman who stole the limelight. Apart from winning two prestigious events, he came second in four others in the seven race programme.

Shahid was second in a photo finish on Dare To Dream in the second race, Fair Play in the Anarkali Cup, Great Grandy in the Azad Kashmir Cup and Happy Boy in the last race on the afternoon’s card. A truly amazing performance.

The odds-on bay filly Miracle, owned by Zaheer Aslam, coasted home ahead of the field in the opener to the great delight of favourite backers.

Following were the results:

RIWAT PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1200M

Miracle (Zaheer Aslam) 8-9 Azeem Pervaiz 1, Moment To Moment 8-0 Shahid Mustafa 2, Royal Falcon 9-2 Qamar Zaman 3, Silver Charm 8-5 M. Zeeshan 4.

Also ran: Show Counting, On On, Shining Steel and Set A Fire.

Won by 3/4L, 3/4L, 6L .Time 1 min 16 4/5 sec. Winner trained by Tanveer Aslam.

NERO CUP CLASS IV DIV II 1200M

Better Case (Mushtaq Ahmad Doga) 8-4 Javaid Iqbal 1, Dare To Dream 9-0 Shahid Rehman 2, Sound Of Music 8-2 Javaid Choudhry 3, Mah Noor 8-11 Qamar Zaman 4.

Won by Neck, 1 3/4L, 3/4L. Time 1 min 16 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Raja Tehmasab Khan.

NERO CUP CLASS IV DIV 1 1600 M

Flight Alert (Amjad Ali II) 9-4 Shahid Rehman 1, Snoopy 8-0 Mubarik Ali 2, Dizzy Height 8-7 Salah-ud-Din II 3, Prince Well 7-10 Javaid Iqbal 4.

Won by 3/4L, 1 3/4L, 8L. Time 1 min 45 1/5 sec. Winner trained by owner.

ANARKALI CUP 1200M (Terms race for three-year-old Pakistani fillies).

Theatre’s Dream (Raja Sher Mohammad Khan) 8-7 Salah-ud-Din (II) 1, Fair Play 9-7 Shahid Rehman 2, Freedom Dancer 9-0 Aamar Pervaiz 3, Royal Jewellry 8-0 Qamar Zaman 4.

Won by 8L, 1 1/2L, 1 1/4L. Time 1 min 15 4/5 sec. Winner trained by Mohammad Bashir.

1000 GUINEAS OF PAKISTAN 1600 M

A term race for four-year-old Pakistani fillies.

Feel The Freedom (Sohrab Khan) 8-12 Shahid Rehman 1, Democracy 8-12 Salah-ud-Din (II) 2, Red Storm 8-12 M. Zeeshan 3, Daring Eagle 8-12 M. Hanif 4.

Won by 4 1/2L, 3 3/4L, 3 3/4L. Time 1 min 42 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Amjad Ali II.

AZAD KASHMIR CUP CLASS I, II & III 1600 M

Great King (M. Ilyas) 7-7 M. Jehangir 1, Great Grandy 9-2 Shahid Rehman 2, Millennium Count 8-8 Javaid Bashir 3, Blu’s Wendy 8-7 Khurrum Sheikh 4.

Won by 1 1/4L, 4 3/4L, 3/4L. Time 1 min 43 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Mian Javaid.

RIWAT PLATE CLASS V DIV 1200 M

Prince Khurrum (Mian Ahmad Din) 8-0 Mubarik Ali 11, Happy Boy 9-0 Shahid Rehman 2, Storm Bird 9-0 Aamar Parvez 3, Royal Gunner 9-3 Majid Khan 4.

Won by 3 1/2L, 7 1/4L, Head. Time 1 min 16 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Mian Javaid.