May 11, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 8, 1424

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KARACHI, May 10: Shah Khan the impressive four-year-old bay colt owned by Mohammad Ali Khan, is on song to sprint to his fifth successive victory, when the Summer Gymkhana Meeting gets under way at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Participating in the sixth race on the programme in a big field of 18 contenders, Shah Khan winning his last four races with effortless ease with jockey Tariq Mehmood in the saddle, will this time have to break into a sweat to overcome the impressive three-year-old chestnut Strike The Gold, owned by M. Ashraf Kothari sprinting over five furlongs once again.

Strike The Gold, will perhaps be ridden by stable jockey Muzaffar Hussain, a fine rider indeed, but will be carrying a a heavy load of nine stones two pounds, going heavier by 17 pounds compared to Sher Khan carrying seven stones 13 pounds.

This may be an advantage to Sher Khan, but usually in a five furlong sprint the weight makes a little difference.

In all only seven events were carded as the eighth race on the programme was declared null and void.

All the races will be held over the sprinting distance of five furlongs with the first race beginning at 1-30 p.m.

The first race of the afternoon, will see 11 runners lining up at the starting gate and the race should be fought out between Royal Wisdom, Royal Promise and Lawrence Of Arabia, finishing in this very order with Millennium Era joining the fray.

Eye Catcher, a winner last week under jockey M. Mazhar, should make it two winners on the trot in the second event, unless the chestnut colt Yaqoob Choice thinks otherwise.

Even Top and Rukhsar should battle it out in the straight for a place chance.

In the following race, Edward Chou’s bay horse Trust Again, Miss Zainab Ali’s Canon Aain and Kamaluddin’s Ustadon Ka Ustad are all in with a fighting chance to pick up the spoils.

Our column however, fancies Trust Again to pass the winning post ahead of Ustadon Ka Ustad and Canon Again.

Auzy and Tipu Fight will be resuming their duel once again in the fourth race and although Auzy beat Tipu Fight last week by one and quarter lengths in a start to finish bid, Tipu Fight may this time turn the tables on Auzy, with Bank Manager grabbing the third slot.

The six-year-old bay horse Bull Dancer seems to be improving in every race and if all goes well should register his second victory on the trot for owner Naeemuddin in the fifth, with Maha Sagar, Sapno Ki Rani and Sonia close on his heels.

The last race on the afternoon’s programme has only six runners in contention and it is high time the thoroughbred chestnut colt Sarazen makes amends for his last two unimpressive outings under jockey Shehzad and this time pass the winning post ahead of the chestnut horse Ray Of Light.

Following is the field and our selections:

SARHAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-V 5F

Royal Beauty 9-0, Lawrence Of Arabia 9-0, Royal Wisdom 8-12, Dauntless 8-12, Millennium Era 8-6, Shining Rock 8-5, Sweet Senorita 8-4, Royal Promise 8-3, Super Boy 8-0, Lucky Love 7-13 and My Baboo 7-12.

Win: Royal Wisdom

Place: Royal Promise & Lawrence Of Arabia.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III & IV 5F

Daru 9-2, Grey Boy 9-2, High Speed 9-2, Yaqoob Choice 9-2, Silent Fire 9-1, Eye Catcher 8-10, Mera Sulman 8-8, Clever Cat 8-8, Even Top 8-7, Rukhsar 8-6, Venus Arrow 8-4, Genuine Risk 8-2, Much Better 8-1, Dil Faraib 8-0 and Major Dandy 7-11.

Win: Eye Catcher

Place: Even Top & Rukhsar.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III 5F

Little Sunny 9-0, Your Opinion 8-12, Usatadon Ka Ustad 8-11, Prism Of Life 8-10, Dr. Dre 8-10, Trust Again 8-9, Canon Again 8-7, Sone Pari 8-7, Striker 8-6, Khas Ul Khas 8-5, Noble Princess 8-4, Gold Dawn 8-4, Last Love 8-4 and Your Pleasure 8-1.

Win: Trust Again

Place: Ustadon Ka Ustad & Canon Again.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-II 5F

Jaguar 9-0, Regent 8-13, Auzy 8-12, Bank Manager 8-11, Waqas Aiya 8-6, Bang Man 8-3, Trust Me 8-3, Mark 8-2, Silver City 8-2, Brook Star 8-2, Pearl 8-0 and Tipu Fight 7-13.

Win: Tipu Fight

Place: Auzy & Bank Manager.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 5F

Rehmat Hi Rehmat 9-0, Maha Sagar 8-11, Yellow River 8-11, Pehlwan Choice 8-11, Prosmatic 8-11, Power Plus 8-10, Mcgrath 8-10, Rajwar 8-7, Bull Dancer 8-4, Sapno Ki Rani 8-4, Nawab 8-4, Neelam Taab 8-4, Sonia 8-1 Burning Sky 8-1, Jiyo 8-0 and Sajan Black 7-12.

Win: Bull Dancer

Place: Maha Sagar & Sapno Ki Rani.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV VIII 5F

Strike The Gold 9-2, Love Land 8-13, Knight Fighter 8-12, Shama 8-12, Prince Of Arabia 8-11, Mera Jugnoo 8-11, Royal Lancer 8-10. Deniro 8-10, Sweet Emotions 8-8, Wicked Game 8-8, Flying Bird 8-7, Shah Khan 8-6, Ever Shine 8-4, Black Magic 8-0, The Sohaib 7-12, Grey Fight 7-12, Great Bakht 7-11 and Your Honour 7-11.

Win: Shah Khan

Place: Strike The Gold and Sweet Emotions.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV N & V 5F

The Law 9-7, Captain Crash 8-9, Ray Of Light 8-2, Sarazen 8-2, Order Of The Day 7-6 and Wonder Thunder 7-6.

Win: Sarazen

Place: Ray Of Light.

DAY’S BEST: Shah Khan

GOOD DOUBLE: Shah Khan - Sarazan.