October 27, 2003	Monday	Sha’aban 30, 1424

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LAHORE, Oct 26: Showing magnificent speed and stamina, fancied bay colt, Naseeb ran a memorable race to win the Gulberg Cup over the middle distance of 1600m during the Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The three-year-old colt from Sheikh Albadoo-out-of-Coxswain surprised every one by his astonishingly easy success in a class I, II and III combined handicap race to restore the confidence of his backers after last Sunday’s defeat in the top division of lower class four.

In fact it was his speed and stamina which helped him overcome a stiff opposition leaving his 13 rivals staggering behind with the jockey holding him off at the finishing post.

Backed at fifty to 100 favourite, Naseeb was ably steered by jockey Shahid Rehman to beat second favourite Dizzy Height by about two lengths. Feel The Freedom and Zargar completed the frame. Running in the colours of Malik Hamid Ali Noon, Naseeb, was sent out by trainer Haji Fazal Hadi in this seventh race of the day.

Later fancied bay mare, Mahnoor, also piloted by jockey Shahid Rehman bagged the Islamabad Cup run over 1400m. An admirably consistent performer to get a place on the board during the current season, Mahnoor succeeded to run the opposition of 13 contestants into the ground in the supporting event and confirm her classification.

She defeated Puma King by about four lengths easily. Glorious Song and Royal Fantasy completed the board.

Earlier the chestnut English filly Dancing Key affirmed her as the finest sprinter filly, putting up a scintillating display of speed on her debut victory in the sixth race of the card.

Owned by Malik Hamid Ali Noon and trained by Haji Fazal Hadi, this daughter of English Sire Halling, Dancing Key, was partnered by Shahid Rehman in an arm-chair ride.

Jockey Shahid Rehman, stole the limelights of day’s racing by his extra-ordinary performance, bringing home four winners. His feat included a splendid hat-trick of victories which is seldom seen at the Lahore Racecourse. Shahid started the day triumphantly when he rode Extra Power to victory in the second race. He then went on to win on Dancing Key, Naseeb and Mahnoor in the sixth, seventh and eighth race, respectively. This was the best performance by any rider witnessed during a couple of Lahore racing seasons.

Two veteran trainers, Haji Fazal Hadi and Haji Ghulam Sarwar distinguished themselves among trainers. Hadi sent out three winners in Shot Fire, Dancing Key and Naseeb in the first, sixth and seventh race, respectively. Haji Ghulam Sarwar saddled Sun Princess in the third and Mahnoor in the eighth race of the day. One of their mounts each scored a cup victory as well. Among the owners Malik Hamid Ali Noon was the luckiest one, his filly Dancing Key and colt Naseeb won their respective events.

Results.

Shor Kot Plate Class VII Div V 1200m.

Shot Fire (Mohammed Ibrahim) 7-4 A. Aziz 1. Super Choice 7-4 Sardar Ali 2. Wall Street 9-3 Shahid Mustafa 3. Silver Baby 9-0 Vicky Gaman 4.

Won by 1/2 L, 2 L. 6 1/2 L. Time one min 18 2/5 secs. Winner trained by Haji Fazal Hadi.

Shor Kot Plate Class VII Div IV 1200m.

Extra Power (Bilal Khan) 9-0 Shahid Rehman 1. Velvet Green 9-2 Shahzad Ahmad 2. Raad 9-0 Azam Hussain 3. Muslim Badger 8-13 Waqas Sheikh 4.

Won by 3/4 L, 3 L, 1 3/4 L. Time one min 17 3/5 secs. Winner trained by Mian A. Majeed.

Shor Kot Plate Class VII Div II 1200m.

Sun Princess (Mohammad Umar Butt) 8-4 M. Zeeshan 1. Gold Rush (formerly Chandiwala) 8-3 Qasim Shah 2. Lot Of Thanks 8-4 Khurrum Sheikh 3. Meri Kajal 8-11 Faisal Tahir 4.

Won by 1L, Neck, 3 L. Time one min 16 4/5 secs. Winner trained by Haji Ghulam Sarwar.

Shor Kot Road Class VII div I 1200m.

Flood Of Gold (Mian Hamid Mahmood) 8-10 Shahid Rehman 1. Bold Venture 8-10 Faisal Tahir 2. Weldon Shogun 9-0 A. Aziz 3. Thank You Boss 8-3 Qasim Shah 4.

Won by 6 1/2 L, 1 L, 1/2 L. Time one min 16 1/5 secs. Winner trained by Choudhry Khurrum Hussain.

Landhi Plate, a term race for two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies maidens at the time of start 800m.

Like A Hero (Nisar Ahmad) 8-8 A. Imran 1. Hawk Wing 8-5 Shahid Rehman 2. Stereo Nation 8-8 A. Aziz 3. Rock Of The World 8-8 M. Zeeshan 4.

Won by 3 L, 4 1/2 L, 1 1/2 L. Time 48 3/5 secs. Winner trained by Mohammad Bashir.

Sangla Hill Plate Class IV Div I & II 1200m.

Dancing Key (Malik Hamid Ali Noon) 8-2 Shahid Rehman 1. Catch All 9-2 Shahzad Iqbal 2. Hataf Sara 9-2 Qasim Shah 3. Zargar 7-8 Faisal Tahir 4.

Won by 3 1/2 L, 6 L, 1 L. Time one min 13 2/5 secs. Winner trained by Fazal Hadi.

Gulberg Cup Class I, II & III 1600m.

Naseeb (Malik Hamid Ali Noon) 7-12 Shahid Rehman 1. Dizzy Height 8-3 Qasim Shah 2. Feel The Freedom 9-2 Salah-ud-Din II 3. Royal Falcon 8-4 A. Imran 4.

Won by 1 3/4 L, 3 1/2 L, Neck. Time one min 41 secs. Winner trained by Haji Fazal Hadi.

Islamabad Cup Class V Div I & II 1400m.

Mahnoor (Umar Farooq) 9-2 Shahid Rehman 1. Puma King 8-5 A. Imran 2. Glorious Song 8-2 Shahid Mustafa 3. Royal Fantasy 7-10 Vicky Gaman 4.

Won by 3 3/4 L, 3/4 L, 4 1/2 L. Time one min 30 3/5 secs. Winner trained by Haji Ghulam Sarwar.