|
|
|
| November 3, 2003 | Monday | Ramazan 7, 1424 |
Waseem leaps from raging favourite
KARACHI, Nov 2: More drama unfolded at the Karachi Racecourse, when jockey M. Waseem leapt from the raging favourite Sher Zai at the Winter Gymkhana Meeting held on Sunday.
Participating in the third race of the afternoon, Sher Zai was installed as the firm favourite at 25/100, while the next best horse in the betting ring Sea Biscuit, could be had at 3/1. The other participants in the race could be had at long odds.
When the race began, Sher Zai jumped out in front and after moving three lengths ahead of the field was slowed down by jockey Waseem, who leapt from the saddle, after taking the dark bay horse a trifle wide.
With the racing fans looking on in shock disbelief, the race was easily won by Sea Biscuit, with Royal Beauty, Silver Sweet and The Shoaib completing the frame.
Pretending to be badly hurt, Waseem lay stretched out on the track before the bend and was picked by the racecourse ambulance and rushed off to the hospital.
Just before the race cold begin, of the two bookmakers who reaped a rich harvest in the ring, one had Sher Zai at 40/100 for a win and 30/100 for a place chance, while the other bookie more adventurous, had the favourite at even money to win and 50/100 for a place chance.
Although something was terribly amiss, the hapless racing fans continued to pour lakhs of rupees on the favourite which finished off the board without a rider.
The owner of Sher Zai completely taken aback with the proceedings, complained to the Chairman of the Racecourse that jockey Waseem had played a dirty trick and asked for the race to be declared null and void to save the racing fans from further embarrassment. But as usual a deaf ear was turned to his plea and the bell sounded that the race was won fair and square.
When this correspondent asked the Chairman of the racecourse Yousuf Dada as to what action would be taken against the offending rider, he replied that jockey M. Waseem would be warned off from this racecourse for good.
What was the use. The damage had already been done by a very influential hand from the racing mafia.
After the races the hospital was contacted about the welfare of M. Waseem and we were shocked to learn that the culprit left the hospital, destination unknown.
Getting back to the better side of the programme, Shahid Mannan stole the racing limelight with a splendid double. The young jockey piloted Edward Chou’s dark bay colt Trust You, to a smashing victory over the crowd fancy Lovely Concept in the fourth event and then went on to complete his day with another thrilling victory astride Nihal Pervaiz’s Lover’s Lady, in the concluding event, lowering the colours of the firm favourite Mega Hit.
Also sharing in the limelight was owner Syed Ali Gohar Shah and trainer Talib Hussain, who had their brace of winners through Bang Man ridden by seasoned jockey M. Yousuf in the first race and Shining Steel partnered by riding boy Naveed in the fifth event.
The dark bay gelding Sajan Black with riding boy Zahoor Ahmed in the saddle, provided owner Humayun Mirza and trainer Taj Mohammad with a fine winner in the second race, beating nearest rival Baby Tabassum by two and half lengths.
Another shock victory was provided by the five-year-old thoroughbred bay horse Snake Eyed, getting the better of more fancied runners Star Of The Day (Sher Mohammad), Thousand Up (Arshad) and Departure On Time (Khalid Nawaz), after apprentice rider Fateh Mohammad replaced Sohail Ahmed at the starting gate in the sixth event.
The next racing programme is scheduled for Sunday, Nov 9.
Following are the results:
KOHAT PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-IV & V 5F
Bang Man (Syed Ali Gohar Shah) 8-1 M. Yousaf 1, Even Top 9-4 M. Khizer 2, Silent Fire 9-1 M. Waseem 3, Noble Princess 9-0 Mujahid Ali 4.
Won by Dist., 7 1/2L, Dist. Time 1 min 12 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Talib Hussain.
KOHAT PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-IV 5F
Sajan Black (Mr. Humuyan Mirza) 8-12 Zahoor Ahmed 1, Baby Tabassum 8-1 Nadir Akhtar 2, Reliable 8-4 Amin Ali 3, Ghori 8-6 Azeem 4.
Won by 2 1/2L, 6L, 11L. Time 1 min 9 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Taj Mohammad.
KOHAT PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III 5F
Sea Biscuit (Zahid Hussain) 8-5 Nadim Akhtar 1, Royal Beauty 8-7 Nisar Ahmed 2, Silver Sweet 8-7 Kashif Ali 3, The Sohaib 8-1 Hanif Baloch 4.
Won by 3 1/2L, 10L, 1 1/2L. Time 1 min 11 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Owner.
KOHAT PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-II 5F
Trust You (Mr. Edward Chou) 8-10 Shahid Mannan 1, Lovely Concept 8-9 Sher Mohammad 2, Royal Lancer 8-7 Naveed 3, Grey Boy 8-10 Arshad 4.
Won by 1 1/2L, 4L, 9 1/2. Time 1 min 8 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Gulbaz.
KOHAT PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 5F
Shinning Steel (Mr. Syed Ali Gohar Shah) 8-2 Naveed 1, Yaqoob Choice 8-3 Murad Ali 2, Pasban 8-13 Arshad 3, Ring Master 8-4 Dilshad 4.
Won by 7L, 1L, Dist. Time 1 min 7 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Talib Hussain.
KOHAT PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII 5F
Snake Eyed (Mr. Saqib Iqbal) 8-4 Fateh Mohammad 1, Star Of The Day 8-10 Sher Mohammad 2, Thousand Up 8-10 Arshad 3, Departure On Time 9-4 Khalid Nawaz 4.
Won by 2 1/2L, 2L, 2L. Time 1 min 7 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Shahid Ahmed.
KOHAT PLATE CLASS IX DIV VI 6F
Lover’s Lady (Mr. Nihal Pervaiz) 1, Mega Hit 8-1 M. Nasir 2, Innuendo 8-10 Sher Mohammad 3, Ray Of Light 8-1 Aamir Ali 4.
Won by 3 1/2L, 4L, 10L. Time 1 min 19 2/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Sharif.
|
|
|
|
