KARACHI, March 27: Jockey Saif Mohammad earned a splendid round of applause from the racing fans, when he piloted Tharkyee to an exciting victory over the thoroughbred chestnut colt Royal Commander, at the Winter Gymkhana Race Meeting held on Sunday at the Karachi Racecourse.
Going over the sprinting distance of six furlongs the field was reduced to only seven runners after Super Salute pulled out of the race during the early morning scratching.
When the race began Goroghantaal jumped out ahead of stable companion Tharkyee, followed by the thoroughbred mare Penny. As usual Royal Commander was left at the starting gate after missing the jump.
Soon the grey horse Al Jarrar took over the running followed by Penny and Royal Commander as Goroghantaal and Tharkyee fell back into fourth and fifth places respectively. Nearing the bend a loud roar went up when Royal Commander urged on by jockey Nisar Ahmed moved into the lead.
Turning for home it was still Royal Commander improving with every stride followed by Tharkyee, moving into the middle track sprinting for home.
As the crowd roared on their approval Saif Mohammad with hands and heels in motion, got his mount motivated. Tharkyee passed Royal Commander 100 yards from the winning post and Penny with a late burst finished third, half a length behind Royal Commander. Al Jarrar completed the frame.
The main event of the afternoon had only four runners in contention as Silent Witness and Ghazan Prince, both with a chance to win this six furlong journey, pulled out of race at the last moment.
It looked rather ridiculous with the race now reduced to only four runners. However, except for Sharp Cat, the next three runners Wonder Thunder, Princess J.T.M. and Killer Instincts were backed strongly by their respective followers.
Just before the race could begin Wonder Thunder and Killer Instincts were installed as the joint favourites. But alas the race was never contested.
Suddenly, the chestnut colt Killer Instincts with jockey A. Rahim astride, broke the gate and galloping away was soon sprinting past the winning post with the other three runners still in their boxes.
Somehow something seemed rather fishy. Even when a horse bolts out of the gates it is soon brought under control by the grooms posted about 200 to 300 yards away from the starting gate with a large net, blocking the mount’s passage further.
The offending animal is then brought back to the starting gate and the race begins. One is deemed to ask where were those grooms? How come Abdul Rahim could not control his mount allowing Killer Instincts to pass the winning post all alone? Some food for thought indeed gentlemen. With the race now reduced to only three runners from the original six, the Racing Administration had no alternative but to cancel the race to avoid further embarrassment. Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagaro VII, had a fruitful afternoon with a brace of winners. Earlier in the fifth event, his thoroughbred bay filly Aie Bahar steered home once again by jockey Sher Mohammad, completed her fourth successive victory, beating Sarazan by two lengths with Nadir Abdullah astride. Sonia finished third and Terrorist, another runner from the Pagaro stables fourth, 12 ½ lengths further behind. The opening event was picked up by On The Run ridden by Riaz Mohammad, beating the chestnut mare Taneez with a much further improved run by six lengths.
Edward Chou’s chestnut colt Yanga with Arif Nazir astride, sped to victory in the next event beating Azam The Great and Royal Leader, with Lucky Five completing the frame.
Jaguar with riding boy M. Ismail astride, once again obliged his large band of supporters in the following event passing the winning post with ease, followed home by Tag Team, She Is Magic and Piyari Mehbooba, completing the frame with a very backward run.
The third race on the afternoon’s programme with a big field of 18 runners in contention, was won hands down by Safeena-e-Arab ridden by Ali Sher, followed home by Neelam Taab, Field Commander and Snake River, finishing a disappointing fourth.
The next racing programme is scheduled for Sunday, April 3.
Following were the results:
NAZ PLATE CLASS VII DIV V & VI 5F
On The Run (Mr. M. Ismail) 8-12 Riaz Mohammad 1, Taneez 8-0 Pervaiz Ali 2, Ever Shine 8-2 M. Yousuf 3, Baby Tabassum 9-5 M. Ikram 4.
Also ran: Law Of Nature, Royal Promise, Flying Prince, Ghori, Racing Leader, Afzaal Prince, My Majesty, Grey Fight and The Prince Zeeshan.
Won by 6L, 2 1/4L, 5L. Time 1 min 7 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Iqbal Qureshi.
NAZ PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV-B 5F
Yanga (Mr. Edward Chou) 9-0 Arif Nazir 1, Azam The Great 8-6 M. Amjad 2, Royal Leader S. Khan 3, Lucky Five 7-11 Ghous Bux 4.
Also ran: Eye Lady, Jallali, Knock First and Kinjehar.
Won by 2L, 4 1/2L, 2L. Time 1 min 8 4/5 sec. Winner trained by Shafqat Ali.
NAZ PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV-A 5F
Jaguar (Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Qureshi) 8-11 M. Ismail 1, Tag Team 8-5 Ali Ahsan 2, She Is Magic 8-5 Arif Nazir 3, Piyari Mehbooba 9-0 M. Faiz 4.
Also ran: Ultimate Victory, Royal Loyalty, Raaz, Lex Luger, Sea Biscuit, Golden Voice and Cool Water.
Won by 3L, 4 1/2L, 3/4L. Time 1 min 6 2/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Aslam Khan.
NAZ CLASS VII DIV III 5F
Safeena-e-Arab (Syed Nadeem Anwar) 8-11 Ali Sher 1, Neelam Taab 8-9 M. Younus 2, Field Commandeer 8-11 Nisar Ahmed, Snake River 8-12 M. Nasir 4.
Also ran: Daruwalla, Laughing Queen, Salim Love, Free Lancer, Lucky Lucky, Savabeel, Lucky One, Golden Copy, Gold Disc, The Ripple, Street Fighter, Smokey Prince, Chand Aya and Ladla.
Won by 7L, 2L, 1 1/4L. ime 1 min 5 sec. Winner trained by Abid Ali Jan.
NAZ PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 6F
Aie Bahar (Shah Mardan Shah II Pir Pagaro VII’s ) 9-0 Sher Mohammad 1, Sarazen 9-1 Nadir Abdullah 2, Terrorist 8-4 Saif Mohammad 4.
Also ran: Puma King, Welcome Naeem, City Honour and Princess Hira.
Won by 2L, 2L, 12 1/2L. Time 1 mi9n 18 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Mumtaz Ali.
SIBI PLATE CLASS VI 6F
Tharkyee (Shah Mardan Shah II Pir Pagaro VII’s) Saif Mohammad 1, Royal Commander 8-12 Nissar Ahmed 2, Penny 8-9 Fahim Karim 3, Al Jarrar 8-1 Zaki Zaker 4.
Also ran: Goroghantaal, Dr. Good Head and Summer Wine.
Win by 2L, 1/2L, 9L. Time 1 min 17 4/5 sec. Winner trained by Allah Judrio.
