2 May 2005	Monday	22 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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KARACHI, May 1: The highly bred chestnut colt Ghazan Prince lifted the Karachi Gold Cup in a common canter beating nearest rival Fantastic Face by 10 lengths going over the mile, at the Winter Gymkhana Race Meeting held on Sunday afternoon at the Karachi Racecourse. The race was reduced to only 10 runners after our fancy King Of Sanghar was pulled out of the race.

When the race began, Shore Footed a chicken in the weights, hit the front followed by Safeena-e-Arab, another runner carrying only seven stones. As the race progressed, Ghazan Prince piloted by Saif Mohammad hit the front with top weight Al Faris moving into the second spot ahead of Fantstic Face and Safeena-e-Arab.

Turning for home, Ghazan Prince urged on by his rider increased the pace as Al Faris fell back and went on to win the race with effortless ease. Shah Mardan Shah II Pir Pagaro’s fancied thoroughbred filly Fantastic Face was a distant second, with Safeena-e-Arab third, a further 3 ¼ lengths behind.

Abdul Eleh Saleh, a visitor from Dubai was the chief guest on the occasion and presented the Karachi Gold Cup to the beaming owner Irfan Mehdi. On a day where the favourites ruled the roost, Tom Cruise although carrying a heavy impost of 9-5 on his back won the opener, beating Afzaal Prince by one and half lengths.

The seven-year-old roan was ridden by Naeem Ahmed making his appearance on this track after a nine year lapse after moving his abode to Dubai. It was indeed an enjoyable afternoon for owner Sardar Abdul Aziz, riding boy Tariq Baran, not to mention trainer Cajetan Colaco, after the chestnut horse Welcome Pachino silenced his critics by sprinting to victory in the second race and in the process completing a splendid hat trick for the trio, collaring Azam The Great half a furlong from the winning post, after a very sluggish start.

Voodoo Doll ridden by Sher Mohammad, never gave the connections any nervous moments sprinting to victory in the third event, with High Light, Dunhill Desire and Power of Tiger following in his wake.

The same could be said about Murtaza Hussain’s speedy filly Savabeel, toying with the opposition, before crossing the winning post in one minute 4 4/5 seconds to make it two winners in a row, in the fourth race on the afternoon’s card. Young jockey A. Aziz rode the winner.

In a race full of thrills, Noor-e-Arab partnered by Ghulam Shabbir II, won the five furlong sprint from Snake River by just half a length, after both runners were engaged in a sea saw duel galloping for the winning post.

Ghazanfar Hussain Hidayatullah had a welcome winner on Sunday afternoon, when his highly bred dark bay filly Excalibur ridden to perfection by jockey Arshad won the seventh race going over six furlongs.

When the race began Gullu’s Government set a scorching pace and led the field by lengths only to go wide at the bend. Excalibur lying fourth when the race began, took over the running when heads turned for home and never looking back passed the winning post eight lengths ahead of nearest rival King Of Arab. Stable companion Birj-ul-Arab was third, with Tharkee completing the frame. In the concluding event, Shah Mardan Shah II Pir Pagaro VII’s Aie Bahar completed a double hat trick for her owner, registering her sixth victory on the trot, and just holding off the fast approaching Wonder Thunder.

Although the Tanuf-Triple Silko sibling had the services of apprentice rider Essa Mohammad in the saddle, the youngster kept his cool as he guided the bay filly to victory.

Our racing column was once again in the forefront. The Dawn readers were presented with five winners out of eight events through, Welcome Pachino in the second event, Voodoo Doll in the third, Savabeel in the fourth, helping the column to complete a hat trick of wins, Noor-e-Arab in the fifth and Aie Bahar in the concluding event. In the first race our second best Tom Cruise came out victorious and our third chance Ghazan Prince lifted the Gold Cup after our fancy King Of Sanghar was pulled out of the race. In the next event, our second best Excalibur sprinted to a stunning victory.

The next race meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 8.

Following are the results:

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV V & VI 5F

Tom Cruise (Mr. M.N. Bashir) 9-5 Naeem Afzaal Prince 9-1 Nisar Ahmed 2, Royal Beauty 8-5 S. Khan 3, I’m So Happy 8-4 Sohail Ahmed 4. Also ran: Baby Tabassum, Silver Sweet, Royal Wisdom, Hat’s Off, Flying Prince, Royal Promise, Super Time, Law Of Nature, Taneez, Raysham, Baby Raysham, Ghori, Sona and Recondition.

Won by 1 1/2L, 3L, 5L. Time 1 min 7 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Amjad Ali.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV 5F

Welcome Pachino (Sardar Abdul Aziz) 8-8 Tariq Baran 1, Azam The Great 8-11 Shahnawaz 2, Tag Team 8-13 Ali Asghar 3, Gold Disc 8-4 M. Amjad 4.

Also ran: Canon Ball, Street Fighter, Shanoo, Hot Press, Cool Water, Ladla, On The Run, Eye Lady, Golden Copy, Sea Biscuit, Golden Voice, Champion Express, Quite Arrival and Melody II.

Won by 1 3/4L, 2 1/2L, 2 1/4L. Time 1 min 7 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Cajetan Colaco.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV III 5F

Voodoo Doll (Mr.Ghulam Dastagir Rajar) 8-11 Sher Mohammad 1, High Light 8-12 M. Yousuf 2, Dunhill Desire 8-13 M. Manzoor 3, Power Of Tiger 8-5 Waheed Baran 4.

Also ran: Silver City, Smiling Face, Run And Pray, Desperado, Clapping, Sher Garh, Neelam Taab, Silent Love, Fancy II, Ghabra, Crysler, Blind Date, Fascinate and Jet Zone.

Won by 3 1/2L, 1 1/4L, 1/2L. Time 1 min 6 sec. Winner trained by Mumtaz Ali Khan.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 5F

Savabeel (Mr. M.R. Hussain) Sonia 8-11 Nisar Ahmed 2, Arabian Queen 8-12 Ghulam Shabbir II 3, Casanova 8-0 Asif Nazim 4.

Also ran: Just Call Me, Gold Tip, Princess Hira, The Princess, Flying Bird, Yes Neighbour Yes, Gillespie, Casanova, Silent Angel, Fighter, Hazoom, Hyperonian, Leo Again and Patricia.

Won by 1/2L, 1 1/4L, Dist. Time 1 min 4 4/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Pervaiz.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 5F

Noor-e-Arab (Mr. Imran Ahmed) 9-1 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Snake River 8-10 A. Aziz 2, Deniro 8-2 S. Khan 3, Metro 7-12 Shahanawaz 4.

Also ran: Hot Chocolate, Thanks Naeem, Rahil Prince, Super Salute, Queen Of Sanghar, Jan-e-Arab, Bold Doll, Lucky Again, Dino Makrani, Chero Garh, Metro and Royal Reach.

Won by 1/2L, 10 1/4L, 7 1/4L. Time 1 min 4 4/5 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

KARACHI GOLD CUP 2005 ONE MILE

(Handicap race for Pakistani horses four-years old and upwards.

Ghazan Prince (Mr. Irfan Mehdi) 8-0 Saif Mohammad 1, Fantastic Face 8-9 Sher Mohammad 2, Safeena-e-Arab 7-0 Ghulam Shabbir II 3,

Also ran: Al Faris, Keen Winner, Killer Instincts, Sharp Cat, Rahil Jan, Jingu and Shore Footed.

Won by 10L, 3 1/4L, 2 3/4L. Time 1 min 45 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Karim Bachoo.

THATTA PLATE CLASS VI 6F

Excalibur (Mr. Ghazanfar Hussain Hidayatullah) 8-12 Arshad 1, King Of Arab 9-4, A.Aziz 2, Birj-ul-Arab 9-0 M. Manzoor 3, Tharykee 8-12 Abdul Rahim 4.

Also ran: Goroghantaal, Spy Queen, Zumanity, Gullu’s Government, Sarazen, Guarantee, Smarty Jones and Summer Wine.

Won by 8L, 1l, 6l. Time 1 min 7 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Mohammad Rafiq Karim.

SIBI PLATE CLASS V DIV I & II 6F

Aie Bahar (Shah Mardan Shah II Pir Pagaro VII) 8-4 Mohammad Essa 1, Wonder Thunder 8-5 A. Aziz 2, Real Gift 9-7 Amir 3, Penny 8-1 Arshad 4.

Also ran: Donatello, Fire Of Desire, Sculptor, Fast And Furious, War Lord, Silent Witness and Fakhr-e-Sanghar. Winner trained by Mumtaz Ali.