April 24, 2006	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1427

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LAHORE, April 23: French mare, Chandni, partnered by jockey M. Hanif provided owner Khawaja M. Arif a big success winning the Midas Royal Ascot Cup run over 1600 metres at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The 40 to 100 favourite, Chandni held off a strong challenge from second favourite English filly Ponente to beat her by two lengths.

Trace Hit was distance away in third place with Lucky Winner fourth. Only five ran for the event named after England’s famous Racecourse where Royal Meetings are held.

This was the seventh and the last race of the day.

In the supporting event, the Mona Cup, three-year-old bay colt River Dancer came with a strong run in the closing stages to capture the cup run over 1300 metres.

Ridden by jockey Salahuddin II and owned by Javed Khalid, River Dancer defeated Shahpur Pride by a neck on the finishing post.

Though Shahpur Pride lost the race but Shahid Rehman showed superb horsemanship on the colt which earned him great applause.

To the great misfortune of the punters and owner Usman Khawaja favourite colt Late Arrival, who was leading at one stage pulled up lame to finish third.

Earlier Jockey Shahid Rehman caused a sensation when riding long shot Token Of Love who won the second race of the day. This four-year-old colt beat Billoo the Great by about three lengths.

Jockeys M. Hanif and Salahuddin II, trainers Haji Ghulam Sarwar and Manzoor Ahmed shared the day's honours when they registered a double each.

Hanif partnered Byron and Chandni; Salahuddin II rode River Dancer and Empire Maker. Haji Ghulam Sarwar saddled Byron and Chandni while Manzoor Ahmed sent out Token Of Love and Penalty Corner.

Results:

SHAHKOT PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 1000M:

Royal Cannon (Makhdoom Syed Ali Raza) 9-1 A. Aziz 1. Saad’s Dragon 8-6 Wasim Khan 2. Song Of Freedom 8-7 Sajjad Hussain 3. Victorious 9-0 Azhar Hussain 4.

Won by 5 1/4 L, 1 L, 1 1/4 L. Time one min 3 4/5 secs. Winner trained by Haji Fazal Hadi.

SHAHKOT PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 1000M:

Token Of Love (Munir Ahmed Dar) 8-4 Shahid Rehman 1. Billoo the Great 8-3 Sajjad Hussain 2. Daisy Against All 8-8 Rehman Ali (II) 3. Wah Bhai Wah 8-2 M. Zeeshan 4.

Won by 2 3/4 L, 1 1/4 L, 2 L. Time one min 3 2/5 secs. Winner trained by Manzoor Ahmed.

CHICHAWATNI PLATE CLASS V DIV II 1100M:

Byron (Usman Khawaja) 8-1 M. Hanif 1. Magic Mirror 8-6 Javed Iqbal 2. Eye Of The Tiger 8-10 Khalil Vicky 3. War Admiral 8-10 M. Zeeshan 4.

Won by 5 L, 1/2 L, 4 L. Time one min 9 1/5 secs. Winner trained by Haji Ghulam Sarwar.

CHICHAWATNI PLATE CLASS V DIV II 1100M:

Penalty Corner (Munir Ahmed Dar) 9-0 Faisal Ali 1. Charming King 9-0 A. Imran 2. Top Figure 8-0 Javed Iqbal 3. Royal Fish 8-7 Sajjad Hussain 4.

Won by 2 L, 6 L, Neck. Time one min 9 1/5 secs. Winner trained by Manzoor Ahmed.

MONA Cup 2006 Class IV Div II 1300M:

River Dancer (Javed Khalid) 9-2 Salahuddin II 1. Shahpur Pride 8-3 Shahid Rehman 2. Late Arrival 8-2 M. Hanif 3. Hatam 9-0 M. Zeeshan 4.

Won by Neck, Distance, and Short-head. Time one min 20 secs.

MONA PLATE CLASS IV DIV III 1300M:

Empire Maker (Nisar Ahmed 9-0 Salahuddin II 1. Royal Fantasy 8-3 A. Aziz 2. Ferrari 8-3 M. Hanif 3. Zargar 8-9 M. Zeeshan 4.

Won by 4 L, 3 L, and 3/4 L. Time one min 21 3/5 secs. Winner trained by Sohail Aziz.

MIDAS ROYAL ASCOT CUP CLASS II & III 1600M:

Chandni (Khawaja M. Arif) 8-13 M. Hanif 1. Ponente 8-9 A. Aziz 2. Trace Hit 7-9 M. Zeeshan 3. Lucky Winner 9-0 Vicky Gaman 4.

Won by 2 L, Distance. 2 1/2 L. Time one min 39 4/5 secs. Winner trained by Haji Ghulam Sarwar.