July 10, 2006	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 13, 1427

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KARACHI, July 9: Four-year-old chestnut filly, Fantasia, lived up to her reputation when she galloped to three length victory to land Al-Raee Cup in the Summer Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

The triumph, as predicted in these columns, also enabled her to make it two in a row under young rider Tariq Baran. She is trained by M. Pervaiz.

Joint favourite bay horse Sea Wave led the pack of five in the initial stage but soon after negotiating the bend he was overtaken by Fantasia who maintained the lead till the finish.

Owner of Fantasia, M. R. Hussain, received the glittering cup from Raza Abdul Aziz Al-Raee, a Saudi businessman, amidst thunderous applause. In addition, a sum of Rs200,000 was at stake.

Addressing the audience in fluent Urdu, the guest announced a donation of Rs one million for the KRC.

Earlier, jockey Mohammad Essa presented owner Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara with the Hutson Cup when he sprinted bay horse, Chaleswan Chur, to a facile seven length win.

With two wins on trot filly, Abhi Abhi, owned by the same connection and a public fancy was on course for hat trick but its running left a bad taste in the mouth.

Pir Pagara’s second winner was fancied chestnut filly, Butter Fly, who was piloted home by M. Nasir by five and a half length in the concluding race.

Syed Ismail Shah also had a satisfying day with two winners — colt, Master Of Disaster and filly, Closing Argument. The two horses were ridden home by Ghulam Shabbir II who earlier had another winner in colt, Sher Garh, to end with a splendid treble.

Mr. Irfan Mehdi’s three-year-old bay filly, Queen Of Mirwa, now under trainer Mohiuddin picked up the spoils in the opener when she edged out joint favourite bay colt, Fight For Fame, by seven length.

Chestnut Champion Express pulled off a mild upset to grab honours in the fourth race.

Trainer Allah Judrio also sent a brace of winners in Master Of Disaster and Closing Argument.

Results:

SINDH PLATE DIV III 5F

Queen Of Mirwa (Mr. Irfan Mehdi) 9-2 M. Yousuf 1, Fight For Fame 8-6(cr8-10) Tariq Baran 2, Silent Love 8-6 Mohammad Essa 3, Lovely Concept 8-10 Nasim Ahmed 4. Won by 7L, 3L, 5L. Time: 1 min 7 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by Mohiuddin

SINDH PLATE DIV II 5F

Sher Garh (Mr. Reyan Ahmed) 8-13 Ghulam Shabir II 1, Aces High 9-0 (cr8-11) Mazhar Ali 2, Sher-e-Awan 8-10 Faiz Mohammad 3, Shah Pasand 8-8 Latif 4. Won by 5L, 1L, 1 3/4L. Time: 1 min 9 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Gh. Channa

SINDH PLATE DIV V 5F

Master Of Disaster (Syed Ismail Shah) 8-6 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Royal Beauty 8-13 S. Khan 2, Fizza 8-2 M. Nawaz Bilal 3, Ladla 8-13 M. Wasim II 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 2L, 2 3/4L. Time: 1 min 11 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by Allah Judrio

SINDH PLATE DIV IV 5F

Champion Express (Mr. Tariq Majeed) 9-0(cr8-7) Nazil Hussain 1, First Shot 8-1 Latif 2, Jan-e-Mun 8-10 M. Nasir 3, Desperado 8-6 Mohammad Essa 4. Won by 2L, 1/2L, 4L. Time: 1 min 8 sec.

Winner trained by C. Colaco

HUTSON CUP (2006) 5F

Chaleswan Chur (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-8 Mohammad Essa 1, Velvet Green 8-6(cr8-7) M. Kashif 2, Haseena-e-Arab 8-3(cr8-6) M. Yousuf 3, Thanks Naeem 9-4 Nadir Ali 4. Won by 7L, 5L, 2 1/2L. Time: 1 min 6 sec.

Winner trained by Sher Mohammad

SINDH PLATE DIV I 5F

Closing Argument (Syed Ismail Shah) 8-7 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Voo Doo Doll 9-0 M. Yousuf 2, Laat Sahib 8-12 M. Nasir 3, Arabian Heart 9-2 Fahim K 4. Won by 6L, 2L, 2 1/2L. Time: 1 min 6 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Allah Judrio

AL-RAEE CUP (2006) 6F

Fantasia (Mr. M. R. Hussain) 8-8 Tariq Baran 1, King Of Sanghar 9-4 Mumtaz Ali 2, Sea Wave 9-4 Shahid Manan 3, Arab Hi Arab 8-11 Ghulam Shabbir II 4. Won by 3L, 2L, 3 1/2L. Time: 1 min 20 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Pervaiz

PAK PLATE 5F

Butter Fly (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-7 M. Nasir 1, Jawan Bakht 9-0 Abdul Rahim 2, Canon Strides 8-0 Latif 3, Jadugar 7-13 Ashiq Ali 4. Won by 5 1/2L, 3 1/2L, 4L. Time: 1 min 6 sec.Winner trained by Mian Asif