February 26, 2007	Monday	Safar 8, 1428

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KARACHI, Feb 25: Continuing from where she left, second favourite six-year-old bay mare, Ouija Board, galloped to a magnificent eight-and-a-half lengths victory over co-favourite filly, Black Girl, to claim feature event on Sunday when outsiders dominated the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse.

Having won last three races on trot, the mare, owned by Syed Ismail Shah, led the race from the word go and enhanced the lead after turning for home to win with a wide margin thus keeping her winning record intact.

Saddled by Ehtisham, she was smartly ridden home by jockey Ghulam Shabbir II. Colt Moon Raker finished two-and-a-half lengths away to secure third position while filly Gwenivare completed the board. The field was reduced to 10 following withdrawl of colt Sindh Malook.

Turf accountants have a field day as at least six out of nine races turned out to be upsets as fancied horses were not up to the mark.

However, the day belonged to owner Syed Nadeem Anwar whose two horses — Shan-e-Arab and Birj-ul-Arab — does him proud with back-to-back wins. Trainer Ghulam Channa also had a share in brace of winners so does riders Nazil Hussain and M. Khizer.

In a closely fought battle, Shan-e-Arab beat Trust Again by short head as favourite Smiling Face settled for fourth place while Birj-ul-Arab toppled public fancy Jack In The Box by two-and-a-half lengths.

M. Nasir, champion rider of 2006, created quite a stir when he sprinted four-year-old bay colt Truf Shot to victory over Mida’s Touch.

Similarly, Donatello, with no form worth, outpaced Canon Ball by three-quarter-of-a-length as favourite Moment To Moment II failed to even finish on the board.The two favourites who obliged punters besides a joint favourite Ouija Board, were 12-year-old bay mare Sonia and filly Sweet Saba.

Raaz and Hamza Joy picked up spoils in the first two fixtures of the day.

The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Thursday.

Results:

THE MELA PLATE DIV V-B

CLASS VII 4F:

Raaz (Mr. Mohammad Ishaq) 8-4 Fahim K 1, Captain Cook 9-0 Asghar Ali 2, Afzaal Prince 8-9(cr8-4) Nazil Hussain 3, Gul Bano 8-9 M. Amjad 4. Won by 2L, 2 1/2L, 1 1/4L. Time: 0.54 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Mansoor Alam.

THE MELA PLATE DIV V-A

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Hamza Joy (Mr. S. H. A. Rizvi) 9-2 Ashiq Ali 1, Jet Zone 8-7 S. Khan 2, Breaking News 9-4 Tariq Baran 3, Silent Love 8-12 Arshad 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 3/4L, 5L. Time: 1 min 2/5 sec.

THE MELA PLATE DIV IV

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Sonia (Mr. Rafiullah) 8-4 M. Alam 1, Chand Aya 8-5(cr8-2) M. Nawaz Bilal 2, Power Plus 9-0(cr8-9) Fateh Mohammad 3, Desperado 8-7 Nadim Akhtar 4. Won by 3 1/2L, 2 1/4L, 1/2L. Time: 0.59 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by Ramzan A.

THE MELA PLATE DIV III-B

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Sweet Saba (Mr. M. Tariq) 8-3(cr7-12) M. Wasim II 1, Mixed Blessing 8-4 Asghar Ali Khan 2, Qandhar 8-6(cr8-3) Sohail Ahmed 3, Lucky Luck 8-7 M. Alam 4. Won by 12L, 5L, 3L. Time: 0.59 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Aftab Nawaz.

THE MELA PLATE DIV III-A

CLASS VII 5F:

Donatello (Mr. Mohammad Zahid Malik) 8-6 Faisal Qamar 1, Canon Ball 8-2 S. Khan 2, Be Jamalo 8-2 Yousuf Ikram 3, Little Girl 8-4 Dasrat 4. Won by 3/4L, 1/2L, 4L. Time: 1 min 5 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Naseem.

THE MELA PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 5F:

Turf Shot (Mr. Gul Mohammad Rajar) 8-2 M. Nasir 1, Mida’s Touch 8-2 Fahim K 2, Lucky Leader 9-4 Manzoor Baran 3, Sugar Sweet 8-2 Arshad 4. Won by 3 3/4L, 2 1/2L, 1 3/4L. Time: 1 min 4 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

THE MELA PLATE DIV I

CLASS VII 5F:

Shan-e-Arab (Syed Nadeem Anwar) 8-12(cr8-5) Nazil Hussain 1, Trust Again 9-3 Shahid Manan 2, Foolish Pleasure 8-2 Fahim K 3, Smiling Face 8-8 M. Nasir 4. Won by S. Head, 1L, 3/4L. Time: 1 min 4 3/5 sec.

Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE KHAIRPUR PLATE 5 1/2F:

Birj-ul-Arab (Syed Nadeem Anwar) 9-1 M. Khizer 1, Jack In The Box 8-13 Ghulam Shabbir II 2, Can’t Catch Me 8-10 Tariq Baran 3, Kat Mandu 8-5 M. Nasir 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 2 1/2L, 1 1/4L. Time: 1 min 11 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE GULISTAN PLATE CLASS V

DIV I & II 6F:

Ouija Board (Syed Ismail Shah) 9-2 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Black Girl 8-9 Tariq Baran 2, Moon Raker 9-0 Mumtaz Ali 3, Gwenivare 7-10 Zaki Zakir 4. Won by 8 1/2L, 2 1/2L, 4L. Time: 1 min 16 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by S. Ehtisham.