June 11, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 25, 1428

KARACHI, June 10: Favourite three-year-old chestnut colt Lava Man reasserted his authority when he powered his way to seven-and-a-half lengths victory to claim day’s honours in the Gymkhana race meeting at Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Stunned by a better form horse and outsider, Chosen One, in the last outing he led from the front to oblige punters. Filly Hi Darling, colt Shiracco and bay Lucky Gem followed him in the same order.

In an earlier race, three-year-old colt Beyond Belief with Fahim K astride also obliged the racing fraternity by claiming his maiden victory in the second run. He beat bay Powerful Gambler by three lengths.

Predictions about five-year-old mare Meri Paidagiree also came true when she toppled joint favourites Khas-ul-Khas and The Choice Of The Day in the second race.

Four-year-old bay colt Captain Cook, with no form worth, sprang a surprise when he galloped to a facile eight-length victory over Welcome Pachino in the opener. Favourite Royal Loyalty failed to find a place on the board.

Rider Ghulam Shabbir II completed a fine double when he presented owner-cum-trainer Ehtisham with a winner by piloting three-year-old bay colt Big Chief in the fifth race after guiding Lava Man home.

He beat Princess Rozi by four lengths while favourite Lucky Step Junior finished third, two-and-a-half lengths further behind.

Dragon Heart also pulled off a surprise when he beat Jack In The Box by two-and-a-half lengths to land feature event.

Results:

THE EUROPE PLATE DIV V

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Captain Cook (M. Yousuf) 7-12 Zaheer Ahmed 1, Welcome Pachino 8-12(cr8-5) Rehan Usman 2, Tun Baba Tun 8-8(cr8-3) A. Rauf 3, Hamza Prince 7-11(cr8-5) Nazil Hussain 4. Won by 8L, 4 1/2L, 10L. Time: One min 2 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Aslam Khan.

THE EUROPE PLATE DIV IV

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Meri Paidagiree (Abdul Hafeez II) 8-13(cr8-1) Pervaiz Ali 1, Khas-ul-Khas 8-12 A. Amjad 2, The Choice Of The Day 8-8 Ashiq Ali 3, Charlie 8-2(cr7-9) Shahzad Shewani 4. Won by 1 1/2L, 2L, 5L. Time: One min.

THE EUROPE PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 5F:

Beyond Belief (S.R. Ali and K.R. Ali)8-2 Fahim K 1, Powerful Gambler 8-4 Ashiq Ali 2, Taneez 8-1(cr7-12) M. Wasim II 3, Hamza Joy 9-5(cr8-12) Rehan Usman 4. Won by 3L, 5L, 3L. Time: One min 5 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.

THE EUROPE PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 5F:

Lava Man (Syed Ismail Shah) 9-4 Ghulam Shabbir II, 1, Hi Darling 8-9(cr8-6) Mumtaz Ali 2, Shiracco 9-1 Dasrat 3, Lucky Gem 8-10 M. Kashif 4. Won by 7 1/2L, 4 1/2L, 3L. Time: One min 5 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by S. Ehtisham.

THE EUROPE PLATE DIV I

CLASS VII 5F:

Big Chief (S. Ehtisham) 8-12 Ghulam Shabbir II,1, Princess Rozi 8-3 M. Nasir 2, Lucky Step Junior 8-3 Fahim K 3, Can’t Catch Me 8-12(cr8-9) Mumtaz Ahmed 4. Won by 4L, 2 1/2L, 6L. Time: One min 6 sec.

Winner trained by owner.

THE AMERICAN PLATE CLASS V DIV II AND CLASS VI 5F:

Dragon Heart (M.J. Malik) 9-6 Shahid Manan 1, Jack In The Box 8-13 M. Manzoor 2, Red Rufus 8-9 Mumtaz Ali 3, Sharp Cat 9-5 Nasim Ahmed 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 2 1/2L, 1 1/2L. Time: One min five sec.

Winner trained by A. Hanan.—AZ