August 06, 2007	Monday	Rajab 21, 1428

KARACHI, Aug 5: Odds on favourite filly Rebecca lived up to her top billing claiming days’ honours in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday. Making amends, she obliged punters by galloping to four-and-a-half lengths victory over mare Smiling Face under rider Asghar Ali. Six-year-old bay Raphari came in third.

After attaining top honours on Mar 31, victory eluded her in four successive attempts as she settled for second place on all occasions.

Apart from Rebecca, predictions about mare Voo Doo Doll also came true when she stormed to two-and-a-half lengths victory over another fancied horse Truf Shot to land the feature event. The win enabled her to make it two on trot. Moon Raker and Arab Hi Arab completed the frame in same order.

After leading Voo Doo Doll to victory jockey Ghulam Shabbir II steered filly Fantastic Baby home by 10 lengths over Jack In The Box in the next race to end the day with a splendid double.

The filly from the stables of Tanveer Mirza/Kamal Farooq displayed tremendous form to make it four in in-a-row. Favourite Friendly Fire finished three lengths behind to finish third while Sharp Cat completed the frame.

Favourite three-year-old bay colt Royal King was also on song when he picked up spoils edging past filly Rolex by a wide margin of 11 lengths in a smart time.

Similarly, another public fancy bay mare Jet Zone atoned to earlier dismal showings crossing the finishing post ahead of Chistian The Great by six lengths.

Geo Naeem, on the other hand, created quite a stir when he toppled Mixed Blessing by three lengths out of a blue to register maiden win. In the earlier meetings he has failed to finish on the board and was not worth backing.

In yet another upset, eight-year-old bay Sher-e-Awan with Mohammad Essa astride got the better of Naseeb-e-Awan by half lengths.

The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Wednesday.

Results:

THE HOMI MODY PLATE

CLASS V DIV I AND II 6F:

Voo Doo Doll (Mr. Irfan Mehdi)7-6 Ghulam Shabbir II, 1, Truf Shot 8-12 M. Nasir 2, Moon Raker 8-8 Waheed Baran 3, Arab Hi Arab 9-3 Kashif Qamar 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 10L, 6 1/2L. Time: One min 18 3/5 sec.

Winner trained by G. Hassan.

THE ROYAL PLATE CLASS VI 6F:

Fantastic Baby (M/s Tanveer Mirza/Kamal Farooq) 9-0 Ghulam Shabbir II, 1, Jack In The Box 8-2 M. Manzoor 2, Friendly Fire 8-4 M. Nasir 3, Sharp Cat 9-2 Shahid Manan 4. Won by 10L, 3L, 2 1/2L. Time: One min 18 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.

THE MUFFIN PLATE DIV I

CLASS VII 5F:

Royal King (Mr. Ali Gul) 8-0 M. Nasir 1, Rolex 9-0 Ghulam Shabbir II, 2, Princess Rozi 8-7 Zulfiqar Ali 3, Hi Darling 8-11 G. Bux 4. Won by 11L, 5 1/2L, 8L. Time: One min 3 sec.

Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

THE MUFFIN PLATE DIV V

CLASS VII 5F:

Jet Zone (Syed Ali Gohar Shah) 8-11 S. Khan 1, Chistian The Great 9-0 M. Rafiq 2, Martini 8-12 M. Alam 3, Romeo 8-13 Rehan Usman 4. Won by 6L, 3L, 4L. Time: One min 8 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Talib Hussain.

THE MUFFIN PLATE DIV IV

CLASS VII 5F:

Geo Naeem (Mr. Mohammad Zain) 8-10 M. Naeem 1, Mixed Blessing 8-7 Asghar Ali 2, Mrs. Jack 8-1 M. Manzoor 3, Charlie 7-12 Ali Ehsan 4. Won by 3L, 1/2L, 1 1/2L. Time: One min 7 4/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.

THE MUFFIN PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 5F:

Sher-e-Awan (Mr. Shoukar Awan)8-12 Mohammad Essa 1, Naseeb-e-Awan 8-10 M. Nasir 2, Reyan The Great 8-2 Zulfiqar Ali 3, Make Millions 9-0 Arshad 4. Won by 1/2L, 3/4L, 1 1/2L. Time: One min 6 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Taj Mohammad.

THE MUFFIN PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 5F:

Rebecca (Syed Hashim Abbas)9-0 Asghar Ali 1, Smiling Face 9-0 Tahir Ali 2, Raphari 7-11 Armanullah 3. Won by 4 1/2L, Dist, Dist. Time: One min 5 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Amjad Ali.