January 07, 2008	Monday	Zilhaj 27, 1428

KARACHI, Jan 6: Seven-year-old mare Afroze Jehan, formerly Sonu Love Mani, sprang a surprise on Sunday when she galloped to a facile seven-length victory over favourite filly Sweetie Pie in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse.

Mare The Princess Arab occupied third place, half length behind, while Thanks Naeem completed the frame.

The running of odds-on-favourite Sweetie Pie was suspect as the champion rider Ghulam Shabbir II did not allowed his mount to run on merit in the last race.

Afroze Jehan ran neck-and-neck with The Princess Arab followed by Sweetie Pie until the bend but soon after getting into straight for home the former overtook her and maintained the lead till the end.

Lying third, Sweetie Pie managed to further push The Princess Arab at the closing stages to grab the second spot.

The earlier race saw 10-year-old Al Zarrar stretching his winning streak in a one-sided fashion, imposing a 12 length’s victory over colt Beyond Belief after the fancied Moon Baby was withdrawn.

Surprisingly, with the exception of Al Zarrar, the other contestants in the field seemed not to be on the job and made the race a laughing stock. The punters termed it a ‘shameful display of act’.

Barring Al Zarrar and Beyond Belief, all other riders were let off after being penalised Rs5,000 for unsatisfactory riding.

Earlier, former champion rider M. Nasir kicked off 2008 on a high note when he rode home four winners including The New Year Cup at the season’s first meeting.

He piloted home six-year-old bay mare Savabeel to land the New Year Cup in the fifth race. She made amends edging out colt Sir Jee by two-and-a-half lengths. Sahibzadi and Moon Raker completed the board in the same order.

Nasir’s other winners were filly Leopard Of Arab, chestnut Desert Hawk and filly Bacaradi.

Outsider five-year-old bay Captain Cook also created a stir outpacing favourite mare Eye Lady by half-a-length to seize the third race in a smart time of one min three seconds while Desperado obliged the punters in the fourth beating Taneez also by half-a-length.

The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Wednesday.

Results:

THE SUKKUR PLATE DIV I CLASS VII 5F:

Leopard Of Arab (Syed Khurram Anwar Ahmed) 8-12 M. Nasir 1, Shu Manter 8-2 Zaheer Ahmed 2, Princess Rozi 7-12 Mohammad Essa 3, Khyber 8-12 (cr8-9) Zaki Zakir 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 1/2L, 4L. Time: One min 6 4/5 sec.

Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE SUKKUR PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 5F:

Desert Hawk (Mohammad Yousuf Choudhry) 9-4 M. Nasir 1, Mushki 8-0 (cr7-7) Shahzad Shehwani 2, Hi Darling 8-1 Mumtaz Ali 3, NYX 8-2 (cr7-9) A. Ahmed 4. Won by 2L, 1 1/4L, 3L. Time: One min 6 3/5 sec.

Winner trained by Abid Ali Jan.

THE SUKKUR PLATE DIV V-B

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Captain Cook (M. Yousuf Awan) 8-12 Asghar Ali 1, Eye Lady 8-10(cr8-7) Zaki Zakir 2, Mrs. Jack 8-13 M. Yousuf 3, Rana The Great 8-3 Ashiq Ali 4. Won by 1/2L, 8L, 2 1/2L. Time: One min 3 sec.

Winner trained by M. Aslam Khan.

THE SUKKUR PLATE DIV V-A

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Desperado (Nasrullah) 8-4 Mohammad Essa 1, Taneez 8-7(cr8-4) M. Wasim II, 2, Sharpness 8-7 Dilber Khan 3, Fancy II 9-0(cr8-7) M. Naveed 4. Won by 1/2L, 1 3/4L, S. Head. Time: One min 12/5 sec.

Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE NEW YEAR CUP 2008 CLASS V

DIV I AND II 5F:

Savabeel (M.R. Hussain) 9-3 M. Nasir 1, Sir Jee 8-11 Arshad 2, Sahibzadi 7-13 Zulfiqar Ali 3, Moon Raker 8-6 Mumtaz Ali 4. Won by 2 1/2L, Neck, 1 1/2L. Time: One min 3 4/5 sec.

Winner trained by S.A. Zaidi.

THE SUKKUR PLATE DIV IV

CLASS VII 5F:

Bacaradi (Shahbaz Younus) 9-3 M. Nasir 1, Daruwala 8-4 (cr8-1) M. Wasim II, 2, Mixed Blessing 9-0 M. Yousuf 3, Full ‘N’ Final 8-10(cr8-3) Farmanullah 4. Won by 5 1/2L, 3/4L, Neck. Time: One min 6 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by Taj Mohammad.

THE SUKKUR PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 5F:

Al Zarrar (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-10 Mohammad Essa 1, Beyond Belief 8-7(8-0) A. Ahmed 2, Be Jamalo 8-4 Sohail Ahmed 3, Princess Zara 9-0 Naseem Ahmed 4. Won by 12L, Dist, 2 1/2L. Time: One min 6 sec.

Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE SINDH PLATE CLASS VI 5F:

Afroze Jehan (Mohammad Yousuf Khan) 8-4 M. Wasim II, 1, Sweetie Pie 8-4 Ghulam Shabbir II, 2, The Princes Arab 9-2 M. Nasir 3, Thanks Naeem 8-5 Ghous Bux 4. Won by 7L, 1/2L, 4L. Time: One min 4 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Aslam Khan.