January 09, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 29, 1428

KARACHI, Jan 8: Following a suspect run last weekend, four-year-old bay filly Sweetie Pie is poised to overcome the lapse when the Gymkhana race meeting takes place at the Karachi Racecourse on Wednesday.

Sweetie Pie and The Princess Arab were heavily backed in the betting ring on Sunday but surprisingly, both fell to outsider mare Afroze Jehan as turf accountants had a field day.

Champion rider Ghulam Shabbir II allegedly pulled the mount by not allowing her to run on merit. She had to be content with second place seven lengths behind Afroze Jehan.

The racegoers who described her running as a ‘shameful display’ hoped they won’t be cheated for the second time.

The sixth and supporting event to be run over five furlongs has attracted 15 runners barring last minute withdrawals. She is likely to be chased by The Princess Arab and Dark Secret. Four-year-old bay Vice Admiral can also produce a good show, if tried.

Sweetie Pie’s stablemate four-year-old bay filly Sugar Sweet who failed to appear on the board in the previous three runs should have to improve to claim the feature event, the last race on the card.

Filly Taiz Per belonging to the same connection is also in line along with Voo Doo Doll, Moon Raker and Awan.

Desert Hawk and Al Zarrar are fancied to repeat their winning feats in the first two races.

The next three races should end in a blaze of glory for Taneez, Mixed Blessing and Reyan The Great. Silent Love and With Interest, if tried in the third and fifth races, can topple the field.

A card of seven races, all to be run over five furlongs, has been drawn for the day. The first race begins at 1.00pm.

Following is the field and our selections:

THE TURKI PLATE DIV I CLASS VII 5F:

Desert Hawk 9-0, Sharp Cat 8-12, Manzoor-e-Nazar 8-11, Little Lucifar 8-10, Legend Killer 8-9, Khyber 8-9, Jonty Rhodes 8-9, Dandy Dick 8-4, Persian Blue 8-1, Stride For Glory 8-1, Rokara 7-13, Haibat Nak 7-11, Saima love 7-10.

Win: Desert Hawk.

Place: Sharp Cat and Khyber.

THE TURKI PLATE DIV II CLASS VII 5F:

Al Zarrar 9-0, Guess Its Me 9-0, Lucky Friend 8-12, Mushki 8-8, Hi Darling 8-6, Chun Chun Chun 8-6, Love Pakistan 8-6, Sing Song 8-6, Can’t Catch Me 8-6, Yaqeen 8-3, Eager Saint 8-2.

Win: Al Zarrar.

Place: Mushki and Hi Darling.

THE TURKI PLATE DIV V CLASS VII 5F:

Taneez 9-0, Fascinate 9-0, Captain Cook 8-13, Sharpness 8-11, Welcome Pachino 8-11, Gul-e-Lala 8-9, Marista 8-7, Cape Town 8-4, Wizard 8-4, Eye Lady 8-3, Poply Billy 8-1, Mrs. Jack 8-1, Shah Sawar 8-0, Ghabra 7-13, Silent Love 7-13, Samra Love 7-13, Prince Shahzad 7-13, Hand Granade 7-13.

Win: Taneez.

Place: Sharpness and Cape Town.

THE TURKI PLATE DIV IV CLASS VII 5F:

Mixed Blessing 9-1, Make Millions 8-12, Juliat 8-10, Daruwala 8-8, The Choice Of The Day 8-8, New Ferrari 8-8, Full ‘N’ Final 8-7, Native King 8-6, Desperado 8-4, Queen Of Awan 8-4, Shen-e-Awan 8-4, Black Rock 8-4, Bay Kasoor 8-1.

Win: Mixed Blessing.

Place: Full ‘N’ Final and Queen Of Awan.

THE TURKI PLATE DIV III CLASS VII 5F:

Reyan The Great 9-1, NYX 9-0, Princess Sparkle 9-0, Sonia 8-13, With Interest 8-11, Princess Zara 8-11, Swift Arrival 8-8, Be Jamalo 8-5, Hamza Joy 8-4, Moon Dazzler 8-2, Sweet Grandy 7-13.

Win: Reyan The Great.

Place: NYX and Sonia.

THE QUETTA PLATE CLASS VI 5F:

Arab Hi Arab 9-4, Vice Admiral 9-3, The Princess Arab 9-3, Dark Secret 9-0, Sain Jee 9-0, Leopard Of Arab 8-12, The Concord 8-10, The Conqueror’s 8-9, Sweetie Pie 8-8, Thanks Naeem 8-2, Dandy Boy 8-1, John Player 8-0, Jawan Bakht 8-0, Baap Re Baap 7-13, Baby John 7-10.

Win: Sweetie Pie.

Place: The Princess Arab and Dark Secret.

THE SARHAD PLATE CLASS V

DIV I AND II 5F:

Sindh Malook 9-0, Sugar Sweet 9-0, Voo Doo Doll 8-13, Dragon Heart 8-10, Good Hope 8-10, Moon Raker 8-8, Awan 8-4, Play Boy 8-3, Star Is Born 8-1, Taiz Per 7-12.

Win: Sugar Sweet.

Place: Voo Doo Doll and Moon Raker.

DAY’S BEST: Sweetie Pie.

GOOD DOUBLE: Desert Hawk and Al Zarrar.