February 21, 2008	Thursday	Safar 13, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 20: Fancied four-year-old bay colt Reyan The Great on Wednesday achieved distinction by completing a hat-trick in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse.

With two wins under his belt, he edged co-favourite colt John Player by two lengths to complete the feat in the opener.

Trained by Ghulam Channa and owned by Reyan Ahmed, the fancied horse was smartly ridden home by riding boy Zulfiqar Ahmed.

Eight-year-old bay mare Princess Rozi occupied third place, finishing nine lengths behind while filly Little Lucifer completed the board in a pack of 10 runners.

Putting up yet another dazzling display of sprint, public fancy seven-year-old mare Afroze Jehan also matched the performance of Reyan the Great, posting a one-and-a-half furlong’s win to land feature event and made it three-in-a-row.

It was a moment of joy for the owner-trainer-rider trio (Yousuf, Aslam, Waseem) who had a share in her triumph.

Colt Lion Of Arab, mare The Princess Arab and filly Leopard Of Arab finished in the similar order.

Another favourite, six-year-old bay Baap Re Baap, justified the confidence reposed in him by the punters when he galloped to a facile two-and-a-half lengths victory over another bay Rokara to make it two on the trot.

The win enabled rider Waseem and trainer Aslam to complete a commendable back-to-back double.

Baap Re Baap and Rokara were followed by Arab Hi Arab and Thanks Naeem in the field which was reduced to 14 after last minute withdrawls of Bullet Of Arab and Gul-e-Awan.

The 10 to 100 favourite chestnut colt Tier Jee presented owner Pir Pagara with a winner in the fourth race.

He managed to beat filly Guess It’s Me by a distance.

Colt Jonty Rhodes settled for third while Mushki who was opened favourite for place had to be content with fourth slot. His rider Shahzad Gul was fined Rs 20,000 and suspended for a month.

Cape Town, a 10-year-old bay, claimed his first race of the year when he outpaced bay Fascinate by one-and-a-half lengths to claim the second while six-year-old bay Legend Killer stunned favourite filly Moon Baby by short head in the next.

The riders of Legend Killer Riaz Mohammad and Moon Baby M. Yousuf were fined Rs2,000 apiece for rough riding.

The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Sunday.



THE BAHAR PLATE DIV I

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Reyan The Great (Mr. Reyan Ahmed) 9-0 Zubair Ahmed 1, John Player 8-5 Mohammad Essa 2, Princess Rozi 8-4(cr8-1) Zulfiqar Ali 3, Little Lucifer 7-12 Rehan Usman 4.

Won by 2L, 9L, 5L. Time: 59 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE BAHAR PLATE DIV V

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Cape Town (Mr. Nasir Butt) 8-5(cr8-11) Arshad 1, Fascinate 8-13(cr8-10) Mumtaz Ali 2, Champion Express 8-1 Ashiq Ali 3, Prince Shahzad 8-0 M. Wasim II, 4.

Won by 1 1/2L, 2L, Neck. Time: One min 1 1/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Yaqoob Butt.

THE BAHAR PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Legend Killer (Mr. Ameer Ahmed) 8-7 Riaz Mohammad 1, Moon Baby 8-3 M. Yousuf 2, Mr. Mention Not 9-0 Sohail Ahmed 3, Moon Dazzler 8-7 Zubair Ahmed 4.

Won by S. Head, 2 1/2L, 4 1/2L. Time: One min. Winner trained by G. Murtaza.

THE BAHAR PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Tier Jee (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-3 Mohammad Essa 1, Guess It’s Me 8-5(cr7-12) Rehan Usman 2, Jonty Rhodes 9-0 Lateef 3, Mushki 8-3 Shahzad Gul 4.

Won by Dist, 12L, 1/2L. Time: One min. Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE DAWN PLATE CLASS V

DIV I AND II 4 1/2F:

Afroze Jehan (Mr. Mohammad Yousuf Khan) 9-0 M. Waseem II, 1, Lion Of Arab 8-5 Pervaiz Ali 2, The Princess Arab 8-3(cr8-6) Nazil Hussain 3, Leopard Of Arab 8-7 Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by 1 1/2L, 12L, 1 3/4L. Time: 59 2/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Aslam Khan.

THE GULF PLATE CLASS VI 4 1/2F:

Baap Re Baap (Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Qureshi) 8-13 M. Waseem II, 1, Rokara 8-4 Zulfiqar Ali 2, Arab Hi Arab 9-5 Mohammad Essa 3, Thanks Naeem 8-9 Pervaiz Ali 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 4L, 1 3/4L. Time: 59 1/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Aslam Khan.