February 25, 2008	Monday	Safar 17, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 24: Fancied four-year-old chestnut filly Moon Baby, as predicted, claimed the day’s honours when she returned with flying colours on a day when the supporting race was cancelled in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Ridden by apprentice rider Zubair Ahmed, she eased past four-year-old chestnut colt Mr Mention Not by three-quarter-of-a-length to open her New Year account.

Six-year-old bay Legend Killer, who beat Moon Baby in the last run, settled for third place, three-and-a-half lengths behind, while Can’t Catch Me completed the frame after being beaten by a distance.

Making amends, second favourite seven-year-old Dragon Heart galloped to a half length’s victory over colt Discreet Cat to land the feature event. Arab Hi Arab and Lion Of Arab followed the top two in the same order.

Seven-year-old bay Chohan The Great whose rates soared in the betting ring after rider Abdul Rahim was replaced by seasoned Ghulam Shabbir II, who finished off the board.

Rider of Leopard Of Arab, Abdul Mutlib was injured when his mount stumbled during the race.

Earlier, the sixth race, which was also supporting event, was cancelled following lack of competition after favourite bay mare Lady Conqueror was withdrawn.

Mare Sweet Grandy also rose to the occasion when she got the better of colt On Looker by one-and-a-half lengths in the second race so did colt Tube Jee, who presented owner Pir Pagara with a winner in the fourth.

Former champion jockey Mohammad Essa sprinted mare Silent Love to a facile two-and-a-half length’s victory over Little Girl to win the opener while rider Asghar Ali steered five-year-old bay The Conqueror to four length’s victory in the fifth race.

The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Wednesday.

Results:

THE KINGREE PLATE DIV V CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Silent Love (Nasrullah) 8-1, Mohammad Essa 1; Little Girl 8-11, Ghulam Shabbir II 2; Samrah Love 8-9, Asghar Ali 3; Champion Express 7-12, Ashiq Ali 4.

Won by 2 1/2L, 1 1/2L, 1 1/2L. Time: One min 2 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Mumtaz Ali.

THE KINGREE PLATE DIV IV CLASS VII 4 1/2F:

Sweet Grandy (Nawab Jawaid) 9-4 (cr8-13), Ghous Bux 1; On Looker 8-10 (cr8-7), Ghulam Shabbir II 2; Cape Town 8-4 (cr8-1), M. Wasim II 3; The Choice Of The Day 9-3 (cr8-10), Zulfiqar Ali 4.

Won by 1 1/2L, 4 1/2L, 3 1/2L. Time: One min 1 2/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Khalil.

THE KINGREE PLATE DIV III CLASS VII 5F:

Moon Baby (Arif Jokhio) 8-2 (cr8-10), Zubair Ahmed 1; Mr Mention Not 8-10, Sohail Ahmed 2; Legend Killer 9-0, Mohammad Essa 3; Can’t Catch Me 9-1 (cr8-8), Rehan Ahmed 4.

Won by 3/4L, 3 1/2L, Dist. Time: One min 5 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Amjad Ali.

THE KINGREE PLATE DIV II CLASS VII 5F:

Tube Jee (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-2, Shafi Mohammad 1; Guess Its Me 8-8 (cr8-1), Rehan Ahmed 2; Jonty Rhodes 9-0 (cr8-9), Ali Ehsan 3; Al Tahura 8-2, M. Amjad 4.

Won by Dist, 10L, 2L. Time: One min 7 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Allah Judrio.

THE KINGREE PLATE DIV I CLASS VII 5F:

The Conqueror’s (Ghulam Dastagir Rajar) 9-0, Asghar Ali 1; John Player 8-12, Ghulam Shabbir II 2; Sharp Cat 8-5, Shahid Manan 3; Samreen 8-13, Yousuf Ikram 4.

Won by 4L, 5 1/2L, 2 1/2L. Time: One min 5 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

THE I.C.U.PLATE CLASS V DIV I AND II 5F:

Dragon Heart (M.J. Malik) 9-0, Shahid Manan 1; Discreet Cat 8-2, Ghous Bux 2; Arab Hi Arab 7-10, Zaki Zakir 3; Lion Of Arab 8-1, M. Yousuf 4.

Won by 1/2L, 7L, 3/4L. Time: One min 53/5 sec. Winner trained by A. Hannan.