May 12, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 6, 1429

KARACHI, May 11: Four-year-old bay filly Diamond In Dust kept her winning record intact as, barring an exception, six favourites obliged punters in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

The odds-on-favourite filly galloped to a five lengths’ victory over colt Tyre Jee halting the latter’s shining performance of four wins on the trot.

The filly from the stables of Syed Ismail Shah was smartly ridden home by Ghulam Shabbir II who clocked one min 16 2/5 seconds in the six-furlong feature event. Arab Hi Arab finished no less than 11 lengths behind to secure third place while Spice Of Arab completed the frame among four runners after Moon Baby was withdrawn.

The triumph enabled jockey Shabbir to complete a double as he piloted home mare Blind Date to a facile six-length victory in the second race.

Having placed thrice after making it four-in-a-row, Blind Date reasserted her superiority by overcoming a field of 11 contestants following the withdrawals of Royal Champion and Leading Of Arab.

Manan Prince, John Player and Hi Darling followed Blind Date in the same order.

Three-year-old chestnut colt Hinglachi, who chalked up his maiden win last Sunday, did owner Kamal Farooq proud with a repeat performance. He romped home to a six-and-a-half lengths’ victory over Baby John to land the opener.

Four-year-old bay colt Spirit Of Arab made it two on the trot while picking up the supporting event under rider Nasir. He beat Desert Hawk by three lengths in the six-furlong third race.

After finishing off the board in the last couple of runs, six-year-old bay mare Mixed Blessing overcame slackness to land the fifth race. She beat Qandhar by six lengths to claim her maiden victory of the season.

They were chased by Qandhar and Gul Bano.

In a late burst, six-year-old bay Bharosa with Arshad astride made amends by getting the better of colt Speed Of Arab by half-a-length to claim the last race.

Long shot 12-year-old mare Taneez pulled-off the only upset of the day when she toppled public fancy filly Chun Chun Chun in the sixth race which raised many eyebrows.

Ridden by Wasim, Taneez beat The Choice Of The Day by three lengths in a poor time of one minute 10 seconds. Chun Chun Chun had to be content with the third position, finishing five lengths behind while Silent Love was placed fourth.

As the race ended, the public made an uproar being cheated, which resulted in severe punishments to both the owner and rider of Chun Chun Chun.

Taking prompt action, the KRC patron Pir Pagara penalised the owner of the horse, Benish Hassan, Rs25,000 while rider Waheed besides being fined Rs10,000 was suspended till further inquiry.

Results:

THE SPANZER PLATE DIV II CLASS VII 5F:

Hinglachi (Kamal Farooq) 9-0, Mohammad Essa 1; Baby John 9-2, M. Nasir 2; Mushki 8-0, Farasat Khan 3; Princess Rozi 9-0 (cr8-7), Tahir Ali 4.

Won by 6 1/2L, 8L, 3/4L. Time: One min 6 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Tanveer Abbasi.

THE SPANZER PLATE DIV I CLASS VII 5F:

Blind Date (Syed Sadruddin Shah) 8-8, Ghulam Shabbir II 1; Manan Prince 8-6, Zubair Ahmed 2; John

Player 8-8, Mohammad Essa 3; Hi Darling 8-1 (cr7-13), Rehan Ahmed 4.

Won by 6L, 1 1/2L, 1 1/2L. Time: One min 5 2/5 sec. Winner trained by S. Ehtisham.

THE NIAMAT PLATE CLASS VI 6F:

Spirit Of Arab (Syed Khurram Anwar Ahmed) 9-0,

M. Nasir 1; Desert Hawk 9-5, Arshad 2; Leopard Of Arab 8-8, Wasim 3; Blind Love 7-12, M. Amjad 4.

Won by 3L, Dist, 10L. Time: One min 18 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE NIGHAR PLATE CLASS V DIV I AND II 6F:

Diamond In Dust (Syed Ismail Shah) 8-8, Ghulam Shabbir II 1; Tyre Jee 8-8, Mohammad Essa 2; Arab Hi Arab 7-10, Wasim 3; Spice Of Arab 8-1, Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by 5L, 11L, 1 3/4L. Time: One min 16 2/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.

THE SPANZER PLATE DIV V CLASS VII 5F:

Mixed Blessing (Zainab Ali) 8-10, Mohammad Yousuf 1; Qandhar 8-6 Sohail Ahmed 2; Ganga 8-0, A. Aziz II 3; Gul Bano 8-0, Ghous Bux 4.

Won by 6L, 11L, 3 3/4L. Time: One min 8 2/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.

THE SPANZER PLATE DIV IV CLASS VII 5F:

Taneez (Asghar Mehmood Baig) 8-13 (cr8-10), Wasim 1; The Choice Of The Day 8-6, Pervez Ali 2; Chun Chun Chun 8-9, Waheed 3; Silent Love 9-0 (cr8-7), Zaheer Ahmed 4.

Won by 3L, 5L, 9L. Time: One min 10 sec. Winner trained by Ibrahim.

THE SPANZER PLATE DIV III CLASS VII 5F:

Bharosa (Abdul Rafay Farooqi) 9-5, Arshad 1; Speed Of Arab 7-13, Ghulam Shabbir II 2; Hamza Joy 8-8 (cr8-1), Rehan Ahmed 3; Trust Again 8-3, Sohail Ahmed 4.

Won by 1/2L, 4L, 5L. Time: One min 6 sec. Winner trained by G. Murtaza.