May 20, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1429

LAHORE, May 19: Fancied colt Grue, ridden by Shahid Rehman for trainer Haji Abid Mahmood, landed the feature event run over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres to complete a class double during the day/night Lahore Summer Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday evening.

He beat the five-year-old horses Charismatic, who under Aamir Pervez led the field but succumbed under pressure when challenged in the last 200 metres by Grue who swept past him by two lengths.

Miss Liza finished third half-a-length back with the colt Big Power ending up fourth.

In all, eight runners made up the field. Owned by Malik Ghulam Qadir, a prominent breeder, the winner clocked one minute 1 2/5 seconds over the distance. This was Grue’s second victory in a row and the fourth in this season.

Earlier, the Lahore Race Club (LRC) stewards had granted remission of four pounds to bay colt Apex in weight scales on an appeal by his owner Mian Khan for “harshly penalising” his horse by the handicapper in the sixth and the last race of the day.

Thrice beaten chestnut horse Munsaf at last did justice to his owner when he made amends by winning the supporting and fifth race contested over 1,000 metres. Trained by Haji Fazal Hadi, a yesteryear champion, looking proud led the horse in the paddock and, proving his strong will to fight on even after three defeats.

Munsaf beat Magic Stride by six lengths, Alishba finished third while Striker struck the board. Odds on favourite, colt under Imran Pervez, failed to even figure near the board.

Four-year-old bay filly Eve won the second supporting event and the fourth race over 1,000 metres.

Eve beat Rustam by over a length in a good tussle for supremacy. Rustam, though ridden by leading jockey Shahid Rehman, failed to live up to the expectations of owner-cum-trainer A.B. Malik, who named him after the legendry Iranian wrestler.

At one time both Eve and Rustam were being backed equally by the punters. But in spite of her weak rider, Javed Iqbal, Eve spurted in the last 200 metres to win.

In handicap, the specially favoured filly, Pind De Kuri, owned by the LRC, justified her big drop winning the second race with the greatest ease. She was confidently backed from odds at three to one down to 50 to 100 on. She beat Rang De Basanti by six lengths.

Ironically, Pind De Kuri had finished off the frame, over 22 lengths behind the winner last Wednesday. This way she set up a record for improvement within five days, from nowhere to the top. She has become envy of every owner.

Four-year-old bay filly Darnaz was the rank outsider of the day’s card winning the opener unchallenged. Three favourites won in a card of six events setting the proceedings evenly.

Results:

MALIR PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II & III 800M:

Darnaz (Mohammad Ali Khan) 8-8,

Naseer Ahmed 1; Dream Memories 8-5, A. Rahim 2; Major Rana 8-8, Tariq Habib 3; Shahbaz Love 7-6, A. Alam 4.

Won by 4 1/4 Length. 4 L, 1/2 L. Time 51 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Shakir Hussain.

MALIR PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 800M:

Pind De Kuri (Lahore Race Club) 8-8, Sajjad Hussain 1; Rang De Basanti 8-10, A. Alam 2; Stride To Moment 8-8, Shahnawaz 3; Victory King 9-0, M. Jamil 4.

Won by 6 L, Neck, I L. Time 51 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Qaiser.

MALIR PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I-B 800M:

Brave Heart (Mohammad Siddique) 8-6, Majid Ali 1; Magic Queen 8-6, Shakeel Mahmood 2; Dream Act 8-10, A. Rahim 3; Rough Tough 9-0, Hamid Raza 4.

Won by 2 3/4 L, Head, 3 L. Time 51 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by the owner.

MALIR PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I-A 1,000M:

Eve (Zaheer Aslam) 9-0, Javed Iqbal 1; Rustam 8-10, Shahid Rehman 2; Chinkara 9-0, Majid Ali 3; Love Minister 8-10, S. Ammad 4.

Won by 1 1/4 L, 2 3/4 L, 6 L. Time one minute 3 seconds. Winner trained by Tauqir Ahmed.

KARACHI PLATE CLASS V

DIV II 1,000M:

Munsaf (M.V. Malik) 8-12, Tariq Habib 1; Magic Stride 9-0, Shakeel Mahmood 2; Alishba 8-10, Bilal Ahmed 3; Striker 8-8, Shahid Rehman 4.

Won by 6 1/2 L, 1 3/4 L, 1 L. Time one minute 2 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Haji Fazal Hadi.

GUJRANWALA PLATE CLASS IV

DIV I, II & III 1,000M:

Grue (Malik Ghulam Qadir) 8-10, Shahid Rehman 1; Charismatic 8-4, Aamir Pervez 2; Miss Liza 7-12, A. Rahim 3; Big Power 7-8, Sajjad Hussain 4.

Won by 2 L, 1/2 L, 1 L. Time one minute 1 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Haji Abid Mahmood.