May 23, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

LAHORE, May 22: Three-year-old bay colt Mutajir stormed home in the straight stretch to win the feature event during the day/night Lahore Gymkhana races at the Racecourse on Wednesday evening.

Races were held in the weather comparatively fair unlike Lahore’s summer afternoons because of the early morning drizzle and clouds hovering over the provincial metropolis city.

Without a victory in four earlier starts this season, the 25 to 100 favourite colt Mutajir was given a patient ride by top jockey Shahid Rehman, who finds the field open in the absence of jockeys, M. Hanif and Aamir Pervez.

Trained by Haji Abid Mahmood and owned by bookmaker Ata Mohammad Khan, the son of Tuba, Mutajir out-sprinted Victory King by over four lengths Stride To Moment and Dam Dama Dam completed the frame in ten runners left in the field after the last-minute withdrawal of Creek Cat, who is so unlucky to have yet to see winner’s box during the season. This was the sixth and the last race of the day.

A race earlier, dark-bay gelding Regulation won the supporting event unchallenged. He set a hot pace right from the start leaving his opponents behind. Both Black King and Sona tried to catch up with the leader, but by the time they picked up the pace, the race was over. Lahore Race Cub (LRC) stewards had changed Regulation’s rider at the starting gates, Pervez Bhatti replaced Naseer Ahmed. His victory marked the biggest upset of the day.

Four-year-old bay gelding Shahbaz Love was another dark horse to win the second supporting event. Leading all the way home, he beat Mah-e-Noor by two and a half lengths

The wailing bookmakers, who had been complaining about “punters-friendly” handicapping through their association chief Arif Qureshi, found the proceedings in their way when only two favourites obliged the punters in a card of six races.

The favourites to win were the colt Mera Chan, a 90 to 100 favourite and odds-on Mutajil, backed at 25 to 100.

The up and coming riding boy Munir Ahmed stole the limelight by bringing home a brace of winners. He partnered long shot Bagh-o-Bahar and the five to two chance filly Pretty in the first and second race.

Trainer Haji Abid Mahmood distinguished himself by winning the feature event for the third time within 10 days.

All races were contested over 1,000 metres.

Results:

KAHNA PLATE CLASS VII DIV III 1,000M:

Bagh-o-Bahar (Munir Ahmed) 9-0, Munir Ahmed 1; Sohna Murad 7-12, M. Jamil 2; Muskan 9-0, Majid Ali 3; Waqas Prince 8-6, M. Akram 4.

Won by 3 1/2 L, 1 1/2 L, Head. Time one minute 8 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Musawwar Chaudhry.

KAHNA PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 1,000M:

Pretty (Khalid Nazir Chughtai) 7-10, Munir Ahmed 1; Kiss Of Love 8-2, Majid Ali 2; Silent Assassin 8-4, A. Alam 3; Basant Mayla 8-4, Naseer Ahmed 4.

Won by 1 L, 3/4 L, 1 3/4 L. Time one minute 8 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by F.I. Nawab.

KAHNA PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 1,000M:

Mera Chan (Chaudhry Qamar Iqbal) 8-10, Tariq Habib 1; Best Owner 8-8, Pervez Bhatti 2; Mere Lal 8-7, A. Alam 3; Shandar 7-12, M. Jahangir 4.

Won by 2 1/4 L, 8 1/2 L, 3 L. Time one minute 7 seconds. Winner trained by Chaudhry Mohammad Rafiq.

KHARIAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV IV 1,000M:

Shahbaz Love 8-0, M. Jahangir 1; Mah-e-Noor 8-4, Saqib 2; Loashay 7-8, Zameer 3; Malang Aya 7-8, Naseer Ahmed 4.

Won by 2 1/2 L, Neck, 2 3/4 L. Time one minute 4 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Sohail Aziz.

KHARIAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III 1,000M:

Regulation 8-2, Pervez Bhatti 1; Black King 8-2, M. Zeeshan 2; Sona 8-8, Shahnawaz 3; Romanella 8-0, Farid Ali 4.

Won by 1 1/2 L, 1 1/4 L, Distance. Time one minute 4 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

KHARIAN PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 1,000M:

Mutajir (Ata Mohammad Khan) 8-9, Shahid Rehman 1; Victory King 8-10, Sajjad Hussain 2; Stride To Moment 8-8, A. Rahim 3; Dam Dama Dam 8-10, M. Zeeshan 4.

Won by 4 1/2 L, 1 1/2 L, 3/4 L. Time one minute 3 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Haji Abid Mahmood.