June 28, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 23, 1429

LAHORE, June 27: Fancied filly Snow Fall galloped to victory by a big margin in the feature event to complete a hat-trick of wins during the day/night midweek Lahore Gymkhana races at the flood-lit Racecourse on Wednesday evening.

Owned by Mian Mohammad Ashraf and trained by Rashid Latif, Snow Fall mounted by riding boy S. Ammad beat filly Love And Bubble, owned by Mirza Khurshid Baig.

Snow Fall so far has two back-to-back victories to her credit, registered on May 14 and June 11 last.

Shortly before the start of the race, the Lahore Race Club (LRC) stewards switched Love And Bubble’s rider Javed Iqbal with Sajjad Hussain at the starting gates. The change was well rewarded when the filly came second. Kind Minister, who was backed for place ran third among the seven runners.

Another equally fine performance came from Munir Dar’s bay gelding Smiling Assassin, who also completed a hat-trick of victories, winning the fourth race of the day.

It goes to the credit of Smiling Assassin or his owner that he was available at long odds on each start. He beat Basant Mayla by one and a half lengths. Mere Lal finished third, a length further behind. Smiling Assassin enjoyed two victories in a row earlier on April 9 and June 4. The gelding trained by Mian Javed was ridden by Alam Sher.

In the supporting and fifth event, the mare named Bird Fly virtually flew home leading all the way to win the race. She beat Sona by four lengths. The favourite Suleman Love finished another length behind at third. Nine ran for the event after the last-minute withdrawal of mare Hikmat from the contest on the LRC veterinary officer’s recommendations.

The thrice defeated bay mare Anarkali made amends this time when she strode to a win in the opener. Ridden by Sajjad Hussain, who replaced Sikander Khan at the starting gates, Anarkali was the choice of the punters — backed from three to two to 80 to 100. She beat chestnut mare Lal Pari by one and a half lengths. Nasir Love and Kundan completed the board.

Riding boy Sajjad Hussain rode two winners to distinguish himself among the riders. He first piloted Anarkali in the opener and then Sohna Murad in the third race — a tale of fluctuating fortunes.

Sohna Murad led the field followed by Silent Assassin, fighting in a neck-to-neck tussle. Both passed the finishing line locked together. However, the camera declared Sohna Murad the winner by a whisker.

Three favourites obliged the punters in a card of six events. They were: Anarkali, Sohna Murad and Snow Fall.

Results.

BHAKKAR PLATE CLASS VII

DIV III-B 900M:

Anarkali (Sheikh Nadeem Ahmad) 8-0 Sajjad Hussain 1, Lal Pari 7-6 Pervaiz Bhatty 2, Nasir Love 7-10 Zameer 3 and Kundan 7-10 Khalid 4.

Won by 1 1/2 L. 1 1/4 L, 2 3/4 L. Time one minute 1 seconds.

Winner trained by Qaiser.

BHAKKAR PLATE CLASS VII

DIV III-A 900M:

Alpha Juliet (Kashid Saeed Butt) 7-8 Naseer Ahmad 1, Muskan 7-11 Munir Ahmad 2, Golden Falcon 8-10 M. Atif 3 and Gypsy 8-2 M. Jamil 4.

Won by 7 L, Neck, Head.. Time 59

1/5 seconds.

Winner trained by S. Butt.

BHAKKAR PLATE CLASS VII

DIV II 900M:

Sohna Murad (Shahbaz Ali Butt) 8-0 Sajjad Hussain 1, Silent Assassin 8-4 Alam Sher 2, Biodata 7-12 Majid Ali 3 and Pretty 9-0 Munir Ahmad 4.

Won by Short-head, 6 L, 2 3/4 L. Time one minute 0 1/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Mohammad Afzal.

BHAKKAR PLATE CLASS VII

DIV I 900M:

Smiling Assassin (Munir Ahmad Dar) 9-0 Alam Sher 1, Basant Mayla 9-0 Tariq Habib 2, Mere Lal 8-0 M. Jamil 3 and Sherni 8-4 M. Zulfikar 4.

Won by 1 1/2 L, 1 L, 1/2 L. Time 59 4/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Mian Javaid.

SUKKUR PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II & III 900M:

Bird Fly (Mohammad Rafiq Khan)8-2 Mazhar Ali 1, Sona 8-10 Majid Ali 2, Suleman Love 7-12 Pervaiz Bhatty 3 and Mantar Prince 8-6 Tariq Azam 4.

Won by 4 L, 1 L, 4 L. Time 58 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by the owner.

SUKKUR PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 900M:

Snow Fall (Mian Mohammad Ashraf 9-0 S. Ammad 1, Love And Bubble 8-6 Sajjad Hussain 2, Kind Minister 8-10 Majid Ali 3 and Sohna Billoo 9-0 M. Zulfikar 4.

Won by Distance, 2 1/2 L, 3 1/2 L. Time 58 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Rashid Latif.