September 07, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 06, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 6: Four-year-old bay filly Diamond In Dust reasserted her authority when she stormed home in a closely fought race to land the Defence Day Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

The half money joint favourite filly from the stables of Syed Ismail Shah edged mare Stormy Kiss by three-quarters-of-a-length following a neck-and-neck run in the six furlongs race. Trained by M. Rafiq K, she was ridden home by jockey Ghulam Shabbir II.

The winner’s co-favourite filly Blossom had to be content with the third slot one-and-a-half lengths behind while mare Spice Of Arab completed the board being further beaten by 12 lengths.

The Nishan-e-Haider Cup, as expected, ended in a blaze of glory for three-year-old bay filly Moomal who overcame bay Manan Prince by a distance.

Owned by administrator of the KRC, Haji Khuda Bux Rajar, the filly was piloted home by jockey M. Nasir and saddled by Mushtaq Ali Khan. Trye Jee and Sahibzadi completed the board in the same order.

Two-year-old colt Silver City obliged owner Irfan Mehdi by claiming The Kargil Hero’s Cup for two-year-old colts and fillies. Ridden by Arshad, Silver City registered a three lengths’ victory over Blue Water to post his maiden win.

Earlier, four-year-old bay colt Die-Na-Might pulled-off a surprise by toppling joint favouroites Invazor and Jadu Jantar in the opener to make it two on the trot.

He beat jadu Jantar by two-and-a-half lengths with Shabbir in the saddle while Invazor was third being beaten by a head.

Public fancy four-year-old bay filly Sweetie Pie did owner Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara proud when she completed a hat-trick galloping to a facile eight lengths’ victory over Bullet Of Arab in the next.

Four-year-old colt Ace Of Base made amends by landing the fifth race after favourite filly Black Velvet was reared off at the starting gate which led to re-betting.

Three-year-old bay colt Fast track also lived up to his top billing by making it three-in-a-row beating Sayeen jee by four lengths in the last race.

Jockey’s Shabbir and Nasir shared riding honours with a double to their credit while Ismail Shah and Rajar excelled among owners. Mushtaq and Rafiq were credited with double in trainer category.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and the Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad who graced the occasion announced separate donations of one million rupees apiece for the Karachi Race Club.

The CM also awarded the Kargil Hero’s Cup to owner of Silver Victory, Irfan Mehdi, while the Governor presented the Defence Day Cup to winning owner of Diamond In Dust, Syed Ismail Shah.

Haji Khuda Bux Rajar received the Nishan-e-Haider Cup from speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro.

Sindh’s Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Haq and Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani were also present. The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Wednesday.

Results:

THE DOLLAR PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 5F:

Die-Na-Might (Syed Ismail Shah) 9-0 Ghulam Shabbir II, 1, Jadu Jantar 8-12 Mohammad Essa 2, Invazor 9-0 M. Yousuf 3, Mushki 7-12 Abdul Mutlib 4.

Won by 2 1/2L, Head, 8L. Time: One min 5 1/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.

THE DOLLAR PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 5F:

Sweetie Pie (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-12 Mohammad Essa 1, Bullet Of Arab 8-3(cr8-0) Zaki Zakir 2, Back In Business 8-2 Ghulam Shabbir II, 3, Moon Dazzler 8-11 Ashiq Ali 4.

Won by 8L, 2 1/2L, 1 1/2L. Time: One min 5 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Allah Judrio.

THE KARGIL HERO’S CUP FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT AND FILLIES 4 1/2F:

Silver Victory (Mr. Irfan Mehdi) 8-0(cr8-7) Arshad 1, Blue Water 7-11 Waseem 2, Rahat Jan 7-11(cr8-0) Mohammad Essa 3, Bang Bang 8-7 Irfan Shahwani 4.

Won by 3L, 7L, 14L. Time: 58.2/5 sec. Winner trained by G. Hassan.

THE NISHAN-E-HAIDER CUP

CLASS V DIV I AND II 6F:

Moomal (Haji Khuda Bux Rajar)8-8 M. Nasir 1, Manan Prince 8-4 Sohail Ahmed 2, Tyre Jee 9-3 Tariq Baran 3, Sahibzadi 8-6 Shahzad Gul 4.

Won by Dist, Dist, 1 1/2L. Time: one min 16 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

THE SEPTEMBER PLATE

CLASS VI 6F:

Ace Of Base (Mr. Amjad Hussain) 8-4 Tariq Baran 1, Speed Of Arab 8-7 Waseem 2, Dark Secret 8-11 Ghulam Shabbir II, 3, Reyan The Great 7-13 Irfan Shahwani 4.

Won by Dist, 5L, 6L. Time: One min 16 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Ramzan A.

THE DEFENCE DAY CUP

CLASS IV 6F:

Diamond In Dust (Syed Ismail Shah) 8-10 Ghulam Shabbir II, 1, Stormy Kiss 8-5 M. Nasir 2, Blossom 8-9 Tariq Baran 3, Spice Of Arab 8-8 Arif Nazir 4.

Won by 3/4L, 1 1/2L, 12L. Time: One min 16 sec. Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.

THE DOLLAR PLATE DIV I

CLASS VII 5F:

Fast Track (Mr. Gul Mohammad Rajar)9-0 M. Nasir 1, Sayeen Jee 9-0 Mohammad Essa 2, Mr. Mention Not 8-3 Ghulam Shabbir II, 3, Lucky Gem 7-12 Mohammad Umer 4.

Won by 4L, 14L, 5L. Time: One min 2 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.