KARACHI: Making her appearance after an eight-month layoff, three-year-old chestnut filly James Purdey galloped to a dazzling eight lengths victory to land The Independence Day Cup before a holiday crowd here at the Karachi Racecourse on Friday.

The filly, that remained indisposed and looked after by Sohrab Khan at Lahore, made a victorious return by getting the better of filly Gamez Over.

Co-favourite colt Edgar was placed third, four lengths away while colt Accepted completed the frame further two-and-a-half lengths behind among 11 starters.

Owned by Haji Khuda Bux Rajar and trained by Abid Ali Jan, James Purdey was given by a perfect ride by Sohail Ahmed.

In an earlier race, fancied three-year-old bay colt Fatehyaab overcome filly Tiggy Wiggy in the home stretch to claim The Nishan-i-Haider Cup.

Riders Sohail Ahmed (L) and M. Manzoor pose with the Independence Day and Nishan-i-Haider cups at the Karachi Racecourse on Friday.—White Star

Running under new owner Kamal Farooq, Fatehyaab made it two on the trot imposing to a convincing 10 lengths victory. The horse had won the last race on preceding Sunday under owner Jawaid Karim.

The victorious horse was ridden home by M. Manzoor.

Dancing Queen and My Power seized third and fourth places respectively.

The triumph helped Kamal Farooq and trainer Nazir to complete a double as favourite bay colt Fantastic Boy obliged all and sundry in the opener.

The winning colt beat filly Pari Packer by six lengths.

Filly Welcome Venus sprinted to five lengths victory over fancied colt Popular Boy to clinch the last race.

Earlier, in a major upset outsider filly Neem Tree created quite a stir by getting the better of 20-paisa favourite colt Syndicate in the second race.

Riders Sohail and Manzoor received the Independenc Day Cup and the Nishan-i-Haider Cup respectively iduring the presentation ceremony.

Results:

THE AZADI PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII-UK 4½ F: Fantastic Boy (Mr. Kamal Farooq) 8-4 Ghous Bux 1, Pari Packer 8-10(cr8-7) Shahzad Gul 2, Jazba 8-2 Aftab Choudary 3, Risky Business 8-12 Riaz Ahmed 4. Won by 6 L, 2 L, 4 L. Time: One minute 1 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir. THE AZADI PLATE SCALE ORDER IV, V, VI AND VII 5 F: Neem Tree (Mr. P. K. Ahuja) 8-4 Wasim 1, Syndicate 9-2 Abdul Rahim 2, Snow Queen 7-0 Zaki Zakir 3, Party Time 8-12 Ashiq Ali 4. Won by 5 L, 2 L, 8 L. Time: One minute 4 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar. THE NISHAN-I-HAIDER CUP SCALE ORDER IV 5 F: Fatehyaab (Mr. Kamal Farooq) 9-0 M. Manzoor 1, Tiggy Wiggy 8-3 Mohammad Essa 2, Dancing Queen 9-4 Wasim 3, My Power 8-12 Zaki Zakir 4. Won by 10 L, 4 L, 1 ¼ L. Time: One minute 4 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir. THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CUP – A HANDICAP RACE FOR THREE-YEARS AND UPWARDS HORSES – 6 F: James Purdey (Haji Khuda Bux Rajar) 7-0(cr8-0) Sohail Ahmed 1, Gamez Over 8-2 Zaki Zakir 2, Edgar 8-5 Aftab Choudary 3, Accepted 7-0 Asad Aksir 4. Won by 8 L, 4 L, 2 ½ L. Time: One minute 16 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Abid Ali Jan. THE AZADI PLATE SCALE ORDER VII AND VIII 4 ½ F: Welcome Venus (Mr. Ghulam Mustafa) 9-0 M. Nasir 1, Popular Prince 8-7 M. Manzoor 2, Sher-e-Sindh 8-11 Wasim 3, Rocky Handsome 8-8 Zaki Zakir 4. Won by 5 L, distance, 4 ½ L. Time: One minute 1 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Tufail.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2015

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