KARACHI: Six-year bay horse Big Bravo entered his name in the annals of the equine sport after galloping to an impressive 10-length victory over five-year-old bay horse and half-brother Big Faith to become first rider to complete a hat-trick of Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup in the winter Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

The course echoed with ‘Big Bravo, Big Bravo’ as the two-time champion and co-favourite turned for home stretch after negotiating the bend, exhibiting enthralling display of endurance and speed to set a new mark in the 69-year-old history of the prestigious event named after father of the nation.

The victorious horse was given standing ovation as he entered the paddock after the triumph with Lahore’s rider Aftab Chaudhry in the saddle.

There were jubilations all around with people congratulating the trio of rider, trainer and owner on the achieving the rare feat.

“I’m indebted to Almighty Allah who blessed me with the honours with this unique feat,” a jubilant 29-year-old rider told Dawn after the victory.

Besides Big Bravo, rider Aftab and owner Ali Raza Zia have also made it three win on the trot.

Big Bravo clocked two minutes5 3/5 seconds for the 10-furlong race and was sent by trainer Zia-ur-Rehman.

Co-favourite four-year-old bay colt Determination was placed third half-a-length away while Big Bravo’s another half brother Brave Son completed the frame edged by distance among eight starters.

The owner, accompanied by rider and trainer, received the glittering cup from Sindh Governor Imran Ismail who graced the occasion as the chief guest. KRC president Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi aka Younus Sain was also present

Besides the cup, the triumph also earned the victorious purse of Rs500,000 with runner-up getting Rs125,000 and third-placed Rs75,000. The KRC doled out Rs1.8m for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup, Nursery Cup, X-Mas Cup and the 2,000 Guineas of Pakistan Cup.

Making amends, favourite two-year-old bay colt Classic Leader edged filly Princess Maria to land the Nursery Cup.

Another public fancy filly Hi Honey obliged all and sundry by galloping to a fluent eight lengths victory over bay horse Janbaaz to claim the X-Mas Cup.

The 2,000 Guineas of Pakistan honours went to filly Queen’s Best who justified her credentials by getting the better of colt Tital.

Long shot four-year-old bay colt Gestapo upset the applecart while imposing to two lengths victory over mare Abdullah Princess in the Rasheed Jung Memorial Cup, which was sponsored by the deceased family.

Riders Aftab Chaudhry (Zorawar and Big Bravo) and Bilal Ahmed (Galileo Lady and Classic Leader) excelled with each completing a grand double.

Similarly, owner Adam Khan Lango and trainers Mohammad Shahzad, Ghulam Shabbir II and Zia-ur-Rehman shone among their respective cadres with a brace of winners.

Speaking on the occasion, the Sindh Governor said he has issued instructions to include the uplift of KRC in the development projects of the metropolis. He applauded the efforts of Syed Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi and Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi in promoting the healthy activities.

The governor also congratulated the winning team of the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup.

Results:

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4½ F

Galileo Lady (Adam Khan Lango) 8-10, Bilal Ahmed 1; Fast Lady 8-9, Safdar Hussain 2; Mera Dost 8-10, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Pin Point 8-11, Deenar Mirwani 4.

Won by Head, 10 L, ¾ L. Time: 0.59 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Shahzad.

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER VII & VIII — 4½ F:

Zorawar (Ghulam Mustafa) 8-6, Aftab Chaudhry 1; Raven (ex-Safeer King) 8-6, Mohammad Hanif 2; Paris 8-6 (cr8-1), Ali Ehsan 3; Darshan (ex-Sweet Miracle) 8-10, Deenar Mirwani 4.

Won by ¾ L, 5 L, Neck. Time: One minute. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER V, VI & VII — 4½ F:

War Drums (Syed Ismail Shah and Hammad Farooq) 8-1, Ali Ehsan 1; Justify 8-8 (cr9-0), Tariq Baran 2; Piyara Faisal 8-12, Deenar Mirwani 3; Meri Chahat 8-8, Mohammad Sajjad 4

Won by 7 L, 2¼ L, 1¾ L. Time: 0 57 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II

THE RASHEED JUNG MEMORIAL CUP SCALE ORDER IV — 5 F:

Gestapo (Junaid Ali Khan) 8-11 (cr9-0), Tariq Baran 1; Abdullah Princess 8-0, Deenar Mirwani 2; Shining Arrow 8-6, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Billions In Mind 8-0 (cr7-10), Ali Ehsan 4.

Won by 2 L, 6 L, 3 L. Time: One minute 3 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir.

THE NURSERY CUP — A TERM RACE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD PAK COLTS & FILLIES — 5 F:

Classic Leader (Adam Khan Lango) 8-4, Bilal Ahmed 1; Princess Maria 8-8, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Dominator 8-1, Wasim 3; Smart Girl 8-1, Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by ¾ L, 2½ L, Head. Time: One minute 5 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Shahzad.

THE X MAS CUP SCALE ORDER I, II, III & IV ROUND BEND — 6 F:

Hi Honey (Farhan Essa Abdullah) 7-0, Zaki Zakir 1; Janbaaz 8-2, Mohammad Sajjad 2; Winter 10-0, Tariq Baran 3; Maradona 8-1, Bilal Ahmed 4.

Won by 8 L, 3 L, 2½ L. Time: One minute 19 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE 2,000 GUINEAS OF PAKISTAN — A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD PAKISTANI COLTS & FILLIES — I M:

Queen’s Bes (Syed Ismail Shah) 8-4, Ali Ehsan 1; Titan (ex-Romeo) 8-7, Riaz Ahmed 2; Glittery Eyes 8-4, Asad Aksir 3; Cigar Girl 8-4, Mohammad Manzoor 4.

Won by 4 L, 2½ L, 5¼ L. Time: One minute 44 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE QUAID-E-AZAM GOLD CUP — A HANDICAP RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD AND UPWARDS PAKISTANI HORSES — 10 F:

Big Bravo (Ali Raza Zia) 8-9, Aftab Chaudhry 1; Big Faith 8-1, Mohammad Hanif 2; Determination 8-12, Sohail Ahmed 3; Brave Son 8-2, Bilal Ahmed 4.

Won by 10 L, ½ L, Dist. Time: Two minutes 5 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER IV, V & VI — 4½ F

Balochistan Queen (Adam Khan Lango) 8-8, Mohammad Manzoor 1; Lahori Saeen 8-7, Aftab Chaudhry 2; Cracks Man 7-13, Mohammad Hanif 3; Soldier Queen 8-6, Wasim 4.

Won by 1 L, 5 L, ¾ L. Time: 0. 58 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Shahzad.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2019