KARACHI: Three thoroughbreds — hat-trick performer Big Bravo, Trial Cup winner War It Is and incumbent Derby winner Royal Ransom are in contention for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup, the flagship event of Karachi Race Club (KRC) at the Racecourse on Saturday.

Big Bravo scaled new heights last year by making it three wins on the trot in the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup.

War It Is came into prominence when he got the better of two main contenders to win the Trial Cup on Dec 13.

Royal Ransom hogged limelight while capturing the Derby at Lahore Racecourse last March.

Big Bravo’s half-brother Big Faith who was placed second beaten by 10 lengths in the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup last year, completes the quartet.

Big Bravo, War It Is and Royal Ransom will be ridden by jockeys Aftab Chaudhry, Aamir Pervez and Waheed Baran respectively. Mohammad Hanif will be in the saddle on Big Faith.

Besides Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup, three other classical races — Nursery Cup, 2000 Guineas of Pakistan and X-Mas Cup — are part of a nine-race card and offers a total purse of Rs2.1 million.

The Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup-winning owner will receive Rs0.6 million, 2000 Guineas of Pakistan champion gets Rs0.5 million. Nursery Cup and X-Mas Cup winners would pocket Rs0.4 million and Rs0.1 million, respectively. The remaining amount of stakes will be disbursed as per allocations among the second and third placed horses of the four cup races.

The Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup was launched in 1948 after the demise of Father of the Nation Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

A number of dignitaries, including Quaid’s sister Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, had graced the occasion in yesteryear.

The KRC, meanwhile, has been tastefully decorated with national flags and buntings to commemorate the occasion.

The first race starts at 12noon.

Following is the field and selection:

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4½ F:

Star Queen 9-0, Darshan 8-12, Holly Dolly 8-10, Public Fancy 8-6, Sassy Gold 8-6, Shabnam (late Miss Quetta) 8-4, Golden Stamp 8-0, Gypsy Queen 8-0, Usman Chandiwala 8-0, Aas Paas 8-0.

Win: Sassy Gold.

Place: Shabnam and Star Queen.

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

Recovery 9-0, Arabian Queen 8-11, Thomas 8-9, Princess of Arab 8-8, Royal Duke 8-8, Black Smoke 8-7, Well Wisher 8-7, Hawwaam 8-4, Paris 8-0, Princess of Hope 7-13, Hide Out 7-11, Wifi 7-10.

Win: Recovery.

Place: Well Wisher and Thomas,

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER III & IV — 5 F:

Balcohistan Queen 9-0, Sweet Victory 9-0, Parachuter 8-11, Enable 8-11, Piyara Sayeen 8-4, Piyara Faisal 7-10, Top Most 7-0.

Win: Piyara Faisal.

Place: Piyara Sayeen.

THE M. RASHEED JUNG MEMORIAL CUP SCALE ORDER IV & V — 5 F:

Victor 9-0, Soldier Queen 8-10, Albania (late Secret of Life) 8-8, Soldier Star 8-6, Balam Bhai 8-1, Sugar Rush 8-0, Soldier Girl 7-12.

Win: Albania.

Place: Soldier Girl.

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

Torrent 9-4, Flatterer 8-11, Eye of The Tiger 8-4, Imperial Crown 8-4, Royal Bird 8-4, Queen of Spades 8-1

Win: Torrent.

Place: Flatterer.

THE X-MAS CUP SCALE ORDER I & II ROUND BEND — 5 F:

G Sarkar 10-0, Azeem Choice 9-2, Hi Honey 8-6, Galileo Lady 7-11, Risky 7-11, Glittery Eyes 7-10, Abdullah Princess 7-4.

Win: Hi Honey.

Place: Azeem Choice.

THE 2000 GUINEAS OF PAKISTAN — A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD PAKISTANI COLTS & FILLIES — I M:

Baba Jani 8-7, Gift of Gold (late Classic Leader) 8-7, Thunder King 8-7, Artemisia 8-4, Smart Girl 8-4, Spirit 8-4.

Win: Thunder King.

Place: Gift of Gold.

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

Big Bravo 8-9, Royal Ransom 8-7, Big Faith 8-2, War It Is 7-7.

Win: War It Is.

Place: Big Bravo.

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER VI — 4½ F:

New Class 9-2, Justify 9-0, Haseena-e-Arab 8-13, War Drums 8-7, Shola (late Super Quetta) 8-7, Jugni 8-2, Golra Pride 8-2, Meri Chahat 8-1, Linda 7-13, Mera Sayeen 7-13.

Win: Justify.

Place: Haseena-e-Arab and Linda.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2020