LAHORE: Chestnut colt Samsa put up a smashing performance to win the Eid Cup unchallenged during the day/night Lahore Summer Meeting at the floodlit Racecourse here before a moderate crowd on Sunday evening.

The colt was ridden by Mohammad Zulfiqar, who was assigned the job by owner Khawaja Mohammad Atif after Samsa’s declared rider Aamir Pervez had a fall from filly Last One in an earlier race and did not feel well enough to ride in subsequent events.

Taking a flying start, Samsa set a hot pace while never letting any of his eight opponents to come close to challenge before sealing a five-length success. Bay colt Drums Of War finished second while gelding Believe Me was third. The winner was trained by Rashid Latif.

Earlier the task of Samsa was made easier when the would-be favourite colt Amanah was withdrawn from the race at the start for want of rider.

The winner clocked 58 1/5 seconds over the 1,000-metre distance.

Lahore Race Club (LRC) steward Mahmood Khan gave away the cup to the winning owner.

A race earlier, favourite colt Hamlet, ridden by Aftab Chaudhry, won the Sprinters Cup in a start-to-finish style of running.

He beat colt Codes Cracker by three lengths.

The winning owner Mohammad Ahsan Irfan received the cup from LRC steward retired Colonel Naeem Sarwar.

In Sunday’s races some of the fine performances were enjoyed by the connoisseurs of equine sports, who rated the present three and four-year-old colts and fillies as a vintage crop.

Results:

THE JHELUM PLATE CLASS VII DIV V — 900M:

Trick Or Treat (Sajid Ali Tiwana and Shahid Nawaz Khan Niazi) 8-2, Haroon Gulzar 1; Magical City 7-12, Shahbaz Umair 2; Asad Choice 7-12, Shahzad Bhatti 3; Zahid Love 8-4, Ali Shan 4.

Won by 1 L, 1½ L, 2 L. Time: 57 seconds. Winner trained by Nadeem Raza Khan.

THE JHELUM PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV & V — 900M:

Taha Princess (Ansar Abbas) 9-0, Aftab Chaudhry 1; Chota Pathan 8-8, Mubashir Bhatti 2; Ayubia Princess 8-8, Gul Zaib 3; Bright Gold 8-4, S. Raza 4.

Won by 1 L, Neck, 3 L. Time: 56 seconds. Winner trained by Yaqoob Butt.

THE JHELUM PLATE CLASS VII DIV III & IV — 900M:

Sitara Princess (Ali Raza Zia 8-6, Aftab Chaudhry 1; Ayyan Beauty 8-10, Mohammad Hanif 2; Jalpana Prince 8-10, Tahir Abbas 3; Statue Of Liberty 8-4, Mohammad Zulfiqar 4.

Won by 1½ L, 3 L, 4 L. Time: 53 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Yaqoob Butt.

THE SPRINTERS CUP CLASS VII DIV II & III — 900M:

Hamlet (Mohammad Ahsan Irfan) 8-10, Tahir Abbas 1; Codes Cracker 8-12, Mohammad Zulfiqar 2; Jee Aya Nu 8-10, Mohammad Hanif 3; Another Island 8-0, Deenar Mirwani 4.

Won by 3 L, 4 L, ¾ L. Time: 4 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Afzal.

THE EID CUP CLASS VII DIV I (CLASS VI INCLUDED) — 1,000M:

Samsa (Khawaja Mohammad Atif) 9-4, Mohammad Zulfiqar 1; Drums Of War 8-10, Aftab Chaudhry 2; Believe Me 8-0, Dinar Mirwani 3; Remember Me 8-0, Mohammad Hanif 4.

Won by 5 L, 5 L. 4 L. Time: 58 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Rashid Latif.

THE JHELUM PLATE CLASS VII DIV I & II — 1000M:

Gondal Princess (Haji Chaudhry Asghar Ali) 9-4, Aftab Chaudhry 1; Salam-e-Lahore 7-8, Mohammad Sajjad 2; Raining Fairy 8-10, Deenar Mirwani 3; Salam-e-Dera 8-6, Mohammad Zulfiqar 4.

Won by 2½ L, Neck, ½ L. Time: one minute 0 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Aleemuddin.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2021