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KARACHI, Dec 26: Ridden by Ghulam Shabbir II, the fancied five-year-old bay horse Al Faris lived up to the top billing when he sprinted to glory in the 12 furlongs prestigious Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup at Karachi Racecourse on Monday.
The Dawn’s predictions pertaining to the cup winners came cent per cent true when in addition to Al Faris, Dream Rose, Eswarah and Terrorist obliged the holiday punters who had thronged the venue to commemorate the occasion.
Running on the heels of Naseeb in a test of endurance he overtook him after negotiating the bend and turning for home to register stunning victory. King Of Sanghar was third while Makina completed the frame.
Having won the preceding Trial Cup on Dec 10, Al Faris belonged to the stables of Faisal Farooq and saddled by Ehtisham. Chestnut Dil Phaink and filly Savabeel were withdrawn before the race leaving eight contestants to battle it out.
Experienced rider M. Nasir presented owner Gul Mohammad Rajar with a winner when he galloped two-year-old bay colt, Dream Rose, to a facile nine lengths victory over Sir Jee to land AKD Nursery Cup, restricted for two-year-old colts and fillies. Three horses – Cash Flow, Fair Diamond and Fanim Love — were withdrawn before the race.
Ghulam Shabbir II who excelled in the saddle with a treble earlier piloted chestnut filly Eswarah to two-and-a-half lengths victory to claim the 2000 Guineas of Pakistan. His other winner was bay mare Ouija Board who finished seven lengths ahead of Al Zarrar.
As predicted, four-year-old chestnut colt, Terrorist, annexed The Christmas Cup beating filly Voo Doo Doll by nine lengths to make it two-in-a-row.
Nasir aspiring to win the Champion Rider of the Year award ended the day with a fine double as he galloped The Conqueror’s to a seven lengths victory in the eighth race.
Favourites — Canon Ball, Silver City and Sonu Love Mani – registered victories in the remaining three races.
Trainer Ehtisham saddled four winners while Talib and Mushtaq sent a brace of winners.
Results:
CHRISTMAS PLATE DIV IV-A CLASS VII 5F
Canon Ball (Syed Konain Mohammad Shah) 8-10 S. Khan 1, Field Commander 8-2 Fahim K 2, Little Girl 8-3 Ghulam Shabbir II 3, Acho Gunna 8-3 Waheed Baran 4. Won by 6 1/2L, 3/4L, 7L. Time: one min 5 1/5 sec.
Winner trained by Talib Hussain
CHRISTMAS PLATE DIV III-A CLASS VII 5F
Silver City (Syed Ali Gohar Shah)8-10(cr8-3) Ali Ehsan 1, Foolish Pleasure 7-13 Zulfiqar Ali 2, New Ferrari 7-13 Fahim K 3, Juliat 8-12(cr8-7) Zaki Zakir 4. Won by 3L, S. Head, S. Head. Time: one min 4 4/5 sec.
Winner trained by Talib Hussain
AKD NURSERY CUP 2006 6F
Dream Rose (Mr. Gul Mohammad Rajar)8-11 M. Nasir 1, Sir Jee 8-4 Fahim K 2, Phapha Kutni 8-8 Mohammad Essa 3, Inside Story 9-4 Latif 4. Won by 9L, 1/2L, 6 1/4L. Time: one min 14 2/5 sec.
Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan
CHRISTMAS PLATE CLASS VI & VII DIV I 5F
Ouija Board (Syed Ismail Shah) 8-10 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Al Zarrar 7-12 Mohammad Essa 2, Sweet Touch 7-13 M. Yousuf 3, Sweet Grandy 7-9 Asghar Ali 4. Won by 7L, 3L, 2 1/4L. Time: 1 min 3 sec.
Winner trained by S. Ehtisham
2000 GUINEAS OF PAKISTAN 2006 IM
Eswarah (Syed Sadruddin Shah) 8-4 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, The Arab 8-7 Salahuddin II 2, Big Show 8-4 M. Nasir 3, Abhi Abhi 8-4 Mohammad Essa 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 1 1/2L, 1 1/4L. Time: one min 42 4/5 sec.
Winner trained by S. Ehtisham
CHRISTMAS PLATE DIV II-A CLASS VII 5F
Sonu Love Mani (Ms Zubaida Rehmat) 8-1 M. Yousuf 1, Tharkyee 8-13 Mohammad Essa 2, Forget Me Not 9-0 M. Manzoor 3, Lucky Friend 8-`10 M. Kashif 4. Won by 1 1/4L, 8L, Head. Time: one min 4 3/5 sec.
Winner trained by S. Ehtisham
QUAID-I-AZAM GOLD CUP 2006 12F
Al Faris (Mr. Faisal Farooq) 8-3 Ghulam Shabbir II 1, Naseeb 7-13 M. Nasir 2, King Of Sanghar 8-3 Arshad 3, Makina 7-13 Tariq Baran 4. Won by 1 3/4L, 12L, 2L. Time: two min 34 2/5 sec.
Winner trained by S. Ehtisham
CHRISTMAS PLATE CLASS IV & V DIV I & II 6F
The Conqueror’s (Ghulam Dastagir Rajar) 9-0 M. Nasir 1, Laat Sahib 7-13 Mohammad Essa 2, Maid’s Causeway 8-3 Arshad 3, Arab Hi Arab 8-6 Fahim K 4. Won by 7L, 3 1/2L, 1 1/4L. Time: one min 16 2/5 sec.
Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan
CHRISTMAS CUP CLASS V DIV II & CLASS VI 6F
Terrorist (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-8 Mohammad Essa 1, Voo Doo Doll 8-9 M. Yousuf 2, Black Girl 8-13 . Amjad 3, Countess Mah Again 8-4 Ashiq Ali 4. Won by 9L, 4 1/2L, 3L. Time: one min 17 2/5 sec.
Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.
