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KARACHI, Jan 7: Four-year-old chestnut filly Abhi Abhi lowered the colours of public fancy Terrorist to land “Horse of the Year Cup” 2006 in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.
In fact, the two horses belonged to the stables of Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara in addition to Chaleswan Chur in the star-studded field of 10 runners.
Backed by the connection, Abhi Abhi who finished a dismal fourth in the last outing stormed to three-quarter-of-a-length victory over bay mare Makina to claim the coveted cup instituted by the KRC recently.
Saddled by Sher Mohammad the winner was ridden home by Mohammad Essa.
With two wins under his belt Af Faris finished three lengths behind to secure third place while Stormy Kiss completed the frame.
To the surprise of racing fraternity Terrorist who was on course for a double hat-trick failed to occupy a place on the board.
Four-year-old bay colt, Lucky Leader, with riding boy M. Nawaz Bilal aboard, lifted the “New Year Cup” beating chestnut Champion Express by Head in a closely fought battle.
Air Supply, four-year-old dark bay colt, aspiring to make it two-in-a-row and favourite was among those who also ran.
As predicted, jockey Fahim K stormed five-year-old bay horse Tharkyee to a facile three lengths victory over Kat Mandu to capture the “Eid Milan Cup”. Tharkyee’s stable mate Al Zarrar was third followed by Can’t Catch Me.
The race was preceded by re-betting as Tharkyee was heavily backed by public during betting but suddenly rates of Al Zarrar belonging to the same connection soured high which created hue and cry.
In the re-betting, Tharkyee was again backed and finally obliged the punters winning with ease.
Making amends to two successive failures, favourite colt Awan stormed to five lengths victory over mare Voo Doo Doll to pick up the concluding race.
Mohammad Essa presented owner Pir Pagara with yet another winner when he piloted three-year-old bay colt Sir Jee to victory in the opener.
Second favourite Acho Gunna toppled favourite Daruwala to grab the next race.
Five-year-old bay mare Juliat who was second favourite, atoned for last defeat by sprinting to two lengths victory under Zaki Zakir.
Afzaal Prince and Tun Baba Tun also created quite a stir by emerging victorious in their respective races.
Owner Pir Pagara had the luck on his side when his three horses – Sir Jee, Tharkyee and Abhi Abhi made him proud.
Jockey Essa also came out with a double so did trainers Sher Mohammad and Tanveer Abbasi.
Following is the field and our selection:
KHUSHAB PLATE 5F
Sir Jee (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-0 Mohammad Essa 1, Mida’s Touch 8-7 Fahim K 2, Beyond Belief 8-0 Nadim Akhtar 3, With Interest 8-0 M. Yousuf 4. Won by Dist, 3 1/2L, 2 1/4L. Time: 1 min 2 2/5 sec.
Winner trained by Sher Mohammad
MALKA PLATE DIV IV CLASS VII 5F
Acho Gunna(Mr. M. Asif Zehri) 8-0(cr7-7) Abdul Mutalib 1, Daruwala 8-5 Yousuf Ikram 2, Taneez 8-3(cr7-12) M. Wasim II 3, Sweet Saba 8-13 Zaki Zakir 4. Won by 1 1/4L, 5L, 1/2L. Time: 1 min 6 3/5 sec.
Winner trained by M. Usman
EID MILAN CUP DIV I CLASS VII 5F
Tharkyee (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-0 Fahim K 1, Kat Mandu 8-10 Ghulam Shabbir II 2, Al Zarrar 8-5 Mohammad Essa 3, Can’t Catch Me 8-10 Waheed Baran 4. Won by 3L, 2L, 2 3/4L. Time: 1 min 4 1/5 sec.
Winner trained by Mumtaz Ali
MALKA PLATE DIV III CLASS VII 5F
Juliat (Mr. Mohammad Hanif) 8-13(cr8-8) Zaki Zakir 1, Fair Boy 8-10(cr8-5) M. Wasim II 2, Field Commander 8-6(cr8-3) Waheed Baran 3, New Ferrari 8-0 Fahim K 4. Won by 2L, 2 1/4L, 4L. Time: 1 min 5 3/5 sec.
Winner trained by Ameer Ahmed
NEW YEAR CUP 2007 DIV II CLASS VII 5F
Lucky Leader(Mr. Ghulam Jilani) 8-4 M. Nawaz Bilal 1, Champion Express 8-1 Ali Ehsan 2, Foolish Pleasure 8-3 M. Yousuf 3, Lucky Friend 8-7 Farasat Khan 4. Won by Head, 3/4L, 1 3/4L. Time: 1 min 5 3/5 sec.
Winner trained by Hussain
MALKA PLATE DIV V-B CLASS VII 4F
Afzaal Prince(Mr. Kamaluddin) 9-0 Nazil Hussain 1, Roop Ki Rani 9-0 Mumtaz Ali 2, Flying Prince 9-0 Rehan Usman 3, Rashk-e-Rawan 9-0 M. Yousuf 4. Won by Head, 2 1/2L, 1 1/4L. Time: 0.56 1/5 sec.Winner trained by owner
MALKA PLATE DIV V-A CLASS VII 4F
Tun Baba Tun (Mr. Mohammad Dabir) 8-4 M. Yousuf 1, Lucky Girl 8-4(cr7-11) M. Nawaz Bilal 2, Lucky Legs 8-9(cr8-2) Shahzad 3, Sweet Sindhri 8-0 Yousuf Ikram 4. Won by 2L, 3L, 3 1/2L. Time: 0.54 sec.
Winner trained by Tanveer Abbasi
HORSE OF THE YEAR CUP 2006 6F
Abhi Abhi (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 7-7 Mohammad Essa 1, Makina 8-10 M. Nasir 2, Al Faris 9-7 Ghulam Shabbir II 3, Stormy Kiss 7-7 Fahim K 4. Won by 3/4L, 3L, 1/2L. Time: 1 min 16 1/5 sec.
Winner trained by Sher Mohammad
KHUSHABAD PLATE CLASS V DIV II 6F
Awan (Mr. Shoukat Awan) 7-12 M. Nasir 1, Voo Doo Doll 9-0 Zulfiqar Ali 2, Laat Sahib 9-0 Mohammad Essa 3, Gwenivare 8-5 M. Manzoor 4. Won by 5L, 1 1/4L, 2 1/2L. Time: 1 min 16 3/5 sec.
Winner trained by Tanveer Abbasi.
