LAHORE, July 2: The first day of the 2007-08 Lahore race season turned out to be a profitable one when four favourite horses won in a card of seven events at the day/night Summer Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.

On the rain-soaked track following morning rain, the first four events were lifted by well-backed horses — Leader's Wing, Pretty Prince, Houstan and Perfect Promise — at even-money favourites while long shots Dazzy Against All and Julia Robert bagged fifth and sixth races respectively.

In the feature and the last event, joint favourite bay colt Charismatic found better turn of foot to go on soft track and won the race convincingly, defeating filly Noor, who succumbed to heavy impost of weight.

Charismatic picked at three to two took a flying start and sped away to beat on-rushing Noor by four lengths.

Janu and Royal Fish completed the frame among nine runners.

Riding boy M. Wasim Khan brought home three winners. He piloted Leader's Wing, Dazzy Against All and Charismatic to victory in the first, fifth and seventh races respectively.

The new season has brought veteran trainer Khadim Hussain in the limelight once again. Khadim has been entrusted to lead the joint stable of Lahore Race Club (LRC) chairman Tariq Aziz and Khawaja M. Arif replacing Haji Ghulam Sarwar.

As the Sunday's races brought happy moments for many, it had also brought distasteful moments for three owners.

Chestnut Golden Faith had a fall in the second race and fractured his leg.

Bay filly Sapna, who was heavily backed by connections in the third race, stumbled near the 200 metres marker and fell bringing down her rider M. Hussain. The filly escaped unhurt but her rider was injured and was unable to ride in the subsequent races.

Dark-bay filly Tan Man Dhan had a fall in the sixth and supporting event and fractured her fetlock. Her trainer Haji Fazal Hadi said she might not be able to run again.

On Sunday, the number of turf accountants holding their stalls swelled to 22. This was the highest number since Derby Day races on March 4. The increase in their number is being attributed to enforcement of ‘free handicapping’ and resultant stiff competition in races.

LRC chairman Tariq Aziz presided over a stewards’ meeting which was held especially to review financial position of the club. Malik Hamid Ali Noon, Sheikh Sajjad Hasan, Malik Ghulam Nabi, Masood Pervaiz and Khawaja M. Arif attended it.

Results:

RAWALPINDI PLATE CLASS-VII

DIV-IV 800M:

Leader's Wing (Imtiaz Manzoor & Raees Ahmad) 9-0 M. Wasim Khan 1, Prema Dona 7-8 Khalid 2, Mahima 7-12 Naseer Ahmad 3, Usman Prince 8-4 Shakeel Mahmood 4.

Won by 3 L, 4 ½ L, 8 L. Time 54 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Abbas.

RAWALPINDI PLATE CLASS-VII

DIV-III 1000M:

Pretty Princess (Shah Nawaz Qaiser) 8-0 M. Zeeshan 1, So Romantic 8-0 Khalil Vicky 2, Dogar's Gift 7-8 Munir Ahmad 3, Black King 7-8 A. Alam 4.

Won by Distance, 4 L, ½ L. Time one min 5 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by the owner.

RAWALPINDI PLATE CLASS-VII

DIV-II 1000M:

Houstan (Sohrab Khan) 9-0 Sajjad Hussain 1, Stride To Moment 8-2 Shakeel Mahmood 2, Grace Glamour 8-4 Azam Hussain 3, Sabbet Qadam 8-6 Khalil Vicky 4.

Won by 6 L, 6 L, 3 L. Time one min 4 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by Mian Abdul Majeed.

RAWALPINDI PLATE CLASS-VII DIV-I 1000M:

Perfect Promise (Arif Gulzar) 8-8 Atif Javed 1, Chinkara 9-0 Shahid Rehman 2, Blu's Wendy 7-12 Saqib 3, Shah Pari 8-6 Tariq Habib 4.

Won by 5 L, 6 ½ L, 4 L. Time one min 3 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Khushnood-ur-Rehman.

KHUSHAB PLATE CLASS-V

DIV-II 1000M:

Dazzy Against All (Syed Ali Raza) 8-6 M. Wasim Khan 1, Remember You 8-10 A. Alam 2, Billoo The Great 8-0 M. Atif 3, Princess Afaq 8-10 Khalid 4.

Won by 3 L, Neck, 1 ½ L. Time one min 4 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Abbas.

KHUSHAB PLATE CLASS-V

DIV-I 1000M:

Julia Robert (Munir Ahmad Dar) 8-8 Anjum 1, Richey Dancer 8-8 Khalil Vicky 2, Run And Win 8-1 Shakeel Mahmood 3, Royal Destiny 8-8 Khalid 4.

Won by ½ L, 4 L, Neck. Time one min 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by Manzoor Ahmad.

SARGODHA PLATE CLASS-IV

(CLASS-III INCLUDED) 1000M:

Charismatic (Masood Pervaiz & Javaid Khalid) 8-8 M. Wasim Khan 1, Noor 9-2 Shahid Rehman 2, Janu 8-0 A. Alam 3, Royal Fish 7-10 Sajjad Hussain 4.

Won by 4 L, 1L, 3 L. Time one min 2 3/5 sec.

Winner trained by I. Nawab.