KARACHI, Aug 14: Experienced jockey Ghulam Shabbir II landed his career’s second Independence Day Cup in 12-years when he powered favourite three-year-old bay filly Claim To Fame to an exciting victory amidst thunderous applause from holiday spectators in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Thursday.

Claim To Fame edged past three-year-old bay filly The Victorious by two-and-a-half lengths clocking one minute 15 1/5 sec in the six furlongs race for the prestigious honour.

Filly Blossom finished four lengths away to seize third slot while another filly Moomal completed the board among five runners after Discreet Cat was withdrawn.

All the top four horses ran neck-and-neck when the race commenced but after getting into straight for home Claim To Fame surged and maintained the pace leaving The Victorious behind. The winning horse belonged to Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, chairman of the KRC Racing Committee, with M. Rafiq K as trainer.

Shabbir had captured his previous Independence Day cup piloting Naughty By Nature home way back in 1996.

The day meanwhile, revolved around three prominent owners - Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara and Haji Khuda Bux Rajar, three jockeys – Shabbir, Nasir and Essa and as many trainers – Mushtaq, Rafiq and Allah Judrio who in all, pocketed eight of the 10 races.

Earlier, Shabbir galloped two-year-old chestnut filly Blanchine to her maiden victory in a smart time to present Sadruddin Shah and Rafiq with The Kingree Lodge Performance Cup.

The winning horse beat Big Bang by four-and-a-quarter lengths in a smart time of 50.3/5 sec.

In all, 11 horses made their debut in the race which was confined to two-year-old colts and fillies.

In a test of endurance, The Sanghar Cup ran over a mile ended in a blaze of glory for four-year-old bay filly Phapha Kutni who in out of a blue got the better of bay Naseeb by two lengths. They were followed by Bharosa and Yes Neighbour Yes.

Favourite Dream Rose after taking a jump at the starting gate became lame.

The victorious horse came from the stables of Pir Pagara who completed a double as Phapha Kutni’s stablemate filly Sweetie Pie presented him with the opener with Essa astride.

The trio of Rajar, Nasir and Mushtaq though failed to win a cup, yet excelled with a treble through Fast Track and Black Velevt, both favourites and long shot Stormy Kiss.

Favourite Stryde By Stryde lost to Stormy Kiss by six lengths and his alleged suspect run raised quite a few eyebrows.

Joint favourite filly Sahibzadi, mares Eye Lady and Moment To Moment II, picked up spoils in the remaining three races.

Meanwhile, in a strange decision, filly Crown Prince that was withdrawn from the fifth race made her appearance in the seventh.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal who graced the occasion and presented all the three cups announced a donation of 0.5 million rupees to the KRC.

The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Tuesday.

Results:

THE AZADI PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 5F:

Sweetie Pie (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 7-12, Mohammad Essa 1; Jadu Jantar 8-4, Zaheer Ahmed 2; Eager Saint 8-13, Ghulam Shabbir II 3; Sher Khan 7-13, Lateef 4.

Won by 2 1/2L, 3 2/4L, 2L. Time: One min 4 2/5 sec. Winner trained by Allah Judrio.

THE AZADI PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 5F:

Fast Track (Gul Mohammad Rajar) 9-0, M. Nasir 1; Hur-a-Mehran 8-2, Ghulam Shabbir II 2; Persian Blue 8-12, Tariq Baran 3; Navaho’s Glory 8-2 (cr7-13), Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by 10 1/2L, 2L, 2 3/4L. Time: One

min 2 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

THE AZADI PLATE DIV I

CLASS VII 5F:

Black Velvet (Gul Mohammad Rajar) 9-0, M. Nasir 1; Ace Of Base 9-0, Tariq Baran 2; Leopard Of Arab 9-5, Zubair Ahmed 3; Dark Secret 9-3, Ghulam Shabbir II 4.

Won by 1/2L, 10L, 3 1/4L. Time: One min 3 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

THE KINGREE LODGE PERFORMANCE CUP (2008) – FOR TWO-YEAR OLD

COLT AND FILLIES 4F:

Blanchine (Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi) 8-4, Ghulam Shabbir II 1; Big Bang 8-7, Tariq Baran 2; Stratus Faction 8-4, Lateef 3; 3 Knot 3 8-4, Zubair Ahmed 4.

Won by 4 1/4L, 2L, 3L. Time: 50.3/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.

THE AZADI PLATE

CLASS VI 5F:

Sahibzadi (Murtaza Mirza) 8-10, Ghulam Shabbir II 1; Baby John 9-2 Arshad 2; Manan Prince 9-4, Nasim Ahmed 3; Reyan The Great 8-7 (cr8-10), Zubair Ahmed 4.

Won by 3L, 9L, Dist. Time: One min 3 2/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.

THE SANGHAR CUP (2008) – HANDICAP RACE FOR PAKISTANI HORSES FOUR YEARS AND ABOVE IM:

Phapha Kutni (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 7-11, Zaheer Ahmed 1; Naseeb 10-0, Kashif Qamar 2; Bharosa 8-1, Arshad 3; Yes Neighbour Yes 7-9, Mohammad Essa 4.

Won by 2L, 9L, 4 1/2L. Time: One min 44 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Allah Judrio.

THE AZADI PLATE CLASS IV

AND V DIV I AND II 5F:

Stormy Kiss (Haji Khuda Bux Rajar) 8-9, M. Nasir 1; Stryde By Stryde 7-6, Ghulam Shabbir II 2; Desert Hawk 8-6, Tariq Taran 3; Star Is Born 8-3, Waheed 4.

Won by 6L, 2L, 3L. Time: One min 2 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CUP

(2008) – HANDICAP RACE FOR

PAKISTANI COLTS AND

FILLIES THREE-YEAR OLD 6F:

Claim To Fame (Syed Sadruddin Shah) 8-11, Ghulam Shabbir II 1; The Victorious 8-11, Arshad 2; Blossom 9-1, Tariq Baran 3; Momal 8-11, M. Nasir 4.

Won by 2 1/2L, 4L, 2 1/4L. Time: One min 15 1/5 sec. Winner trained by M. Rafiq K.

THE AZADI PLATE DIV IV

CLASS VII 5F:

Eye Lady (Nasrullah) 7-13, Mohammad Essa 1; Princess Sparkle 9-3, M. Yousuf 2; Shah Pasand 8-10 (cr8-8), Rehan Ahmed 3; Raj Kumari 9-0, Dream Prince 8-12, Mumtaz Ali 4.

Won by 3 1/2L, 4L, 2 1/2L. Time: one min 7 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE AZADI PLATE DIV V

CLASS VII 5F:

Moment To Moment II (Qamar Nawab) 9-1 (cr8-8), Zulfiqar Ali 1; Al Zarrar 8-9, Mohammad Essa 2; Chun Chun Chun 8-12 (cr8-5), Abdul Mutlib 3; Royal Loyalty 8-10, Pervez Ali 4.

Won by 2 1/2L, 4L, 1 3/4L. Time: One min 7 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.