LAHORE, Nov 23: Punjabi put on a spectacular performance as he stormed home to land the Tariq Bin Ziad Cup run over 1,400 metres during the 12th Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.

The three-year-old bay colt, trained by Sohail Aziz, was given a perfect ride by the riding boy Naseer Ahmed. As usual, Punjabi got off to a flying start to lead all the way in the field to defeat Lucky Winner by three lengths.

Filly Lucky Cat finished third, another eight lengths behind while Apex completed the frame among six runners. The bay horse Tipu Sultan was withdrawn from the race.

Three-year-old filly Victory Bulbul improved greatly to make amends for his last time’s defeat to win the third race. She beat Big Bird by three lengths. Riding boy A. Imran rode the winner flawlessly to win which earned him spontaneous applause from the backers.

Naseer Ahmed was the most successful rider of the day. He notched up two successes to consolidate his position and establish the lead in the Lahore Race Club (LRC) riders’ statistics table with 32 wins.

He first rode the favourite chestnut horse Munsaf, trained by Haji Fazal Hadi in the second race and then partnered with the odds on favourite Punjabi in the fourth and feature event.

Naseer is now two wins ahead of leading jockey Shahid Rehman, who was relegated to second position with 30 victories.

Four favourites obliged the punters in a card of six events. The favourites to win were Tripple Star, Munsaf, Victory Bulbul and Punjabi in the first, second, third and fourth race, respectively.

The other two races were won by horses available at three to one or bigger odds.

Results:

SIALKOT PLATE CLASS VI

DIV II 1,100M:

Tripple Star (Naseeruddin Siddiqui) 9-2, Shakeel Mahmood 1; Amazing Mission 8-1, Pervez Bhatti 2; Mirana Shaheen 8-7, M. Nawaz Bilal 3; Leading Light 8-11, Imran Pervez 4.

Won by 4 ½ L, 8 ½ L, ¾ L. Time one minute 11 3/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Imran.

SIALKOT PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I-B 1,100M:

Munsaf (M.V. Malik) 8-10, Naseer Ahmed 1; Royal Passion 8-6, M. Zulfiqar 2; Sun City 8-6, Alam Sher 3; Snow Fall 8-6, Mazhar Ali 4.Won by 1 L, 4 ½ L, 2 L. Time one minute 10 3/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Haji Fazal Hadi.

SIALKOT PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I-A 1,100M:Victory Bulbul (Ameer Khan) 9-0, A. Imran 1; Big Bird 8-12, Fareed Ali 2; Maximus 8-5, Aamir Pervez 3; Mikkado 9-0, Azhar Hussain 4.

Won by 3 L, 1 ½ L, 1 ¼ L. Time one minute 10 seconds.

Winner trained by Mohammad Afzal.

TARIQ BIN ZYAD CUP CLASS IV

DIV I, II & III 1,400M:

Punjabi (Syed Pervez Hussain) 8-8, Naseer Ahmed 1; Lucky Winner, 8-2, S. Moin 2; Lucky Cat 8-13, Majid Ali 3; Apex 9-0, Hidayat Hussain 4.

Won by 3 L, 8 L, 3 ½ L. Time one minute 28 3/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Sohail Aziz.

JHELUM PLATE CLASS V DIV II 1,200M:

Mutajar (Ata Mohammad Khan) 8-4, Azhar Hussain 1; Qasid 8-4, Aamir Pervez 2; Royal Deal 8-13, Pervez Bhatti 3; Magic Queen 8-8, Shakeel Mahmood 4.Won by 4 L, 3 ¼ L, 5 L. Time one minute 15 seconds.

Winner trained by Haji Abid Mahmood.

SIALKOT PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 1,100M:Changer (Faisal Maqbool Khan) 8-5, M. Zulfiqar 1; Victory King 8-4, Alam Sher 2; Dream Act 9-0, Imran Pervez 3; Golden Falcon 8-8, M. Wasim Khan 4.Won by ½ L, 3 L, ½ L. Time one minute 12 seconds.

Winner trained by Nadeem Ahmed Khan.