LAHORE, Dec 7: As predicted, three-year-old chestnut colt Vendetta outpaced his six rivals, landing the supporting event run over 1,200 metres during the 14th Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse on Sunday.After scoring a facile victory on Nov 30, the colt trained by Sohail Aziz had by far the best credentials in a weak-looking field. Initially slow behind the front-running filly Royal Gesture, Vendetta moved into the lead in the straight chase to win by one and a half lengths in this fifth race of the day. Pick Of The Day and Will He Wish completed the frame.A race earlier, the feature event, the Murree Plate, a class IV handicap race, was cancelled in a dramatic way, unprecedented in the Lahore Race Club (LRC) history.

What happened? As the horses taking part in the race reached the starting gates, A. Imran, the rider of the odds-on favourite colt Cut Throat complained that his colt was lame.

In order to ascertain the correct position the LRC veterinary officer was called in to examine the colt, who also certified the rider’s statement. The LRC stewards withdrew the colt from the race and later sensing some foul-play cancelled the event.

In the meantime, the colt’s trainer Sohail Aziz approached the stewards and contested the assertion, saying that he did not see even the slightest element of lameness in the colt.

A former ambassador and LRC steward, Begum Abida Hussain immediately summoned the veterinary officer to question his verdict. It transpired that the vet had held the rider’s statement correct without making the colt go through a proper examination.

Begum Abida Hussain expressed her surprise and directed the vet, being the club’s official, to give his verdict after a thorough examination to avoid any unnecessary embarrassment in the future.

The vet was apologetic about the whole affair which took a serious turn.

The stewards indicted rider A. Imran for his wrong statement and fined him Rs10,000 along with a warning of serious consequences.

The bookmakers had in the meantime expressed their exception to the cancellation of the feature event.

Their representative Mirza Khurshid Baig spoke to Dawn, saying that after Cut Throat’s withdrawal there would have been a close contest among the horses left in the field, who, were briskly being bet by their respective connections.

Baig, who is the owner of a prominent stud farm said that it was expected to be a keen contest. Anyhow they have to obey the stewards’ orders.

Only three stewards — Syed Fakhar Imam, Begum Abida Hussain and Mian Abdul Waheed — were present at Sunday’s races.

Trainer Sohail Aziz, who had a setback after Mama Mia’s defeat in the opener and later the cancellation of the feature event, found consolation in sending out two winners — Vendetta and Renaushky — in the fifth and sixth race, respectively. Both his winners were ridden by riding boy Naseer Ahmad.

Results:

CHICHAWATNI PLATE

CLASS VI DIV III & IV 1,100M:

Khuddar (Shahid Mahmood Goga) 8-10 Shakeel Mahmood 1; Dream Act 8-10 Imran Parvez 2; Red Carpet 7-12 Mazhar Ali 3 and Mama Mia 7-13 Naseer Ahmad 4.

Won by 1 ¼ L, ¾ L, short-head. Time one minute 10 3/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Aleem-ud-Din.

CHICHAWATNI PLATE

CLASS VI DIV II 1,100M:

Geo Bhakkar (malik Bashir) 7-6 M. Waseem 1; Sun Ray 9-4 Fareed Ali 2; Stride To Moment 8-9 Pervez Bhatty 3 and Changer 8-4 M. Zulfiqar 4.

Won by 1 L, 5 ½ L, 2 ½ L. Time one minute 10 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Rashid Latif.

CHICHAWATNI PLATE

CLASS VI DIV I 1,100M:

Pretty Girl (Malik Naseer Ahmad) 8-5 Bilal Ahmad 1; Mikkado 8-8 Aamir Parvez 2; Sun City 8-1 M. Zulfiqar 3 and Tripple Star 9-0 Shakeel Mahmood 4.

Won by 4 L, ¾ L, 1 L. Time one minute 9 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Shahzad Ali.

MURREE PLATE CLASS IV

DIV I, II & III 1,300M:

(cancelled before running).

SANGHAR PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1,200M:Vendetta (Syed Tasweer Hussain) 9-0 Naseer Ahmad 1; Royal Gesture 7-8 Azhar Hussain 2; Pick Of The Day 8-3 M. Zulfiqar 3 and Will He Wish 8-12 M. Waseem 4.

Won by 1 ½ L, Distance, 9 L. Time one minute 15 seconds.

Winner trained by Sohail Aziz.

SANGHAR PLATE CLASS V

DIV II 1,200M:

Reanaushky(Muqadas Ali Dogar) 8-2 Naseer Ahmad 1; Reborn 8-6 M. Atif 2; Victory Bulbul 9-4 A. Imran 3 and Brave Heart 8-8 Majid Ali 4.

Won by 2 ½ L, 2 ½ L, 2 L. Time one minute 16 seconds.

Winner trained by Sohail Aziz.