LAHORE, Dec 14: Bay colt Punjabi established himself as one of the best three-year-old sprinters with a stylish victory to land the Khyber Cup, run over 1,000 metres before a large turnout of equine sport’s connoisseurs at the Racecourse on Sunday.

After the last-minute withdrawal of favourite Shock Wave from the race on instructions of the Lahore Race Club’s veterinary officer, Punjabi was installed a 40-to-100 favourite.

As the race began, four-year-old filly Great Memories took the lead but Punjabi rallied from the outside at the top of the stretch as neck-and-neck battle ensued between the two before Punjabi edged out Great Memories by a length at the finishing post.

Bay horse Tipu Sultan, who recovered from a series of leg injuries, finished third with Lucky Cat nosed out to fourth position.

In all, nine ran for the fifth and feature event, a class IV division I, II and III combined handicap race.

Owned by Syed Pervez Hussain, the winner was trained by Sohail Aziz and ridden by jockey Shahid Rehman.

Earlier, the fourth and supporting event, the Mian Channu Plate, class V division I and II was the stage for another disappointing performance by the 40-to-100 favourite colt Rustam, ridden by Shahid Rehman.

Taking a slow start behind Reborn, Royal Gesture and Pick Of The Day Rustam picked up pace entering the straight but could finish second over four lengths behind the front running Reborn.

This was Rustam’s second successive defeat in a fortnight.

The progenies of imported sire Bedouin Invader — Nayab, Punjabi and Mashal — swept half of the six-event card stamping their bloodline superiority. The filly Nayab won the first race, the colt Punjabi won the fifth and filly Mashal won the sixth.

Five well-backed horses won in a card of six events. Syed Ali Raza’s dark-bay horse Reborn caused the only upset of the day in the fourth race.

Results:

SAHIWAL PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I-B 1,000M:

Nayab (Chaudhry Tahir Mahmood) 8-8, Shahid Rehman 1; Zoaq 8-10, Bilal Ahmed 2; Sun City 8-8, Aamir Pervez 3; Sun Ray 8-8, Fareed Ali 4.

Won by 3 ¾ L, ¾ L, Neck. Time one minute 2 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by A.B. Malik.

SAHIWAL PLATE CLASS VI

DIV I-A 1,000M:

Vctory Sargent (Arif Mahmood Butt) 8-10, Aamir Pervez 1; Miss Brave Heart 8-10, Naseer Ahmed 2; Tripple Star 8-8, Fareed Ali 3; Chimera 8-2, M. Zulfiqar 4.

Won by 2 L, 8 ½ L, 1 ¾ L. Time one minute 2 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Afzal.

MIAN CHANNU PLATE CLASS V

DIV II 1,000M:

The News (Shafiq Aslam Cheema) 8-0, Shahid Rehman 1; Magic Queen 8-6, Shakeel Mahmood 2; Munsaf 8-11, Mazhar Ali 3; Lighting Muqeem 8-3, Fareed Ali 4.

Won by ¾ L, 1 ½ L, head. Time one minute 2 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Raja Tehmasab Khan.

MIAN CHANNU PLATE CLASS V

DIV I & II 1,000M:

Reborn (Syed Ali Raza) 7-6, Shakeel Mahmood 1; Rustam 9-0, Shahid Rehman 2; Royal Gesture 8-1, Azhar Hussain 3; Pick Of The Day 8-5, M. Zulfiqar 4.

Won by 4 ¾ L, ¾ L. 2 ½ L. Time one minute 1 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Abbas.

KHYBER CUP CLASS IV

DIV I, II & III 1,000M:

Punjabi (Syed Pervez Hussain) 9-4, Shahid Rehman 1; Great Memories 7-6, Munir Ahmed 2; Tipu Sultan 7-12, Azhar Hussain 3; Lucky Cat 8-6, Shakeel Mahmood 4.

Won by 1 L, 7 L, Head. Time 59 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Sohail Aziz.

Sahiwal Plate Class VI

Div II 1,000M:

Mashal (Asif Ali Khan) 9-0, Aamir Pervez 1; Unter 8-8, M. Wasim Khan 2; Cleopatra 9-0, Khalid 3; Scarlet Empress 8-13, Majid Ali 4.

Won by 2 L, 1 L, 2 L. Time one minute 3 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Abbas.