KARACHI, Dec 24: Eight-year-old bay Naseeb and five-year-old chestnut Gold Krik have entered the prestigious Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup with strong credentials and look set to delight the fans by battling out for the ascendancy when the Gymkhana race meeting takes place at the Karachi Racecourse on Thursday.

As many as eight horses are in fray in the blue-ribbon event to be run over 12 furlongs.

Owned by M. R. Hussain and trained by M. Pervaiz, Naseeb has landed the 10 furlongs Quaid-i-Azam Trial Cup under Nasir by four-and-a-half lengths on Dec 6. This was preceded by triumph in The Mile Championship under the same rider by five lengths.

However, the racegoers will be taken aback when they find that Naseeb will be ridden by a low profile Mujahid Ali but according to insiders, the rider will be replaced by former Champion Jockey, M. Nasir.

Gold Krik which belonged to Lahore is owned by Chaudhary Mohsin Ali Asghar and trained by Chaudhary Iftikhar. It will have celebrity Shahid Rehman in the saddle. He has won many honours on this course the latest being The Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara Double Birthday Cup by half-a-length on Nov 23.

If Shahid succeed, he will retain his crown as he had galloped Big Show to three-and-a-half lengths victory in The Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup last year.

The two are likely to be chased by mare Abhi Abhi with Essa astride.

Like every year, the day is celebrated with great festivity and a full holiday crowd is expected to enjoy the thrills and excitement.

A lengthy card of 10 races including six cups has been drawn for the day. The first race gets into action at 11.30am.

In the next race which is The KRC Stewards Cup, four-year-old chestnut colt Mr. Mention Not is likely to dominate and present owner with a winner. He should be followed by Black Victory and Reyan The Great.

Three-year-old bay filly The Victorious is tipped to make amends by claiming The 2000 Guineas Of Pakistan. She settled for third in the last run following a late start. She has carried out start practice and one hope will not repeat the mistake.

Her likely challengers are Claim To Fame and Black Velvet among five runners.

Three-year-old bay filly Dilruba, colt Giranari and filly Blanchine are set to shine in The X-Mas Cup, The Winter Cup and The AKD Nursery Cup respectively.

Filly Jady Jantar, colt Inside Story, chestnut Hamza Joy and Eager Saint are poised to dominate the remaining races.

Following is the field and our selection:

THE GOLDEN PLATE DIV III CLASS VII 5 F:

Trust Again 9-3, Haroon Prince 9-3, Gold Victory 9-0, Walayat 9-0, Beyond Belief 8-13, Sonu Love Inshu 8-10, New Ferrari 8-7, Your Honour 8-6, Aar Paar 8-4, Libra 8-2, Mani Love Janu 8-2, Jadu Jantar 8-2, King Of Karachi 8-2, Samreen 7-13, Inax 7-10. Win: Jadu Jantar.

Place: Gold Victory and Sonu Love Inshu.

THE X-MAS CUP – FOR PAKISTANI HORSES IN CLASS V DIV I AND II - 6 F:

Afroz-e-Jehan 9-7, Discreet Cat 9-6, Mannan Prince 9-3, Barcaradi 9-3, Closing Agrument 9-1, Sugur Sweet 9-0, Spice of Arab 8-13, Desert Hawk 8-10, Remy Martin 8-1, 3 Knot 3 7-12, Dilruba 7-11, Moon Baby 7-11, The Ghazan Prince 7-9.

Win: Dilruba.

Place: Discreet Cat and Closing Argument.

THE WINTER CUP CLASS VI 6 F:

Giranari 9-0, Moon Raker 8-12, Lion of Arab 8-10, Ouija Board 8-9, Blind Date 8-8, Sweet Girl 8-7, Play Boy 8-6, Black Girl 8-2, Sahibzadi 8-0, Sweet Smile 8-0, Ice Blue 7-11.Win: Giranari.

Place: Play Boy and Blind Date.

THE AKD NURSERY CUP – A HANDICAP RACE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD PAKISTANI COLTS AND FILLIES – 6 F:

Silver Victory 9-4, Royal Salute II 9-1, Big Bang 8-11, Kartoos 8-11, Blanchine 8-8, Stratusfaction 8-8, Group Captain 8-4, Hitch Hacker 8-4, Just As That 8-4, Hypnose 8-1, Jewan Sathi 8-1, Magnificient Baby 8-1, Nirvana 8-1, Zarkava 8-1.

Win: Blanchine.

Place: Big Bang and Stratusfaction.

THE GOLDEN PLATE DIV I CLASS VII 5 F:

Royal Loyality 9-2, Dark Secret 9-0, Rokara 9-0, Persian Blue 8-12, Mushki 8-10, Moon Dazzler 8-10, Payami 8-10, Mah-e-Noor II 8-6, Inside Story 8-5, Leopard of Arab 8-4, Striker 8-2, Soul of Speed 8-1, Sona 8-0, Die-Na-Might 7-12.

Win: Inside Story.

Place: Sona and Moon Dazzler.

THE 2000 GUINEAS OF PAKISTAN - A TERM FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND FILLIES - ONE MILE:

Sayeen Jee 8-7, The Reyan 8-7, Black Velvet 8-4, Claim To Fame 8-4, The Victrious 8-4.

Win: The Victorious.

Place: Claim To Fame and Black velvet.

THE GOLDEN PLATE DIV IV CLASS VII 5 F:

Spider Man 9-4, Silent Love 9-2, Hamza Joy 9-0, Sonia 9-0, Guess Its Me 8-13, King of Kingher 8-10, Marista 8-9, Victory Prince 8-8, Santa Fee 8-8, Dream Prince 8-7, Princess Sparkle 8-6, Ferocity 8-6, Catch It 8-4, Princess Zara 8-3, Canon Fire 7-13.Win: Hamza Joy.

Place: Guess Its me and Marista.

THE QUAID-I-AZAM GOLD CUP – A HANDICAP RACE FOR PAKISTANI HORSES FOUR-YEAR-OLD AND UPWARDS - 12 F:

Big Show 8-5, Abhi Abhi 8-2, Crown Prince 8-2, Naseeb 8-2, Gold Krik 8-1, Taizper 7-13, Mehargar 7-12, Phapha Kutni 7-6.

Win: Naseeb/Gold Krik.

Place: Abhi Abhi.

THE KRC STEWARDS CUP DIV II CLASS VII 5 F:

Black Victory 9-2, Nyx 9-0, Navaho’s Glory 9-0, Lil Kim 9-0, Kamyab 9-0, Reyan The Great 8-12, Silver City 8-11, Listen 8-9, Mr. Mention Not 8-8, Black Jack 8-7, Zardan 8-6, Army of One 8-2, Lucky Gem 8-0, Sada-e-Awan 7-11, Temptation 7-10.

Win: Mr. Mention Not.

Place: Black Victory and Reyan The Great.

THE GOLDEN PLATE DIV V CLASS VII 5 F:

Love Pakistan 9-1, Khabardaar 9-0, Rangilee 8-13, Daruwala 8-13, Sanam Jan 8-12, Baaz Babaaz 8-12, Eager Saint 8-12, Taneez 8-11, Marvi Express 8-0, Gul-e-Lala 8-0, Saad Prince 7-13, Faith 7-11, Sweet Grandy 7-10, Sharp Edge 7-10, Tabiedar 7-10.

Win: Eager Saint.

Place: Rangilee and Love Pakistan.

DAY’S BEST: Naseeb/Gold Krik.

GOOD DOUBLE: Giranari and Blanchine.