LAHORE, March 15 National Breeder Cup winner Chapter On launched a late charge to beat Punjabi and win the Rs200,000 Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Cup run over 1,600 metres in an impressive fashion at the floodlit Lahore Racecourse on Sunday evening.

The cup named after the former prime minister of Pakistan, was the first ever horse race to be held to honour the ex-chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party since her assassination over two years ago.

Three-year-old colt Chapter One, ridden by riding boy Hidayat Hussain, beat dark-bay horse Punjabi by three lengths. Rainbow View finished third, seven lengths further behind while Dubai Prince completed the frame among just four contestants.

The winner clocked one minute 39 seconds over the race distance. The race club was packed to capacity to pay scintillating tributes to the departed leader roughly about 7000 strong, young and old including womenfolk who watched the race.

The race was organized by the Lahore Race Club in collaboration with Midas and a local channel as part of the four-day Horse Show.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's son Ali Musa Gilani was adjudged the best horseman of the show.

The 24-year-old Ali Musa took part in the tent-pegging discipline of the equine sports leading Qutbia Ibrar tent pegging team of which he is also vice-chairman.

After receiving the trophy Ali Musa told Dawn that he had started riding nine years ago while he was a student at the Aitchison College here. Previously he had won the runners up trophy on a couple of occasion but this is his first big prize.

The beautifully-bred grey horse Dur-e-Najaf was declared the best horse of the horse-show. Dancing to the beat of drums, Dur-e-Najaf demonstrated an innate understanding of the drums' rhythmic beat to dance in a graceful style.—AG