LAHORE, Jan 20: Three-year-old filly Ioone opened her turf account with a fluent victory in the New Year Cup at the Racecourse here on Sunday afternoon.

The filly, owned by Punjab Governor Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mahmud and trained by Haji Abid Mahmood, was guided to a three-length victory by ace jockey Shahid Rehman in the event run over the sprinting distance of 1,100 metres.

Filly Prosperity took the second spot with another filly Wood Berry a close third in a field of seven runners.

The Punjab Governor, however, could not see the race because of his important engagements in his home district of Rahim Yar Khan.

The Qutubuddin Aibak Cup was annexed by four-year-old colt Danzero. Owned by Mirza Khurshid Baig, Danzero beat chestnut colt Assassination by two-and-a-half lengths while So Little and Don completed the frame among nine runners.

The winner clocked one minute 40 seconds over 1,600 metres.

Incidentally, the cups were lifted by the progenies of English sire Assassi, who became prominent after his son Assassin’s triumph in the Pakistan Derby 2012.

The next Lahore Gymkhana races will be held on Wednesday.