KARACHI, Jan 5: Hard Press, a five-year-old Lahore-based thoroughbred bay from Harmon’s Jewel out of Preska, is fancied to lift the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup, contested by 16 of the best racehorses in the country, in the Winter Race Meeting which gets under way Sunday, at the Karachi Racecourse from 11-30 a.m.
Hard Press will have the services of Lahore’s reputed rider Salahuddin II, who finished second astride Snoopy last year in this race behind the winner Mrs. Champion.
Mrs. Champion, trying to register herself among the precious few who have won this prestigious cup for the second time, will this time have Mujahid Ali instead of Ghulam Shabbir II, in the saddle. The latter will be partnering light-weight Persian Arrow.
Hard Press will be challenged throughout the race by Admiral’s Way, third last year, with Lahore’s rider Aamir Pervaiz this time in the saddle.
Also in with a chance is stable companion Gambling Princess, a close second behind Lover’s Millennium in the Quaid-i-Azam Cup trials two weeks ago, with M. Yousuf taking over the reins from Khalid Nawaz.
Mrs. Yasmin’s K. Khan’s bay horse Eye Dazzler, sprinted well a few days ago finishing the last three furlongs in 39 seconds with the roan gelding Leo, and could be there at the winning post. So can the Derby winner Princess Rukhtaas, Think Tank, another entry from Lahore and Persian Arrow carrying only 7-1 on her back.
The 2000 Guineas Of Pakistan will be the main supporting event, with six of the best three-year-olds vying for the top honours going over the mile.
Of the lot M. Shafiq’s bay colt Steal The Show, winning his last four starts with remarkable ease and with Pakistan’s champion rider Shahid Rehman in the saddle, is on song for a fifth straight victory, with the brave hearted bay colt Edging Ahead and Dur-e-Yamen battling it out for the second spot.
Also on the eight race programme is the Nursery Cup to be contested by seven two-year-old colts and fillies and the Jockey Club of Pakistan Cup.
The Nursery Cup has seven runners going over the sprinting distance of six furlongs. The chestnut filly Sweet Touch, a sibling of My Noble Lord from Willing Shoes, although carrying the top weight of 9-1 on her back, is backed in these columns to complete a hat trick of wins for owner M. Shafiq, which should see jockey Shahid Rehman and trainer Aurangzeb Khan joining in the celebrations.
Much is talked about owner-trainer Mohammad Rafiq’s bay colt The Speed Star to be piloted by Lahore’s Wajid Hussain. The colt has tracked well and should be locked in a close tussle with Qaswa Princess for the second position.
In the J.C.P. Cup, Slim Fit looks a good thing to win this six furlong sprint from Welcome Shahtab and Al Jarrar. However The Happy News could provide the element of surprise.
In the opener, Ever Shine with only 7-11 on his back, should win hands down from top weight Hamza Saheb and the game Smiling Senorita, with Science Fiction providing the element of surprise.
In the second event, Kamal Farooq’s Shab-e-Noor could end the winning spree of Baby Face, chased all the way by Chantilly Lace. Black Champion if ticking, could upset the applecart.
In the sixth event, our day’s best Fast Enough is on the hat trick trail and should be followed home by Bold Commander and stable mate Bella, unless Nudrat proves us wrong.
The curtain should ring down with Feasible already with three consecutive victories to her credit under riding boy M. Amjad, doing the trick again for owner Humayun Mirza, with Jungle Beat, Al Ashia and Sandra’s Love close on his heels at the winning post.
NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 6F
Hamza Saheb 9-2 (Nadeem Ahmed), Shahdad Star 8-12 (Fayyaz Khan), Son Of None 8-11 (Riaz Mohammad), Sachin 8-10 (M. Nasir), Blue’s Night 8-10 (Abdul Rahim), Uncle Makrani 8-10 (Ali Sher), Smiling Senorita 8-8 (Kashif Ali), Guarantee 8-6 (Murad Ali), Lover’s King 8-6 (Zahoor Ahmed), Mera Kiya Kasoor 8-5 (Latif), Science Fiction 8-5 (M. Mazhar), Surprise Again 8-4 (Azeem), Giselle 8-3 (Shahzad), Striker 8-0 (Aashiq Ali), Fizza 7-12 (Najam Iqbal), Target 7-12 (M. Bashir), Walking Distance 7-11 (Ahmed) and Ever Shine (Late Myst) 7-11 (Khalid Nawaz).
Win: Ever Shine
Place:Hamza Saheb & Smiling Senorita
Upset: Science Fiction.
NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII 6F
Al Zarrar 9-2 (M. Yousuf), Baby Face 9-2 (Raees Ahmed), Queen Of Hearts 9-2 (M. Rehan), Chantilly Lace 8-11 (Shahzad), Shab-e-Noor 8-7 (Zahoor Ahmed), My Lucky Star 8-5, (Abdul Jabbar), Great Bakht 8-0 (Muzaffar Hussain), Satellite Star 8-0 (M. Amjad), Pilot 8-0 (Murad Ali), Jackpot 8-0 (M.Bashir), The Rock 8-0 (Arif Nazir), Wonder Thunder 8-0 (Abdul Aziz), Winning Queue 7-13 (Khalid Nawaz), Dushtiyani 7-12 (Zubair Ahmed), Black Champion (Late Pari Pakar) 7-12 (M. Pervaiz), Touch Of Joy 7-11 (S. Khan), Devi Husn Ki 7-11 (Ahmed) and Black Magic (Fayyaz Khan).
Win: Shab-e-Noor
Place: Chantilly Lace & Baby Face
Upset: Black Champion.
NURSERY CUP 2001 6F
(Terms race for two-year-old Pakistani colts & fillies)
Sweet Touch 9-1 (Shahid Rehman) 1, Rukhtaas Again 8-8 (M. Yousuf), Moving Ahead 8-4 (Nisar Ahmed), Prince Khurram 8-4 (Kashif Qamar), The Speed Star 8-4 (Wajid Hussain), Navaho Princess (Shahzad), and Qaswa Princess 8-1 (Aamir Pervaiz).
Win: Sweet Touch
Place: The Speed Star
J.C.P. CUP CLASS IX DIV VI 6F
Slim Fit 9-0 (Ghulam Shabbir II), Al Jarrar 8-11 (M. Pervaiz), Bonita 8-10 (Shahid Rashid), The Happy News 8-5 (Zahoor Ahmed), Magical 8-5 (Abdul Aziz), Tomahawk 8-3 (M. Nasir), Ray Of Light 8-3 (S. Khan), Golden News 8-3 (Saqib), Lover’s Line 8-1 (Nisar Ahmed), Welcome Shahtab 8-0 (Kashif Ali), Pearl 8-0 (Faraz Ali) and Royal Romance 7-12 (Yousuf Ikram).
Win: Slim Fit
Place: Welcome Shahtab & Al Jarrar.
2000 GUINEAS OF PAKISTAN (ONE MILE)
(For three-year-old Pakistani colts & fillies)
Dur-e-Yamen 8-7 (M. Rehan), Edging Ahead 8-7 (Ghulam Shabbir II), Steal The Show 8-7 (Shahid Rehman), The Champion Strides 8-7 (Mujahid Ali), Gambling Girl 8-4 (Aamir Pervaiz) and Star Flash (Raees Ahmed).
Win: Steal The Show
Place: Edging Ahead.
NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV V 6F
Nudrat 9-2 (Zahoor Ahmed), Bold Commander 8-12 (Dilshad), Bella 8-12 (Raees Ahmed), Mr. Bond 8-9 (Faisal Khan), Hoor-e-Arab 8-8 (A. Raheem), The Cleopatra 8-7 (Abdul Rahim), Miss World 8-6 (Aashiq Ali), Inferno 8-2 (Azeem), Dushtiyan 8-2 (Arshad), The New Champion 8-2 (Mujahid Ali), Fast Enough 8-1 (Ghulam Shabbir II), Rabat 8-0 M. Bashir), Brook Star 8-0 (Latif) and Living Legend 7-10 (Zubair Ahmed).
Win: Fast Enough
Place: Bold Commander & Bella
Upset: Nudrat.
QUAID-I-AZAM GOLD CUP 12F
(Terms race for Pakistani horses four-year-old and above.
Princess Rukhtaas 9-0 (Kashif Qamar), Hard Press 8-13 Salahuddin II, Lover’s Millennium 8-10 (Arshad), Think Tank 8-10 (Javed Iqbal), Mrs. Champion 8-6 (Mujahid Ali), Admiral Way (Aamir Pervaiz), Charkh Bareen 8-2 (S. Khan), Leo 8-2 Raees Ahmed, Eye Dazzler 7-13 Shahzad, The Champion 7-13 (M. Rehan), Mega Hit 7-12 (Zahoor Ahmed), Rottweil 7-11 (Zubair Ahmed), Fantastic Lite 7-4 (Shahid Rehman), Gambling Princess 7-4 (M. Yousuf), Monstro 7-4 (M. Mazhar) and Persian Arrow 7-1 (Ghulam Shabbir II).
Win: Hard Press
Place: Admiral Way & Gambling Princess
Upset: Persian Arrow.
NEW YEAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV IV 6F
Jungle Beat 9-0 (AAmir Pervaiz), Feasible 8-10 (M. Amjad), Sandra’s Love 8-10 (Ghulam Shabbir II), Al Ashia 8-9 (Zahoor Ahmed), Champion Star 8-8 (Aashiq Ali), Sparkling Lady 8-7 (M. Rehan), Bin Saroor 8-5 (M. Mazhar), Love 8-5 (A. Raheem), National Lining 8-5 (Arshad), Champion By Chance 8-4 (Abdul Aziz), Lover’s Lady 8-2 (Javed Iqbal), Micky Mikado II 8-0 Mujahid Ali), The Statesman 7-11 (Zubair Ahmed), Lucky Three 7-12 (M. Akram), Saligna 7-11 (Abdul Rahim), Xtasy 7-11 (Shahzad), Dauntless 7-10 (M. Bashir) and Snake Eyed 7-10 (Azeem).
Win: Feasible
Place: Jungle Beat & Al Aashia
Upset: Sandra’s Love.
DAY’S BEST: Fast Enough
GOOD DOUBLE: Sweet Touch - Steal The Show.