LAHORE: Favourite thoroughbred colt Olympus galloped to a sensational win in the 800-metre Cholistan Cup, recording the fastest timing so far in the ongoing Lahore day/night race meeting at the Racecourse here on Sunday evening.

Doning the colours of Syed Tasvir Hussain, 30 to 100 favourite Olympus set his own pace to win the feature event in 46 seconds, eclipsing the record set by Tattla Princess in April last year by a second. A.B. Malik-trained God Gifted finished second six lengths behind.

Earlier, colts Zindabad and Al Shouq were withdrawn from the race making the winner’s task easy.

Syed Tasvir Hussain’s imported thoroughbreds English mare Ranny and English filly Golden Drift still hold the fastest timing record over 1600 metres and 1800 metres at the Lahore turf.

A race earlier, Shah Kot Plate class VII division 111 and IV bay colt Mufasa, ridden by M. Hanif, won in front-running style to beat 50 to 100 favourite gelding Mumtaz Prince ridden by Safdar Hussain proving no match to the winner.

A long shot Rana Princess won the opener defeating bay Jalthal by over three lengths while the favourite colt, Maze finished off the frame. Bay gelding Mitchal Prince avenged his defeat last time out when he had finished second.

The LRC stewards were not satisfied with the dubious handling of horse Fazeel Prince by rider Abdullah Aamir, which finished third in the race. They sent Abdullah off the track for six months and also imposed a heavy fine of Rs 100,000 on him.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2023