LAHORE, Aug 7: Trainer Mohammad Hanif Shera highlighted the day and night Lahore Summer Meeting winning a profitable double at the rain-drenched Racecourse on Sunday. He sent out the chestnut, Wah Cisco Wah and the bay colt Al Murad in the first and second race, respectively, opening his new season's account on a triumphant note.
Sunday turned out to be a unique day in the history of the Lahore Race Club (LRC), which set up a new precedent by holding races on the wet track following rains earlier in the day and the sky heavily overcast with thick dark clouds.
The city received rains in the morning and heavy showers at noon inundating both racetracks.
The club employed all its labour force to pump out water and fill rain dug pits by sprinkling sand on the sandy track and decided to go through with the card, come what may.
Races were held as usual and no untoward incident took place.
It did not deter management from its decision when mid way through the proceedings it started drizzling for some time.
Though the light was dim in cloudy weather, it had no effect on the visibility because of course's floodlights.
Race-goers enjoyed the most interesting and close contest of the day in the second race in which four horses passed the finishing line within distance of two lengths.
Three-year-old colt Al Murad won by a neck from Dancing Star, who beat Sundri by about two lengths after nosing out Bone Crusher.
Three favourites romped home in a small card of five races, namely Al Murad, Mutajil and Harry Can View in the second, fourth and fifth race, the last two named without competition.
Results:
MAILSI PLATE CLASS IV DIV II 800M.
Wah Cisco Wah (Mohammad Sadiq Butt) 7-8 Shahid Mustafa 1. Dam Dama Dam 7-8 M. Zeeshan 2. Dashing Paradise 8-2 Ali Raza 3. Bahar-I-Bhakkar 8-2 Anjum 4.
Won by 1 1/4 L, 5 L, Neck. Time 52 1/5 secs. Winner trained by Mohammad Hanif.
MAILSI PLATE CLASS IV DIV I 800M.
Al Murad (Shabbir Ali Jutt) 8-6 Sajjad Hussain 1. Dancing Star 8-12 M. Atif 2. Sundri 8-2 Parvaiz Bhatty 3.Bone Crusher 8-11 Azhar Hussain 4.
Won by Neck, 1 3/4 L, Head. Time 50 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Hanif.
OKARA PLATE CLASS V DIV II 1000M.
Ministry (Mian Mohammad Ashraf) 8-10 Faisal Tahir 1. Hallo Dancer 9-0 M. Zeeshan 2. Jewna 8-13 3. Scarlet Empress 8-10 Azam Hussain 4.
Won by 2 L, 2 1/2 L, 3 L. Time one min 5 1/5 secs. Winner trained by Rashid Latif.
OKARA PLATE CLASS V DIV I 1000M.
Mutajil (Khawaja M. Arif) 8-2 Aamar Parvaiz 1. Daisy Against All 8-11 M. Zeeshan 2. Love Moon 8-0 Parvaiz Bhatty 3. Puma Princess 8-10 Azhar Hussain 4.
Won by 4 1/2 L, 2 1/2 L, 1 3/4 L. Time one min 4 2/5 secs. Winner trained by Haji Ghulam Sarwar.
CHICHAWATNI PLATE CLASS IV DIV II & III 1000M.
Harry Can View (Naseer-ud-Din Siddiqui) 9-4 Salah-ud-Din (II) 1. Safe And Sound 8-8 Shahid Mustafa 2. Daruree 9-0 M. Zeeshan 3. Golden Faith 8-4 Tariq Habib 4.
Won by 8 L, 7 1/2 L, Head. Time one minute 3 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Qaisar.