KARACHI, April 14: Having won two races on the trot so far, the four-year-old bay colt Khyber is in line to complete a hat trick when the Gymkhana race meeting begins at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.
Saddled by Mansoor Alam the colt had posted facile wins in the previous two outings under rider Fahim K and is fancied to overcome the opponents. He is likely to be chased by mare Forget Me Not and bay horse Donatello for the places.
A card of seven races has been drawn for the day. The first race begins at 1.30pm.
Five-year-old chestnut mare Patricia from the stables of Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara who registered facile six lengths victory on last Sunday should land days feature event by repeating the feat. She is drawn in a strong field of 18 contestants barring last minute withdrawal.
Her likely challengers would be filly Lady Conqueror and bay horse Lucky Friend.
If tried by connection, Patricia’s stable-mate colt Laat Sahib should reign supreme by making amends in the supporting event.
Chestnuts Thanks Naeem and Killer Instincts are likely to pose serious challenge to Laat Sahib.
Bay mare Sonia, if allowed to run on merit, is fancied to pick up spoils in the fourth race. Form horses – colt Hamza Joy and bay horse Azam The Great – are likely to put up a good show. Three-year-old filly Friendly Fire to be ridden by champion rider M. Nasir is also in contention and likely to have a say in the race.
Filly Gul Bano and mare Jet Zone who finished off the board in the last run are poised to land the first two races while mare Jadu Nagri should make amends by landing the third race. The Choice Of The Day, if fit, can upset the calculations.
Meanwhile, the racing fraternity have welcomed declaration of riders with the acceptors and hoped this will continue in future also.
Following is the field and our selection:
THE USMANI PLATE
DIV V CLASS VII 4 1/2F:
Welcome Pachino 9-0, Royal Reach 8-10, Prince Shahzad 8-9, Fizza 8-8, Gul Bano 8-5, Afzaal Prince 8-5, Raysham 8-5.
Win: Gul Bano.
Place: Royal Reach and Afzaal Prince.
THE USMANI PLATE
DIV IV CLASS VII 4 1/2F:
Lucky View 9-0, Hal Chal 8-12, Annaba 8-12, Taneez 8-12, Queen Of Arab 8-12, Royal Loyalty 8-6, Bewitched 8-3, Tom Cruise 8-2, Lucky Legs 8-1, Jet Zone 8-0, Chistian The Great 8-0, Breaking News 7-12, Captain Cook 7-12.
Win: Jet Zone.
Place: Breaking News and Tom Cruise.
THE USMANI PLATE
DIV III-B CLASS VII 5F:
Sanam Jan 9-0, Mixed Blessing 9-0, Shan-e-Awan 8-12, Harbinger 8-9, Jadu Nagri 8-9, Paidagiree 8-9, Meri Paidagiree 8-6, Jan-e-Mir 8-5, Check Mate 8-4, The Choice Of The Day 8-4, Baap Re Baap 8-3, Final Count Down 8-1, Rokara 8-1.
Win: Jadu Nagri.
Place: Mixed Blessing and Jan-e-Mir.
THE USMANI PLATE
DIV III-A CLASS VII 5F:
Azam The Great 9-0, Hamza Joy 8-13, Khas-ul-Khas 8-13, Juliat 8-12, Sonia 8-6, Qandhar 8-5, Rana The Great 8-3, Good Naeem 8-2, Friendly Fire 8-2, Ho Ho Ho 8-2, Love Pakistan 8-2, Dr. Dang 8-2, Little Girl 7-11.
Win: Sonia.
Place:Hamza Joy and Azam The Great.
THE USMANI PLATE
DIV II CLASS VII 5F:
Khyber 9-0, Eager Saint 9-0, Count The Money 9-0, Naseeb-e-Awan 8-13, Samra Love 8-11, Forget Me Not 8-10, Donatello 8-8, King Of Mehran 8-8, Al Zarrar 8-7, Air Supply 8-7, Vice Admiral 8-6, Mame 8-5, Bay Kasoor 8-3, Look My Tiger 8-3.
Win: Khyber.
Place: Forget Me Not and Donatello.
THE USMANI PLATE
DIV I CLASS VII 5 1/2F:
Geo Naeem 9-0, Spider Man 9-0, Thanks Naeem 9-0, Laat Sahib 8-11, Princess Rozi 8-9, Gorella 8-9, Killer Instincts 8-5, Johnie Walker 8-4, Sweeney 8-1, Sweet Grandy 7-13, Lady Umpire 7-11.
Win: Laat Sahib.
Place: Thanks Naeem and Killer Instincts.
THE SHANGHAI PLATE 5 1/2F:
Lady Conqueror 9-4, Arab Hi Arab 9-0, Voo Doo Doll 9-0, Wah Paidagir Wah 9-0, The Concord 8-13, Patricia 8-11, Walayat 8-9, Jack In The Box 8-9, Harry Potter 8-9, Lucky Friend 8-8, Fantastic Baby 8-6, Lava Man 8-4, Trust Again 8-3, Jawan Bakht 8-2, Rare Talha 8-2, Shan-e-Arab 8-2, Red Rufus 7-13, Lucky Leader 7-11.
Win: Patricia.
Place: Lady Conqueror and Lucky Friend.
DAY’S BEST: Khyber.
GOOD DOUBLE: Jadu Nagri and Laat Sahib.—AZ