LAHORE, Aug 7: Favourite Naseeb Apna Apna deceived racing fans by finishing second, behind long shot Jang Ju, during the day/night midweek Lahore gymkhana races at the floodlit Racecourse on Wednesday.
The bay six-year-old horse Naseeb Apna Apna, trained by Abdul Rasheed, heavily backed with the ill-reputed riding boy M. Aatif in the saddle left a bad taste in the mouth at the end the four-hour long races.
Participating in the feature and the last race of the day/night programme, Naseeb Apna Apna was disturbed by Jang Ju, who crossed sharply in the early part of the race and his rider hit the front followed by Naseeb Apna Apna.
Soon after M. Aatif got the opportunity to overtake the front-runner but for reasons best known to him, Aatif kept his charge behind the leader instead of pushing in front. At another stage, the video film of the race showed the horse’s mouth open with the rider sitting on tight reins. The foolish or intentional manoeuvre, rather proved costly for the favourite with the racing fraternity shocked out of their wits and watching everything in total silence.
Interestingly, M. Aatif lodged an objection against the winner’s jockey M. Zeeshan for disturbing and crossing his mount, promptly rejected by the Lahore Race Club (LRC) stewards. Generally riders who pull horses lodge frivolous objections to hoodwink the public and save their own skin and this objection was seen in the same context.
It is not known whether the stewards noticed or not. Nearly two hours before the start of the programme the Kot Lakhpat racing centre received heavy showers, wetting the course.It has been seen that some riders, who ride for stewards are rarely questioned by them even if the handling of horses belonging to other owners is doubtful, come what may. These blue-eyed boys are the envy of the other riders too.
It is the general impression gathered by Dawn from the racing fraternity that LRC chairman Tariq Aziz has done a lot for establishing a well-equipped all weather day/night racing facility but taken no concrete steps to enforce strict discipline in components pulling the racing chariot or up gradation of their standards and quality which requires putting limits particularly on fellows near oneself.
Tariq Aziz’s attention had remained focused on organisational matters in connection with the races and the award of stake money through sponsorship, and strengthening his support among LRC members, that’s all, racing fraternity, is of the opinion.
Wednesday turned out a bad day for the backers when their favourite horses flopped in all the six events.
In the first race, favourite Cash Box, ridden by M. Atif and owned by a bookmaker Atta Mohammad Khan, finished third while the race won by long shot chestnut horse Sohail. He beat King’s UK by a distance. The three to two second favourite Golden Falcon won the second race while the 70 to 100 favourite Kotli could hardly finish fourth.
Three to one chance grey mare Muskan prevailed over her 13 opponents in the third race. Even-money favourite Khan Baba (M. Aatif up) came fourth. Another long shot bay colt Porsche won the fourth race edging out Pretty by a short-head verdict.
Four to one chance Basant Mayla sprang a big surprise winning the fifth and supporting event.
The course condition did not deter riding boy Naseer Ahmed from showing his horsemanship riding home two winners -- Muskan and Porsche -- in the third and fourth race, respectively.
Results:
KHUSHAB PLATE CLASS VII
DIV IV 900M:
Sohail (Saeed-ul-Bashar) 7-8 Shah Nawaz 1, King’s UM 8-6 M. Sharif 2, Cash Box 8-12 M. Aatif 3 and Cash Deposit 8-6 Iqbal Gil 4.
Won by Distance, 2 L, 2 1/2 L. Time one minute 0 1/5 seconds.
Winner trained by M. Arshad.
KHUSHAB PLATE CLASS VII
DIV III 900M:
Golden Falcon (Naeem Saleem) 8-8 M. Atif 1, Client 8-8 Fayyaz Choudhry 2, Kiss Of Love 8-0 Naseer Ahmed 3 and Kotli 8-10 Sikander Khan 4.
Won by 5 1/2 L, Neck, 5 L. Time one minute 0 4/5 seconds.
Winner trained by Mohammad Hanif.
KHUSHAB PLATE CLASS II & III 900M:
Muskan (Malik Mohammad Aslam Essar) 8-4 Naseer Ahmad 1, Miss Mano 8-6 Munir Ahmad 2, Changer 8-0 Sikander Khan 3 and Khan Baba 8-6 M. Atif 4.
Won by 2 L, 6 L, 2 1/2 L. Time one minute zero second.
Winner trained by Rashid Latif.
KHUSHAB PLATE CLASS VII
DIV I 900M:
Porsche (Mohammad Ibrahim Butt) 7-8 Naseer Ahmad 1, Pretty 8-0 Munir Ahmad 2, Delux 7-10 Fareed Ali 3 and Bagh-o-Bahar Ali Raza 4.
Won by Short-head, 4 3/4 L, 2 L. Tiome 59 3/5 seconds.
Winner trained by S. Butt.
SARGODHA PLATE CLASS VI
DIV III & IV 900M:
Basant Mayla (Iftikhar-uz-Zaman) 8-7 Alam Sher 1, Aaja Bulbul 8-6 A. Wahab 2, Mah-e-Noor II 7-4 Naseer Ahmad 3 and Dogar Gift 7-4 Munir Ahmad 4.
Won by 3/4 L, 3/4 L, Distance. Time 59 3/5 seconds.
Winner trained by Choudhry Khurrum Hussain.
SARGODHA PLATE CLASS VI
DIV II 900M:
Jang Ju (Rana Mohammad Iqbal) 8-10 M. Zeeshan 1, Naseeb Apna Apna 9-4 M. Aatif 2, Black King 8-4 Naseer Ahmed 3 and Murad The Great 8-6 Sajjad hussain 4.
Won by 1 3/4 L, 4 3/4 L, 1 1/2 L. Time 59 1/5 seconds.
Winner trained by M.R. Khan.