KARACHI, Aug 13: Three-year-old chestnut colt Stryde By Stryde, a decent performer, has strong credentials to reign supreme and make it two on the trot when the Independence Day gymkhana race meeting takes place at the Karachi Racecourse on Thursday.
Barring two exceptions, he has emerged victorious on four occasions and placed twice out of the eight outings he has entered in.
He stormed to five-and-a-half lengths’ victory over Manan Prince under Ghulam Shabbir II in class VI in the last run on July 20 to earn promotion. Drawn alongside eight runners in class IV and V div I and II in the five furlongs seventh race of the programme, Stryde By Stryde trained by M. Rafiq K can come out with flying colours yet again with his winning jockey Shabbir in the saddle.
Mare Stormy Kiss and chestnut Desert Hawk comes in the reckoning to battle it out for the places.
Like the rest of the country, the Karachi Race Club (KRC) has chalked out an elaborate programme to commemorate Independence Day with zeal and zest. Apart from a card of 10 races including three cups, the venue has been decorated with colourful bunting, banners and national flags.
Three-year-old bay filly Blossom with an impressive hat-trick under her belt looks pretty good to stretch her run by landing the prestigious Independence Day Cup, a handicap race for three-year-old colts and fillies to be run over six furlongs.
The biggest threat to her is likely to come from colt Sayeen Jee and filly Claim To Fame.
In a test of endurance, The Sanghar Cup, a handicap race for horses who are four years and above, to be contested for a mile, should end in a blaze of glory for four-year-old bay colt Dream Rose.
His likely challengers among nine rivals are Bharosa and Spice Of Arab.
Earlier, The Kingree Lodge Performance Cup for two-year-old colts and fillies will see 11 runners vying for the honours in their maiden run.
Sher Khan, Fast Track and Black Velvet are tipped to shine in the first three races. However, Sweetie Pie from the stables of Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara is waiting to bounce back in the opener.
Crown Prince, Eye Lady and Royal Loyalty are our fancy in the remaining three races.
The first race of the day starts at 12.30pm.
Following is the field and our selections:
THE AZADI PLATE DIV III
CLASS VII 5F:
Trust Again 9-1, Eager Saint 8-13, Hamza Joy 8-12, Sonia 8-11, Mushki 8-10, Guess Its Me 8-7, New Ferrari 8-6, Al Tahura 8-6, Daruwala 8-5, Marvi Express 8-4, Jadu Jantar 8-4, Canon Ball 8-3, Invazer 8-2, Mani Love Janu 8-2, Haroon Prince 8-1, Sher Khan 7-13, Jaguar 7-13, Sweetie Pie 7-12.
Win: Sher Khan.
Place: Trust Again and Haroon Prince.
THE AZADI PLATE DIV II
CLASS VII 5F:
King Of Cool 9-1, Fast Track 9-0, Sher Garh 9-0, Persian Blue 8-12, Saad Prince 8-12, Blind Love 8-12, Royal Champion 8-12, Play Boy 8-11, Sada-e-Awan 8-11, Temptation 8-10, Santa Fee 8-8, Shiracco 8-6, Dilruba 8-6, Bullet Of Arab 8-2, Hur-e-Mehran 8-2, Navaho’s Glory 8-2, Dandy Boy 7-10, Leading Of Arab 7-10.
Win: Fast Track.
Place: Persian Blue and Dilruba.
THE AZADI PLATE DIV I
CLASS VII 5F:
Leopard Of Arab 9-5, Dark Secret 9-3, Ace Of Base 9-0, Black Velvet 9-0, Canon Fire 9-0, Sing Sing 9-0, Cash Deposit 8-13, Nemises 8-13, Admire Moon 8-12, Arab Hi Arab 8-11, Listen 8-11, Bazbabaz 8-9, Sindh Malook 8-8, Mr. Mention Not 8-7, Lucky Gem 8-4, John Player 8-3, Sundri 8-1, New Approach 7-13.
Win: Black Velvet.
Place: John Player and Lucky Gem.
THE KINGREE LODGE PERFORMANCE CUP (2008) – FOR TWO-YEAR OLD COLT AND FILLIES 4F:
Big Bang 8-7, Crazy 8-7, After Shock 8-4, Blanchine 8-4, Lady Lover 8-4, Magnificent Baby 8-4, Stratus Faction 8-4, 3 Knot 3 8-4, Tulip 8-4, Silver Victory 8-0, Blue Water 7-11.
Win/Place: No selection because of maiden run.
THE AZADI PLATE CLASS VI 5F:
Manan Prince 9-4, Baby John 9-2, Crown Prince 9-0, Moon Baby 8-12, Sahibzadi 8-10, Vice Admiral 8-9, Reyan The Great 8-7, Rokara 8-6, Zardan 8-5.
Win: Crown Prince.
Place: Baby John and Sahibzadi.
THE SANGHAR CUP (2008) – HANDICAP RACE FOR PAKISTANI HORSES FOUR YEARS AND ABOVE IM:
Naseeb 10-00, Dream Rose 9-7, Fair Diamond 9-4, Bharosa 8-1, Spice Of Arab 7-13, Phapha Kutni 7-11, Yes Neighbour Yes 7-9, Afroze Jehan 7-7, The Ghazan Prince 7-6, Savabeel 7-6.
Win: Drean Rose.
Place: Bharosa and Spice Of Arab.
THE AZADI PLATE CLASS IV
AND V DIV I AND II 5F:
Dragon Heart 9-10, King Of Sanghar 9-2, Stormy Kiss 8-9, Desert Hawk 8-6, Star Is Born 8-3, The Princess Arab 8-3, Voo Doo Doll 7-13, Star Of Galaxy 7-6, Stryde By Stryde 7-6.
Win: Stryde By Stryde.
Place: Stormy Kiss and Desert Hawk.
THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CUP
(2008) – HANDICAP RACE FOR
PAKISTANI COLTS AND FILLIES THREE-YEAR OLD 6F:
Blossom 9-1, Discreet Cat 9-0, Claim To Fame 8-11, Momal 8-11, The Victorious 8-11, Sayeen Jee 8-9.
Win: Blossom.
Place: Sayeen Jee and Claim To Fame.
THE AZADI PLATE DIV IV
CLASS VII 5F:
Princess Sparkle 9-3, Raj Kumari 9-0, Spenzer 9-0, Be Jamalo 8-13, Dream Prince 8-12, Qandhar 8-11, Shah Pasand 8-10, Phool Pati 8-8, Faith 8-6, Mixed Blessing 8-5, Eye Lady 7-13, Dr. Dre 7-12, Silver City 7-12.
Win: Eye Lady.
Place: Mixed Blessing and Princess Sparkle.
THE AZADI PLATE DIV V
CLASS VII 5F:
Moment To Moment II 9-1, Chun Chun Chun 8-12, Princess 8-11, Serpentine -11, Royal Loyalty 8-10, Victory Prince 8-10, Samrah Love 8-10, Al Zarrar 8-9, Marista 8-8, Haibat Nak 8-7, Mame 8-2, Better Then Ever 7-10, Mauja Hi Mauja 7-10, Native Queen 7-10.
Win: Royal Loyalty.
Place: Chun Chun Chun and Moment To Moment II.
DAY’S BEST: Stryde By Stryde.
GOOD DOUBLE: Fast Track and Black Velvet.