KARACHI, Sept 14: Shahzadi Erum’s nine-year-old bay mare Welcome Shahtab starts off as the day’s best, when the Summer Gymkhana Race Meeting takes place at the Karachi Racecourse Sunday afternoon.

Although penalised to carry a heavy burden of nine stones and four pounds on her back, the mare trained by Iftikhar Ali after taking a five pound allowance, should pass the winning post ahead of Lover’s Line and Son Of None in the fifth event.

All in all, seven races have been chalked up for the afternoon’s programme, with the first six events to be contested over the sprinting distance of five furlongs and the last race to be contested over six furlongs.

The first begins at 1-30 p.m.

Another runner that should not lose on Sunday, is bay five-year-old Rolling Thunder owned by Agha Noman and trained by Mansoor Alam.

Rolling Thunder should improve further and collar the evergreen Sher Khan and Gharnata in the home stretch in the third event.

The opening event with nine runners vying for top honours, halfbred grey steed Salar-e-Sehar, with a good lad astride, should pass the winning post ahead of Century, a bad fourth last time out and Spring Fair.

Darbari Malang has the potential to make it two winners in a row for owner Mohammad Farooq in the next race.

If all goes well, bay gelding Just In Fun, owned and trained by Iftikhar Ali, should make it two winners in a row in the fourth, in a big field of 18 runners.

The concluding event has 16 runners in the field going over six furlongs.

Of the lot, Royal Fantasy, Hiawatha, Donatello and Deniro come into reckoning.

Although many may fancy the thoroughbred chestnut colt Royal Fantasy to win his race, Ali Faisal Farooq’s bay colt Hiawatha is fancied as our winner.

Following is the field and our selections:

PAK PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-V 5F

Salar-e-Sehar 9-1, Kashmir King 9-0, Hira 8-10, Gypsy Queen 8-10, Spring Fair 8-9, The Messenger 8-5, Fast Spin 8-1, Century 8-1 and Glamour Girl 7-12.

Win: Salar-e-Sehar

Place: Century & Spring Fair.

PAK PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-IV 5F

My Baboo 9-2, Darbari Malang 9-0, Major Dandy 9-0, Speed Fire 8-11, Mr. Tee 8-10, Whitney Houston 8-9, Black Gift 8-6, Royal Promise 8-5, Royal Springs 8-4 and Millennium Era 7-12.

Win: Darbari Malang

Place: Black Gift & Speed Fire.

PAK PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III 5F

Sohna Aya 9-0, Royal Wisdom 9-0, Sher Khan 8-13, Jubilant Action 8-13, Daru 8-13, Rolling Thunder 8-11, Royal Honest 8-10, Powerful Tarzan 8-6, Gharnata 8-5 and Dunlop 8-5.

Win: Rolling Thunder

Place: Sher Khan & Gharnata.

PAK PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-II 5F

Zabyan 9-1, Just In Fun 9-0, Bull Dancer 9-0, Much Better 9-0, Small Wonder 9-0, Black Magic 8-12, Dil Faraib 8-10, Prism Of Life 8-9, Kali Nagan 8-8, Rich Valiant 8-8, Done Is Done 8-7, Ford Mustang 8-6, Noor-un- Nisa 8-6, Miss Ruby 8-6, Ventures Arrow 8-5, Lex Luger 8-4, Shehroz-e- Sehar 8-1 and Silent Fire 7-12.

Win: Just In Fun

Place: Black Magic & Much Better.

PAK PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII & G-I 5F

Welcome Shahtab 9-4, Dauntless 9-3, Lover’s Line 9-2, Kiev 9-2, Son Of None 9-2, My Lucky Star 9-0, Little Sunny 8-13, Oie La 8-12, Black Champion 8-11, Mark 8-3, Mera Sulman 8-2, My Time 8-1, Strong Arm 8-0 and I’m So Happy 7-12.

Win: Welcome Shahtab

Place: Lover’s Line & Son Of None.

PAK PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII 5F

Brave Shah 9-1, Shandar 9-0, Burning Sky 8-11, Lucky One 8-10, Don’t Panic 8-8, Maha Sagar 8-8, Guarantee 8-7, Rajwar 8-6, Slim Fit 8-6, Ever Shine 8-4, Aziz Love 8-3, Rashmee 8-3, Dushtiyan 8-3, Your Pleasure 7-11 and Bye Bye 7-8.

Win: Brave Shah

Place: Lucky One & Aziz Love.

PAK PLATE CLASS IX DIV IV, V & VI 6F

Smiling Senorita 9-7, Royal Fantasy 9-4, The Law 9-4, Bella 9-2, Strategic 9-2, Al Ashia 8-10, Deniro 8-7, Champion By Chance 8-7, Shab- e-Noor 8-3, Sapno Ki Rani 8-2, Hiawatha 8-2, Donatello 7-13, Ray Of Light 7-9, Heed My Speed 7-5, I’m The King 7-5 and The Statesman 7-3.

Win: Hiawatha

Place: Royal Fantasy & Donatello.

DAY’S BEST: Welcome Shahtab

GOOD DOUBLE: Rolling Thunder - Hiawatha.