KARACHI, Dec 5: After a one month’s lull due to Ramazan, horseracing begins again on Sunday, when the Sixth Day of the Winter Gymkhana Meeting gets under way at the Karachi Race Course.
Seven events are on the racing card, the first five to be contested over the sprinting distance of five furlongs and the next two to be run over six. The first race begins at 12.00 noon.
The Eid Milan Cup will be the main event where 10 runners will be vying for the top honours in the sixth event, over six furlongs.
Of the lot M. Ateeq’s top weight filly Fly To The Sky and his bay four-year-old colt The New Champion, along with Syed Sadruddin Shah’s dark bay filly Hoor-e-Mehran, Laurel and his younger brother Show Time, all have a chance to pick up the spoils with X’Tasy and Lover’s Way joining the fray.
Our racing column will stick to Hoor-e-Mehran top win this race, already with a hattrick of victories under her belt with jockey Ghulam Shabbir II in the saddle. The winner should be followed home by Fly To The Sky and The New Champion.
Our day’s best however, is the thoroughbred bay colt Mickey Mikado II, also the property of M. Ateeq, participating in the fifth event.
In his last outing Mickey Mikado II was beaten by a head by Royal Falcon, sprinting over five furlongs. Now in a big field with 17 runners, Mickey Mikado II seems to be a certain winner, unless fate proves us wrong.
Another runner that should not let the racing fans down is the dark bay gelding Sajan Black from trainer Taj Mohammad’s yard. If all goes well Sajan Black will sprint past the winning post with Mark and Delta Song in close pursuit.
In the opener with 14 runners trotting up to the starting gate, the speedy Gharnata is fancied to win this race from Royal Beauty and Lucky Love.
The roan colt High Speed if ticking, should get the better of Sarafan and Sunday Silence, with Striker also making his presence felt.
The fourth race has a big field of 18 runners and of course an upset would not surprise me in the least. However, on track work, the bay gelding Love Land with a good lad astride could settle the outcome of this race from Superb Star and the grey mare Blue’s Night.
The last race on the afternoon’s programme will have eight runners in contention. In this event, the chestnut colt Shinning Steel, another contender from Taj Mohammad’s yard has already four straight wins and will be going all out to register his fifth success on the trot. The game Donatello and the thoroughbred mare Fire Of Desire, should provide a keen challenge.
Following is the field and our selections:
EID MILAN PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III & IV 5F
Show Stopper 9-0, Red Rum 9-0, Rolling Thunder 9-0, Lightening Arrow 8-13, Big Star 8-13, Royal Beauty 8-12, Gharnata 8-11, Fantazm 8-11, Prince Naeem 8-7, Shehroz-e-Sehar 8-7, Century 8-6, Royal Promise 8-5, Lucky Love 8-5 and Money Make Music 8-4.
Win: Gharnata
Place: Royal Beauty & Lucky Love.
EID MILAN PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III 5F
Sarafan 9-3, Bye Bye 9-0, High Speed 8-11, Ford Mustang 8-9, Millennium Magic 8-8, Striker 8-6, Rich Valiant 8-3, Jango 8-2, Mera Kiya Kasoor 8-1, Sachin 7-12, Sunday Silence 7-12, Clever Cat 7-12 and Miss Ruby 7-12.
Win: High Speed
Place: Sarafan & Sunday Silence.
EID MILAN PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-II 5F
Silent Fire 9-0, Just in Fun 8-12, Sajan Black 8-12, Delta Song 8-10, Noor-un-Nisa 8-9, Mark 8-9, Even Top 8-8, Prism Of Life 8-6, Baby Tabassum 8-6, Dauntless 8-4, Classic Beauty 8-4, Neeli Nighahain 8-4 and Afzaal Prince 8-3.
Win: Sajan Black
Place: Mark & Delta Song.
EID MILAN PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 5F
Sher Zai 9-2, Superb Star 9-1, Rashmee 9-0, Royal Lancer 9-0, Sugar Daddy 9-0, Blue’s Night 9-0, Love Land 9-0, Quick Mover 8-13, Dushtiyani 8-11, Little Sunny 8-8, Recent Command 8-7, One Touch 8-6, Knight Gambler 8-5, Slim Fit 8-5, Your Excellency 8-4, Maha Sagar 8-4, Power Plus 8-2 and Free Lancer 8-1.
Win: Love Land
Place: Superb Star and Blue’s Night.
EID MILAN PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII 5F
Brave Shah 9-3, Neelam Taab 9-2, Mickey Mikado II 9-1, Sardar 8-11, Ray Of Light 8-10, Golden Voice 8-9, Never Band 8-8, Aziz Love 8-7, Wonder Thunder 8-4, Al-Chemy 8-4, Sweet Emotions 8-4, Minnie Me 8-0, Flying Bird 8-0, National Lining 8-0, The Prince Zeeshan 7-12, Valerie 7-11 and Snake Eyed 7-10.
Win: Mickey Mikado II
Place: Golden Voice & Brave Shah.
EID MILAN CUP CLASS IX DIV IV & V 6F
Fly To The Sky 9-0, The New Champion 8-11, Lovely Concept 8-9, Lover’s Way 8-2, Laurel 8-1, Hoor-e-Mehran 8-0, Lucky Three 7-12, Xtasy 7-10, Guarantee 7-10 and Show Time 7-10.
Win: Hoor-e-Mehran
Place: Fly To The Sky & The New Champion.
EID MILAN PLATE CLASS IX DIV VI 6F
Fire Of Desire 9-0, Donatello 8-12, Welcome Shahtab 8-8, Shining Steel 8-7, Deniro 8-5, Prince Of Arabia 8-5, Saligna 8-5 and Mubashar Prince 8-3.
Win: Shining Steel
Place: Donatello & Fire Of Desire.
DAY’S BEST: Mickey Mikado II
GOOD DOUBLE: Sajjan Black - Hoor-e-Mehran.