KARACHI, Jan 12: The chestnut colt Defence Academy, with jockey Arshad in the saddle, made every post a winning one, while picking up the spoils in the fourth event of the Winter Gymkhana Meeting held on Sunday afternoon at the Karachi Racecourse.
The colt trained by former rider Nazir, made it two winners in a row for owner Irfan Mehdi. But jockey Arshad’s confidence almost cost him the race.
Still in full command with half a furlong from the winning post, Arshad eased his mount and was indeed very lucky that he was not overrun by Slim Fit sprinting in from behind. Your Excellency finished third, after Abdul Rahim replaced Akram Shahwani in the saddle, and Mark finished a poor fourth.
This victory enabled Arshad and Nazir to finish the afternoon with a brace of winners.
Earlier in the third race, Arshad piloted home Free Lancer to a comfortable victory over the chestnut horse Silent Fire, also trained by Nazir.
The first race of the afternoon was picked up the seven-year-old chestnut colt Super Boy ridden by riding boy Yousuf Ikram, beating off the spirited challenge of Night Hero and Royal Promise.
Lightening Arrow with Latif aboard, won the third race of the afternoon by two lengths from Great Bakht, after the two were engaged in a keen tussle sprinting for home.
Present Will once again grabbed the third spot from the bay filly Bye Bye. But the performance of M. Akram astride the bay horse Rich Valiant, left much to be desired. Throughout the race Akram was guilty of not allowing his mount to run on merit after being backed for a song for a place chance.
Owner Mohammad Akram had something to cheer about in the fourth race, when his dark bay colt Recent Command partnered by riding boy Zahoor Ahmed, humbled the raging favourite Sher Zai, ridden by Aamir Ali by two and half lengths. A further eight lengths behind came Just In Fun in third position with Dushtiyani completing the frame.
Another favourite bit the dust in the following event, when the chestnut filly High Standard with Khalid Nawaz with the reins, was beaten hands down by Mrs. Shahzadi Erum’s bay mare Welcome Shahtab partnered by Bashir Karim, with Gulnar and Sweet Emotions trailing in the far distance.
After the race there was a hue and cry from the racing fans as only two runners seemed interested in the race. Since Welcome Shahtab clocking one minute 4 3/5 seconds over the five furlongs sprint won a genuine race, the Stewards cleared the event.
Suddenly all hell broke loose. Missiles like rocks, bottles and sticks began flying in all directions as the enraged crowd made a beeline for the cluster of bookmakers.
Although peace was restored after a while, the last race on the programme had to be cancelled by the Stewards.
In this race, riding boy Kashif Ali astride Aziz Love was fined Rs20000. and his license revoked for a period of two months for his unsatisfactory performance in the saddle.
Following are the results:
SEHAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-V 5F
Super Boy (Mr. Athar Hussain Khan) 8-5 Yousuf Ikram 1, Night Hero 8-7 Naseem Ahmed 2, Royal Promise 8-2 Naveed 3, Miss Neutron 8-7 Ashraf Kamal 4.
Won by 1 3/4L, 1 1/2L, 2 3/4L. Time 1 min 14 sec. Winner trained Abdul Wahab.
SEHAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-IV 5F
Lightening Arrow (Mr. M. Asif Zehri) 8-10 Latif 1, Great Bakht 8-7 Tariq Baran 2, Present Will 9-2 Raees Ahmed 3, Bye Bye 8-5 H. Hanif .
SEHAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-III 5F
Free Lancer (Syed Naeem Ahmed) 8-12 Arshad 1, Silent Fire 8-11 Kashif Ali 2, Reasonable 8-2 W. Waseem 3, Even Top 8-10 M. Yousuf 4.
Won by 8 1/4L, 2 1/2L, 2 2/4L. Time 1 min 7 2/8 sec. Winner trained by Nazir.
SEHAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-II 5F
Defence Academy (Mr. Irfan Mehdi) 9-0 Arshad 1 Slim Fit 8-6 Sher Mohammad 2, Your Excellency 7-13 Abdul Rahim 3, Mark 8-12 Raees Ahmed 4.
Won by 1/2L, 8L, 2 1/4L. Time 1 min 6 sec. Winner trained by Nazir.
SEHAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-I 5F
Recent Command (Mr. Mohammad Akram) 8-3 Zahoor Ahmed 1, Sher Zai 7- Aamir Ali 2, Just In Fun 9-0 M. Yousuf 3, Dushtiyani 7-13 Abdul Rahim 4.
Won by 2 1/2L, 8L,4 1/2L. Time 1 min 5 1/5 sec. Winner trained by Sohail Qamar.
SEHAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV VII 5F
Welcome Shahtab (Mrs. Shahzadi Erum) 8-8 Bashir Karim 1, High Standard 8-8 Khalid Nawaz 2, Gulnar 8-0 Abdul Rahim 3, Sweet Emotions 8-8 Latif 4.
Sapno Ki Rani was withdrawn from the race before coming under the starter’s orders.
Won by 8 1/2L, Dist. I 1/2L. Time 1 min 4 3/5 sec. Winner trained by Iftikhar Ali.
SEHAR PLATE CLASS IX DIV IV, V, VI 6F
RACE CANCELLED.