KARACHI, Aug 30: Three-year-old dark bay colt Persian Blue who overcame the jinx with two back-to-back wins and was denied a hat-trick by Fast Track in the Independence Day meeting is fancied to lead the field when the Gymkhana race meeting takes place at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.The colt from the stables of Sher Shah Kasi and saddled by Mazhar came out with flying colours twice in a row after successive failures under jockey Fahim K. However, in the last meeting he settled for third after being beaten by twelve-and-a-half lengths with Tariq Baran in the saddle.

His track work suggest that he has returned to form and make amends by getting the better of opponents in the seventh race of the day to be run over five furlongs.

He is likely to be chased by fillies Bullet Of Arab and Novaho’s Glory for the places.

A card of eight races including two cups has been drawn for the day. The first race gets into action at 1.30pm.

Following two failures five-year-old dark bay mare Spice Of Arab have bright prospects to land The Gold Finger Cup in an earlier race.

With a hat trick under her belt, Spice Of Arab finished off the board in The Sanghar Cup and The Fantastic Stakes.

Those who come in the reckoning for places in a field of eight runners are colt Discreet Cat and Chestnut Desert Hawk. However, filly Blossom has the ability to topple the field.

Seven horses are in the run for The Upcoming Stakes which is restricted to two-year-old colts and fillies and run over four-and-a-half furlongs.

Barring a debutant, six other contenders have either made one or two appearances but it’s difficult to predict a winner with a little track work to their credit.

Eight-year-old bay mare Royal Loyalty, filly Chun Chun Chun and Eager Saint are our fancy in the first three races.

The fifth race which has a smallest field of six runners will be a closely contested affair between Remy Martin, Manan Prince and Baby John.

We rate colt Remy Martin to storm home ahead of rivals and complete three-in-a-row.

Syed Ismail Shah’s colt Dark Secret should land the eighth and concluding race.

Following is the field and our selections:

THE SUNRAY PLATE DIV V

CLASS VII 5F:

Tabiedar 9-0, Shan-e-Mir 8-12, Royal Loyalty 8-11, Full ‘N’ Final 8-10, Princess Zara 8-8, Jonty Rhodes 8-8, Marista 8-5, Princess 8-3, Serpantine 8-3, Hello Again 8-2, Samrah Love 8-2, Racing Leader 7-12, Mame 7-10, Shah Sawar 7-10, Sharp Edge 7-10.

Win: Royal Loyalty.

Place: Marista and Princess Zara.

THE SUNRAY PLATE DIV IV

CLASS VII 5F:

Raj Kumari 9-1, Chun Chun Chun 8-13, The Choice Of The Day 8-12, Love Pakistan 8-9, Silent Love 8-8, Qandhar 8-7, Dream Prince 8-6, Faith 8-2, Mixed Blessing 8-1, Queen Of Awan 8-0, Dr. Dre 7-12, Silver City 7-12, Mr. Paidagir 7-10.

Win: Chun Chun Chun.

Place: Love Pakistan and Mixed Blessing.

THE SUNRAY PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 5F:

Princess Rozi 9-1, Eager Saint 9-0, Trust Again 8-7, NYX 8-6, Hamza Joy 8-4, Princess Sparkle 8-3, Hilal Tob 8-2, Invazor 8-2, INXS 8-2, Mushki 8-2, Red Fairy 8-0, Native King 8-0, Canon Ball 7-13, Johnie Walker 7-13, Guess Its Me 7-13, New Ferrari 7-12, Al Tahura 7-12, Sahib-e-Alam 7-11.

Win: Eager Saint.

Place: Princess Rozi and NYX.

THE UPCOMNING STAKES FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND FILLIES 4 1/2F:

Army Of One 8-7, Crazy 8-7, Fatility 8-4, Lil Kimm 8-4, Magnificent Baby 8-4, Tulip 8-

4, Silver Victory 8-0.

Win/Place: No Selection.

THE DIAMOND PLATE CLASS V

DIV II AND CLASS VI 6F:

Remy Martin 9-0, Sir Jee 8-10, Diamond Typhoon 8-2, Manan Prince 8-2, Baby John 8-0, Blind Date 7-8.

Win: Remy Martin.

Place: Manan Prince and Baby John.

THE GOLD FINGER CUP CLASS IV

AND V DIV I 6F:

Discreet Cat 9-4, Spice Of Arab 8-12, Captain Black 8-2, Dragon Heart 8-2, Afroze Jehan 8-1, Blossom 7-12, King Of Sanghar 7-10, Desert Hawk 7-8.

Win: Spice Of Arab.

Place: Discreet Cat and Desert Hawk.

THE SUNRAY PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 5F:

Moon Dazzler 9-0, Persian Blue 8-13, John Player 8-12, Sundri 8-11, Wada 8-11, Prince Salman 8-10, New Approach 8-8, Santa Fee 8-3, Awan Hi Awan 8-2, Back In Business 8-2, Bullet Of Arab 8-2, Novaho’s Glory 8-2, Paidagir 8-2, Saad Prince 8-2, Temptation 8-0, Dandy Boy 7-10.

Win: Persian Blue.

Place: Bullet Of Arab and Novaho’s Glory.

THE SUNRAY PLATE DIV I

CLASS VII 5F:

Rokara 9-0, Khan Jee 8-11, Dark Secret 8-11, Sing Sing 8-10, Arab Hi Arab 8-8, Canon Fire 8-4, Baaz Babazz 8-4, Nemises 8-3, Listen 8-1, Star Of Angels 8-0, Lucky Gem 7-11.

Win: Dark Secret.

Place: Arab Hi Arab and Khan Jee.

DAY’S BEST: Persian Blue.

GOOD DOUBLE: Royal Loyalty and Eager Saint.

Opinion

Editorial

Flying ban reversal
01 Dec, 2024

Flying ban reversal

THE European Aviation Safety Agency has finally lifted the ban on flights of the national flag carrier to and from...
Kurram conflict
01 Dec, 2024

Kurram conflict

DESPITE a ceasefire being in place, violence has continued in Kurram tribal district. The latest round of bloodshed...
World AIDS Day
01 Dec, 2024

World AIDS Day

IT is a travesty that, decades after HIV/AIDS first perplexed medics, awareness about the disease remains low in...
PTI in disarray
Updated 30 Nov, 2024

PTI in disarray

PTI’s protest plans came abruptly undone because key decisions were swayed by personal ambitions rather than political wisdom and restraint.
Tired tactics
30 Nov, 2024

Tired tactics

Matiullah's arrest appears to be a case of the state’s overzealous and misplaced application of the law.
Smog struggle
30 Nov, 2024

Smog struggle

AS smog continues to shroud parts of Pakistan, an Ipsos survey highlights the scope of this environmental hazard....