LAHORE, Feb 3: Four-year-old filly Brave Act underlined her Derby credentials with a fluent victory on Sunday, in the 1,000 Guineas Of Pakistan, a noted trial for the March 2 biggest classic at the Racecourse.
The superbly-bred filly, owned by Sohrab Khan, was piloted by jockey Aamir Pervez. Trained by Amjad Ali II, the daughter of Replay-Coxwain, Brave Act clocked one minute 40 4/5 seconds, on a wet track, due to rain in the morning. A large number of sports’ connoisseurs braved Lahore’s shivering cold weather to see the eight-race card go through.
The filly took up the running with 400 metres to go, brushing aside a mild challenge from Poly Cat, who, humbled by Mythical later, was relegated to third position.
It is for the fourth time that the 1,000 Guineas Of Pakistan classic has been won by Sohrab Khan. His Raba Riba, By Force and Feel The Freedom had won in 1996, 2000 and 2003, respectively.
A race earlier, Malik Hamid Ali Noon’s filly Dixie displayed all the qualities of a street fighter to win the Anarkali Cup, a term race for three-year-old fillies contested in the over 1,200 metres distance race.
Trained by Haji Fazal Hadi and ridden forcefully by jockey Shahid Rehman, Dixie beat Claim To Fame, a raider from Karachi, piloted by Ghulam Shabbir II.
It was kind of strange to see Ghulam Shabbir thinking he had won the race and relaxing when Shahid, in a sudden burst of speed, came from behind, charging Dixie to dislodge Claim To Fame on the finishing line and winning by a narrow margin. The race was run on a fast pace, the winner covering the 1,200 distance in one minute 14 3/5 seconds.
Royal Tradition, who put up a dismal show on January 21, salvaged his stable’s pride while registering a close win over Quwat to lift the Nero Cup in the over 1,300 metres distance. Vendetta and Cut Throat completed the frame.
The reigning champion trainer and yesteryear champion Sohail Aziz and Haji Fazal Hadi each had a magnificent weekend with splendid doubles. Sohail saddled Shakalaka and Royal Tradition while Haji Hadi sent out Miss Liza and Dixie, both owned by Malik Hamid Ali Noon.
Riding home three winners — Dixie, Royal Tradition and Nommy The Hunter — jockey Shahid Rehman excelled among the riders.
Sunday proved very lucky for Zubaida Rehmat, inducted in owners’ ranks earlier in the day, who saw her newly purchased horse Nommy The Hunter winning the eighth and last race on the card. Miss Zubaida is the second lady horse owner in Lahore after Syeda Mubarak Bibi.
Results:
RIWAT PLATE CLASS V
DIV II-C 1,200M:
Shakalaka (Syed Tasweer Hussain Shah) 9-0, Khalil Vicky 1, Munsaf 8-12, A. Imran 2, Baker Love 8-12, M. Hussain 3, Tallal The Great 8-12, M. Zeeshan 4.
Won by 8 1/2 L, 1/2 L, Neck. Time one minute 16 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Sohail Aziz.
RIWAT PLATE CLASS V DIV II-B 1,200M:
Gulf Line (Shahid Mahmood) 8-10, Shakeel Mahmood 1, Toyota 8-10, M. Zeeshan 2, Sweet Lady 8-8, Aamir Pervez 3, Stride To Moment 8-10, M. Sharif 4.
Won by 4 1/2 L, 3 3/4 L, 1/2 L. Time one minute 17 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Aleemuddin.
RIWAT PLATE CLASS V DIV II-A 1,200M:
Miss Liza (Malik Hamid Ali Noon) 9-0, Faheem K. 1, Tuba 8-10, M. Hanif 2, Shim Jim 9-0, M. Zeeshan 3, Diamond Sky 9-0, Aamir Parvaiz 4.
Won by 2 L, 2 1/4 L, 4 1/2 L. Time one minute 16 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Haji Fazal Hadi.
ANARKALI CUP, A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLIES 1,200M:
Dixie (Malik Hamid Ali Noon) 8-0, Shahid Rehman 1, Claim To Fame 9-0, Ghulam Shabbir 2, Rags To Riches 9-0, M. Hanif 3, Heaven’s Heart 8-0, A. Alam 4.
Won by 1/2 L, 3 1/2 L, Distance. Time one minute 14 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Haji Fazal Hadi.
UFON 1,000 GUINEAS OF PAKISTAN, A TERM RACE FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLD FILLIES 1,600M:
Brave Act (Sohrab Khan) 8-12, Aamir Pervez 1, Mythical 8-12, M. Nasir II 2, Poly Cat 8-12, Shahid Rehman 3, Simbi 8-12, Atif Javed 4.Won by Distance, 3 L, 8 L. Time one minute 40 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Amjad Ali II.
NERO CUP CLASS IV
DIV I, II & III 1,300M:
Royal Tradition (Mian Shafqat Rasool) 8-8, Shahid Rehman 1, Quwat 9-2, Aamir Pervez 2, Vendetta 7-8, M. Zeeshan 3, Cut Throat 8-12, M. Hanif 4.
Won by Neck, 2 L, Head. Time one minute 21 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Choudhry Khurrum Hussain.
RIWAT PLATE CLASS V
DIV V I-B 1,200M:
Dillagi (Mohammad Rafiq) 8-11, M. Waseem Khan 1, Mannan Prince 8-9, Aamir Pervez 2, Shah Pari 8-7 Tariq Habib 3, Willhewish 8-13, A. Alam 4.Won by 3 L, 6 1/4 L, 1 3/4 L. Time one minute 16 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Hanif.
RIWAT PLATE CLASS V
DIV I-A 1,200M:
Nommy The Hunter (Zubaida Rehmat) 8-10, Shahid Rehman 1, Karam Pe Karam 8-13, Ali Raza 2, Trump Coup 8-12, Anjum 3, Empire Maker 8-12, A. Imran 4.
Won by 3 L, 5 L, 4 1/4 L. Time one minute 14 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Abdul Rasheed.
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