KARACHI, April 30: The Karachi Derby winner King Of Sanghar is fancied to gallop away with the Karachi Gold Cup, which will be contested by eleven runners going over the mile, when the Winter Gymkhana Race Meeting gets under way at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

After winning the Karachi Derby over two months ago, the four-year-old bay colt finished off the board in his next two outings which left many of his followers absolutely disappointed.

However, the colt is now tracking very well in the morning workouts and if all goes well, should add the Karachi Gold Cup to his trophy collection, followed home by the thoroughbred bay filly Fantastic Face and the chestnut colt Ghazan Prince, winner of the Sindh Cup contested here over seven furlongs nearly three weeks ago.

All in all eight events have been chalked up for the afternoon’s programme. The first five events will be contested over the sprinting distance of five furlongs, two over six and the main event to be run over the mile.

The first race begins at 1.30 p.m.

The bay horse Ghori carrying only 8-2 on his back should win the opener from the roan horse Tom Cruise and Baby Tabassum.

In the next event, the chestnut horse Welcome Pachino trained by Cajetan Colaco, is on song to present owner Sardar Abdul Aziz with a welcome hat trick of victories, with riding boy Tariq Baran once again in the saddle.

Welcome Pachino should be followed home by Azam The Great with Cool Water joining the fray.

The bay three-year-old filly Voodoo Doll sprinted home to an easy victory last Sunday, in a smart time of one minute 3 ¾ seconds as the racing fans looked on in awed silence.

Participating in the third race, Voodoo Doll should find little difficulty in picking up the spoils again, with Dunhill Desire and High Light battling it out for the two place positions.

Another runner that should not lose on Sunday is Murtaza Hussain’s three-year-old bay filly Savabeel. Two weeks ago the filly reduced the rest of the field including the fancied Leopard to mere passengers, scorching the turf in a splendid time of one minute 3 2/5 seconds with plenty to spare going over five furlongs.

Participating in the fourth event on the afternoon’s programme, Savabeel should be followed home by Arabian Queen, with Sonia grabbing the third spot.

In the next event, Noor-e-Arab although carrying the top weight should pick up the spoils, closely followed home by Snake River and Dinoo Makrani.

Syed Ismail Shah’s thoroughbred bay filly Zumanity should make it two winners in a row, with the highly bred Excalibur and Tharkyee finishing behind the winner in the seventh race going over six furlongs.

Shah Mardan Shah II Pir Pagaro the VII should also be among the winners on Sunday, with his thoroughbred Tanuf-Tripple Silko sibling Aie Bahar, on course to complete her second hat trick on the trot. The challenge however, should come through Wonder Thunder and Penny.

Following is the field and our selections:

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV V & VI 5F

Tom Cruise 9-5, Afzaal Prince 9-1, Baby Tabassum 9-0, Silver Sweet 8-13, Royal Wisdom 8-11, Hat’s Off 8-10, Flying Prince 8-9, Royal Promise 8-7, Super Time 8-5, Law Of Nature 8-5, Royal Beauty 8-5, I’m So Happy 8-4, Taneez 8-4, Raysham 8-3, Baby Raysham 8-3, Ghori 8-2, Sona 8-1 and Re Condition 8-0.

Win: Ghori

Place: Tom Cruise & Baby Tabassum

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV 5F

Canon Ball 9-4, Street Fighter 9-0, Tag Team 8-13, Shanoo 8-13, Hot Press 8-13, Azam The Great 8-11, Cool Water 8-11, Razz 8-10, Ladla 8-10, On The Run 8-10, Welcome Pechino 8-8, Eye Lady 8-6, Golden Copy 8-5, Golden Disc 8-4, Sea Biscuit 8-3, Golden Voice 7-13, Champion Express 7-12, Quite Arrival 7-10 and Melody II 7-10.

Win: Welcome Pachino

Place: Azam The Great & Cool Water.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV III 5F

Silver City 9-3, Smiling Face 9-0, Dunhill Desire 8-13, High Light 8-12, Run And Pray 8-11, Desperado 8-11, Voodoo Doll 8-11, Clapping 8-10, Sher Garh 8-10, Neelam Taab 8-8, Silent Love 8-8, Power Of Tiger 8-5, Fancy II 8-4, Ghabra 8-4, Crysler 8-3, Blind Date 7-13, Fascinate 7-13 and Jet Zone 7-13.

Win: Voodoo Doll

Place: Dunhill Desire High Light.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV II 5F

Just Call Me 9-0, Gold Tip 9-0, Princess Hira 8-13, Arabian Queen (Late City Honour) 8-12, The Princess 8-11, Sonia 8-11, Flying Bird 8-8, Yes Neighbour Yes 8-4, Savabeel 8-2, Gillespie 8-0, Casanova 8-0, Silent Angel 7-13, Fighter 7-12, Hazoom 7-12, Hyperonian 7-12, Leo Again 7-12 and Patricia 7-10.

Win: Savabeel

Place: Arabian Queen & Sonia.

SARHAD PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 5F

Noor-e-Arab 9-1, Hot Chocolate 8-11, Snake River 8-10, Thanks Naeem 8-9, Rahil Prince 8-4, Super Salute 8-4, Queen Of Sanghar 8-4, Deniro 8-2, Jan-e-Arab (Late Ceasar’s) 8-2, Bold Doll 8-1, Lucky Again 8-0, Dinoo Makrani 7-13, Cherry Garh 7-13, Metro 7-12 and Royal Reach 7-10.

Win: Noor-e-Arab

Place: Snake River & Dinoo Makrani.

KARACHI GOLD CUP 2005 ONE MILE

Handicap race for Pakistani horses four-year-old and upwards.

Al Faris 10-0, King Of Sanghar 9-1, Keen Winner 8-12, Fantastic F ace 8-9, Killer Instincts 8-0, Ghazan Prince 8-0, Sharp Cat 7-10, Rahil Jan 7-9, Jingu 7-0, Safeena-e-Arab 7-0 and Shore Footed 7-0.

Win: King Of Sanghar

Place: Fantastic Face & Ghazan Prince.

THATTA PLATE CLASS VI 6F

King Of Arab (Late Ceanue Reeves) 9-4, Ghoroghantal 9-4, Birj-ul-Arab 9-0, Excalibur 8-12, Tharkyee 8-12, Spy Queen 8-10, Zumanity 8-9, Gullu’s Government 8-8, Sarazen 8-8, Guarantee 8-4, Smarty Jones 8-2 and Summer Wine 8-12.

Win: Zumanity

Place: Excalibur & Tharkyee.

SIBI PLATE CLASS V DIV I & II 6F

Donatello 9-10, Real Gift 9-7, Fire Of Desire 9-5, Sculptor 8-12, Wonder Thunder 8-5, Aie Bahar 8-4, Fast And Furious 8-3, Penny 8-1, War Lord 8-0, Silent Witness 7-12 and Fakhar-e-Sanghar 7-11.

Win: Aie Bahar

Place: Wonder Thunder & Penny.

DAY’S BEST: Savabeel

GOOD DOUBLE: Voodoo Doll – Aie Bahar.

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...