LAHORE: The 40 to 100 favourite bay colt, Nawab Of Bhakkar, exhibited a good gallop to win the feature event, run over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres, during the Lahore Summer Meeting held on Sunday evening.

From the word go, the son of Bletch Dancer out-of-Grecianette switched towards the rails and on entering the straight took up the running with an electrifying thrust of speed and had the race in safekeeping.

The bay colt Warrior’s Soul tried to challenge the leader but failed to make any impression as the Nawab Of Bhakkar crossed the finish line three-and-a-half lengths ahead. Six thoroughbreds took part in the sixth race of the day.

Previously owned by The Jockey Club Of Pakistan (JCP) chairman, Syed Pervez Hussain, under the name of “Punjab”, the colt from Northern Dancer’s line was purchased recently by Malik Mohammad Asad Nawaz Kohawar at a bargain price.

The muscularly built colt seems set to emulate her mother Grecianette, who holds the record fastest timing of 58 3/5 seconds in 1,000 metres sprint.

She registered carrying a top weight of eleven stones six pounds while running in the company of imported horses at the Lahore Racecourse here on April 29, 2007.

Ridden by A. Raza, the winner clocked one minute 1 2/5 seconds in a handy position in this sixth race of day.

A race earlier, the chestnut colt Faulkner stormed home a spectacular winner in the supporting event, gone over 900 metres.

Ridden by Aamir Pervez and trained by A. B. Malik, Faulkner held off strongly in a decisive manner a mild challenge from the bay filly, Her Majesty, defeated by clear three lengths.

Meanwhile, LRC chairman Tariq Aziz has stressed the urgent need for grading all riders riding at the Racecourse here.

Addressing a meeting of stake-holders, he said the need for ranking of riders was being felt because when a rider was replaced or substituted to avoid apprehensions of not being on try out, the change should be made with the rider of the same grade to maintain transparency of the sport and fair play to all concerned.

He has directed steward Masud Pervez to accomplish the job of ranking within the shortest time.

LRC secretary Shahzad Akhtar, stipendiary steward Waheed Akhtar and handicapper Mohammad Shafiq besides representatives of stakeholders Shafiq Sadiq and Atta Khan were also present in the meeting.

LRC chairman also issued instructions to handicapper to deal strictly in case of any violation of rules by owners or trainers and report the matter to steward Masud Pervez.

Tariq Aziz also listened to suggestions by the stakeholders and told them he would welcome any suggestion for betterment of the sport and uplifting its standard.

Results:

TURBAT PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV-900M:

Abid Love (M. S. Butt) 7-4 Sajjad Hussain 1. Salanty 7-4 Miwani 2. Daniel Bryan 7-10 A. Rehman 3. Derby Brown 8-8 M. Jehangir 4.

Won by 1 ¼ L, 4 L, 2 ¾ L. Time 58 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Rana M. Arshad.

TURBAT PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV- (MAIDENS) 900M:

Shabab-e-Bhakkar (Hamza Kashif Butt) 7-8 Sajjad Hussain 1. Neeli The Great 8-10 Safdar Ali 2. Jimmy Jutt 7-4 Babar Hussain 3. Majalli 7-4 Munir Hussain 4.

Won by 2 L, 3 L, Distance. Time 58 1/5 seconds.

Winner trained by S. Butt.

TURBAT PLATE CLASS VII DIV II & III-900M:

Jutt Bahadur (Amjad Ali Jutt) 8-10 Tahir Abbas 1. Amir Queen 8-8 M. Hanif 2. I Wish 8-8 Babar Rehman 3. True Man 8-2 Aftab Choudhry 4.

Won by ¾ L, 2 L, ½ L. Time 56 1/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Khawaja Qamar Hameed.

TURBAT PLATE CLASS VII DIV II-900M:

Banjo (Syed Natiq Hussain) 8-10 M. Waseem 1. Qalandri 8-0 Aamir Pervez 2. Kali Ghatta 8-4 Alam Sher 3. Stone Queen 9-0 Imran Hussain 4)

Won by 1 ¼ L, Neck, ½ L. Time 55 4/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Toheed Manzoor.

TURBAT PLATE CLASS VII DIV I-900M:

Faulkner (Wali Mohammad) 8-12 Aamir Pervez 1. Her Majesty 7-12 S. Raza 2. Beautiful Lady 8-8 Babar Rhman 3. Satpara 8-8 Aftab Choudhry 4.

Won by 3 L, 2 ¼ L, 3 L. Time 54 1/5 seconds.

Winner trained by A. B. Malik.

TURBAT PLATE CLASS VI DIV II, III & IV-1,000M:

Nawab Of Bhakkar (Malik M. Asad Nawaz Kohawar) 8-12 A. Raza 1.Warrior’s Soul 7-12 Aamir Pervez 2. Dogar Prince 7-12 Babar Rehman 3. Vegas 8-4 M. Sajjad 4.

Won by 31/2 L, 2 ½ L, ½ L. Time one minute 1 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Mohammad Afzal.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2016