LAHORE: Pakistan Derby Winner Pakistani Star lived up to his star breeding when he strode to another glory by winning the prestigious Queen Elizabeth, the second, Challenge Cup run over 2000 metres, during the Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse here on Sunday.

The fine bred colt from English sire, Galactic Star, Pakistani Star stormed in to the lead in the home stretch without any challenge from five rivals to win from the filly Galactica by a big margin of distance.

The filly Sarabi finished third nosing out the filly Queen to complete the frame. The colt Tufaan, who was also backed for a place, pulled up lame in the straight to be out of the race.

Trained by Alim-ud-Din the winner gave an arm-chair ride to jockey Safdar Hussain while the owner Haji Choudhry Mohammad Asghar received the cup from Lahore Race Club (LRC) senior steward Mohammad Kaleem Khan after the sixth race of the day.

A race earlier, the long shot bay colt J.K, ridden by riding boy Awais Anjum, caused a great upset to win the Syed Wajid Ali Shah Memorial Cup run over 1200 metres edging out favourite filly Sundari at the finish post.

Fox Trot and Parsian Pearl completed the frame. LRC member Umar Khan gave away the cup to winning owner Syed Atif Ashfaq Shah.

Odds on favourite colt Sardar Gee extended his winning streak to four with a big triumph to bag the Pakistan Day Cup run over 1100 metres defeating bay colt Casper by four lengths.

In this race the only female rider, Alishba Mohsinm fell from her mount Codes Cracker during the race and was rushed to hospital for medical aid.

Sardar Gee is owned by co-owners Zain-ul Abideen and Malik Asghar Ali and trained by Khawaja Qamar Hameed and ridden by

Safdar Hussain, who later piloted home Farhan King in the Nero’s Dream Cup run over 1100 metres to register his third success of the day. That landed a lucrative cup double for both owner Haji Choudhry Asghar Ali and trainer Alim-ud-Din.

The race-goers enjoyed some competitive and close finishes when a card of eight races was gone through with punters and turf accountants sharing the day in even exchanges.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2023