LAHORE: A tough competition was expected in this year’s Pakistan Derby 2018 and racing enthusiasts saw exactly the same here at the Lahore Race Club on Sunday. After going neck and neck for 2400 metres, the favourite Sultan One turned out to be the winner.
It maintained the speed throughout the run and by the fag end of the course accelerated its strides to surpass the distance in just over two and a half minutes time.
Rejoicing its owners Mian Faisal Khan and trainer Asaad Mahmood, hugged the master jockey Amir Perveez and escorted Sultan One to the pavilion dancing. With this win, the owner also pocketed Rs 700,000 in prize money.
Contrary to the expectations when the pundits predicted Gujrat One for a place, Prince of Gawalmandi grabbed the limelight. From the start whistle the tussle between these three colts developed with every passing stride and Prince of Gawalmandi first crossed Gujrat One but gas in its cylinder evaporated before Sultan One crossed the finish line to win the Pakistan derby 2018. Sultan One surpassed 2400 metres in just two minute and 39 seconds followed by Prince of Gawalmandi and Gujrat One at second and third place respectively. It was seventh straight win of Sultan One and its jockey who got 10 percent of the win bonus, pleaded for government’s involvement for the promotion of horse racing sport. Keeping the derby aside, the whole day at the Lahore Race Club was full of activity because another 10 races were scheduled from morning till evening. The day started with five Indus Plate races, followed by the Breeders Cup, Queen Elizabeth II Challenge, Tarbela Dam Cup, Ziarat Cup and then the division II and II plate race.
Before the derby race took off, the three-year old ponies’ Breeders Cup took place and Al Akbar won the race. Big Act stood second and Goleki Queen was third. In this 1000 metres race, Goleki Queen was favourite for win but it was overpowered by Al Akbar and Big Act, pushing it (Goleki Queen) to the third place.
Al Akbar, however was expected to take the second position but Big Act winning the second place was a complete surprise when everyone was expecting upset from Victim of Love. The Pakistan derby was followed by the Queen Elizabeth ll Challenge Cup and favourite Big Bravo, that won the previous year’s derby, claimed first position. This handicap race for 4 year old thoroughbred, Big Brother was favourite while Dardawan was expected to take the place and Right to Dream was tagged for a upset.
Street Smart, which was expected to take the place surpassed the favourite and win the Tarbela Dam Cup. Arnaj was favourite here.Zoaq finished at the top in the Ziarat Cup, which was second last race of the day.
In the first four races held in Indus Plate, favourites took the podium with just slight difference in positions in their pre-race assessments with an upset in the second race. Stella was favourite for the opening race and it lived up to the expectations. Free my Heart got the second place and Sweet Miracle was third. The first race saw place favourite Crazy Cat Lady and Mehmoor Princess lose with miles away.
While Dhandla Queen saddled ahead of all leaving behind the favourite in the second race. Sign of Blessing secured the second place while Lead Them Home became third. Here Aziz Prince failed to make an impact and Dhandla staged an upset.
The third and fourth races saw Real Commando, which was believed for taking the place took charge and Chan Makhna did not disappoint his followers.Real Commando was followed by Right Time and Zaheer Princess in the third race when place favourite Very Special was overtaken by out of the blue Right Time.
The fourth race winner Chan Makhna was surprised by California winning the second place and Town Girl becoming third when all the bets were on Love You True and Salam-e-Dera for the later two places.
The fifth race which was also Indus Plate had Loving Memory fit in to the expectations of all by winning it. Contrary to the expectations, Timbo took the second place while Marshal Attack, which was expected to win second position slipped to the third position.Piyara Sayeen was the winner of the 11th race which was an Indus Plate of class vII and division II-III.