KARACHI, Jan 26: The thoroughbred grey mare Lover’s Way, registered her second victory in a row, beating Charkh Bareen in her last strides at the Winter Race Meeting held on Sunday afternoon at the Karachi Racecourse.

Participating the last race, Lover’s Way this time partnered by Ghulam Shabbir II, jumped out late as Charkh Bareen took a flying start, closely followed by Dur-e-Yamen and My Freedom.

Getting into her strides at last, Lover’s Way lay fourth followed by joint favourite Sweet Touch, with Spartacist and the stable companions The King Star and Club Champion in the rear of the field.

Turning for home, the three front runners rounded the turn together with Lover’s Way close on their heels. A furlong from home Charakh Bareen with S. Khan in the saddle still held the lead. But with a couple of whips from her rider, Lover’s Way began to close the gap as the crowd roared on in excitement. A few strides from the winning post the grey mare nosed ahead and won the thrilling race by half a length in a smart time of one minute 15 3/5 seconds going over six furlongs.

Top weight My Freedom had to be content with the third slot with Sweet Touch completing the frame. Both the winning mount and jockey Ghulam Shabbir II, received a tremendous ovation from the large band of racing fans, entering the paddock after the race.

However, jockey Shahzad stole the day’s riding honours with a brace of winners. In the opener he took over the reins from jockey Lateef and piloted the bay mare Rukhsar to victory over top weight Daru. Then taking over the reins once again in the fifth race, this time astride Sapno Ki Rani, the young rider had his second triumph of the afternoon, beating the bay filly Sweet Emotions and Royal Lancer, in a race which seemed tailor made for the winner.

But the handling of the raging favourite Ford Mustang in the third event left many racing fans in doubt that Shahzad, who finished a bad third behind Great Bakht and Auzy was not keen at all to win this race.

Only last week Ford Mustang owned by the chairman Yousuf Dada won like a champion, yet the following week the bay horse runs itself down to earth like a donkey.

Riding boy Tariq Baran, rode a pillar to post victory on Great Bakht, with Auzy grabbing the second spot, three lengths behind.

Even the next race won by Free Lancer ridden by Arshad looked terribly suspect, even though the chestnut horse improved tremendously. The favourite Free Lancer having the services of Sher Mohammad in the saddle, took a fine start but after a few strides the rider pulled his mount back into the pack. Most probably Sher Mohammad thought he was participating in a 12 furlong outing instead of five.

This ploy enabled Slim Fit to hit the front, a position held right up to the winning post with Slim Fit finishing second, making a belated effort to win the race half a furlong from the winning post.

Powerful Tarzan ridden by M. Yousuf, won the second race of the afternoon after a close tussle with Present Will and Eye Catcher with Sunday Silence completing the frame.

The biggest upset on the racing card came in the sixth event, when Snake Eyed with Sohail Ahmed astride, came flying from behind to beat Deniro and Guarantee.

Deniro seemed heading for victory in this race but was badly interfered by Jugni which enabled Snake Eyed to sneak in from the inside to win the race.

Order Of Day, going all out to complete a hat trick of winners for owner trainer Yaqoob Butt was in for a setback, when the blue roan finished off the board after the saddle strap snapped and almost dislodged the rider.

The next race meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Feb 2.

Following were the results:

SINDH PLATE CLASS IX DIV IV & V 5F