KARACHI, April 13: Donatello splendidly ridden by Muzaffar Hussain, was the toast of the racing fans on Sunday, after pipping High Standard at the post, in the Summer Gymkhana Meeting held at the Karachi Race Course.

The bay colt owned by Messrs. Yayha Shahid and Faraz Shahid, was well backed by the connections. High Standard after her fine victory two weeks ago and on song for hat trick was also well backed by her followers.

When the race began Donatello took a flying start but High Standard soon partnered by M. Manzoor soon took over the running. Turning into the home straight the two were engaged in a keen tussle for supremacy with Order Of The Day chased by Captain Crash for the third spot.

The front runner passed the winning post together but after the photo-finish verdict, Donatello was declared the winner by 3/4 of a length.

Muzaffar Hussain, a picture of happiness when entering the paddock astride Donatello, was warmly applauded by the racing fans.

Many favourites bit the dust and the followers of form were badly hit.

In the opener, Syed Ali Gohar Shah’s bay filly Royal Beauty won the opening event. Ridden by M. Yousuf, the filly easily got the better of Law Of Nature and another fancied runner Powerful Tarzan.

The second event was also snapped up by another outsider after Little Sunny tried runaway tactics going over the five furlong sprint. The winner was riddden by Najam Iqbal, with Ustadon Ka Ustad bagging the third spot from Striker.

Another favourite met his doom with the much talked about Sovero was soundly beaten by our fancy Shah Khan piloted by Tariq Mahmood in the following event.

Slim Fit was withdrawn from the fourth race after the rider haggling with the Stewards for over half an hour refused to be changed informing the Stewards that his horse was ticking.

The Stewards however, refused to listen to the rider’s pleas and withdrew Slim Fit from the race.

This event was won by Black Door Man having the services of M. Waseem in the saddle, beating a late appearing Mark and Lucky Lover.

In the next event, Agha Noman’s bay filly Flying Bird with young Khalid Nawaz astride, obliged her followers by beating Mera Jugnoo by a healthy margin of five lengths.

Shamsul Queen a 10-year-old chestnut ended the pretensions of Metro, beating the bay horse by half a length.

Blue’s Night, beaten last week, but fancied in these columns to win, picked up the spoils in the seventh race on the programme, beating other fancied runners Ray Of Light and Golden Voice after taking over the running from Great Bakht, while turning for home.

The next race meeting is scheduled for April 20.

Following were the results:

SARHAD PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-V 5F