KARACHI, May 7: The bookmakers reigned supreme in what turned out to be a day of upsets in the Summer Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

With the exception of opener, fancied horses were toppled in rest of the five races as punters had a mixed feeling.

Jockey Mohammad Essa who shone with a splendid double presented owner Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara a winner when seven-year-old bay mare, Ultimate Victory, returned with flying colours to justify her top billing by making it two in a row in the opening event.

She edged out mare, Royal Beauty, by four lengths and improved upon her previous timings completing five furlongs in 1 min 8 2/5 secs. She had clocked 1 min 9 2/5 secs for the same sprinting distance in her last outing with Essa astride.

Essa completed his feat when he galloped six-year-old bay mare, Poply Billy, to her maiden victory in the next race.

She outpaced Raka Poshi by three lengths while Tag Team secured third place. Favourite Tun Baba Tun was beaten to fourth place.

Making amends of successive defeats, Tom Cruise returned to form after almost a month when he grabbed the third race beating favourite Fascinate by two-and-a half lengths.

Azam The Great was placed third while Annaba completed the frame. The latter enjoyed an edge over other contenders for most part of the race but was overtaken few lengths away from the finishing post.

Tariq Baran piloted five-year-old bay mare, Raat Ki Rani, to a surprising victory in the fourth race which saw favourite Leo Again occupying fourth slot.

Mare, Princess Ridda and four-year-old bay colt, New Ferrari, grabbed second and third positions.

The field was reduced to 15 after Qandhar was withdrawn before the start of the race.

The fifth race ended in a blaze of glory for three-year-old chestnut colt, Reyan King, who made it two in a row besides interrupting winning run of fancied Johnnie Walker.

Belonging to the stables of Reyan Ahmed, Reyan King put up a fine performance by beating Johnnie Walker and completed the race in a good time of 1 min 4 secs.

Haji Khuda Bux Rajar’s five-year-old bay mare, Smiling Face made amends when she picked up spoils in the concluding event.

Meanwhile, The KRC administrator has issued a new license to jockey Saifullah. Earlier, he used to ride in the name of Saif Mohammad.

Results:

DUBAI PLATE DIV V 5F

Ultimate Victory (Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara) 8-13 Mohammad Essa 1, Royal Beauty 8-12 S. Khan 2, Raaz 8-10 Latif 3, Arab King 8-12 Raees Ahmed 4. Won by 4L, 1 1/2L, Nk. Time: 1 min 8 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Sher Mohammad

DUBAI PLATE DIV 1V 5F

Poply Billy (Mr. Abdul Qadir Jillani) 8-12 Mohammed Essa 1, Raka Poshi 8-1(cr 7-12) Pervaiz Ali 2, Tag Team 8-7(cr 8-0) Zaki Zakir 3, Tun Baba Tun 9-3 Mujahid Ali 4. Won by 3L, S. Head, 1 1/2L. Time: 1 min 7 1/5 sec.

Winner trained by Amir Ahmed

DUBAI PLATE DIV 111 5F

Tom Cruise (Mr. Mohammad Faisal) 8-0 Abdul Rahim 1, Fascinate 9-1(cr8-8)Zaki Zakir 2, Azam The Great 9-1(cr8-8) Tahir Ali 3, Annaba 8-1 M. Amjad 4. Won by 2 1/2L, 1 1/4L, 1 1/2L. Time: 1 min 6 4/5 sec.

Winner trained by Ramzan A

DUBAI PLATE DIV 11 5F

Raat Ki Rani (Raja Sajid M. Abbasi) 8-3 Tariq Baran 1, Princess Ridda 8-3 M. Nasir 2, New Ferrari 8-3 Latif 3, Leo Again 8-7 Mohammad Essa 4. Won by 1/2L, 3 1/2L, 2L. Time: 1 min 5 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by M. Yaqoob Butt

DUBAI PLATE DIV 1 5F

Reyan King (Mr. Reyan Ahmed) 9-0 Rafiq 1, Johnnie Walker 9-0 M. Nasir 2, Baba Jani 8-11 Kashif Qamar 3, The Big Show 8-1 Ghulam Shabbir 11 4. Won by 3L, 9L, 4 1/2L. Time: 1 min 4 sec.

Winner trained by Ghulam Channa

ANJUM PLATE 5F

Smiling Face (Haji Khuda Bux Rajar) 8-2 M. Nasir 1, Haseena-e-Arab 8-3 Ghulam Shabbir 11 2, Thanks Naeem 9-1 Arshad 3, Kicking King 8-6 Zaki Zalir 4. Won by 4L, 9L, 3/4L. Time: 1 min 4 2/5 sec.

Winner trained by Mushtaq Ali Khan.

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