KARACHI, Nov 9: Four favourites bite the dust while a race was cancelled because of lack of competition in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Outsider six-year-old bay mare Closing Argument galloped to a four lengths’ victory over mare Afroze Jehan to land The Iqbal Day Cup as favourite Royal King had to be content with third place among the six starters. Manan Prince completed the board.

The earlier race — The Sire Produce Stakes — meant for two-year-old colts and fillies, had to be cancelled as it witnessed lack of competition among seven runners after filly Tulip was withdrawn.

It was a two-horse race between stable mates After Shock and 3 Knot 3 as others in the fray lagged far behind. The punters though got their money refund but were in a fix as to how the young ones were not on the job.

This is not the first time that a race had been cancelled in view of lack of competition.

Second favourite filly Chun Chun Chun edged favourite colt Haram Tob by half-a-length to claim the last race.

Five-year-old bay Invazor toppled public fancy Sindh Malook by two-and-a-half lengths to land the opener while 12-year-old mare Taneez chalked up a long overdue victory to claim honours in the next. Favourite Rangilee occupied fourth slot.

It was only 13-year-old bay mare Sonia which obliged the punters by returning with flying colours in the third race.

Results:

THE ADORN PLATE DIV I CLASS VII 5F:

Invazor (Zainab Ali and Iman Ali) 9-0, Ghulam Shabbir II 1; Sindh Malook 9-0, M. Nasir 2; Leopard Of Arab 8-9, Zaki Zakir 3; Cash Deposit 8-1, M. Amjad 4.

Won by 2 1/2L, 1L, 5L. Time: One minute 4 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.

THE ADORN PLATE DIV V CLASS VII 5F:

Taneez (Asghar Mehmood Baig) 8-3, Pervez Ali 1; Full ‘N’ Final 8-9, Tauheed Ali 2; Faith 8-0, M. Arif 3; Rangilee 8-11, Sohail Ahmed 4.

Won by 2L, 3/4L, 2 1/4L. Time: One minute 9 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Imam Din.

THE ADORN PLATE DIV IV CLASS VII 5F:

Sonia (Rafiullah) 8-7, Tahir Ali 1; Dream Prince 8-13, Mumtaz Ali 2; Silver City 8-9, Waheed 3; Mixed Blessing 8-9, M. Yousuf 4.

Won by 3/4L, 2 1/2L, 6L. Time: One minute 8 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ramzan A.

THE IQBAL DAY CUP CLASS V

DIV I AND II 6F:

Closing Argument (Dawood Ahmed) 7-13, Sohail Ahmed 1; Afroze Jehan 9-4, Wasim 2; Royal King 7-9, Pervez Ali 3; Manan Prince 7-6, Shahzad Gul 4.

Won by 4L, 6L, 2 1/2L. Time: One minute 18 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Pervez.

THE ADORN PLATE DIV III CLASS VII 5F:

Chun Chun Chun (Beenish Hasan) 8-9, Mumtaz Ali 1; Haram Tob 8-2, Mohammad Essa 2; Mushki 9-5, Shahzad Gul 3; Victory Prince 8-8, Dasrat 4.

Won by 1/2L, 4L, 3L. Time: One minute 5 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ameer Ahmed.