KARACHI, Dec 17: Punters returned in sheer disgust when at least four favourites bite the dust in a card of seven in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Wednesday.

Outsider bay Mah-e-Noor II created quite a stir when in a late burst he came from behind to edge Silver City by three-quarter-of a length in a photo-finish verdict. Favourite colt Black Victory beat filly Novaho’s Glory by short head, also in a photo-finish, for the third place.

Mah-e-Noor II which failed to finish even on the board in the last run won out of a blue with jockey Essa in the saddle. It is owned and trained by Sher Mohammad.

Black Victory overtook Novaho’s Glory when the two turned their heads for home and approaching the finishing post but were surprisingly left behind by the fast chasing Mah-e-Noor II and Silver City in a closely fought race.

Similarly, two-year-old bay filly 3 Knot 3 provided the first shock to the racegoers beating favourite two-year-old colt Group Captain by half-a-length to land the opener. The horse was ridden home by Nasir.

In the next, second favourite mare Ferocity swept past favourite mare Rangilee by two-and-a-half lengths while three-year-old bay filly Princess Zara with no form worth toppled filly Love Pakistan by short head in the third. Favourite Sanam Jan completed the board with Sahib-e-Alam occupying third place.

Colt Walayat from the stables of Syed Ali Gohar Shah obliged punters when he made it two on trot by getting the better of Spider Man by one-and-a-quarter length.

Favourites NYX and Discreet Cat returned with flying colours in the other two races.

Jockeys Essa and Nasir equally shared the riding honours with a double apiece.

The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Dec 25.

Results:

THE YOUNGSTERS PLATE – A HANDICAP RACE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND FILLIES – 5 F:

3 Knot 3 (Syed Khurram Anwar Ahmed) 8-11 M. Nasir 1, Group Captain 8-7 Aamir Pervaiz 2, Hypnose 8-4 A. Ahmed 3, Just As That 8-7 Mohammad Essa 4. Won by 1/2L, Dist, 1 1/2L. Time: One minute 6 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE PHOOL PLATE FOR UNKNOWN PEDIGREES 5 F:

Ferocity (Mr. Sher Mohammad)8-10 Mohammad Essa 1, Rangilee 8-13 M. Nasir 2, Green Kinjher 8-7(cr8-2) Zaheer Ahmed 3, Tabiedar 8-0(cr7-11) Tauheed Ali 4.

Won by 2 1/2L, 7 1/2L, 6L. Time: One minute 8 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by owner.

THE PAKISTAN PLATE DIV V

CLASS VII 5 F:

Princess Zara (Mr. Murtaza Mirza)8-3 Fahim K 1, Love Pakistan 8-11 Arshad 2, Sahib-e-Alam 8-6(cr7-13) Ashiq Ali II, 3, Sanam Jan 9-1 M. Nasir 4.

Won by S. Head, 5L, 1/2L. Time: One minute 9 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by

M. Rafiq K.

THE PAKISTAN PLATE DIV IV

CLASS VII 5 F:

Walayat (Syed Ali Gohar Shah) 9-2(cr8-9) Mohsin Mohiuddin 1, Spider Man 9-0(cr8-7) Rehan Ahmed 2, Hamza Joy 8-13 M. Nasir 3, Princess Sparkle 8-9 Shahid Manan 4.

Won by 1 1/4L, 1 1/4L, 7L. Time: One minute 7 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Talib Hussain.

THE PAKISTAN PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 5 F:

Nyx (Mr. Amin Faisal)9-3(cr8-10) Tauheed Ali 1, Your Honour 8-2 Faisal Qamar 2, New Ferrari 8-6 Fahim K 3, Sonia 7-12 Tajamul Hussain 4.

Won by 2L, 3L, 5L. Time: One minute 9 seconds. Winner trained by Rafiq Ahmed.

THE PAKISTAN PLATE DIV II

CLASS VII 5 F:

Mah-e-Noor II (Mr. Sher Mohammad)8-6 Mohammad Essa 1, Silver City 8-7 Mohsin Mohiuddin 2, Black Victory (late Halal Tob) 9-1 Aamir Pervaiz 3, Novaho’s Glory 9-3 Ghulam Shabbir II, 4.

Won by 3/4L, S. Head, Head. Time: One minute 7 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by owner.

THE KINGREE PLATE CLASS V

DIV I AND II 5 F:

Discreet Cat (Miss Zainab Ali) 8-6 M. Nasir 1, Afroze Jehan 9-3 Wasim 2, Savabeel 8-9 A. Ahmed 3, Spice Of Arab 9-2 M. Yousuf 4.

Won by Head, 1L, 8L. Time: One minute 4 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.