KARACHI: All but one favourite swept a mediocre five-race card as rider M. Naeem piloted home a brace of winners in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

In the only upset, unknown pedigree bay mare Beautiful Rose created quite a stir by getting the better of bay filly Jugni G by three lengths as favourite filly Golden Gold had to be content with third place further beaten by head. Bay horse Lucky Lyna completed the board among eight starters in the third race.

Rider Naeem obliged all and sundry while galloping bay colt Touching Star to a fluent eight lengths victory over Legend Killer to claim the second race. Earlier, the field was reduced to four contestants following the late withdrawal of Capri.

Naeem next partnered dark bay horse Arkadian, who atoned for back-to-back loses edging chestnut horse Racing Fire by distance in a photo-finish to land the fourth race.

The victorious horse was placed second in the last two outings under champion rider Mohammad Essa.

At the outset, public fancy colt Golden Rose made it two wins on the trot imposing to four lengths victory over Touching Wood. Candy Apple settled for third place 10 lengths away while Oh Babay completed the frame.

Five-year-old bay horse Frankestein justified his credentials by galloping to three-and-a-half lengths victory to pick up spoils in the fifth and concluding race. Black Rose and Gold Horse followed the top two in same order.