KARACHI: Outsiders reigned supreme as turf accountants had a field day in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

The punters received first jolt when unknown pedigree bay horse Vieto Power, with no form worth, beat favourite and second favourite pair to land the opener. He was home by three lengths over colt Free Hand as filly Nany was placed third two-and-a-half length further away and ahead of public fancy colt Bugash Bugash in a race that started half-an-hour behind schedule.

The trend continued when another unknown pedigree bay mare Beautiful Rose shocked 30 to 100 favourite bay horse Grey Song by half-a-length to claim the next race. Eighteen-year-old riding boy M. Qais earned accolades by registering his maiden victory. Second favourite filly Khazana and bay horse Business Man followed the two in same order.

Half-money favourite mare Meri Sahiba bit the dust when she lost to Lahore’s horse Musaf Love by two lengths as luck prevented the punters again in the third race. Shahzad Love settled third, six lengths behind while Rytham completed the frame four-and-a-half lengths further away among seven starters.

Finally, the 25 to 100 favourite horse Lava Man brought some respite for the race-goers when he edged The Destroyer by distance in a close finish. Tiny Terror finished third, three-and-a-half length behind while Specialist completed the fame 10 lengths behind.

Rider of Tiny Terror, Wasim, escaped severe injuries when he fell from his mount Tiny Terror after crossing the winning post. The horse, whose one leg was fractured, also breathed his last.

Results:

THE SILVER PLATE SCALE ORDER VII AND VIII 4½ F:

Vieto Power (Mir Khan) 7-11, Riaz Ahmed 1; Free Hand 9-2, Zubair Ahmed 2; Nany 8-4, Pervez Ali 3; Bugash Bugash 9-1, Asad Aksir 4.

Won by 3 L, 2½ L, 3 L. Time: One minute two seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE SILVER PLATE SCALE ORDER V AND VI 5 F:

Beautiful Rose (Wali Mohammad) 7-9 (cr7-2), M. Qais 1; Grey Song 9-0, Mohammad Essa 2; Khazana 8-9, Zaki Zakir 3; Business Man 8-5, Riaz Ahmed 4.

Won by ½ L, 1 L, 6 L. Time: One minute 7 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Naveed Baran.

THE SILVER PLATE SCALE ORDER IV 5 F:

Musaf Love (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 8-6 (cr8-7), Zubair Ahmed 1; Meri Sahiba 8-8, Mohammad Essa 2; Shahzad Love 8-12, Riaz Ahmed 3; Rytham 8-9, Pervez Ali 4.

Won by 2 L, 6 L, 4½ L. Time: One minute 6 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohyuddin.

THE SILVER PLATE SCALE ORDER II, III AND IV 5 F:

Lava Man (P.K. Ahuja) 8-0, Mohammad Essa 1; The Destroyer 8-11, M. Qais 2; Tiny Terror 8-1, Wasim 3; Specialist 8-8, Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by Distance, 3½ L, 10 L. Time: One minute 6 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2015

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