KARACHI: Ace rider Zaki Zakir piloted home a pair of favourites belonging to the stables of an uncle and his nephew in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

First, he partnered unknown pedigree bay filly Zeenat to four lengths victory over filly Sonia Again to clinch the opening race. Another filly Nany settled third three lengths behind with debutant Risky Business completing the frame further beaten by short head.

When the betting commenced, dark bay colt Thanaydar, who was among those who also ran in his maiden outing on April 19, was opened favourite but later Zeenat become even-money favourite and justified her credentials. The filly belonged to the stables of Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara and was trained by champion trainer Mohyuddin.

The rider completed his double by guiding three-year-old bay filly Gamez Over to a three-quarter-of-a-length victory over mare National Queen in the fifth and concluding race which was also the day’s feature event.

With a win already under her belt, Gamez Over had earned promotion in Scale Order II following her last success on April 12.

Gamez Over overtook front-runner and debutant colt Edgar from Lahore after negotiating the bend and kicked his speed to make it two victories on the trot. The winning horse belonged to owner and KRC Steward Syed Ismail Shah, who is the nephew of Pir Pagara.

Mare Snow Fair was placed third four lengths away while chestnut horse Lava Man settled fourth finishing three-and-a-half lengths behind.

Two more favourites – four year-old bay colt Cigar and three-year-old chestnut filly Miss Oscar – obliged the punters while registering victories in the second and fourth races, respectively.

The 35 to 100 favourite colt Cigar powered to a four-length victory over filly Fly Free with regular rider Asad Aksir astride, while in a repeat performance seasoned rider M. Nasir galloped Miss Oscar to her second straight victory. She prevailed over colt Tejori by four lengths.

In the only upset of the day, outsider filly Blue Eyes upset the apple cart while edging second favourite Shahzad Love by neck in a close finish. Fancied My Time was placed third followed by Always Try among five starters.

Trainer M. Mazhar sent a brace of winners in Cigar and Blue Eyes while Ghulam Shabbir II matched the former’s performance by winning through Miss Oscar and Gamez Over.

Results:

THE KING PLATE SCALE ORDER VI, VII AND VIII 4 ½ F:

Zeenat (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 7-5, Zaki Zakir 1; Sonia Again 9-0, Wasim 2; Nany 8-13 (cr8-6), M. Qais 3; Risky Business 8-0, Asad Aksir 4.

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

THE KING PLATE SCALE ORDER V AND VI 5 F:

Cigar (Anusha Khan Tessori) 8-12, Asad Aksir 1; Fly Free 8-1, Wasim 2; Dream Girl 9-1, Zubair Ahmed 3; Khazana 8-7 (cr8-4), M. Rashid 4.

Won by 4 L, 1½ L, 6 L. Time: One minute 6 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.

THE KING PLATE SCALE ORDER IV 5 F:

Blue Eyes (Athar Abbas) 9-0, Ashiq Ali 1; Shahzad Love 8-10, Riaz Ahmed 2; My Time 8-2, Zaki Zakir 3; Always Try 8-7, Ghous Bux 4.

Won by Neck, ¾ L, 5 L. Time: One minute 6 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.

THE KING PLATE SCALE ORDER III 5 F:

Miss Oscar (Nawab Taimur Talpur) 9-0, M. Nasir 1; Tejori 9-1, Wasim 2; The Destroyer 8-13, Mohammad Essa 3; Aslan 8-4 (cr8-6), Ghulam Shabbir II 4.

Won by 7 L, 8 L, 5 L. Time: One minute 5 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE KING PLATE SCALE ORDER II 5 F:

Gamez Over (Syed Ismail Shah) 8-0, Zaki Zakir 1; National Queen 9-2, Pervez Ali 2; Snow Fairy 9-3, Riaz Ahmed 3; Lava Man 7-12, Mohammad Essa 4.

Won by ¾ L, 4 L, 3½ L. Time: One minute 4 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play