KARACHI: Running under new name five-year-old bay horse Baba Jani presented new owner and trainer with a winner as punters suffered in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

Baba Jani, formerly Salam-e-Kaif, has been on the board in all his seven outings this season winning once, placed second once, third twice and fourth thrice.

Running alongside four opponents in the days third race, which was also feature event, Baba Jani kicked up speed in home stretch to beat favourite bay horse Tip Top by three-and-a-half lengths.

It was two-horse race in which Baba Jani and Tip Top run neck-and-neck before the former galloped home to present new owner Karim Bux and the trainer Mohammad Shahzad with a surprise winner. He was piloted home by rider Pervez Ali.

Parachuter occupied third place beaten by distance while Skype completed the board falling eight lengths behind.

At the outset, rank outsider dark bay mare Sassy Gold created quite a stir by getting the better of mare Sanobar, formerly Sharapova, by three and a quarter of a length.

The triumph helped her return to winning ways having last won under regular rider Nazil Hussain on May 18.

The surprising aspect was that favourite Big Star managed to complete the board while second favourite finished off the frame.

Dark bay mare Aas Pass finished third in the race that featured eight horses.

Second favourite bay horse Royal Salute shocked favourite mare Dazzling Diva posting three lengths victory to clinch the second race.

Kahkashan and Duran Duran followed the top two in same order in a field of five horses.

Despite watering the course in the morning, the track was dry due to strong winds.

Results:

THE KARACHI PLATE SCALE ORDER VII & VIII — 4 F:

Sassy Gold (P. K. Ahuja) 8-9, Nazil Hussain 1; Sanobar (Sharapova) 8-2, Pervez Ali 2; Aas Pass 9-4, Ali Ehsan 3; Big Star 8-8, Aksir A 4.

Won by 3¼ L, 1¼ L, Head. Time: 0.52 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Shahid Mannan.

THE KARACHI PLATE SCALE ORDER V, VI & VII — 4 F:

Royal Salute (Abdul Razzak) 9-3, Wasim 1; Dazzling Diva 9-0, Pervez Ali 2; Kahkashan 7-2, Mohammad Sajjad 3; Duran Duran 8-5, Sohail Ahmed 4.

Won by 3 L, 2 ½ L, 8 L. Time: 0.53 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mujahid Ali.

THE KARACHI PLATE SCALE ORDER III & IV — 4 F:

Baba Jani (Karim Bux) 8-10, Pervez Ali 1; Tip Top 8-4, Zohaib Qamar 2; Parachuter 9-0, Ali Raza II 3; Skype 8-4, Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by 3½ L, Dist, 8 L. Time: 0.51 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Shahzad.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2019