KARACHI: With two wins already under his belt, fancied unknown pedigree bay horse Sharp Shooter completed a hat-trick by galloping to victory to win in the feature event during the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

Sharp Shooter set the pace after taking the jump at the starting gate with Black Smoke on his heels. With Mohammad Sajjad in the saddle, Sharp Shooter enhanced his lead in home stretch to win hands down by seven lengths.

Co-favourite mare Second Life had to be content with third place after being edged by a distance as Money Lover completed the frame, also beaten by distance.

Parachuter was withdrawn in the morning declaration leaving half-a-dozen horses in fray.

At the outset, favourite dark bay horse The Champion Star justified his billing while posting a two-length victory over mare Malangni Aye to clinch the opening race.

It was only the second run of The Champion Star, formerly known as Head Line from Lahore where he made headlines. The victorious horse had settled for second place in his maiden run at the course on June 29 under the same rider Nazil Hussain.

Killing Eyes occupied third place beaten by six lengths followed by Leading Spirit who finished nine-and-a-half lengths away.

Rank outsider unknown pedigree chestnut horse I Gold upset the applecart by imposing a two-length success over Sonia Again to claim second race.

This was I Gold’s second triumph of the season which had come after Jan 12.

Aas Pass fell third followed by favourite Mohallay Dar.

Earlier, one minute silence was observed for prominent turf accountant Najeeb Shuja and his young daughter who died in tragic accident earlier this week while picnicking in Swat.

The father and daughter were laid to rest at the PECHS graveyard on Tuesday amid moving scenes, sources in the Karachi Race Club said.

Results:

THE SUNLIGHT PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

The Champion Star (Haider Abbas) 8-6, Nazil Hussain 1; Malangni Aye 8-0, Zaki Zakir 2; Killing Eyes 8-2, Ali Ehsan 3; Leading Spirit 7-12, Asad Aksir 4.

Won by 2 L, 6 L, 9½ L. Time: 0.54 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Shahid Mannan.

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

I Gold (Fida Hussain) 9-0, Yousuf Ikram 1; Sonia Again 8-6, Mohammad Rashid 2; Aas Pass 8-4, Ali Ehsan 3; Mohallay Dar 8-12, Pervez Ali 4.

Won by 2 L, 3 L, 8 L. Time: 0.54 seconds. Winner trained by Mujahid Ali.

THE SUNLIGHT PLATE SCALE ORDER III, IV, V & VI — 4 F:

Sharp Shooter (Tahir Aziz Kurd) 7-0, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Black Smoke 8-2, Zaki Zakir 2; Second Life 8-4, Asad Aksir 3; Money Lover 8-8, Mohammad Manzoor 4.

Won by 7 L, Dist, Dist. Time: 0.51 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2019