KARACHI: Number 1 turned out be a lucky figure for Mohammad Nasir as the senior rider piloted home a splendid treble, including The May Cup, in the Gymkhana race meeting which resumed after a month at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Nasir, who had won many laurels in the past, opened the day on a winning note by guiding second favourite mare Afreen to a facile six-length victory over bay horse Vampire to land the opening race as favourite mare Meri Tasveer had to be content with third place. Mare Flagship completed the frame after the field was reduced to five following withdrawal of Charlotte.

At the outset, Afreen was opened favourite when the betting commenced but later odds of Meri Tasveer soared.

Nasir was on song again when he completed a double by guiding favourite bay horse Super Star to sterling 12-length victory over mare Sweet Sereena in the next race.

Salam Kashmir was placed third another 10 lengths behind while debutant Black Tiger completed the board among five starters.

Riding on the crest of a wave, Nasir completed his hat-trick of wins while galloping outsider mare Blue Fairy to half-a-length victory over bay horse Popular Prince to clinch The May Cup, which was the day’s feature event. He waved his hand in jubilation as his mount crossed the winning post.

Satisfy was placed third while favourite Cherish completed the frame.

Soon after the race the ace rider complaint of chest pain and was given first aid. His condition improved after sometime. However, he was succeeded by rider Yousuf Ikram on Doctor in the fifth and last race.

Second favourite My Beauty won the third race by getting the better of Sonia Again by a length-and-a-half while Luck Pass obliged punters galloping to three lengths victory over Tanya to claim the fifth race.

Results:

THE MAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII-B 4½ F:

Afreen (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 9-0, M. Nasir 1; Vampire 8-8 (cr8-3), Mohammad Qais 2; Meri Tasveer 9-0 (cr8-9), Abdul Hakeem 3; Flagship 8-8, Zaki Zakir 4. Won by 6 L, 7 L, 2 L. Time: One minute 1 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohyuddin.

THE MAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII-A 4½ F:

Super Star (Zainab Ali and Aariz Nawaz) 9-4, Mohammad Nasir 1; Sweet Sereena 9-0, Yousuf Ikram 2; Salam Kashmir 8-11, Ali Ehsan 3; Black Tiger 9-0, Abdul Hakeem 4. Won by 12 L, 10 L, 2 L. Time: 0.59 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Sharif.

THE MAY PLATE SCALE ORDER V, VI AND VII 4½ F:

My Beauty (Ali Faisal Farooq) 9-2 (cr8-11), Mohammad Qais 1; Sonia Again 7-13 (cr8-1), Abdul Hakeem 2; Sea Gold 7-9 (cr8-1), Sohail Ahmed 3; Fast Departure 7-8 (cr8-1), Ganguzar 4. Won by 1½ L, 1½ L, 8 L. Time: 0.59 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Mazhar.

THE MAY CUP SCALE ORDER III, IV AND V 4½ F:

Blue Fairy (Athar Abbas) 9-0, Mohammad Nasir 1; Popular Prince 7-8, Zaki Zakir 2; Satisfy 7-10, Mohammad Manzoor 3, Cherish 8-2, Mohammad Sajjad 4. Won by ½ L, 8 L, S. Head. Time: 0.58 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE MAY PLATE SCALE ORDER I, II AND III 4½ F:

Luck Pass (Abdul Hannan) 9-4, Sohail Ahmed 1; Tanya 7-11, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Doctor 10-0, Yousuf Ikram 3; Fantastic Game 7-6, Mohammad Sajjad 4. Won by 3 L, 10 L, ¾ L. Time: 0.58 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Shahid Mannan.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2017