KARACHI: Four-year-old dark bay filly English Vinglish lowered the colours of favourite bay horse Minister of Bhakkar to clinch The Independence Day Cup as ace rider Mohammad Sajjad stole the day’s honours by winning a quadruple in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Monday.

English Vinglish, who finished off the frame in the last outing, shocked the 40 to 100 favourite horse Minister of Bhakkar galloping to a length and a quarter victory to lift the cup.

Champion’s stable-mate mare Tanya fell 14 lengths behind to grab third place while chestnut horse Olympus completed the board four lengths further away among seven starters.

English Vinglish is owned by Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara and sent by trainer Mohyuddin. The filly was ridden home by Mohammad Sajjad.

At the outset, mare Salam Kashmir pulled off a major upset while storming to half-a-length victory over bay horse Mission Possible with Zaki Zakir astride.

The winning horse ended the pretensions of co-favourites Zarnatta and Mera Aftaab belonging to the same connections.

According to unconfirmed reports, Waheed Baran who rode Mission Possible, was called by the stewards and fined Rs10,000.

Sajjad ruled the next four races including the Independence Day Cup to complete first quadruple of the season.

He guided fancied Saltanat to six lengths victory over New Hope to start his victory run.

He made it two on trot by partnering another favourite Big SMO to a splendid 12 lengths victory over Sher Khan.

After completing a hat-trick in the Independence Day Cup, he steered filly Show Stopper to six-length victory over Lovely Baby to complete the rout.

Prominent owner Pir Pagara and trainer Mohyuddin celebrated the Independence Day with a double (Saltanat and English Vinglish).

The Consul General of UAE, His Excellency Bakheet Ateeq Al Romaithi, who graced the day’s races, awarded the Independence Day Cup.

Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Saturday.

Results:

THE JASHN-I-AZADI PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII 4½ F:

Salam Kashmir (Mohammad Asharb and Izam Abbasi) 8-5, Zaki Zakir 1; Mission Possible 8-10, Waheed Baran 2; Mera Aftaab 8-1 (cr8-9), Aftab Chaudhry 3; Zarnatta 9-0, Mohammad Manzoor 4.

Won by ½ L, 3 L, 2 L. Time: 0.59 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Tanvir Abbas.

THE JASHN-I-AZADI PLATE SCALE ORDER VI AND VII 5 F:

Saltanat (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 9-0, Mohammad Sajjad 1; New Hope 8-10, Nazil Hussain 2; Sweet Sereena 8-12, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Race 7-11 (cr8-4), Pervez Ali 4.

Won by 6 L, 1½ L, 1¾ L. Time: One minute 4 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohyuddin.

THE JASHN-I-AZADI PLATE SCALE ORDER V 5 F:

Big SMO (Jawwad Sattar) 8-2, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Sher Khan 8-13, Sohail Ahmed 2; Sonia Again 8-12 (cr8-7), Ali Ehsan 3; K.L. Arab 8-10 (cr9-0), Mohammad Nasir 4.

Won by 12 L, 10 L, ¾ L. Time: One minute 4 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CUP SCALE ORDER 1 AND II ROUND BEND 6 F:

English Vinglish (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 7-8, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Minister of Bhakkar 7-7 (cr8-4), Aftab Chaudhry 2; Tanya 10-0, Sohail Ahmed 3; Olympus 9-0, Mohammad Alam 4.

Won by 1¼ L, 14 L, 4 L. Time: One minute 17 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohyuddin.

THE JASHN-I-AZADI PLATE SCALE ORDER III AND IV 5 F:

Show Stopper (Syed Ismail Shah) 7-8, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Lovely Baby 8-13, Nazil Hussain 2; Sayeen Jee 7-10, Aftab Chaudhry 3; Jawwad Love 9-5, Yousuf Ikram 4.

Won by 6 L, Neck, 3½ L. Time: One minute 3 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2017