Uproar at Karachi races over controversial verdict

KARACHI: In an alleged foul play of declaring bay mare Zarnatta winner over favourite dark bay mare Bijli by a short head without taking into account photo-finish result, created uproar in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

Both the horses belonged to the same connection and the owner backed Zarnatta over favourite Bijli to give benefit to the turf accountants.

“I saw Bijli had win either by neck, short head or head,” an angry race-goer told Dawn.

“It’s ridiculous. Why photo-finish result was not seen by stewards and why public should suffer,” questioned another punter.

Bay mare Sea Gold had to be content with third place five lengths away while mare Sonia Again completed the frame beaten by six lengths among five starters.

In the next race favourite dark bay mare New Hope justified her credentials by lifting the Karachi Cup. In a neck-and-neck race she edged chestnut horse Don Again by s. head to make it two wins on the trot.

The verdict was decided after observing results of photo-finish.

Popular Pride and Sher Khan occupied the third and fourth places respectively on the board among seven horses.

At the outset, favourite dark bay horse Kalu Khan clinched his maiden race by getting the better of Lapait Lo by three-quarter-of-a-length.

The latter opened favourite but later odds of the former surged.

Debutant Day Breaker occupied third place beaten by 10 lengths while another debutant Zulmi completed the board half–a-length away.

Fancied chestnut horse Olympus annexed the fourth and last race, which was also the day’s feature event, by galloping to a three-and-a-half lengths victory over mare Sweet Lady.

My Beauty and Luck followed the two in same order.

Rustam, formerly Minister of Bhakkar, was withdrawn before the race.

Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Oct 21, Saturday.

Results:

THE KARACHI PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII 4 F:

Kalu Khan (Rana Babar Hussain) 7-10 (cr8-0), Wasim 1; Lapait Lo 9-1, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Day Breaker 8-9 (cr8-2), Zohaib Qamar 3; Zulmi 8-6 (cr8-1), Ali Ehsan 4.

Won by ¾ L, 10 L, ½ L. Time: 0.55 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE KARACHI PLATE SCALE ORDER VI AND VII 4½ F:

Zarnatta (Zia-ur-Rehman) 8-3, Mohammad Alam 1; Bijli 9-0 (cr8-7), Zohaib Qamar 2; Sea Gold 8-7, Wasim 3; Sonia Again 8-8 (cr8-3), Ali Ehsan 4.

Won by S. Head, 5 L, 6 L. Time: 0.59 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by owner.

THE KARACHI CUP SCALE ORDER V 4½ F:

New Hope (Syed Konain Mohammad Shah) 8-5, Nazil Hussain 1; Don Again 9-0, Mohammad Nasir 2, Popular Pride 8-4, Mohammad Sajjad 3, Sher Khan 8-11, Mohammad Rashid 4.

Won by S. Head, 10 L, 9½ L. Time: 0.58 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Manzoor Baran.