KARACHI: Making her appearance after almost a year’s layoff, outsider four-year-old chestnut filly Celebrity sprang a surprise by lifting the Academic Cup as rider Waheed Baran completed a splendid double in the winter Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Backed by connection, Celebrity defeated the fancied pair of Rustam and Olympus for the honours.

The winning horse was home by six lengths over Olympus as Rustam was pushed to third place a length and-a-quarter behind.

Celebrity’s stable-mate Tanya completed the board beaten by one length among the six horses following withdrawal of English Vinglish.

It is pertinent to mention that Celebrity had won the 2,000 Guineas of Pakistan on Dec 25 last year.

Owned by Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara, the victorious filly was ridden home by rider Sohail Ahmed and saddled by Mohyuddin.

Favourites swept the remaining three races of the card to give some respite to the race-goers.

At the outset, bay horse Mission Possible set the winning trend by galloping to six-and-a-half lengths victory over Great Jawad to win the opening race.

Charlotte and Day Breaker fell back to the third and fourth places by eight and 10 lengths, respectively.

Mission Possible was sprinted to victory by Baran who completed the double by partnering Zarnatta to victory in the fourth race.

Fast-running Zarnatta edged Sher Khan by a length-and-a-quarter to make amends for the preceding loss.

Sweet Sereena and Black Tiger occupied third and fourth places beaten by eight and one-and-a-half lengths respectively.

Fancied dark bay mare Sweet Lady overcame a bout of complacency to land the second race by getting the better of My Beauty by eight lengths.

Doctor settled third 10 lengths away while Sweet Lady’s stable-mate Jawad Love completed the board.

Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Saturday (Nov 11).

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2017