KARACHI: With May Cup under its belt, favourite Ayaash galloped to two lengths and- a-half victory over Lovely Baby to add the Dream Run Cup to its tally as Gymkhana race meeting resume after a fortnight break at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

The races could not take place on July 14 for want of competition.

The victorious horse, who had to be content with third place in the Eid Milan Cup on June 23, made amends while obliging punters in the cup race which was also feature event, combined scale order III and IV run over four-and-a-half furlongs. It was the third race of days programme.

Ayaash was piloted home by Tariq Baran, who had steered the horse to success in the May Cup also.

Race Again was placed third, a length-and-a-half away while Dilwali completed the frame. The field was reduced to five horses following the withdrawal of Shan-e-Kaif.

Favourites dark bay mare Sweet Sereena and dark bay horse Little Rascal obliged all and sundry in the first two races making amends of earlier losses.

Sweet Sereena, with Mohammad Sajjad astride, sprinted to three lengths victory over Fast Departure followed by Believe Me and Murad Queen, Little Rascal got the better of Black Smoke by six lengths as Dhannak and Arrogant Lady occupied the next two places on board.

Winning Direction was withdrawn before the second race.

In the only upset, Saba lowered the colours of Sher Khan to pick up spoils in the fourth and last race. Partnered by rider Riaz Ahmed, she was home by four lengths.

Trainer Nazir excelled in his cadre with a back-to-back double in Ayaash and Saba.

Results:

THE DREAM RUN PLATE SCALE ORDER VII AND VIII 4 F:

Sweet Sereena (Jawad Sattar) 8-5, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Fast Departure 9-0, Mohammad Qais 2; Believe Me 8-9, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Murad Queen 7-5, Ashiq Ali 4.

Won by 3 L, 4 L, 6 L. Time: 0.54 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE DREAM RUN PLATE SCALE ORDER VI AND VII 4 F:

Little Rascal (Shahmeer Shah) 8-10, Mohammad Qais 1; Black Smoke 8-2, Aksir A 2; Dhannak 8-8, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Arrogant Lady 7-12, Latif 4.

Won by 6 L, 12½ L, 4½ L. Time: 0.52 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Mazhar.

THE DREAM RUN CUP SCALE ORDER III AND IV 4½ F:

Ayaash (Junaid Ali Khan) 8-12, Tariq Baran 1; Lovely Baby 8-11, Mohammad Rashid 2; Race Again 8-7, Zaki Zakir 3; Dilwali 8-1, Mohammad Qais 4.

Won by 2 ½ L, 1 ½ L, Dist. Time: 0.58 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir.

THE DREAM RUN PLATE SCALE ORDER V AND VI 4½ F:

Saba (Kamal) 8-7, Riaz Ahmed 1; Sher Khan 8-2, Sohail Ahmed 2; Dancing Boy 7-10, Mohammad Qais 3; Second Life 9-0, Mohammad Manzoor 4.

Won by 4 L, 6 L, 6 L. Time: 0.58 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2018