KARACHI: Quartet belonging to the same connection swept the four-race card in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

Saudagar and Romeo earned KRC patron Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara a double. Queen’s Best is owned by his nephew Syed Ismail Shah while Hi Honey belonged to managing committee member Dr Farhan Essa, who is said to be a relative of the Pir Saheb.

Rank outsider three-year-old bay filly Hi Honey, who finished off the frame in the last two outings, overtook frontrunner and favourite bay hors4e Cracks Man in home stretch to clinch the Hyderabad Cup, her maiden triumph of the year. She won the honours by three-and-a-half lengths.

Hi Honey was piloted home by Lahore-based rider Ali Raza II and sent by trainer Ghulam Shabbir II who also partnered Queen’s Best for a brace.

Mare Dazzling Diva fell back five lengths behind to occupy third place followed by mare Sonia Again among six starters.

Favourite three-year-old bay filly Romeo obliged all and sundry while galloping to a length-and-a-quarter victory over challenger Beat The Clock to clinch feature event in a repeat performance.

Salam-e-Kaif and Native Prince seized third and fourth places respectively on board.

The success of Romeo helped rider Sohail Ahmed to finish the day with a double as he had steered public fancy dark bay horse Saudagar to a maiden three-and-a-half lengths victory over Aas Pass in the opening race.

Romeo and Saudagar were partnered by trainer Mohyuddin for a double.

After finishing nowhere in the last-three runs, favourite Queen’s Best was on song posting an emphatic three lengths victory over Big Foot to oblige punters.

Results:

THE HYDERABAD PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Saudagar (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 8-6, Sohail Ahmed 1; Aas Pass 8-9, Nazil Hussain 2; Sassy Gold 8-5 (cr8-0), Ali Ehsan 3; Killing Eyes 7-10, Zohaib Qamar 4.

Won by 3½ L, 1½ L, 4 L. Time: 0.55 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohyuddin.

THE HYDERABAD PLATE SCALE ORDER IV & V — 4 F:

Queen’s Best (Syed Ismail Shah) 8-6, Mohammad Manzoor 1; Big Foot 9-0 (cr9-2), Qadeer Ahmed 2; Black Smoke 8-2 (cr8-0), Ali Raza II 3; Lovely Baby 8-10 (cr8-5), Zohaib Qamar 4.

Won by 3 L, 7 L, 8 L. Time: 0.50 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE HYDERABAD CUP SCALE ORDER VI & VII — 4 F:

Hi Honey (Farhan Essa) 8-6 (cr8-0), Ali Raza II 1; Cracks Man 8-9, Sohail Ahmed 2; Dazzling Diva 8-10, Aksir A 3; Sonia Again 8-7, Mohammad Rashid 4.

Won by 3½ L, 5 L, 11 L. Time: 0.51 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE HYDERABAD PLATE SCALE ORDER III — 4 F:

Romeo (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 9-0, Sohail Ahmed 1; Beat The Clock 8-13, Nazil Hussain 2; Salam-e-Kaif, 8-6 Zaki Zakir 3; Native Prince 7-10, Ali Raza II 4.

Won by 1¼ L, 3 L, 4½ L. Time: 0.52 seconds. Winner trained by Mohyuddin.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2019