KARACHI: The Karachi Race Club (KRC) went ahead with its usual Saturday schedule by organising two races as start of rain compelled them to cancel the remaining two in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse.

Despite forecast of a second spell of rain by the met office on Friday, the KRC had released a four-race card for the weekly meeting.

“With the help of labourers we’ve cleared stagnant water from starting gate to the winning post following rain in the morning,” the KRC secretary Syed Ali Akbar Shah Rashdi told Dawn.

“But after two races, the horses have assembled at the starting gate waiting for third race when rain started again and we were left with no other option then to cancel the remaining two races,” the official added.

Though the turnout of horse racing connoisseurs was very low, the staff of 12 turf accountants was present.

At the outset, favourites swept the races that brought additional joy for punters in the pleasant rainy weather.

Bay mare Washmallay, formerly Malangni Aye, made amends of back-to-back second place finishes galloping to two lengths victory over bay horse Petra to clinch the opening race.

Bay horse Champion of Champions fell three-and-a-half lengths behind to finish third followed by dark bay horse The Champion Star who completed the frame a length away among seven starters.

Like the opening race, change of name of I Gold to Royal Fort brought glory for owner-trainer-rider trio of Ghulam Fareed, Mujahid Ali and Yousuf Ikram after the horse sprinted to efficient three-and-a-half lengths victory over mare Sassy Gold to annex the next race.

Sonia Again and Current Option finished third and fourth respectively on board.

Sanobar was withdrawn before the race leaving half-a-dozen horses in fray.

Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Aug 18 (Sunday).

Results:

THE FORTNITE PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Washmallay (Abdul Tauheed) 8-2, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Petra 8-5, Zaki Zakir 2; Champion of Champions 7-10, Mohammad Manzoor 3; The Champion Star 9-0, Pervez Ali 4.

Won by 2 L, 3½ L, 1 L. Time: 0.55 seconds. Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE FORTNITE PLATE SCALE ORDER V, VI & VII — 4 F:

Royal Fort (ex-I Gold) 8-11, Yousuf Ikram 1; Sassy Gold 7-4 (cr7-8), Asad Aksir 2; Sonia Again 7-9, Zaki Zakir 3; Current Option 9-4, Ali Raza II 4.

Won by 3½ L, 3½ L, ¾ L. Time: 0.53 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mujahid Ali.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2019