KARACHI: Fast-chasing thoroughbred four-year-old bay colt Determination overtook co-favourite front-runner three-year-old bay filly Glittery Eyes while approaching the winning post to seize victory in the the Governor Sindh Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

In was spectacular finish to the cup race that featured a quartet of thoroughbred horses in the six furlongs contest that was also the day’s feature event.

Owned by Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara and sent by trainer Mohyuiddin, Glittering Eyes had set the pace right from the word go and maintained it for most part when challenger Determination kicked up speed and sped away with the honours to make it two wins on the trot by half a length.

It is pertinent to mention that Determination had also defeated Glittering Eyes by four lengths to lift the Independence Day Cup in the Aug 18 meeting.

Filly Queen’s Best fell four lengths behind to grab third place with bay horse Nayyab completing the frame, another five lengths behind.

Efficiently ridden by rider Sohail Ahmed and partnered by trainer Nazir, the Gul Mohammad Rajar-owned Determination clocked one minute 16 1/5 seconds for the six furlongs.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, who graced the occasion, awarded the glittering cup to the winning owner besides presenting awards to winning trainer and rider in the paddock after the race.

The governor was accompanied by the KRC president Syed Sadruddin Shah and secretary Syed Ali Akbar Shah Rashdi among others.

With one exception, rank outsiders dominated the other races of day’s card.

In a sheer surprise, unfancied bay horse Mohallaydar stunned colt Gestapo by half-a-length to clinch the next race which was also supporting event as favourite mare Enable had to be content with third place followed by Maradona.

The triumph enabled victorious horse to complete a fine hat-trick.

At the outset, punters suffered when mare Rukhsar, who finished off the frame in the last run, galloped to three-quarter-of-a-length victory over Watsaon with public fancy mare Sana Choice occupying third place with Wifi completing the frame.

The field was reduced to 10 following withdrawal of Aas Pass in the morning declaration.

Favourite bay filly Billions In Mind was forced to bite the dust after being stunned by bay horse Royal Champion by three-quarter-of-a-length in the second race. Dream Girl was withdrawn leaving half-a-dozen horses in the field.

It was favourite three-year-old bay filly Hi Honey who gave some respite to the racegoers as she won hands down by 12 furlongs to annex the third race. She defeated Pari for the honours.

Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Saturday to avoid clash with auspicious occasion of 12th Rabi-ul-Awal that falls on Sunday.

Results:

THE GOVERNOR PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Rukhsar (Ghulam Mustafa) 8-4, Zohaib Qamar 1; Watson 8-11, Ali Raza II 2; Sana Choice 8-5, Riaz Ahmed 3; Wifi 7-13, Mohammad Sajjad 4.

Won by ¾ L, Head, S. Head. Time: 0.55 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE GOVERNOR PLATE SCALE ORDER VI, VII & VIII — 4 F:

Royal Champion (Haider Abbas) 8-10, Asad Aksir 1; Billions In Mind 9-0, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Dam Dama Dam 8-3 (cr7-12), Ali Ehsan 3; Dance And Dance 8-0 (cr8-1), Zohaib Qamar 4.

Won by ¾ L, 5 L, 12 L. Time: 0.52 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Shahid Mannan.

THE GOVERNOR PLATE SCALE ORDER IV, V & VI — 4½ F:

Hi Honey (Farhan Essa Abdullah) 7-11, Zaki Zakir 1; Pari 8-9, Nazil Hussain 2; Faster Than You 8-8, Riaz Ahmed 3; Shining Arrow 8-13, Mohammad Manzoor 4.

Won by 12 L, 2 L, 2 L. Time: 0.55 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE GOVERNOR SINDH CUP SCALE ORDER I, II, III & IV — 6 F:

Determination (Gul Mohammad Rajar) 10-0, Sohail Ahmed 1; Glittery Eyes 7-0, Asad Aksir 2; Queen’s Best 7-0, Zaki Zakir 3; Nayyab 10-0, Yousuf Ikram 4.

Won by ½ L, 4 L, 5 L. Time: One minute 16 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir.

THE GOVERNOR PLATE SCALE ORDER III & IV — 4½ F:

Mohallaydar (Khadim Hussain) 8-4, Raees Ahmed 1; Gestapo 7-6, Ali Raza II 2; Enable 8-9, Sohail Ahmed 3; Maradona 8-1, Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by ½ L , 1½ L, ¾ L. Time: 0.58 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Afzal.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2019