KARACHI: Having been content with second place thrice, rank outsider half-bred six-year-old bay mare Sweet Victory ended the jinx by registering half-a-length victory over six-year-old dark bay horse Black Gold to land the Spring Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Thursday.

Though Sweet Victory maintained her form with second place finishes in the last three outings out of four under rider Waseem, it failed to win honours to the satisfaction of owner Irfan Mehdi.

However, change of rider bore fruitful result as it also helped eventual champion avenge her last defeat that she has suffered at the hands of Black Gold.

Making her appearance after a layoff, the 60 to 100 favourite thoroughbred filly Glittery Eyes bit the dust and found lacking in speed as she fell third another three lengths behind with Maradona completing the frame.

Sweet Victory was sent by trainer Yousuf S and piloted home by rider M. Manzoor.

But it was rider Safdar Hussain who stole limelight with a double in a five-race card that was dominated by favourite horses.

Safdar first steered public fancy Secret Of Life to a smart five lengths victory over mare Starka in the third race and later romped another favourite mare Abdullah Princess home over Dazzling Diva by four lengths in the fifth.

At the outset, favourite mare Humaira Choice did owner-cum-trainer Mujahid Ali proud by edging mare Sana Choice by head to win the opener while another fancied mare Meri Chahat obliged all and sundry with three lengths success overDarshan in the second.

Rider Waheed Baran was fined Rs20,000 and suspended till further enquiry for unsatisfactory riding on his mount Raven in the third race.

Results:

THE SPRING PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII (MAIDEN) 4 F:

Humaira Choice (Mr. Mujahid Ali) 8-11 Ali Raza II, 1, Sana Choice 7-10(cr7-12) Safdar Hussain 2, Amazing Boy 7-10(cr8-6) M. Manzoor 3, Kamyaab 8-11 Asad Aksir 4,,

Won by Head, 1 ½ L, 2 ¼ L. Time: 0.54 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by owner.

THE SPRING PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII 4 F:

Meri Chahat (Mr. Waqas) 8-13 Waseem 1, Darshan 9-4(cr8-13) Zohaib Qamar 2, No Try 8-12 Safdar Hussain 3, Sweet For All 8-8(cr8-4) Ali Raza II, 4.

Won by 3 L, 1 ¾ L, ¾ L. Time: 0.53 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Sher Mohammad.

THE SPRING PLATE SCALE ORDER V, VI AND VII 4 ½ F:

Secret Of Life (Mr. Ali Raza Zia) 7-6 Safdar Hussain 1, Starka 8-5 Waseem 2, Raven 9-4 Waheed Baran 3, Zorawar 9-4 Zohaib Qamar 4.

Won by 5 L, 2 ½ L, Neck. Time: 0.59 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE SPRING CUP SCALE ORDER II AND III 4 ½ F:

Sweet Victory (Mr. Irfan Mehdi) 9-2 M. Manzoor 1, Black Gold 9-4 Asad Aksir 2, Glittery Eyes 8-0 Ali Ehsan 3, Maradona 7-8 Safdar Hussain 4.

Won by ½ L, 3 L, 2 ½ L. Time: 0.57 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Yousuf S.

THE SPRING PLATE SCALE ORDER IV AND V 4 ½ F:

Abdullah Princess (Mian Waleed Haroon) 8-7 Safdar Hussain 1, Dazzling Diva 8-7 waseem 2, Piyara Fasisal 8-7 Shahid Ali II, 3, Mohallaydar 8-5 Raees Ahmed 4.

Won by 4 L, 2 L, 4 L. Time: 0.57 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2020