KARACHI: Fancied three-year-old colt Thunder King stormed to a lavish 11-length victory over Artemisia to annex the Defence Day Cup as races resumed after six months at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Classic Leader occupied third place beaten by three-and-a-half lengths with Wild Fire completing the board further pushed by 14 lengths among five starters.

Earlier, Balochistan Queen was withdrawn before the race.

It was while riding Thunder King that Mohammad Nasir suffered fatal injuries on Dec 22 last year.

Owned by Athar Abbas, the victorious horse was piloted home by senior rider Zaki Zakir and sent by trainer Nazir.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, who graced the occasion, awarded the glittering cup to the owner in the paddock. He was accompanied by KRC president Syed Sadruddin Shah.

Promising rider Safdar Hussain from Lahore shone with a treble by guiding debutant Gladiator, Risky and Abdullah Princess.

Trainer Zia-ur-Rehman completed a double by sending Risky and Abdullah Princess to victory.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh governor gave full mark to the KRC chief for keeping the legacy of his illustrious father Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara alive.

With the exception of opening race, favourites swept the card by obliging race-goers.

Entry in the Racecourse was not allowed without the facemask to comply with government’s instruction of SOPs.

Results:

THE DEFENCE DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Gladiator (Rana Jawad Sarwar) 9-0, Safdar Hussain 1; Kamyab 8-8, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Petra 7-10, Mohammad Sajjad 3; Mera Dost 7-12, Asad Aksir 4.

Won by 5 L, 5½ L, 4½ L. Time: 0.52 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Irfan.

THE DEFENCE DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VI & VII — 4 F:

Galileo Lady (Adam Khan Lango) 9-0, Mohammad Manzoor 1; King’s Queen 8-6, Mohammad Sajjad 2; Tehzeeb 8-1, Zohaib Qamar 3; Sassy Gold 8-8, Wasim 4.

Won by ¾ L, 8 L, ½ L. Time: 0.52 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Shahzad.

THE DEFENCE DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VI & VII — 4 F:

Risky (Ghulam Jilani) 8-4, Safdar Hussain 1; Meri Chahat 8-9, Wasim 2; Soldier Girl 8-6, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Darshan 8-4, Zohaib Qamar 4.

Won by 3¼ L, 4¾ L, 10 L. Time: 0.52 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by

THE DEFENCE DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER IV & V — 4½ F:

Piyara Sayeen (Mohammad Pervez) 8-5, Asad Aksir 1; Soldier Queen 8-2, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Starka 7-6, Zaki Zakir 3; War Drums 7-7, Mohammad Sajjad 4,.

Won by 4 L, 1½ L, 5 L. Time: 0.58 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Tanvir Abbasi.

THE DEFENCE DAY CUP — A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD PAK COLTS AND FILLIES — 4½ F:

Thunder King (Athar Abbas) 8-0, Zaki Zakir 1; Artemisia 7-11, Mohammad Sajjad 2; Classic Leader 8-7, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Wild Fire 8-0, Wasim 4.

Won by 11 L, 3 ½ L, 14 L. Time: 0.552/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir.

THE DEFENCE DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER I, II & III — 4½ F:

Abdullah Princess (Mian Waleed Haroon) 7-8, Safdar Hussain 1; Parachuter 8-12, Mohammad Sajjad 2; Enable 8-2, Zaki Zakir 3; Sweet Victory 10-0, Mohammad Manzoor 4.

Won by 6½ L, ¾ L, 6 L. Time: 0.50 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2020