KARACHI: Three-year-old bay filly Artemisia lowered the colours of co-favourite three-year-old chestnut filly Spirit by posting an authoritative eight-length victory in the Benefit Cup during the Gymkhana race meeting at Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.
Spirit, who had pulled off an upset six-length success over favourite Galileo Lady in same scale order in preceding week, was not on job while the race-goers alleged an in-and-out running.
Artemisia, who earned promotion after returning victorious in class VI and VII on Oct 4, made his mark with rider Mohammad Sajjad in saddle.
Gladiator seized third place, beaten by a length-and-a-quarter while Piyara Faisal completed the frame edged by one length among 10 competitors.
Eyebrows were also raised when four-year-old bay filly Glittery Eyes galloped home by three-and-a-half lengths over stable mate and favourite filly Smart Girl to clinch the feature event.
The public suffered after the connection backed Glittery Eyes.
At the outset, co-owners Fasihuddin and Islamuddin Ghour, rider Mohammad Ramzan and trainer Mohammad Hanif earned back-to-back double following wins of Thomas and Balam Bhai in the opening two races.
Thomas defeated Pinza Way as he pleased by six lengths while Balam Bhai hit headlines by getting the better of Arabian Queen by two-and-a-half lengths.
In the third race, Haseena-e-Arab shocked favourite King Queen by two lengths.
Meanwhile, rider Ali Raza II escaped serious injuries when he fell from his mount Raven after negotiating the bend in the fourth race. The horse, which fractured both legs, and owned by M.R. Hussain was later destroyed.
Results:
THE BENEFIT PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:
Thomas (Fasihuddin Ghouri and Islamuddin Ghouri) 8-6 (cr7-13), Mohammad Ramzan 1; Pinza Way 8-6, Mohammad Sajjad 2; Golden Stamp 9-0, Yousuf Ikram 3; Jungle Queen 8-6, Zaki Zakir 4.
Won by 6 L, 4½ L, 3½ L, Time: 0.53 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Hanif.
THE BENEFIT PLATE SCALE ORDER VII & VIII — 4 F:
Balam Bhai (Fasihuddin Ghouri and Islamuddin Ghouri) 8-9 (cr8-2), Mohammad Ramzan 1; Arabian Queen 8-6, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Petra 9-0, Wasim 3; Public Fancy 8-10, Zohaib Qamar 4.
Won by 2½ L, 1¼ L, 3 L. Time: 0.53 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Hanif.
THE BENEFIT PLATE SCALE ORDER VI & VII — 4 F:
Haseena-e-Arab (Mumtaz Mirza) 8-1 (cr8-5), Mohammad Manzoor 1; Hawwaam 8-2, Mohammad Sajjad 2; King Queen 8-12, Asad Aksir 3; Black Smoke 9-0, Sohail Ahmed 4.
Won by 2 L, Dist, 4 L. Time: 0.52 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.
THE BENEFIT CUP SCALE ORDER IV & V — 4½ F:
Artemisia (Nand Kumar Goklani) 7-8, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Spirit 9-0, Waheed Baran 2; Gladiator 9-0, Safdar Hussain 3; Piyara Faisal 7-13, Mohammad Ramzan 4.
Won by 8L, 1¼ L, 1 L. Time: 0.56 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.
THE BENEFIT PLATE SCALE ORDER II & III — 4½ F:
Glittery Eyes (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 7-4, Asad Aksir 1; Smart Girl 8-12, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Starka 7-10, Wasim 3; Piyara Sayeen 8-0, Waheed Baran 4.
Won by 3½ L, Neck, 1½ L. Time: 0.56 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohyuddin.
Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2020
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