KARACHI: Favourite three-year-old bay colt Classic Leader cantered home by a length-and-a-quarter over challenger Gladiator to lift the Iqbal Day Cup in the winter Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Making his appearance after layoff, Classis Leader made amends of his third place finish in The Defence Day Cup on Sept six.

The victorious horse from the stables of Haji Abdul Majeed was piloted home by rider Asad Aksir and was sent by trainer M. Shahzad.

Starka was placed third and was followed by Piyara Sayeen among nine starters/ In an earlier supporting race, second favourite mare Risky powered to to an exciting four lengths victory over Faster Than You with 17-year-old M. Ramzan astride.

Piyara Faisal had to be content with third place beaten by two lengths with public fancy Super Quetta completing the frame another three lengths away.

At the outset, dark bay mare Paris opened her account edging favourite mare Princess of Arab by short head verdict in a close finish to land the opening race.

Favourite bay horse Take A Side justified his billing posting a facile three lengths victory over Soldier Star to win the second race.

With two wins under his belt, favourite bay horse Kuwait Edition obliged all and sundry registering a length-and-a-half victory over Baba Jani to complete hat-trick.

Trainer M. Mazhar excelled by partnering back-to-back winners — Paris and Take A Side in the first and second race.

Results:

THE IQBAL DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII 4 F:

Paris (Akbar Ali) 9-0 Waseem 1, Princess of Arab 8-9(cr8-2) M. Ramzan 2, , Arab Hi Arab 8-4 M. Sajjad 3,. Humaira Choice 9-0(cr8-7) Ali Raza II, 4.

Won by S. Head, 1 ¼ L, 4 L. Time: 0.53 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.

THE IQBAL DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER vii & VIII 4 F:

Take A Side (Mr. Khadim Hussain) 9-0(cr9-3) Tariq Baran 1, Soldier Star 8-11 Waheed 2, Arabian Queen 8-2 M. Manzoor 3. Hawwaam 9-0 M. Sajjad 4, .

Won by 3 L, Head, 2 ¼ L. Time: 0.52 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.

THE IQBAL DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VI & VII 4 F:

Kuwait Edition (M/s Ehtisham Malik and Waiz Malik) 9-0 M. Sajjad 1, Baba Jani (Danzinger) 8-12 A. Raza 2, Secret of Life 8-4 Nazil Hussain 3, Royal Duke8-0 Safdar Hussain 4.

Won by ½ L, 2 ½ L, 2 ½ l. Time: 0.50 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Naseem.

THE IQBAL DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER IV & V 4 ½ F:

Risky (Mr. Ghulam Jilani) 8-8 M. Ramzan 1, Faster Than You 8-10 Ali Raza II, 2, Piyara Faisal 8-2 Zaki Zakir 3, Super Quetta 8-4 M. Sajjad 4.

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

THE IQBAL DAY CUP SCALE ORDER II, III & IV 4 ½ F:

Classic Leader (Haji Abdul Majeed) 7-8 Asad Aksir 1, Gladiator 8-2 Safdar Hussain 2, Starka 7-11 Lateef 3, Piyara Sayeen 8-0 Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by 1 ¼ L, 1 ¾ L, 3 L. Time: 0.57 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Shahzad.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2020