KARACHI: Displaying incredible performance the incumbent Derby winner Royal Ranson upset the applecart to add the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup — flagship event of the Karachi Race Club — before a capacity crowd here on Saturday.

Royal Ransom, who had to settle for third place in the Quaid-e-Azam Trial Cup, galloped to a two-length victory over favourite and three-time champion Big Bravo while second favourite War It Is was placed third. Big Faith completed the board among the quartet.

The racegoers who have backed Royal Ransom cheered as jockey Waheed Baran overtook front-running Big Bravo in home stretch and waved to the crowd while crossing the winning post.

The jockey was given a standing ovation as he entered the paddock on his victorious mount.

“This is my maiden Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup victory as I was eager to lay my hands,” the 27-year-old Baran told Dawn.

There was jubilation and the punters were congratulating its Quetta-based owner Haji Jan Braech and trainer Amjad Ali.

This is also the first Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup triumph for owner and trainer.

The owner received the glittering cup and a purse of Rs0.6m from the Sindh Governor Imran Ismail. KRC president Syed Sadruddin Shah was also present.

Jockey Safdar Hussain shone in the saddle with a treble — Royal Duke, Sugar Rush and Torrent, While Mohammad Sajjad ended with a brace — Hi Honey and War Drums.

Rider Tariq Baran survived major injuries when his mount Imperial Crown stumbled. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was discharged after first aid. The horse, however, was destroyed.

Results:

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4½ F:

Star Queen (Mohammad Shakeel) 9-0, Mohammad Manzoor 1; Shabnam (late Miss Quetta) 8-4, Mohammad Sajjad 2; Gypsy Queen 8-0, Mohammad Hanif 3; Public Fancy 8-6, Mohammad Ramzan 4,

Won by 1 L, Head, 1 ¼ L. Time: One minute 0 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mujahid Ali.

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER VII & VIII — 4½ F:

Royal Duke (Rana Jawwad Sarwar) 8-8, Safdar Hussain 1; Thomas 8-9, Mohammad Ramzan 2; Recovery 9-0, Zaki Zakir 3; Arabian Queen 8-1, Majid Ali II 4.

Won by S. Head, 7 L, 5 L. Time: 0.58 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Mohammad Hanif.

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER III & IV — 5 F:

Piyara Faisal (Mohammad Hashim) 7-10, Zaki Zakir 1; Piyara Sayeen 8-4 S. Moin 2; Balcohistan Queen 9-0, Mohammad Ramzan 3; Parachuter 8-11, Yousuf Ikram 4.

Won by 2½ L, 2 L, 2 L. Time: One minute 4 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

M. RASHEED JUNG MEMORIAL CUP SCALE ORDER IV & V — 5 F:

Sugar Rush (M.R. Hussain) 8-0, Safdar Hussain 1; Soldier Girl 7-12, Waheed Baran 2; Victor 9-0, Mohammad Sajjad 3; Balam Bhai 8-1, Mohammad Ramzan 4.

Won by 7 L, 1 L, 3 L. Time: One minute 4 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by S. A. Zaidi.

THE NURSERY CUP — A TERM RACE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD PAKISTANI HALFBRED COLTS & FILLIES — 5 F:

Torrent (Rana Jawwad Sarwar) 9-4, Safdar Hussain 1; Flatterer 8-11, Aamir Pervez 2; Queen of Spades 8-1, Aftab Chaudhry 3; Eye of The Tiger 8-4, Waheed Baran 4.

Won by 2 L, 4 L, 7 L. Time: One minute 3 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Irfan.

THE X-MAS CUP SCALE ORDER I & II ROUND BEND — 5 F:

Hi Honey (Farhan Essa Abdullah) 8-6, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Glittery Eyes 7-10, Aamir Pervez 2; Azeem Choice 9-2, Yousuf Ikram 3; Galileo Lady 7-11, Asad Aksir 4.

Won by 9 L, 9 L, 3 L. Time: One minute 16 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE 2000 GUINEAS OF PAKISTAN —

A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD PAKISTANI COLTS AND FILLIES — I M:

Thunder King (Athar Abbas) 8-7, Mohammad Hanif 1; Artemisia 8-4, Aftab Chaudhry 2, Gift of Gold (late Classic Leader) 8-7, Mohammad Sajjad 3; Spirit 8-4, Zaki Zakir 4.

Won by 4 L, Dist, Dist. Time: One minute 44 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir.

THE QUAID-E-AZAM GOLD CUP —A HANDICAP RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD & UPWARD PAKISTANI HORSES — 10 F:

Royal Ransom (Haji Sahib Jan Braech) 8-7 Waheed Baran 1, Big Bravo 8-9 Aftab Chaudary 2, War It Is 7-7 Aamir Parvaiz 3, Big Faith 8-2 M. Hanif 4.

Won by 2 L, 5 L, 10 L. Time: Two minutes 5 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Amjad Ali.

THE QUAID PLATE SCALE ORDER VI — 4½ F:

War Drums (Syed ismail Shah and Farooq Fikree) 8-7, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Jugni 8-2, Mohammad Hanif 2; Linda 7-13, Mohammad Ramzan 3; Justify 9-0, Mohammad Manzoor 4.

Won by 3 L, 4 L, ½ L. Time: 0. 57 3/5. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2020