KARACHI: Rank outsider six-year-old horse Azeem Choice upset the applecart by galloping to a length-and-a-quarter victory over Piyara Faisal to win the Valentine’s Day Cup in the winter Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

With a win under his belt, Azeem Choice stretched his winning streak to present owner-trainer-rider trio with the cup.

The victorious horse was piloted home by rider Mohammad Manzoor in a smart fashion.

Favourite Big Faith had to be content with third place followed by Gift of Gold.

Rider Mohammad Ramzan won the day’s riding honours with a brace of winners in a five-race card. First, he powered mare Mehbooba to three-quarter of a length victory over Faster to clinch the third race and then steered Smart Girl to a smart four-and-a-half length’s victory over Soldier Queen to win the fourth race.

At the outset, Usman Chandiwala and Sehar Princess won top honours in the first and second races, respectively.

Results:

THE VALENTINE PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Usman Chandiwala (Ehtisham Malik and Waiz Malik) 9-0, Asad Aksir 1; Sassy Gold 8-1, Adnan Khan 2; Hello My Darling 8-2, Nazil Hussain 3; Aas Paas 8-0, Mohammad Sajjad 4.

Won by 2¼ L, 2½ L, 3/4 L. Time: 0.53 1/5. Winner trained by Naseem.

THE VALENTINE PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Sehar Princess (Haji Saleem Cheema) 8-5, Adnan Khan 1; Star Queen 9-0, Yousuf Ikram 2; Geo Ahsan 8-8, Wasim 3; Gypsy Queen 8-4, Ali Raza II 4.

Won by 2L, 4L, 1 3/4 L Time: 0.53 1/5. Winner trained by Imran Shehzad.

THE VALENTINE PLATE SCALE ORDER VI & VII — 4 F:

Mehbooba (P.K. Ahuja) 8-8, Mohammad Ramzan I; Faster 8-6, Riaz Ahmed 2; Meri Chahat 8-9, Mohammad Sajjad 3; Well Wisher 8-13, Wasim 4.

Won by 3/4 L, ½ L, 1¼ L. Time: 0.52 1/5. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE VALENTINE PLATE SCALE ORDER III, IV & V — 4½ F:

Smart Girl (Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara) 9-0, Mohammad Ramzan I; Soldier Queen 7-12, Mohammad Manzoor 2; Recovery 7-5, Haroon Gulzar 3; Faster Than You 7-7, Latif 4.

Won by 4L, 4½ L, 3L, ¾ L. Time: 0.57 1/5 Winner trained by Mohyuddin.

THE VALENTINE CUP SCALE ORDER I & II — 5 F:

Azeem Choice (Farooq Lango) 9-6, Mohammad Manzoor 1; Piyara Faisal 7-0, Zaki Zakir 2; Big Faith 8-13, Tariq Baran 3; Gift of Gold 7-7, Mohammad Sajjad 4.

Won by 1¼ L, ½ L, 2½ L. Time: One minute to 2 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2021