KARACHI: Favourite three-year-old bay colt Torrent justified his credentials by defeating Big Faith as he pleased by six-and-a-half lengths to clinch the Well Done Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

Torrent has returned to winning ways after Flatterer interrupted his unbeaten run in the Kashmir Day Cup earlier this month.

Owned by Rana Javed Sarwar and selt by trainer Muhammad Irfan, Torrent was efficiently piloted home by rider Safdar Hussain.

Glittery Eyes occupied third place two-and-a-half lengths behind while Azeem Choice completed the frame.

Long short three-year-old chestnut horse Eye of The Tiger pulled off second upset of the day when he edged Piyara Sayeen in a photo-finish by short head to win the fifth and concluding race.

Co-favourites Risky and New Class had to be content with third and fourth places on board respectively.

The race was preceded by rebetting after Angle Love was scratched at the starting gate.

At the outset Geo Ahsan created quite a stir imposing to four-and-a-half lengths victory over Jhoom Sayeen to annex the opening race as public fancy Two Time Better had to be content with third place.

Favourite mare Hello My Darling obliged all and sundry while galloping to a length-and-a-quarter victory over Gypsy Queen to win the second race.

Dark bay horse Well Wisher made amend by registering two lengths victory over Meri Chahat to win the third race.

Hawwaam was scratched at the starting gate before the race. Owner Haji Abdul Majeed and trainer Muhammad Shazad completed a double (Geo Ahsan, Hello My Darling).

Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Thursday (March 4).

Results:

THE WELL DONE PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII 4 F:

Geo Ahsan (Haji Abdul Majeed) 8-11 Adnan Khan 1, Jhoom Sayeen 8-1 Waseem 2, Two Time Better 8-6 M. Ramzan 3, Non Stop 8-4 M. Sajjad 4.

Won by 4 ½ L, 3 L0, 4 L. Time: 0.52 4/5 seconds.

Winner trained by M. Shahzad.

THE WELL DONE PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII 4 F:

Hello My Darling (Haji Abdul Majeed) 8-12 Asad Aksir 1, Gypsy Queen 8-4 Ali Raza II 2, Holly Dolly 8-2 M. Alam 3, Sassy Gold 8-5 Waheed Baran 4.

Won by 1 ¼ L, 3 L, 5 L. Time: 0.52 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by M. Shahzad.

THE WELL DONE PLATE SCALE ORDER VI & VII 4 F:

Well Wisher (Mr. Junaid Ali Khan) 8-12 Ali Raza II 1, Meri Chahat 8-12 Safdar Hussain 2, Golra Pride 8-7 M. Ramzan 3, Faster 8-8 Adnan Khan 4.

Won by 2 L, S.H, 1 ½ L. Time: 0.52 1/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Mohammad Aslam.

THE WELL DONE CUP SCALE ORDER I & II 5 F:

Torrent (Mr. Rana Javed Sarwar) 7-0 Safdar Hussain 1, Big Faith 8-10 Waheed Baran 2, Glittery Eyes 8-10 Sohail Ahmed 3, Azeem Choice 10-0 M. Manzoor.

Won by 6 ½ L, 2 ½ L, S.H. Time: One minute 2 1/5 seconds.

Winner trained by M. Irfan.

THE WELL DONE PLATE SCALE ORDER III, IV & V 4 1/2 F:

Eye of The Tiger (Haji Sahib Jan Braech) 7-0 Waheed Baran 1, Piyara Sayeen 8-4 Riaz Ahmed 2, Risky 9-4 Zohaib Qamar 3, New Class 8-6 Ali Raza II 4.

Won by S.H, 5 L, 1 ¼ L. Time: 0.58 1/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Amjad Ali.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2021