KARACHI: Billed as one of the favourites, bay mare Take Care stretched her winning run while lifting the Labour Day Cup during the Gymkhana race meeting here at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

With a win already under her belt, Take Care galloped to a length-and-three-quarters victory over mare Recovery.

Bayhorse Airborne had to be content with third place beaten by a length-and-a-half while mare Mehbooba completed the frame among 13 starters.

Besides Take Care, couple of horses namely Airborne, Faster, Mehbooba, Awaz-e-Sehar and Recovery were backed by connection in the betting ring.

Take Care, which belonged to the stables of owner Ghulam Mustafa and was sent by trainer Yousuf S, was smartly piloted home by rider Adnan Khan who excelled with a double.

Earlier, Adnan guided rank outsider Stifee to a two-lengths-and-a-quarter victory over Shabnam in the opening race that was held for two-and-a-half furlongs for the first time in a drive aimed at giving incentive to owners of lower classified horses who mostly used to finish among those who also ran.

Rider Mohammad Ramzan matched the performance of Adnan by also piloting home a brace of winners.He first steered favourite bay mare Sher Garh Queen to two-and-a-half lengths victory over Thomas to clinch the second race and then romped home Amazing Lips to a maiden triumph as she edged Princess Maria by neck to win the next race.

Bay horse Mind Of Promise made amends to last weekend loss by lowering the colours of public fancy Flying Lady by two lengths to annex the fifth race which was also the feature event.

Trainer Zia-ur-Rehman excelled in his cadre by sending three winners — Sher Garh Queen, Amazing Lips and Mind of Promise.

Meanwhile, the next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on May 16 (Sunday) after Eid-ul- Fitr.

Results:

THE LABOUR DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER VII & VIII — 2½ F:

Stifee (P.K. Ahuja) 9-4(cr8-13), Adnan Khan 1; Shabnam 7-12, Mohammad Sajjad 2; Jeetu Baba 7-10, Mohammad Ramzan 3; Sassy Gold 8-11, Waheed Baran 4.

Won by 2¼ L, ¾ L, ½ L. Time: 0.31 2/5 seconds.Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE LABOUR DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER V —4 F:

Sher Garh Queen (Shah Jahan Javed) 8-,6 Mohammad Ramzan 1; Thomas 8-6, Shahid Ali II 2; Hello My Darling 9-0, Adnan Khan 3; Angel Love 9-0, Mohammad Qais 4.

Won by 2½ L, 1¼ L, 3½ L. Time: 0.52 1/5 seconds.Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE LABOUR DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER III & IV —4 F:

Amazing Lips (Waiz Malik) 8-12, Mohammad Ramzan 1; Princess Maria 8-13, Asad Aksir 2; Starka 8-2, Mohammad Sajjad 3; Albania 7-12, Safdar Hussain 4.

Won by Neck, Dist, Dist. Time: 0.49 2/5 seconds.Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE LABOUR DAY CUP SCALE ORDER VI & VII —4 F:

Take Care (Ghulam Mustafa) 7-11(cr7-10), Adnan Khan 1; Recovery 8-6(cr8-1),Kashif Arshad 2; Airborne 9-2, Mohammad Sajjad 3; Mehbooba 8-9, Waheed Baran 4,

Won by 1¾ L, 1½ L, 1¼ L. Time: 0.52 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Yousuf S.

THE LABOUR DAY PLATE SCALE ORDER I, II & III —4 F:

Mind Of Promise (Ali Raza Zia) 9-11, Zohaib Qamar 1; Flying Lady 8-9, Bilal Ahmed 2; Gift Of Gold 10-0, Yousuf Ikram 3; Wonderful Smile 8-0, Safdar Hussain 4.

Won by 2 L, 1¼ L, 1½ L. Time: 0.50 4/5 seconds.Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2021