KARACHI: Favourite bay mare Sher Garh Queen returned to winning ways by clinching the Recharge Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

The victorious mare powered to a length-and-a-half victory over bay horse Choice of the Day to make amends of the last defeat where she was placed third.

By virtue of victory, Sher Garh Queen presented her new owner-cum-trainer Naveed Baran with maiden triumph. She was piloted home by Waheed Baran.

With three wins under her belt, mare Take Care had to be content with third place falling behind four-and-a-half lengths while debutant Saghir Prince completed the frame among seven horses.

Another favourite who obliged owner and punters alike was filly Amazing Lips as she coasted to a facile six lengths victory over Mind of Promise to make it two in a row in the fifth and last race which was also the day’s feature event.

Gift of Gold seized third place and was followed by Wonderful Smile among six horses.

At the outset, the day began on a sour note when rank outsider mare Sassy Gold defeated Star Queen by five lengths to clinch the opener.

Favourite Hawwaam was not on job as he failed to finish on the board.

Punters heaved a sigh of relief when public fancy mare Twenty Twenty returned home by six-and-a-half lengths over Faster to win the second race.

Mare Recovery lowered the colours of favourite Soldier Girl by securing a four-length to annex the third race.

Rider Mohammad Ramzan turned out to be pick of the day by piloting home back-to-back winners — Twenty Twenty and Recovery — in the second and third race.

Results:

THE RECHARGE PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII — 4 F:

Sassy Gold (P.K. Ahuja) 8-8 (cr8-3), Adnan Khan 1; Star Queen 8-2, Waheed Baran 2; Shabnam 8-11, Mohammad Sajjad 3; The Finisher 8-10, Mohammad Qais 4.

Won by 5 L, 2½ L, 1¾ L. Time: 0.52 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Channa.

THE RECHARGE PLATE SCALE ORDER VII & VIII — 4 F:

Twenty Twenty (Zia-ur-Rehman) 7-13 (cr7-10), Mohammad Ramzan 1; Faster 8-12, Latif 2; Punjabi Munda 8-8, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Meri Chahat 8-7, Safdar Hussain 4.

Won by 6½ L, 1½ L, 1½ L. Time: 0.52 seconds. Winner trained by owner.

THE RECHARGE PLATE SCALE ORDER V & VI 4 — F:

Recovery (Ghulam Murtaza Babu) 8-5 (cr8-2), Mohammad Ramzan 1; Soldier Girl 8-10, Waheed Baran 2; Hello My Darling 9-0, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Airborne 8-4, Shehzad Gul 4.

Won by 4 L, 5 L, 6½ L. Time: 0.51 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Naseem.

THE RECHARGE CUP SCALE ORDER IV & V — 4 F:

Sher Garh Queen (Naveed Baran) 9-0, Waheed Baran 1; Choice Of The Day 8-1, Riaz Ahmed 2; Take Care 7-8, Adnan Khan 3; Saghir Prince 7-12, Mohammad Sajjad 4.

Won by 1½ L, 4½ L, 1 L. Time: 0.50 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by owner.

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

Amazing Lips (Waiz Malik) 8-12, Safdar Hussain 1; Mind Of Promise 10-0, Zohaib Qamar 2; Gift Of Gold 9-12, Mohammad Manzoor 3; Wonderful Smile 7-5, Riaz Ahmed 4.

Won by 6 L, 3 L, 3 L. Time: 0.49 4/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2021