KARACHI: Public fancy filly Chile annexed the August Cup as two favourites and as many long shots shared the day’s honours in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Making her second appearance after a long layoff, Chile, who was backed by connection, set the pace after the jump and romped home by seven lengths over mare Twenty Twenty to oblige her owner and punters alike.

The triumph of Chile in the third race gave some respite to the racegoers who had suffered after favourites had bitten the dust in the first two races.

The favourite filly that belonged to the stables of Dr Farhan Essa was piloted home by rider Mohammad Sajjad and partnered by trainer Ghulam Shabbir II.

Faster occupied third place falling behind two lengths while Starka completed the frame finishing another length away.

The field was reduced to nine horses after Cracks Man was scratched in the morning declaration.

Another favourite colt Thunder Star made it two wins on the trot galloping to an exciting seven lengths victory over Gift of Gold to clinch the next race which was also the day’s feature event.

Choice Of The Day grabbed third place and was followed by Smart Girl in a field of seven contestants.

Rank outsider mare Shabnam atoned for successive losses when she got the better of Thunder Time by two-and-a-half lengths to send shockwaves among punters.

The victory had eluded Shabnam in the last five runs where she finished on board.

Favourite Sassy Gold was not on job and finished off the frame.

With a win under his belt, bay horse The Finisher pulled off an upset by getting the better off Stifee by a length-and-a-half to stretch his winning streak.

Meri Chahat finished third while favourite Epsom completed the frame.

Rider Adnan Khan stole the limelight with a brace of winners — The Finisher and Thunder Star — while trainer Shabbir earned a double while partnering Shabnam and Chile to success.

Results:

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

Shabnam (Farooq Lango) 9-0, Ali Raza II 1; Thunder Time 7-12, Wasim 2; Star Queen 9-2, Waheed Baran 3; Awaz-e-Sehar 9-2 (cr8-11), Zohaib Qamar 4.

Won by 2½ L, 2 L, Neck. Time: 0.53 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

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

The Finisher (Amjad Ali) 9-0, Adnan Khan 1; Stifee 7-12, Waheed Baran 2; Meri Chahat 7-10, Mohammad Asim 3; Epsom 8-2, Mohammad Alam 4.

Won by 1½ L, ¾ L, 1 L. Time: 0.52 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by owner.

THE AUGUST CUP SCALE ORDER V — 4 F:

Chile (Farhan Essa Abdullah) 8-11, Mohammad Sajjad 1; Twenty Twenty 8-8, Kashif Arshad 2; Faster 8-8, Riaz Ahmed 3; Starka 9-0, Mohammad Asim 4.

Won by 7 L, 2 L, 1 L. Time: 0.51 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by Ghulam Shabbir II.

THE AUGUST PLATE SCALE ORDER I, III & IV — 4 F:

Thunder Star (Athar Abbas) 8-6, Adnan Khan 1; Gift of Gold 8-11, Waheed Baran 2; Choice Of The Day 7-0 (cr7-6), Riaz Ahmed 3; Smart Girl 7-0 (cr7-10), Asad Aksir 4.

Won by 7 L, 4½ L, Neck. Time: 0.49 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Nazir.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd , 2021