KARACHI: In a sheer surprise bay colt Thunder Snow came from behind to lift the Shah Mardan Shah II Pir Pagara VII Memorial Cup in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

Thunder Snow got the better of bay horse G Sarkar by half-a-length as fancied pair of Sahil and Churchill bit the dust.

Filly Queen of Spades grabbed third place on board beaten by two lengths while Churchill completed the frame another half length behind.

Reigning Derby champion Sahil failed to finish on the board in his maiden run at the course perhaps due to the disadvantage of carrying 10-0 handicap on his back.

Thunder Snow who belongs to the stable of Ather Abbas and sent by trainer Nazir was ably ridden home by Lahore’s eminent rider Tahir Abbas.

Meanwhile, riders Waseem and Ali Raza II escaped injuries after falling from their mounts Lahori King and Fahad Jani respectively at three furlongs in the opening race. Favourite Lahori King who broke his leg was later destroyed.

Three favourites and as many rank outsiders shared the six-race card of the day.

The owner-rider duo of Ather and Tahir excelled with a double – Thunder Smile and Thunder Snow – in second and sixth race respectively.

The next Gymkhana race meeting will be held on Saturday (Nov 27).

Results:

THE MEMORIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII 4 F:

Non Stop (Mr. Khadim Hussain) 9-0 Waheed Baran 1, Princess of Hope 9-0(cr8-7) Fahad Ahmed 2, Storm Fire 8-0 Safdar Hussain 3, Race 7-12 Shahzad Gul 4.

Won by 2 L, 3 L, 2¼ L. Time: 0.54 seconds.

Winner trained by Amjad Ali.

THE MEMORIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER VII 4 F:

Thunder Smile (Mr. Ather Abbas) 9-0 Tahir Abbas 1, Soldier Girl 8-10 Waheed Baran 2, Shan-e-Sikandar 8-0 Safdar Hussain 3, Well Wisher 7-12 Shahid Ali II 4.

Won by 4 L, 2½ L, ¾ L. Time: 0.52 3/5 seconds.

Winner trained by M. Rashid.

THE MEMORIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER VI & VII 4½ F:

Debonair (Syed Wajihuddin) 8-7 Safdar Hussain 1, Airborne 9-0 Yousuf Ikram 2, Geo Channa 8-12 Asad Aksir 3, Star Queen 8-1 Waheed Baran 4.

Won by 2 L, 1½ L, ½ L. Time: 0.59 2/5 seconds.

Winner trained by M. Owais Abro.

THE MEMORIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER IV & V 5 F:

Kuwait Edition (M/s Ehtisham Malik & Waiz Malik) 7-8(cr8-0) Adnan Khan 1, Sugar Rush 8-10 Safdar Hussain 2, Geo Jalal 9-2 Asad Aksir 3, Starka 7-12 M. Asim 4.

Won by 3 L, 4 L, 2 L. Time: One minute 3 4/5 seconds.

Winner trained by Naseem.

THE MEMORIAL PLATE SCALE ORDER I,

II & III 5 F:

Princess Maria (Haji Abdul Majeed) 8-1 Asad Aksir 1, Jugni 8-5 Safdar Hussain 2, Wild Fire 8-0 M. Ramzan 3, Choice of the Day 7-12 M. Asim 4.

Won by 5 L, 1 ½ L, 7 L. Time: One minute 2 4/5 seconds.

Winner trained by owner.

SHAH MARDAN SHAH II PIR PAGARA VII MEMORIAL CUP — A HANDICAP RACE FOR THREE & FOUR-YEAR OLD & ABOVE THOROUGHBRED & HALFBRED HORSES — 1 M:

Thunder Snow (Mr. Ather Abbas) 7-12(cr8-4) Tahir Abbas 1, G Sarkar 7-8(cr 7-10) Waheed Baran 2, Queen of Spades 7-0 Zaki Zakir 3, Churchill 8-2 M. Manzoor 4.

Won by ½ L, 2 L, ½ L. Time: One minute 43 seconds.

Winner trained by Nazir.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2021