KARACHI: Public fancy bay horse G Sarkar registered an exciting four-length victory over stable-mate Big Faith to clinch the January Cup as favourites dominated the four-race card in the Gymkhana race meeting at the Karachi Racecourse on Saturday.

G Sarkar, which suffered back-to-back defeats to Churchill in the Karachi Cup and X-Mas Cup, made amends to open his New Year’s account.

Running alongside half-a-dozen contenders, G Sarkar emerged in front after negotiating the bend and kicked up speed to post victory and justify his billing. It was ably piloted home by rider A. Raza and sent by trainer Amjad Ali who also partnered second-finish horse Big Faith.

Mare Princess Maria occupied third place on board edged by neck while dark bay horse Young Gun completed the frame beaten by two-and-a-half lengths. Azeem Choice could not make it to the cup race after being scratched in morning declaration.

Two other favourites who obliged all and sundry were bay horse Desco and mare Balochistan Queen.

Desco edged Sheba by neck in a closely fought opening race while Balochistan Queen defeated Geo Channa by short head in the third.

Mare Kiran Princess pulled off the only upset of the day defeating another mare Soldier Girl by two-and-a-half lengths to claim honours in the second race.

Lahore-based rider Kamran II was fined Rs20,000 and suspended for an indefinite period due to unsatisfactory riding on his mount Sheba.

Results:

THE JANUARY PLATE SCALE ORDER VIII 4 F:

Desco (Aamir Dyer) 8-10(cr8-5) Sajjad Hussain 1, Sheba 8-11(cr8-4) Kamran II 2, Meri Chahat 8-9 M. Manzoor 3, Stifee 9-4(cr8-11) Fahad Ahmed 4.

Won by Neck, 4 L, 4½ L. Time: 0.53 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by Zia-ur-Rehman.

THE JANUARY PLATE SCALE ORDER VII 4 F:

Kiran Princess (Saeed Ahmed Bashir) 8-10(cr8-3) Ali Raza II 1, Soldier Girl 8-2 Zaki Zakir 2, Fair Deal 9-0 A. Raza 3, Hello My Darling 8-12(cr8-5) Fahad Ahmed 4.

Won by 2½ L, 3½ L, 1½ L. Time: 0.52 1/5 seconds. Winner trained by M. Mazhar.

THE JANUARY PLATE SCALE ORDER IV, V & VI 4½ F:

Balochistan Queen (Haji Abdul Majeed) 9-4 Fahad Ahmed 1, Geo Channa 7-7 Zaki Zakir 2, Take Care 8-7 Asad Aksir 3, Galileo Lady 7-11 Adnan Khan 4.

Won by S.Head, 3 L, S.Head. Time: 0.58 3/5 seconds. Winner trained by owner.

THE JANUARY CUP SCALE ORDER I, II & III 5 F:

G Sarkar (Mohammad Naeem) 9-4 A. Raza 1, Big Faith 9-6 M. Manzoor 2, Princess Maria 8-12 Wasim 3, Young Gun 8-0 Asad Aksir 4.

Won by 4 L, Neck, 2½ L. Time: One minute 2 2/5 seconds. Winner trained by Amjad Ali.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2022